Samlitegist

 At least 430,000 visas have been issued by the United Kingdom (UK) government to Nigerians seeking to study and relocate to the European nation in 2024. British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, shared this information on Wednesday during a meeting with Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), in Abuja. Montgomery assured the Federal Government of Nigeria that adequate security measures are in place for its citizens. The High Commissioner emphasised that the UK remains a safe haven despite the ongoing unrest, highlighting the country’s diverse population. He also mentioned that 60 special courts have been set up to tackle criminal activities related to the unrest. Montgomery reported that approximately 400 individuals have been arrested in connection with the violence, with the government actively pursuing justice against those inciting unrest through hatred and disinformation online. NIDCOM Chairperson Dabiri-Erewa confirm...

The Economic Community of West African States Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, has stated that the withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from the regional bloc will lead to unintended security consequences. In January, the three military-led West African nations announced their immediate withdrawal from ECOWAS, accusing the organisation of becoming a threat to its member states. Speaking at the 42nd ordinary session of the Committee of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja on Wednesday, Musah stressed that their withdrawal would inevitably undermine coordination and cooperation in combating terrorism, human trafficking, and transnational organised crime. The exit of these countries from ECOWAS after almost five decades of diplomatic, political, and security cooperation will eventually generate unintended consequences on the security front. Such a withdrawal will inevitably undermine coordination and cooperation in the fight ...

Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani says President Bola Tinubu is not the problem or solution to the challenges confronting the region although he must be held to account. Instead, Sani said northern leaders must take lessons from the recent violent uprising in the region. He suggested that the governors, religious, traditional leaders and the intellectuals of the region must converge and urgently come out with an implementable master plan to tackle the decades of endemic poverty and underdevelopment facing the region. Northern leaders must take lessons from the recent violent uprising in the region. The President must be held to account, but he is not the Problem or the Solution to the Problem,” Sani posted on X. The Governors, political, Business, religious, traditional leaders and the intellectuals of the region must converge and urgently come out with an implementable master plan to tackle the decades of endemic poverty and destitution, Illiteracy, Chronic underdevelopment, abject ...

 Julian Alvarez is set to depart Manchester City for Atletico Madrid according to widespread reports on Tuesday with the English champions set to bank a huge profit on the Argentine in a deal worth up to 95 million euros (£81 million, $104 million). The 24-year-old cost City just £14 million when he signed from River Plate in January 2022 and has since enjoyed a meteoric rise, helping Argentina to World Cup and Copa America glory, as well as winning two Premier League titles and the Champions League at club level. After initially returning to River on loan for six months, Alvarez scored 36 times in two seasons at City as Pep Guardiola’s men became the first side ever to win four consecutive English top-flight titles. However, he still had to play second fiddle to Erling Haaland for the majority of his time in Manchester. City will be compensated by a club record sale but may now be forced into the market in the final three weeks of the transfer window to find backup for the Norwegi...

President Bola Tinubu has ordered crack down on those flying Russian flag during the ongoing #endbadgovernance’ protests in the country. Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, disclosed this to journalists on Monday at the end of security council meeting with President Tinubu at the Aso Rock presidential villa. CDS Musa told journalists that the security chiefs briefed the President on the current security situation in the country during the meeting. He added that the briefing was necessitated by the ongoing nationwide protests, which resulted into violence in some states. Initially, when the protest started they said it was a peaceful protest but we have realised that there are individuals that are willing to take advantage of it to cause mayhem. And we can see clearly what has happened since it has commenced. Criminals have taken over with a lot of looting taking place, stealing and all sorts happening. He said the situation became worrisome as foreign flags were flown wi...

PHARMACEUTICAL Society of Nigeria (PSN) says it anxiously awaits genuine execution of the presidential order for zero tax on imported pharmaceutical inputs to boost local production at crashing prevailing high cost of medicines in the country. Prof Cyril Usifoh, PSN President disclosed this to newsmen in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state as fallout from weekend’s PSN National Council Meeting in the state to further deliberate on challenges facing the society and her engagement with government and other critical stakeholders. President Bola Tinubu had in June signed the executive order to introduce zero tariffs on excise duties and value added tax (VAT) on imported pharmaceutical inputs. The order listed Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), excipients, other essential raw materials required for manufacturing of crucial health products like drugs, syringes and needles, Long-lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) and Rapid Diagnostic Kits, among specific items to be affected. The PSN President said me...