Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Lagos to brief President Bola Tinubu on his on-the-spot assessment of the security situation in Maiduguri, Borno State, following his recent visit to the region. Shettima’s visit comes after last Monday’s deadly suicide bombings at three Maiduguri locations, which claimed at least 23 lives and injured more than 100 others. In a post on his verified X account on Sunday, Shettima said his visit to Maiduguri was undertaken at the instance of the President to engage with families and communities affected by recent tragic incidents in the state. “The Vice President will brief…
Author: Newsdesk
The United States has imposed a visa bond of up to $15,000 on travellers from 30 African countries, significantly tightening entry conditions for short-term visits under its expanding immigration enforcement policy. From April 2, applicants seeking B1 (business) and B2 (tourism) visas from countries including Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and Tunisia will be required to post the refundable bond as part of their application process. The policy introduces a steep financial barrier for African travellers, with potential ripple effects on trade, investment flows and diplomatic relations, even as Washington seeks to deepen economic engagement with the continent. US officials…
Zimbabwe has sealed a new phase of agriculture cooperation with Guyana, placing food production, value chains and water management at the centre of bilateral talks during a Caribbean diplomatic tour, as global food security pressures continue to reshape international partnerships. Zimbabwe’s Special Envoy, Amon Murwira, held discussions with Guyana’s agriculture minister on Thursday, with both sides agreeing to deepen their agriculture partnership across key sectors, according to a statement posted by Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X. The agreement reflects Zimbabwe’s broader strategy to anchor diplomacy in economic outcomes, using Zimbabwe–Guyana agriculture cooperation to advance food security, industrial growth…
The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Defence has announced that the nation’s military capabilities are actively engaged in defensive operations following a fresh wave of aerial attacks on Sunday morning. According to an official statement from the Ministry, the country’s air defences are “currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran.” This latest engagement follows a comprehensive disclosure by the UAE Ministry of Defence on Saturday, which revealed that the country’s air defence systems have intercepted hundreds of aerial threats since the beginning of the conflict in West Asia. These include 341 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and…
Troops of Operation MESA have apprehended a suspect allegedly found in possession of suspected explosives in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State. Security sources disclosed that the arrest occurred at about 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, following intelligence indicating that a civilian was moving around the Agric area with suspected hand grenades during an event. Acting swiftly on the report, troops mobilised to the scene, secured the area, and successfully disarmed and arrested the suspect without any incident. According to the sources, the suspect was found with items believed to be 36 hand grenades. The individual, identified as a native…
A member of the House of Representatives representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Remi Oseni, a has unveiled a food bank initiative and the Remi Oseni Foundation to support vulnerable groups. The initiative, unveiled on Saturday in Oyo State, is aimed at addressing food insecurity and poverty, while promoting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Speaking at the event, Oseni stressed the need for collective action to tackle the country’s challenges, particularly in the area of food security. He said the foundation would provide staple food items such as rice, beans, garri…
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has constituted a high-level committee to screen aspirants seeking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket ahead of the next election cycle. The committee is chaired by Bolaji Ayorinde, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council. The panel comprises members drawn from both the PDP Elders Council and the Governor’s Advisory Council, signalling what party insiders describe as a thorough and consultative screening process. It was gathered that the committee commenced its assignment on Saturday, with some aspirants appearing before it for assessment. Among those reportedly screened were Adedeji Olajide,…
Egypt will settle $1.3 billion in arrears to international oil companies by June, the petroleum ministry said on Saturday, accelerating its previous timetable for repayments. Egypt had accumulated about $6.1 billion in arrears to foreign oil companies by June 30, 2024. The accumulation is due to a prolonged foreign currency shortage that delayed payments and weighed on investment and gas output. The report notes that the shortage has since eased, though some companies have said that arrears have once again been accumulating. Under its prior timetable, announced in January this year, the government had expected to still have arrears of about…
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized over 700,000 tramadol pills and other illicit drugs across Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, and several other states in a series of coordinated operations. Ashenews gathered the development through a statement signed by Femi Babafemi and released on Sunday, March 22. The agency said the seizures were made across multiple states within the past week, highlighting a nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks. The NDLEA said it had foiled multiple attempts by drug trafficking organisations to smuggle illicit substances locally and internationally, while also intercepting large quantities within the country. “Desperate…
Prof. Zachariah Yaduma, Director-General of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), says Nigeria has over 10.6 million hectares of forests with vast economic potential. This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday by his media aide, Idara Umoh-Ido, to mark the International Day of Forests and World Wood Day. The International Day of Forests is observed annually on March 21 to highlight the importance of all forest types. The 2026 theme, “Forests and Economies,” underscores the critical role forests play in driving economic growth and sustainable development. Yaduma said forests go beyond income and job creation, as they…