The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced a significant increase in the cost of international passports, effective September 1, 2025. Under the new rates, the 32-page passport with five-year validity will now cost ₦100,000, up from ₦26,000, while the 64-page passport with 10-year validity will rise to ₦200,000. The NIS explained that the adjustment was part of ongoing reforms aimed at improving service delivery, curbing racketeering, and aligning passport issuance with global standards. The sharp increment has already sparked mixed reactions. Some Nigerians have taken to social media to express concerns over affordability, warning that the hike could place additional…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will host a series of high-level meetings in Lusaka, Zambia, from September 1 to 11, 2025, aimed at strengthening regional collaboration on climate services, disaster preparedness, and early warning systems. The events, organised in partnership with the Government of Zambia and supported by the European Union through the Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Applications (ClimSA) Programme, include the 31st Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-31), the Climate Experts Meeting (CEM), and a validation workshop for the SADC Multi-Hazard Early Warning System. Themed “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together within the SADC Region”—aligned with the…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a sweeping directive to payment service providers and financial institutions to geo-tag every Point of Sale (PoS) terminal across the country within 60 days—or risk having them deactivated. The move, announced on Monday, targets more than 4.2 million PoS machines operated by banks, fintechs, and licensed super-agents such as Moniepoint, OPay, and PalmPay. Why the crackdown? The apex bank explained that the measure is designed to combat fraudulent practices, cloned devices, and “ghost” terminals that have plagued Nigeria’s payment system. By enforcing geo-tagging, the CBN hopes to ensure that each PoS terminal…
The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Professor Adenike Oladiji, has called on Nigerian youths to embrace agriculture with creativity and innovation, saying farming can become a profitable business venture and not just a tradition. Speaking at the flag-off of a compulsory agriculture course for all 200-level students of the institution, CSP 210: Farm Operations, held on August 17, 2025, at the University Farms, Professor Oladiji challenged undergraduates to see agriculture as an opportunity for enterprise, sustainability, and national food security. “Innovation in farming is not merely a choice; it is an imperative,” she said. “By…
China has donated one million dollars to Nigeria to support victims of the recent floods that ravaged several states. The grant was formalised on Wednesday in Abuja during the signing of exchange notes between the Chinese government and Nigeria’s Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said the gesture reflects China’s solidarity with Nigeria during a difficult period. “In times of difficulty, China and Nigeria always stand together,” he said, noting that China itself has also suffered severe flooding in recent months. He added that the support underscores China’s confidence in Nigeria’s resilience and ability…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged to accelerate Nigeria’s development by prioritising food security and technology-driven growth, drawing inspiration from Brazil’s economic transformation model. Speaking during a Tuesday evening meeting with Nigerians in the Diaspora in Brazil, Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to reform, innovation, and inclusive growth. “We must bring Nigeria to the forefront of Africa’s progress, driven by technology, food sovereignty, and the courage to change our destiny,” he said. The President described his state visit to Brazil as a strategic move to strengthen bilateral ties and learn from the South American country’s remarkable progress in agriculture, technology,…
The West African Association for Cross-Border Trade in Agro-sylvo-pastoral and Fisheries Products (WACTAF) will take part in the upcoming Youth in Trade Conference scheduled for Friday, August 29, 2025, at the Mövenpick Hotel in Dakar, Senegal. The event, themed “Youth in Trade: Empowering Youth-Led Enterprises to Navigate the Challenges in Food Trade in Africa”, is being organized in partnership with AGRA and the ECOWAS Commission. It will bring together stakeholders from across the region’s agri-food trade sector to discuss and recommend strategies aimed at improving the efficiency, inclusivity, and sustainability of regional food trade, with a special focus on youth…
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says Saudi Authorities have set deadlines for the 2026 Hajj operations, saying the deadlines remain sacrosanct to ensure a smooth, well-coordinated, and successful exercise. NAHCON said in a statement by its Information Officer, Malam Abdulbasit Abba, in Abuja on Tuesday. Abba said that this was revealed at a virtual meeting with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on the preparations for the 2026 Hajj exercise. He said that the meeting was led by Ustaz Abdallah Ash Shihry, Acting Director-General and Special Assistant to Deputy Minister in the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and…
The recent INTERPOL-led operation, called Operation Serengeti 2.0, was conducted against cybercriminals between June and August 2025, involving investigators from 18 African countries along with the United Kingdom. The operation resulted in the arrest of 1,209 suspected cybercriminals targeting nearly 88,000 victims across Africa. A total of $97.4 million was recovered, and 11,432 pieces of malicious online infrastructure were dismantled. Key operational highlights Key highlights of the operation include the dismantling of 25 cryptocurrency mining centers in Angola, where 60 Chinese nationals were illegally validating blockchain transactions. Authorities confiscated 45 illegal power stations along with mining and IT equipment valued…
The African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) Nigeria has advised smallholder farmers in Abia State to make judicious and effective use of agricultural grants provided under its Smallholder Farmers Initiative. The National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, Jabiru Salisu Abdullahi, gave the charge during the official flag-off ceremony in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. Represented by Mrs. Fati Abubakar, Head of Programme Development and Implementation, Abdullahi stressed that the agricultural grants must be utilized with prudence, efficiency, and in line with the intended purpose. He noted that the initiative reflects a significant investment in…