NEWS

The Senate on Tuesday held an emergency plenary session to deliberate on the contentious amendments to the Electoral Act, following widespread protests sparked by the removal of a provision mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results. The extraordinary sitting came only days after the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026, and amid growing backlash from civil society organisations, labour unions, opposition parties, professional bodies and youth groups, who have accused the National Assembly of weakening electoral transparency. Early on Tuesday, hundreds of protesters converged on the entrance of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, singing solidarity songs and displaying placards calling for electoral accountability and the adoption of digital resu...

The United States has warned Nigerians that overstaying their visas could jeopardise travel opportunities for other citizens seeking to visit the US for education, business, or family purposes. The warning came amid ongoing immigration crackdowns and tighter travel restrictions under the administration of President Donald Trump. In a statement posted on X on Monday, Feb. 9, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria stressed that compliance with visa rules is essential to protecting access for Nigerians who travel responsibly. “Visa overstays by Nigerian travellers can affect opportunities for their fellow citizens,” the Mission said. “Strengthening compliance helps protect access for students, business travellers and families who travel responsibly.” The Mission also urged Nigerians ...

The United States Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to deport additional 18 Nigerians listed on its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal register.  The development comes barely one week after 79 Nigerians convicted of various offences were marked for deportation. According to the statement published on DHS website on Monday, February 9, 2026, 18 Nigerians were convicted for wire fraud, child solicitation, mail fraud and identity theft. “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of the worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement," the statement read. “Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations...

Former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi has joined in the protest to demand for the real-time transmission of election results. Recall that Nigerian youths on Monday converged in Abuja for the “Occupy National Assembly” protest against the rejection of e-transmission of election results by the Senate. The former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi also joined the protest yesterday. A former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday joined protesters at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, demanding the mandatory inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of election results in the proposed Electoral Act amendment. In a video shared on Tuesday by X user #ImranMuhammed, Amaechi was seen standing side by side with pr...

Transparency International, a global coalition against corruption, has again ranked Nigeria as the 36th most corrupt country in the world. The country retrogressed from 140th in 2024 to 142nd out of 182 countries in 2025, where 1 represents the cleanest country and 182 the most corrupt. Despite the downward ranking, the most populous African nation retained the same position as the 36th most corrupt country as in 2024. Nigeria was joined by Cameroon, Guatemala, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan and Papua New Guinea, which shared the same position with a total score of 26 points. The ranking, released via TI’s website on Tuesday, highlighted the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index. Denmark maintained its position as the least corrupt country with 89 points, followed by Finland w...

No fewer than 10 shops were completely destroyed by fire at the Iya Maryam Adebara Complex in the Ogunpa Market area of Ibadan on Monday night. The Chairman, Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Mr Moroof Akinwande, disclosed this in a statement made available on Tuesday in Ibadan. Akinwande said the agency’s personnel received a distress call about the fire incident via a telephone call from Baale Ogunpa, Alhaji Nurudeen Lawal, at exactly 8:11 pm on Monday. He said that firemen were promptly deployed to the scene and, upon arrival, found 10 shops out of several already engulfed in flames. “Our officers swiftly got into action and prevented the fire from spreading to other shops and nearby properties while the Federal Fire Service also joined hands with us to extinguish the fire...

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has disclosed plans to deport 18 additional Nigerians classified among the “worst-of-the-worst” criminal immigrants, raising the total number of Nigerians scheduled for removal to 97. According to an update posted on the DHS website on Monday, the newly added names were included in the agency’s enforcement list, signaling an expanded crackdown on foreign nationals involved in serious criminal activities across the United States. Revised records show that offences such as wire fraud, mail fraud, and identity theft feature prominently among the allegations against those recently listed. In an official statement, DHS explained that the arrests are part of a nationwide operation by U.S. authorities aimed at tackling grave crimina...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State has debunked reports circulating on social media alleging that underage voters were registered in Ede North Local Government Area. In a press statement issued on Monday in Osogbo and signed by the Commission’s Public Affairs Officer, Musa Olurode, INEC described the claim as false and misleading. According to the commission, a Facebook post alleged that minors dressed in school uniforms were registered as voters at the INEC Ede North Local Government office on Friday, February 6, 2026. INEC clarified that while students of YTD Grammar School, Ojoro Ede, were brought to the INEC office on that date with the intention of registering, no underage registration took place. The statement explained that the Electoral O...

53 migrants, including two babies. are feared dead or missing after a rubber boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya.  The only survivors, two Nigerian women, were rescued by the Libyan authorities. the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) announced on Monday, February 9, 2026.  The boat was carrying migrants and refugees from various African countries.  The boat sank after taking on water approximately six hours after departing from the coastal city of al-Zawiya in north-western Libya. The IOM says that almost 500 migrants have been reported d3ad or missing trying to the cross the Mediterranean Sea from Libya so far in 2026. Libya has become a staging point for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa seeking to reach Europe since ...

King Charles III has said he stands ready to support any police investigation into his younger brother, Prince Andrew, amid continuing controversy linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement issued by Buckingham Palace, a spokesperson said: “The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct. “While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as you would expect. “As was previously stated, Their Majesties’ thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse.” The statement came ho...