NEWS

The UK government has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of its immigration rules, introducing wide-ranging changes that tighten visa requirements, strengthen deportation powers, and reshape the framework governing work, study and family migration. The changes, contained in Statement of Changes HC 259 laid before Parliament on July 9, 2026, amend 42 sections of the Immigration Rules and introduce new measures affecting employers, educational institutions, migrants and sponsors. Among the most significant provisions is an expansion of deportation rules, under which foreign nationals convicted on or after March 22, 2026, who receive suspended prison sentences of 12 months or more will be treated in the same way as offenders given immediate custodial sentences for the purposes of deportation....

Nollywood actor Femi Branch has appealed to Nigerian political leaders to stop dragging the recently rescued pupils and teachers from Oyo State into political controversies. The actor made the appeal following comments by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who stated during a closed-door meeting with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed that the abduction occurred just hours after he officially declared his intention to contest the presidency. Reacting to the governor’s remarks, Branch urged politicians to refrain from using innocent children as part of political narratives, stressing that they had already endured enough hardship. According to him, the rescued pupils and teachers deserve care and support rather than being caught in political disputes. He said, “I want to make a si...

The Kaduna State Ministry of Health has issued an urgent public health advisory following a rise in diphtheria cases in parts of the state, with children accounting for the majority of reported infections. In a statement released on Saturday, the ministry said it has intensified efforts to contain the outbreak and urged parents, caregivers, schools and community leaders to take immediate steps to protect children, who are considered the most vulnerable to the disease. According to the ministry, diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that primarily affects the nose and throat. It spreads through coughing, sneezing, close contact with infected individuals or by sharing contaminated personal items. Health officials warned that children who are unvaccinated or only ...

A Magistrate  court in Ogba, Lagos State, today, July 10, ordered the remand of controversial internet sensation Ademola Abiodun, popularly known as DJ Chicken, over allegations of issuing a death threat against Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.  State& Local Government DJ Chicken was brought before Magistrate M.F. Onamusi on a three-count charge bordering on alleged threat to k!ll, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, and offences under the Cybercrime Act. According to the prosecution, the charges arose from a video he posted online in which he allegedly thre@tened Seyi Tinubu while commenting on the 2027 presidential election. The prosecution told the court that the video contained statements interpreted as a threat to k!ll Seyi Tinu...

Reactions have trailed the disclosure by the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, that Nigerian soldiers now earn a minimum monthly salary of N100,000. Veterans and serving personnel described the amount as grossly inadequate. This is as they accused President Bola Tinubu of failing to implement a salary increment he promised nearly four months ago. This comes as President Tinubu on Thursday evening convened a security meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, comprising the entire military command, intelligence leadership and top security advisers, including his Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka Famadewa (retd.), whom he appointed in May. A retired soldier, Abdul Isiak, said the current pay could not meet the cost of living. He added tha...

Russian President Vladimir Putin could launch a new large-scale mobilisation of troops within months as Ukraine continues to intensify attacks on Russia's military and energy infrastructure, according to Czech President Petr Pavel. Speaking to The Telegraph, Pavel said any decision on mobilisation is unlikely to come before Russia's parliamentary elections scheduled for September 20. He suggested that once the elections are over, the Kremlin could move to recruit more soldiers to sustain its war effort in Ukraine. Pavel said Ukraine has a limited window to revive peace negotiations before Russia potentially escalates the conflict. "I believe that the window is there for us to keep pushing and giving Russia a clear message that we are willing to start negotiations," he said. The C...

The Executive Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Abdullahi Sesan Olowa, has ordered the immediate shutdown of a dredging site in Bogije Community following severe flooding caused by its overflow after days of persistent rainfall. The directive, according to the council, is intended to protect lives and property while preventing further damage to the affected community. The recent downpour, which has continued across parts of Lagos State, caused the dredging site to overflow, triggering widespread flooding in Bogije Community. The floodwaters reportedly inundated several residential buildings and business premises, leaving many residents counting their losses. Videos showing the extent of the flooding and the plight of affected residents have circulated widely on social m...

“It may interest you to know that the new Data Protection Act that Mr President assented to, is sorted through support with NIMC in 2021, leading to the establishment of the Data Protection Commission,” she said. The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mrs Abisoye Coker-Odusote, says the newly enacted NIMC Act 2026 has significantly strengthened Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem. Odusote-Coker said this the Act had done by enhancing data security and empowering the commission to combat identity-related crimes. Executive Branch She said this during a courtesy visit to the Federal Ministry of Information, and the National Orientation Orientation Agency (NOA), as part of government’s efforts to sensitise public institutions on the pro...

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged northern leaders and residents to work together in tackling banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other security threats, stressing that safeguarding lives is a shared responsibility. Speaking on Wednesday at a joint meeting of northern governors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in Kaduna, the Sultan said lasting peace can only be achieved through close collaboration among governments, security agencies, traditional institutions and local communities. According to him, security should not be viewed as the sole responsibility of the military, police or elected officials. “Security is everyone’s responsibility. It is not for security agencies ...

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has questioned President Bola Tinubu's ability to effectively address Nigeria's worsening security challenges, insisting that decisive leadership is essential to restoring peace. Speaking during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, the former Anambra State governor said he would personally take responsibility for combating insecurity if elected president. According to Obi, the country's security crisis requires strong leadership from the highest level of government, arguing that the President must be directly involved in coordinating efforts to tackle criminal activities. He dismissed suggestions that the growing insecurity is primarily driven by opposition politicians or international d...