US President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Nigeria, accusing the government of failing to protect Christians. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu rejected the claims, saying insecurity affects all Nigerians regardless of faith and that freedom of worship is guaranteed.
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Monday, November 3, 2025
Video - Nigeria-US tensions rise over religious killings claims
US President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Nigeria, accusing the government of failing to protect Christians. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu rejected the claims, saying insecurity affects all Nigerians regardless of faith and that freedom of worship is guaranteed.
Video - Trump threatens to launch attacks in Nigeria over ‘killing of Christians’
US President Donald Trump is threatening to send military forces into Nigeria, unless the government stops what he called the killings of Christians by terrorists. A few hours before Trump’s threat, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu released a statement stressing that his government “continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions”. Bulama Bukarti, a Nigerian humanitarian lawyer and analyst on conflict and development, told Al Jazeera that President Trump's claims are not credible.
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Security fears grow as bomb threat targets Nigerian lawmakers
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, Garba Muhammad, on Tuesday, disclosed that the group received a bomb threat from a terrorist group.
He noted that the terrorists threatened to bomb the building of NASS, and as a result, called for increased security.
Speaking at an open session on a bill to set up the Legislative Security Directorate, the Chairman of NASS, as seen on Vanguard, claimed that the seat of Nigeria's democracy was increasingly facing serious security challenges, such as car and motorcycle theft, vandalism, fake identity cards, and infiltration by unregistered visitors.
He noted that the terrorists threatened to bomb the building of NASS, and as a result, called for increased security.
Speaking at an open session on a bill to set up the Legislative Security Directorate, the Chairman of NASS, as seen on Vanguard, claimed that the seat of Nigeria's democracy was increasingly facing serious security challenges, such as car and motorcycle theft, vandalism, fake identity cards, and infiltration by unregistered visitors.
What the National Assembly said
“We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly complex and threats from protesters to lock up the National Assembly,” he stated.
“Legislators are exposed to threats from constituents and others who gain easy access into their offices without any formal appointment,” he added.
Continuing on the subject of safeguarding government officials, including senators, House of Representatives members, and other administrative workers, he stated, “It is obvious that with the ongoing security challenges, if proper measures are not taken, it will truncate the legislative activities in the National Assembly.”
He also noted that “If activities are thwarted, there will be no representation, no oversight, no annual budget, no plenary at all, and that will destabilise legislative procedure, democracy, and the stability of the system, and our nation at large.”
The legislator also called on state Houses of Assembly within the nation to follow suit to guarantee complete and extensive security across Nigeria.
“I also want to admonish our State Houses of Assembly to imbibe the same,” Muhammad added, wishing participants a “peaceful and fruitful hearing that will ultimately bring a turnaround in National Assembly security architecture.”
He pointed out that adopting the law would be a significant step in securing Nigeria's democratic institutions and urged everyone to be in support of it.
“We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly complex and threats from protesters to lock up the National Assembly,” he stated.
“Legislators are exposed to threats from constituents and others who gain easy access into their offices without any formal appointment,” he added.
Continuing on the subject of safeguarding government officials, including senators, House of Representatives members, and other administrative workers, he stated, “It is obvious that with the ongoing security challenges, if proper measures are not taken, it will truncate the legislative activities in the National Assembly.”
He also noted that “If activities are thwarted, there will be no representation, no oversight, no annual budget, no plenary at all, and that will destabilise legislative procedure, democracy, and the stability of the system, and our nation at large.”
The legislator also called on state Houses of Assembly within the nation to follow suit to guarantee complete and extensive security across Nigeria.
“I also want to admonish our State Houses of Assembly to imbibe the same,” Muhammad added, wishing participants a “peaceful and fruitful hearing that will ultimately bring a turnaround in National Assembly security architecture.”
He pointed out that adopting the law would be a significant step in securing Nigeria's democratic institutions and urged everyone to be in support of it.
By Chinedu Okafor, Business Insider Africa
Nigeria’s Nobel-winning author Wole Soyinka says his US visa was revoked
The Nigerian author, 91, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, becoming the first African to do so.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Soyinka said he believed it had little to do with him and was instead a product of the United States’ immigration policies. He said he was told to reapply if he wished to enter again.
“It’s not about me, I’m not really interested in going back to the United States,” he said. “But a principle is involved. Human beings deserve to be treated decently wherever they are.”
Soyinka, who has taught in the U.S. and previously held a green card, joked on Tuesday that his green card “had an accident” eight years ago and “fell between a pair of scissors.” In 2017, he destroyed his green card in protest of President Trump’s first inauguration.
The letter he received informing him of his visa revocation cites “additional information became available after the visa was issued,” as the reason for its revocation, but does not describe what that information was.
Soyinka believes it may be because he recently referred to Trump as a “white version of Idi Amin,” a reference to the dictator who ruled Uganda from 1971 until 1979.
The U.S. Consulate in Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos, directed all questions to the State Department press office in Washington, D.C., which did not respond to immediate requests for comment.
Soyinka jokingly referred to it as a “love letter” and said that while he did not blame the officials, he would not be applying for another visa.
“I have no visa. I am banned, obviously, from the United States, and if you want to see me, you know where to find me.”
By Wilson McMakin, AP
Friday, October 3, 2025
Video - Nigerian President Tinubu: Country is on economic recovery path
President Bola Tinubu says that Nigerians should brace for better days ahead following drastic and controversial reforms that have left millions struggling with rising costs. However, analysts disagree, saying the country of nearly 200 million people is struggling with a high unemployment rate.
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Despite pervasive insecurity, Tinubu says his govt winning war against violent crimes
Despite the regular killing and kidnapping of Nigerians in different parts of the country by armed groups, President Bola Tinubu said security agencies in his administration “are winning the war against terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.”
The Nigerian leader spoke Wednesday in a nationwide broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
PREMIUM TIMES has reported several cases of killings by armed groups in states like Niger, Kwara, Katsina, Zamfara, Anambra, and Borno. The killings have continued despite the efforts of security agencies.
Mr Tinubu, however, said victories achieved need to be celebrated.
“Peace has returned to hundreds of our liberated communities in North-West and North-East, and thousands of our people have returned safely to their homes,” he said.
By Yakubu Mohammed, Premium Times
The Nigerian leader spoke Wednesday in a nationwide broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
PREMIUM TIMES has reported several cases of killings by armed groups in states like Niger, Kwara, Katsina, Zamfara, Anambra, and Borno. The killings have continued despite the efforts of security agencies.
Mr Tinubu, however, said victories achieved need to be celebrated.
“Peace has returned to hundreds of our liberated communities in North-West and North-East, and thousands of our people have returned safely to their homes,” he said.
Is Security Improving
The president’s words could pass as a political statement that does not reflect what millions of Nigerians are going through.
An analysis of Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a global data hub that collects real-time conflict-related data, showed that 7,472 people were killed while 12,584 were abducted in President Tinubu’s two years leadership. This data, based on attacks from 29 May 2023 to 19 May 2025, focuses exclusively on deaths and abductions perpetrated by terror groups.
Although the country has recorded some achievements against insecurity including the killings of over 15,000 insurgents in the North-east, the arrests of Ansaru leaders and the killings of bandits kingpins, the continued waves of violence put these feats to test.
The president’s words could pass as a political statement that does not reflect what millions of Nigerians are going through.
An analysis of Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a global data hub that collects real-time conflict-related data, showed that 7,472 people were killed while 12,584 were abducted in President Tinubu’s two years leadership. This data, based on attacks from 29 May 2023 to 19 May 2025, focuses exclusively on deaths and abductions perpetrated by terror groups.
Although the country has recorded some achievements against insecurity including the killings of over 15,000 insurgents in the North-east, the arrests of Ansaru leaders and the killings of bandits kingpins, the continued waves of violence put these feats to test.
Waves of violence
Terrorists continue to disrupt peace and stability in the three geopolitical zones in the north.
For the past few weeks, they have intensified attacks against civilians and security forces.
In Borno State, where Boko Haram and its splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have made a strong comeback, there is a resurgence of attacks and redisplacement of recently resettled communities.
Since January, insurgents have killed more than 130 people including in Borno. Some of the attacks as seen here, here, here, and here, targeted civilians and soldiers who were ambushed at their bases.
The North-east insurgency ravaging BAY (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe) states has lingered for 15 years, resulting in more than 40,000 deaths and around two million displacements.
In Niger State where bandits groups often collaborate with core terrorist groups like the Sadiku Boko Haram faction, abductions and killings have resurfaced.
Local residents told PREMIUM TIMES that armed gangs have laid siege to several communities in the northern senatorial district in the state. On Monday, the terrorists kidnapped many people from this area, including a former chairperson of Niger State Universal Basic Education Board.
A worse and similar pattern was witnessed in neighbouring Kwara State. At least 15 vigilantes and hunters were killed by terrorists in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area. Scores of villagers were also abducted during the raid.
In Patigi Local Government Area, where a pregnant woman and nine others were killed, several villages have been devastated by terrorists who specialise in cattle rustling and kidnapping for ransom.
Violence seemed to have simmered in Benue following the infamous Yelwata attack that claimed more than 200 lives, but attacks against security forces continue with the latest killing of nine police officers last month.
In Plateau, gunmen killed six people and abducted two others on 14 September in a village in Bokkos Local Government Area.
In the South-east, Amnesty International said at least 1,844 people were killed between January 2021 and June 2023. PREMIUM TIMES understands that the violence continues in remote areas.
The South-south region is also faced with a peculiar threat including waterway abductions, according to our analysis of the ACLED data. Cultism and other forms of violence remain the major threats in South-west.
Terrorists continue to disrupt peace and stability in the three geopolitical zones in the north.
For the past few weeks, they have intensified attacks against civilians and security forces.
In Borno State, where Boko Haram and its splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have made a strong comeback, there is a resurgence of attacks and redisplacement of recently resettled communities.
Since January, insurgents have killed more than 130 people including in Borno. Some of the attacks as seen here, here, here, and here, targeted civilians and soldiers who were ambushed at their bases.
The North-east insurgency ravaging BAY (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe) states has lingered for 15 years, resulting in more than 40,000 deaths and around two million displacements.
In Niger State where bandits groups often collaborate with core terrorist groups like the Sadiku Boko Haram faction, abductions and killings have resurfaced.
Local residents told PREMIUM TIMES that armed gangs have laid siege to several communities in the northern senatorial district in the state. On Monday, the terrorists kidnapped many people from this area, including a former chairperson of Niger State Universal Basic Education Board.
A worse and similar pattern was witnessed in neighbouring Kwara State. At least 15 vigilantes and hunters were killed by terrorists in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area. Scores of villagers were also abducted during the raid.
In Patigi Local Government Area, where a pregnant woman and nine others were killed, several villages have been devastated by terrorists who specialise in cattle rustling and kidnapping for ransom.
Violence seemed to have simmered in Benue following the infamous Yelwata attack that claimed more than 200 lives, but attacks against security forces continue with the latest killing of nine police officers last month.
In Plateau, gunmen killed six people and abducted two others on 14 September in a village in Bokkos Local Government Area.
In the South-east, Amnesty International said at least 1,844 people were killed between January 2021 and June 2023. PREMIUM TIMES understands that the violence continues in remote areas.
The South-south region is also faced with a peculiar threat including waterway abductions, according to our analysis of the ACLED data. Cultism and other forms of violence remain the major threats in South-west.
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
President Tinubu says "worst is over" on independence day amid worsening hardship
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu declared on Wednesday that the “worst is over” following a series of painful economic reforms that have left millions struggling with rising costs and deepening poverty.
In a national address marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, Tinubu defended his administration’s decision to scrap fuel subsidies and unify the foreign exchange rate - moves that triggered inflation and widespread public anger but, he said, were necessary to “reset” the economy.
“Less than three years later, the seeds of those difficult but necessary decisions are bearing fruit,” Tinubu said.
He cited second-quarter GDP growth of 4.23% - the fastest in four years - and a decline in inflation to 20.12% in August, the lowest in three years.
Tinubu also pointed to five consecutive quarters of trade surpluses, a rebound in oil production to 1.68 million barrels per day, and a rise in external reserves to $42.03 billion - the highest since 2019.
The president said the government had disbursed 330 billion naira ($222.90 million) to eight million vulnerable households under its social investment programme and was expanding infrastructure across rail, roads, airports, and seaports.
However, critics questioned the transparency of the cash transfer scheme. Two weeks ago, the finance minister announced the disbursement, sparking calls for a public register of beneficiaries.
Despite Tinubu’s upbeat tone, the IMF’s most recent Article IV assessment warned of persistently high inflation and worsening poverty.
Over 129 million Nigerians - more than half the population - live below the poverty line, while funding cuts by international donors have forced the World Food Programme to shut down 150 nutrition centres in the conflict-hit northeast.
“We are racing against time,” Tinubu said, even as critics including opposition party leader Peter Obi argue that his spending priorities have not matched the scale of the country’s humanitarian and economic challenges.
The speech comes amid growing labour unrest over the recent dismissal of 800 workers at the privately owned Dangote Oil Refinery for unionising.
The dispute has disrupted power supply and could threaten the oil production gains touted by Tinubu. ($1=1,480.4900 naira)
By Isaac Anyaogu, Reuters
In a national address marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, Tinubu defended his administration’s decision to scrap fuel subsidies and unify the foreign exchange rate - moves that triggered inflation and widespread public anger but, he said, were necessary to “reset” the economy.
“Less than three years later, the seeds of those difficult but necessary decisions are bearing fruit,” Tinubu said.
He cited second-quarter GDP growth of 4.23% - the fastest in four years - and a decline in inflation to 20.12% in August, the lowest in three years.
Tinubu also pointed to five consecutive quarters of trade surpluses, a rebound in oil production to 1.68 million barrels per day, and a rise in external reserves to $42.03 billion - the highest since 2019.
The president said the government had disbursed 330 billion naira ($222.90 million) to eight million vulnerable households under its social investment programme and was expanding infrastructure across rail, roads, airports, and seaports.
However, critics questioned the transparency of the cash transfer scheme. Two weeks ago, the finance minister announced the disbursement, sparking calls for a public register of beneficiaries.
Despite Tinubu’s upbeat tone, the IMF’s most recent Article IV assessment warned of persistently high inflation and worsening poverty.
Over 129 million Nigerians - more than half the population - live below the poverty line, while funding cuts by international donors have forced the World Food Programme to shut down 150 nutrition centres in the conflict-hit northeast.
“We are racing against time,” Tinubu said, even as critics including opposition party leader Peter Obi argue that his spending priorities have not matched the scale of the country’s humanitarian and economic challenges.
The speech comes amid growing labour unrest over the recent dismissal of 800 workers at the privately owned Dangote Oil Refinery for unionising.
The dispute has disrupted power supply and could threaten the oil production gains touted by Tinubu. ($1=1,480.4900 naira)
By Isaac Anyaogu, Reuters
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Bill Maher calls out media for ignoring killing of Christians in Nigeria
“If you don’t know what’s going on in Nigeria, your media sources suck. You are in a bubble. And, again, I’m not a Christian, but they are systematically killing the Christians in Nigeria,” Maher said on his show “Real Time with Bill Maher” on September 27.
“They’ve killed over 100,000 since 2009. They’ve burned 18,000 churches,” Maher said. “This is so much more of a genocide attempt than what is going on in Gaza. They are literally attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country. Where are the kids protesting this?”
Maher famously hosted the show “Politically Incorrect” and has said he is not beholden to any party or ideology. He often provides scathing sociopolitical commentary on his television show and podcast.
By Susie Pinto, News Nation
Thursday, September 25, 2025
President Tinubu warns UN: Reform or risk irrelevance
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has delivered a strongly worded reform policy proposal to the United Nations on Wednesday, warning that the global body must embrace sweeping restructurings or face growing irrelevance as world events increasingly bypass its influence.
The president criticised the organisation’s record, pointing to the ongoing human suffering in the Middle East and other regions as “stains on our collective humanity.”
In his address to the UN General Assembly’s 80th session, President Tinubu, who was represented by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, warned that the UN’s credibility is being undermined by the gulf between its words and its deeds while positioning Nigeria’s economic transformation as a model for developing nations.
“For all our careful diplomatic language, the slow pace of progress on these hardy perennials of the UN General Assembly debate has led some to look away from the multilateral model. Some years ago, I noticed a shift at this gathering: key events were beginning to take place outside this hall, and the most sought-after voices were no longer heads of state,” the president said.
President Tinubu outlined four key reform demands, starting with Nigeria’s call for permanent UN Security Council membership.
“Nigeria must have a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. This should take place as part of a wider process of institutional reform. The United Nations will recover its relevance only when it reflects the world as it is, not as it was,” he stated.
The president emphasised Nigeria’s transformation from “a colony of 20 million people, absent from the tables where decisions about our fate were taken” to “a sovereign nation of over 236 million, projected to be the third most populous country in the world, with one of the youngest and most dynamic populations on earth.”
President Tinubu also expressed deep frustration with the pace of international progress on critical issues, from nuclear disarmament to Security Council reform.
“When we speak of nuclear disarmament, the proliferation of small weapons, Security Council reform, fair access to trade and finance, and the conflicts and human suffering across the world, we must recognise the truth. These are stains on our collective humanity,” he stated.
Taking a direct stance on the Palestinian issue, the president declared: “We say, without stuttering and without doubt, that a two-state solution remains the most dignified path to lasting peace for the people of Palestine.”
He added: “The people of Palestine are not collateral damage in a civilisation searching for order. They are human beings, equal in worth, entitled to the same freedoms and dignities that the rest of us take for granted.”
Speaking further, President Tinubu proposed radical reforms to the global financial system, calling for new mechanisms to address the sovereign debt crisis plaguing developing nations.
“I am calling for a new and binding mechanism to manage sovereign debt, a sort of International Court of Justice for money, that will allow emerging economies to escape the economic straitjacket of primary production of unprocessed exports,” he said.
He emphasised the need for “urgent action to promote debt relief – not as an act of charity but as a clear path to the peace and prosperity that benefits us all.”
The president positioned Africa’s natural resources as central to future global stability, emphasising the need for African control over strategic minerals.
“Africa – and I must include Nigeria – has in abundance the critical minerals that will drive the technologies of the future,” President Tinubu said. “Investment in exploration, development and processing of these minerals, in Africa, will diversify supply to the international market, reduce tensions between major economies and help shape the architecture for peace and prosperity.”
He insisted that countries producing strategic minerals must “benefit fairly from those minerals – in terms of investment, partnership, local processing and jobs. When we export raw materials, as we have been doing, tension, inequality, and instability fester.”
On the new information frontiers, President Tinubu called for closing the digital divide, referencing the UN Secretary-General’s vision that “‘A.I.’ must stand for ‘Africa Included’.”
“I am calling for a new dialogue, to ensure we promote the best of the opportunities that are arising – and promote the level of access that allows emerging economies more quickly, to close a wealth and knowledge gap that is in no one’s interest,” he stated.
Addressing Nigeria’s ongoing economic transformation, President Tinubu acknowledged the difficult reality facing his citizens but said that Nigeria’s economic reforms represent a model for resilience.
“The government has taken difficult but necessary steps to restructure our economy and remove distortions, including subsidies and currency controls that benefited the few at the expense of the many,” he explained.
“I believe in the power of the market to transform. Our task is to enable and facilitate, and to trust in the ingenuity and enterprise of the people. But the process of transition is difficult,” the President said.
On Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and violent extremism, President Tinubu outlined a philosophy that prioritises ideological victory over military conquest.
“From this long and difficult struggle with violent extremism, one truth stands clear: military tactics may win battles measured in months and years, but in wars that span generations, it is values and ideas that deliver the ultimate victory,” he stated.
President Tinubu call for renewed commitment to multilateralism, while reaffirming “Nigeria’s commitment to peace, to development, to unity, to multilateralism, and to the defence of human rights is beyond compromise. For none of us is safe until all of us are safe.”
“We must make real change, change that works, and change that is seen to work. If we fail, the direction of travel is already predictable,” he warned.
The president criticised the organisation’s record, pointing to the ongoing human suffering in the Middle East and other regions as “stains on our collective humanity.”
In his address to the UN General Assembly’s 80th session, President Tinubu, who was represented by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, warned that the UN’s credibility is being undermined by the gulf between its words and its deeds while positioning Nigeria’s economic transformation as a model for developing nations.
“For all our careful diplomatic language, the slow pace of progress on these hardy perennials of the UN General Assembly debate has led some to look away from the multilateral model. Some years ago, I noticed a shift at this gathering: key events were beginning to take place outside this hall, and the most sought-after voices were no longer heads of state,” the president said.
President Tinubu outlined four key reform demands, starting with Nigeria’s call for permanent UN Security Council membership.
“Nigeria must have a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. This should take place as part of a wider process of institutional reform. The United Nations will recover its relevance only when it reflects the world as it is, not as it was,” he stated.
The president emphasised Nigeria’s transformation from “a colony of 20 million people, absent from the tables where decisions about our fate were taken” to “a sovereign nation of over 236 million, projected to be the third most populous country in the world, with one of the youngest and most dynamic populations on earth.”
President Tinubu also expressed deep frustration with the pace of international progress on critical issues, from nuclear disarmament to Security Council reform.
“When we speak of nuclear disarmament, the proliferation of small weapons, Security Council reform, fair access to trade and finance, and the conflicts and human suffering across the world, we must recognise the truth. These are stains on our collective humanity,” he stated.
Taking a direct stance on the Palestinian issue, the president declared: “We say, without stuttering and without doubt, that a two-state solution remains the most dignified path to lasting peace for the people of Palestine.”
He added: “The people of Palestine are not collateral damage in a civilisation searching for order. They are human beings, equal in worth, entitled to the same freedoms and dignities that the rest of us take for granted.”
Speaking further, President Tinubu proposed radical reforms to the global financial system, calling for new mechanisms to address the sovereign debt crisis plaguing developing nations.
“I am calling for a new and binding mechanism to manage sovereign debt, a sort of International Court of Justice for money, that will allow emerging economies to escape the economic straitjacket of primary production of unprocessed exports,” he said.
He emphasised the need for “urgent action to promote debt relief – not as an act of charity but as a clear path to the peace and prosperity that benefits us all.”
The president positioned Africa’s natural resources as central to future global stability, emphasising the need for African control over strategic minerals.
“Africa – and I must include Nigeria – has in abundance the critical minerals that will drive the technologies of the future,” President Tinubu said. “Investment in exploration, development and processing of these minerals, in Africa, will diversify supply to the international market, reduce tensions between major economies and help shape the architecture for peace and prosperity.”
He insisted that countries producing strategic minerals must “benefit fairly from those minerals – in terms of investment, partnership, local processing and jobs. When we export raw materials, as we have been doing, tension, inequality, and instability fester.”
On the new information frontiers, President Tinubu called for closing the digital divide, referencing the UN Secretary-General’s vision that “‘A.I.’ must stand for ‘Africa Included’.”
“I am calling for a new dialogue, to ensure we promote the best of the opportunities that are arising – and promote the level of access that allows emerging economies more quickly, to close a wealth and knowledge gap that is in no one’s interest,” he stated.
Addressing Nigeria’s ongoing economic transformation, President Tinubu acknowledged the difficult reality facing his citizens but said that Nigeria’s economic reforms represent a model for resilience.
“The government has taken difficult but necessary steps to restructure our economy and remove distortions, including subsidies and currency controls that benefited the few at the expense of the many,” he explained.
“I believe in the power of the market to transform. Our task is to enable and facilitate, and to trust in the ingenuity and enterprise of the people. But the process of transition is difficult,” the President said.
On Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and violent extremism, President Tinubu outlined a philosophy that prioritises ideological victory over military conquest.
“From this long and difficult struggle with violent extremism, one truth stands clear: military tactics may win battles measured in months and years, but in wars that span generations, it is values and ideas that deliver the ultimate victory,” he stated.
President Tinubu call for renewed commitment to multilateralism, while reaffirming “Nigeria’s commitment to peace, to development, to unity, to multilateralism, and to the defence of human rights is beyond compromise. For none of us is safe until all of us are safe.”
“We must make real change, change that works, and change that is seen to work. If we fail, the direction of travel is already predictable,” he warned.
Monday, September 22, 2025
Nigerian women protest for reserved seats in parliament
Several African countries, from Senegal to Rwanda, have increased the number of women legislators by using quota systems.
Nigeria, which has no such system, only counts four women senators out of 109 and 16 women in the 360-member House of Representatives, according to the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), a local NGO.
Dubbed the "Special Seats Bill", the legislation would add one woman-only seat for both the House and the Senate in each of Nigeria's 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory, though implementing the changes would require a constitutional amendment.
"We want the legislature to work for women," said Dorothy Njemanze, one of the organisers, who said she had counted more than 1,000 demonstrators in attendance.
Women's groups from across the country converged in Abuja, organising a caravan of buses, vans and a truck blasting up-tempo Afrobeats music that snaked through the wide boulevards of the planned city.
Advocates say that reserved seats would serve as a corrective to the financial barriers, entrenched gender roles and a domination of politics by male power brokers that keep women out of power in Africa's most populous nation.
The caravan ended with the delivery of signatures in support of the legislation to a House committee holding a hearing on constitutional reform.
President Bola Tinubu's minister for women's affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has signalled support for the legislation.
However, the PLAC, in its legislative analysis, warned that constitutional amendments are "no walk in the park", with two-thirds of the National Assembly and 24 state legislatures required to approve any changes.
Several similar attempts at creating reserved seats for women have failed in recent years.
"I want that seat, because tomorrow, I may be the one contesting" for it, Onu Ihunania, a 50-year-old civil servant and member of the caravan, told AFP.
A National Assembly with more women might better focus on women's health and economic inclusion, said Nyiyam Ikyereve, 40, who travelled several hours from Benue state to join the protest.
The lack of women's representation came to a head earlier this year when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the chamber after she complained about sexual harassment.
The Senate president maintained that Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for a separate incident related to an argument that erupted in the chamber over her seating arrangement.
Nigeria, which has no such system, only counts four women senators out of 109 and 16 women in the 360-member House of Representatives, according to the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), a local NGO.
Dubbed the "Special Seats Bill", the legislation would add one woman-only seat for both the House and the Senate in each of Nigeria's 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory, though implementing the changes would require a constitutional amendment.
"We want the legislature to work for women," said Dorothy Njemanze, one of the organisers, who said she had counted more than 1,000 demonstrators in attendance.
Women's groups from across the country converged in Abuja, organising a caravan of buses, vans and a truck blasting up-tempo Afrobeats music that snaked through the wide boulevards of the planned city.
Advocates say that reserved seats would serve as a corrective to the financial barriers, entrenched gender roles and a domination of politics by male power brokers that keep women out of power in Africa's most populous nation.
The caravan ended with the delivery of signatures in support of the legislation to a House committee holding a hearing on constitutional reform.
President Bola Tinubu's minister for women's affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has signalled support for the legislation.
However, the PLAC, in its legislative analysis, warned that constitutional amendments are "no walk in the park", with two-thirds of the National Assembly and 24 state legislatures required to approve any changes.
Several similar attempts at creating reserved seats for women have failed in recent years.
"I want that seat, because tomorrow, I may be the one contesting" for it, Onu Ihunania, a 50-year-old civil servant and member of the caravan, told AFP.
A National Assembly with more women might better focus on women's health and economic inclusion, said Nyiyam Ikyereve, 40, who travelled several hours from Benue state to join the protest.
The lack of women's representation came to a head earlier this year when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the chamber after she complained about sexual harassment.
The Senate president maintained that Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for a separate incident related to an argument that erupted in the chamber over her seating arrangement.
Friday, September 19, 2025
Nigeria lifts emergency rule in Rivers State after 6 months of political crisis
Nigeria’s president lifted emergency rule and removed the suspension of a state governor and lawmakers in oil-rich Rivers State on Wednesday after six months of emergency rule in response to a protracted political crisis and oil pipeline vandalism, according to a statement on social media.
The choice to impose emergency rule was meant “to arrest the drift toward anarchy in Rivers State,” said President Bola Tinubu in a statement defending the choice.
“This is undoubtedly a welcome development for me and a remarkable achievement for us. I therefore do not see why the state of emergency should exist a day longer than the six months I had pronounced at the beginning of it,” he said.
The crisis in the southern oil-producing region of Rivers State began after a political confrontation between incumbent Gov. Siminalayi Fubara and state lawmakers. Some lawmakers attempted to impeach Fubara, accusing him of illegally presenting the state budget and altering the composition of the legislature. Fubara has denied these accusations.
The oil-producing region of Nigeria has seen militant attacks targeting oil pipelines for years.
During the period of emergency rule, Nigeria's retired former navy chief Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas, ruled the state.
The Nigerian constitution allows emergency rule to maintain law and order in rare circumstances.
The last emergency in Nigeria was declared under President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013, in the northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe during the height of the Boko Haram insurgency. However, the state governors were not suspended then.
The choice to impose emergency rule was meant “to arrest the drift toward anarchy in Rivers State,” said President Bola Tinubu in a statement defending the choice.
“This is undoubtedly a welcome development for me and a remarkable achievement for us. I therefore do not see why the state of emergency should exist a day longer than the six months I had pronounced at the beginning of it,” he said.
The crisis in the southern oil-producing region of Rivers State began after a political confrontation between incumbent Gov. Siminalayi Fubara and state lawmakers. Some lawmakers attempted to impeach Fubara, accusing him of illegally presenting the state budget and altering the composition of the legislature. Fubara has denied these accusations.
The oil-producing region of Nigeria has seen militant attacks targeting oil pipelines for years.
During the period of emergency rule, Nigeria's retired former navy chief Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas, ruled the state.
The Nigerian constitution allows emergency rule to maintain law and order in rare circumstances.
The last emergency in Nigeria was declared under President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013, in the northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe during the height of the Boko Haram insurgency. However, the state governors were not suspended then.
By Dyepkazah Shibayan, AP
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Nigerian govt charges Sowore, Facebook, X with cybercrimes over anti-Tinubu posts
The trio were charged jointly with five counts of cybercrimes at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
It came about a week after the State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria’s secret police, threatened both X Incorp and Meta (Facebook) Incorp to delete Mr Sowore’s posts and deactivate his account or face the consequences.
SSS, which has a history of arresting and instigating the prosecution of Mr Sowore over his public views, also warned the activist to delete his latest social media posts calling Mr Tinubu a criminal.
Mr Sowore wrote to both X Incorp and Meta Incorp to defend his post, informing them that the call by the SSS was the latest in a series of harassments, rights violations, mistreatments he has received from the government over his public views and civic actions.
He also replied to the SSS, insisting he would not delete the posts.
Mr Sowore shared copies of the charges via his social media accounts on Tuesday.
He wrote, “The State Security Service, alias @OfficialDSSNG today filed a 5-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja against ‘X’ (formerly Twitter Facebook, and myself. They claimed that because I called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu a criminal, I have somehow committed a set of “novel” offences they invented and spread across five counts.
“It’s hard to believe there’s anyone sensible left in these offices that should be making Nigeria work. Regardless, I will be present whenever this case is assigned for trial. #RevolutionNow.”
By Yakubu Mohammed, Premium Times
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
U.S. defends visa revocations, cites security concerns as Nigerians face entry barriers
Responding to reports of visa revocations affecting Nigerian students, business travelers, and professionals who were asked to return their passports after being informed their visas were no longer valid, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja said the process was a security measure that falls within its legal mandate.
In an earlier report, Business Insider Africa disclosed that some Nigerians were being blocked from entering the U.S. after discovering at airports that their visas had been cancelled without prior notice.
The development was revealed by former NNPC spokesperson Femi Soneye, who said several Nigerians had reached out to him to complain about the cancellations, stressing that they came without any form of warning.
In an earlier report, Business Insider Africa disclosed that some Nigerians were being blocked from entering the U.S. after discovering at airports that their visas had been cancelled without prior notice.
The development was revealed by former NNPC spokesperson Femi Soneye, who said several Nigerians had reached out to him to complain about the cancellations, stressing that they came without any form of warning.
Embassy defends move to ‘secure borders’
A spokesperson for the Embassy told BBC News Pidgin that the revocations were being carried out on “a scale never seen before” as part of efforts to secure America’s borders.
Citing Section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the spokesperson noted that both the Secretary of State and consular officers are empowered to revoke visas at any time if there is “indication of a potential ineligibility.”
“The Trump Administration is protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process,” the Embassy stated.
“Prohibiting entry to the United States by those who may pose a threat to U.S. national security or public safety is key to protecting U.S. citizens at home.”
Officials further explained that revocations may target cases involving visa overstays, violations of U.S. law, engagement in criminal activity, or alleged ties to terrorism.
While Nigeria is not on Washington’s formal list of banned or restricted countries, the revocations have nevertheless alarmed many Nigerians who argue that the process lacks transparency, given that most recipients were told only that “new information had come up.”
The controversy has fueled frustration among affected travelers, particularly students and professionals, who say the sudden withdrawals have disrupted their academic, business, and personal plans.
Still, Washington has made it clear that its stance is unlikely to soften, as it continues to emphasize security imperatives over diplomatic sensitivities.
A spokesperson for the Embassy told BBC News Pidgin that the revocations were being carried out on “a scale never seen before” as part of efforts to secure America’s borders.
Citing Section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the spokesperson noted that both the Secretary of State and consular officers are empowered to revoke visas at any time if there is “indication of a potential ineligibility.”
“The Trump Administration is protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process,” the Embassy stated.
“Prohibiting entry to the United States by those who may pose a threat to U.S. national security or public safety is key to protecting U.S. citizens at home.”
Officials further explained that revocations may target cases involving visa overstays, violations of U.S. law, engagement in criminal activity, or alleged ties to terrorism.
While Nigeria is not on Washington’s formal list of banned or restricted countries, the revocations have nevertheless alarmed many Nigerians who argue that the process lacks transparency, given that most recipients were told only that “new information had come up.”
The controversy has fueled frustration among affected travelers, particularly students and professionals, who say the sudden withdrawals have disrupted their academic, business, and personal plans.
Still, Washington has made it clear that its stance is unlikely to soften, as it continues to emphasize security imperatives over diplomatic sensitivities.
By Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider Africa
Monday, September 1, 2025
Video - Nigeria pushes bill to boost women’s representation in parliament
In Nigeria, a proposed bill to reserve more parliamentary seats for women is gaining momentum. Proponents say it could boost female representation in the country where women hold only 20 of 469 seats. The bill proposes one additional seat for women in each state in both houses of parliament, along with three special seats for women in every state assembly.
Nigerian U.S. visa holders quietly blocked from entry as investigations unfold
A new report has revealed that the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has quietly begun revoking visas without warning, disrupting the lives of Nigerian professionals, entrepreneurs, frequent travelers, and families who suddenly find their mobility stripped away.
The revelation, made by Olufemi Soneye, former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of Nigeria’s national oil company, the NNPC Ltd, in an article published in The Cable, points to an unsettling pattern of unexplained cancellations.
According to Soneye, many Nigerians who had long traveled to and from the U.S. without incident are now receiving terse notices of revocation.
“Each had to abruptly cancel engagements, refund tickets, and explain to partners abroad why they could no longer show up. In some cases, the humiliation has been unbearable: travelers discovering at the airport, sometimes even at boarding gates, that their visas had been quietly invalidated."
"A few were briefly detained by immigration authorities before being sent home in shame,” Soneye disclosed, describing the embarrassment some affected visa holders faced at airports as they attempted to leave the country.
The cancellation letters, citing Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 41.122, claim only that “new information became available after the visa was issued.”
But beyond that line, no details are shared. No evidence is presented. No avenue for appeal is offered.
Recipients are told only that they may reapply, a costly and uncertain process that offers little reassurance to those who had already built business plans, family reunions, or educational opportunities around U.S. travel.
An offshoot of Trump’s immigration clampdown?
What makes the development more troubling is its timing.
The Trump administration has recently rolled out a series of visa restrictions targeting countries in Africa, citing security and immigration risks.
Nigeria, one of Africa’s top economy and a longstanding U.S. partner, has increasingly found itself caught in the dragnet. While Washington has not publicly linked the Nigerian cancellations to the broader policy shift, observers say the pattern fits within a tightening of U.S. entry controls for African nationals.
Yet the opacity of the process is raising alarms. Neither the U.S. Embassy in Abuja nor Nigerian authorities have issued a public statement explaining the sudden wave of cancellations.
For those affected, the silence is devastating. Many insist they have never overstayed their visas, violated immigration rules, or raised any security red flags. For them, the revocations feel less like routine enforcement and more like a targeted policy shift operating in the shadows.
“For many, this is not just about stamps on a passport. These visas are lifelines for education, family reunions, medical treatment, and critical business. To have them snatched away without explanation is to leave lives suspended in confusion and despair.” Soneye argued
The implications are wide-reaching. Each revoked visa represents not only an individual setback but also a blow to Nigeria’s international business and professional networks. Entrepreneurs lose access to global markets, students face uncertainty over study plans, and families are left grappling with missed reunions.
Shipping, oil and gas, and tech executives, sectors heavily reliant on U.S. ties, are particularly exposed.
In the absence of transparency, speculation is filling the void. Some see the cancellations as fallout from shifting U.S.–Africa relations under Trump.
Others suggest bureaucratic overreach or unannounced security screening measures.
But until officials in Washington or Abuja break their silence, thousands of Nigerians remain stranded in uncertainty and holding visas that no longer open doors.
The revelation, made by Olufemi Soneye, former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of Nigeria’s national oil company, the NNPC Ltd, in an article published in The Cable, points to an unsettling pattern of unexplained cancellations.
According to Soneye, many Nigerians who had long traveled to and from the U.S. without incident are now receiving terse notices of revocation.
“Each had to abruptly cancel engagements, refund tickets, and explain to partners abroad why they could no longer show up. In some cases, the humiliation has been unbearable: travelers discovering at the airport, sometimes even at boarding gates, that their visas had been quietly invalidated."
"A few were briefly detained by immigration authorities before being sent home in shame,” Soneye disclosed, describing the embarrassment some affected visa holders faced at airports as they attempted to leave the country.
The cancellation letters, citing Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 41.122, claim only that “new information became available after the visa was issued.”
But beyond that line, no details are shared. No evidence is presented. No avenue for appeal is offered.
Recipients are told only that they may reapply, a costly and uncertain process that offers little reassurance to those who had already built business plans, family reunions, or educational opportunities around U.S. travel.
An offshoot of Trump’s immigration clampdown?
What makes the development more troubling is its timing.
The Trump administration has recently rolled out a series of visa restrictions targeting countries in Africa, citing security and immigration risks.
Nigeria, one of Africa’s top economy and a longstanding U.S. partner, has increasingly found itself caught in the dragnet. While Washington has not publicly linked the Nigerian cancellations to the broader policy shift, observers say the pattern fits within a tightening of U.S. entry controls for African nationals.
Yet the opacity of the process is raising alarms. Neither the U.S. Embassy in Abuja nor Nigerian authorities have issued a public statement explaining the sudden wave of cancellations.
For those affected, the silence is devastating. Many insist they have never overstayed their visas, violated immigration rules, or raised any security red flags. For them, the revocations feel less like routine enforcement and more like a targeted policy shift operating in the shadows.
“For many, this is not just about stamps on a passport. These visas are lifelines for education, family reunions, medical treatment, and critical business. To have them snatched away without explanation is to leave lives suspended in confusion and despair.” Soneye argued
The implications are wide-reaching. Each revoked visa represents not only an individual setback but also a blow to Nigeria’s international business and professional networks. Entrepreneurs lose access to global markets, students face uncertainty over study plans, and families are left grappling with missed reunions.
Shipping, oil and gas, and tech executives, sectors heavily reliant on U.S. ties, are particularly exposed.
In the absence of transparency, speculation is filling the void. Some see the cancellations as fallout from shifting U.S.–Africa relations under Trump.
Others suggest bureaucratic overreach or unannounced security screening measures.
But until officials in Washington or Abuja break their silence, thousands of Nigerians remain stranded in uncertainty and holding visas that no longer open doors.
By Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider Africa
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Nigeria adopts US-style social media visa vetting
Nigeria on Monday said it plans to impose reciprocal visa requirements on US citizens following Washington's new rule demanding that Nigerian applicants disclose their social media activity for the past five years.
The Nigerian Foreign Ministry confirmed the decision after the US Mission in Nigeria issued its directive over the weekend.
What does the US visa rule require?
The US Mission said applicants must list all social media usernames, handles, email addresses and phone numbers linked to accounts used in the last five years.
"Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form," the mission said.
It added that applicants would be required to certify that the information in their visa application was correct before signing and submitting it.
"Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas," said the mission.
The regulation is part of broader measures by the Trump administration that it says are to "ensure national security."
The rule expands an earlier requirement for international students to share their accounts and even lower privacy settings.
Officials said the information would help vet applications more thoroughly.
What is Nigeria planning in response to the US visa requirement?
Nigerian Foreign Ministry spokesman Kimiebi Ebienfa said the government would adopt the same measures for Americans applying for Nigerian visas.
"Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures. Anything visa is reciprocal. What you are mandating our nationals to do, we will also mandate your citizens applying for our visa to do," he said.
He added that the Foreign Ministry will hold an inter-agency meeting with the Interior Ministry and the National Intelligence Agency to finalize the policy.
"We will have a meeting and agree on our best way to respond to it holistically," Ebienfa said. Officials stressed that Nigeria was informed of the US plan in advance.
The move comes as Nigeria faces pressure to protect its citizens from what it sees as restrictive foreign immigration rules.
Ebienfa's comments were reported in the online editions of two of Nigeria's biggest newspapers, Punch and Vanguard.
In July, Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar said the country would not bow to increased pressure to accept deported Venezuelans from US President Donald Trump.
The Nigerian Foreign Ministry confirmed the decision after the US Mission in Nigeria issued its directive over the weekend.
What does the US visa rule require?
The US Mission said applicants must list all social media usernames, handles, email addresses and phone numbers linked to accounts used in the last five years.
"Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form," the mission said.
It added that applicants would be required to certify that the information in their visa application was correct before signing and submitting it.
"Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas," said the mission.
The regulation is part of broader measures by the Trump administration that it says are to "ensure national security."
The rule expands an earlier requirement for international students to share their accounts and even lower privacy settings.
Officials said the information would help vet applications more thoroughly.
What is Nigeria planning in response to the US visa requirement?
Nigerian Foreign Ministry spokesman Kimiebi Ebienfa said the government would adopt the same measures for Americans applying for Nigerian visas.
"Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures. Anything visa is reciprocal. What you are mandating our nationals to do, we will also mandate your citizens applying for our visa to do," he said.
He added that the Foreign Ministry will hold an inter-agency meeting with the Interior Ministry and the National Intelligence Agency to finalize the policy.
"We will have a meeting and agree on our best way to respond to it holistically," Ebienfa said. Officials stressed that Nigeria was informed of the US plan in advance.
The move comes as Nigeria faces pressure to protect its citizens from what it sees as restrictive foreign immigration rules.
Ebienfa's comments were reported in the online editions of two of Nigeria's biggest newspapers, Punch and Vanguard.
In July, Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar said the country would not bow to increased pressure to accept deported Venezuelans from US President Donald Trump.
By Richard Connor, DW
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Nigeria to impose reciprocal measures on US citizens after new visa rules
The Federal Government has said it may subject United States citizens seeking Nigerian visas to the same requirements recently imposed by the US on Nigerian applicants.
The development follows new US visa regulations requiring applicants to submit details of their social media history and other online activities.
Speaking on Monday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said, “We are aware of the development. I think it’s part of the new measures they informed us about before implementation. On things of this nature, the best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action. Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures.”
Ebienfa added that an inter-agency meeting will be convened to determine Nigeria’s coordinated response.
“The government will have an inclusive meeting that will involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and also our National Intelligence Agency, NIA. The stakeholders that are involved will have a meeting and agree on our best way to respond to it holistically,” he said.
The US Mission in Nigeria had previously announced that visa applicants must provide their user IDs, email addresses, usernames, handles, and telephone numbers used on all platforms over the past five years.
The Mission warned that failure to submit accurate information could result in visa denial and ineligibility for future entry into the United States.
The directive forms part of broader immigration tightening measures introduced by the US government to enhance national security, expanding earlier rules that applied mainly to international student visa applicants.
The development follows new US visa regulations requiring applicants to submit details of their social media history and other online activities.
Speaking on Monday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said, “We are aware of the development. I think it’s part of the new measures they informed us about before implementation. On things of this nature, the best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action. Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures.”
Ebienfa added that an inter-agency meeting will be convened to determine Nigeria’s coordinated response.
“The government will have an inclusive meeting that will involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and also our National Intelligence Agency, NIA. The stakeholders that are involved will have a meeting and agree on our best way to respond to it holistically,” he said.
The US Mission in Nigeria had previously announced that visa applicants must provide their user IDs, email addresses, usernames, handles, and telephone numbers used on all platforms over the past five years.
The Mission warned that failure to submit accurate information could result in visa denial and ineligibility for future entry into the United States.
The directive forms part of broader immigration tightening measures introduced by the US government to enhance national security, expanding earlier rules that applied mainly to international student visa applicants.
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Video - Nigeria, U.S tensions mount over immigration and trade disputes
Relations between Nigeria and the U.S. are worsening following a dispute over deported Venezuelans, new U.S. visa restrictions, and trade tariffs on Nigerian exports. Experts say the conflict reflects deeper issues, including Nigeria’s foreign policy stance on Gaza.
Monday, July 21, 2025
Kemi Badenoch makes false claim about Nigerian citizenship
The Nigerian Constitution states that any person born outside Nigeria is automatically a citizen of Nigeria if either of their parents is a Nigerian citizen at the time of the child’s birth.
Ms Badenoch, however, said on Sunday that while many Nigerians are taking advantage of the UK’s relatively easy citizenship acquisition process, it remains “virtually impossible to obtain Nigerian citizenship.”
While speaking with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria during an interview, the 45-year-old British politician said there was a need for the UK to tighten its citizenship and immigration policy.
She used her children’s alleged inability to get Nigerian citizenship to illustrate the stark contrast between Nigeria’s approach and that of the UK.
“I have that (Nigerian) citizenship by virtue of my parents, but I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman,” she said.
“Yet loads of Nigerians come to the UK and stay for a relatively free period of time, acquiring British citizenship. We need to stop being naive,” she added.
Despite being born to Nigerian parents and migrating to the UK at the age of 16, Ms Badenoch has repeatedly criticised the UK’s immigration policy, which she says makes it too easy for citizens of Nigeria and other countries to move to the UK.
She has consistently called for stricter immigration controls.
“We are allowing our tolerance to be exploited. That is not right,” she said in the CNN interview.
“Nigerians would not tolerate that. That’s not something that many countries would accept.
“There are many people who come to our country, to the UK, who do things that would not be acceptable in their countries,” she added.
Reviewing Claim of Nigerian citizenship
Ms Badenoch’s claim about Nigeria’s citizenship policy is at best inaccurate.
Section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution states that any person born outside Nigeria is automatically a citizen of Nigeria if either of their paparents is a Nigerian citizen at the time of the child’s birth. This is regardless of whether that parent is the mother or the father.
By this, a Nigerian-born mother can pass citizenship to her child, just like a Nigerian-born father can.
Ms Badenoch did not provide details of her efforts to get Nigerian passports for her three children. However, based on the constitutional provision, the children could only legally have been denied Nigerian citizenship if she had renounced her Nigerian citizenship before their birth. Ms Badenoch is married to Hamish Badenoch, a Northern Irish bank official and politician. They got married in 2012.
The Conservative Party leader said that if her party becomes the UK’s ruling party, under her leadership, the UK would prioritise implementing stricter policies on citizenship acquisition and immigration.
“It’s been too easy. It is basically a conveyor belt. We want people who want to come to the UK and be net contributors, not people who will immigrate and then need welfare and social housing.
“That’s not right because they haven’t paid into the system,” she said.
By Beloved John, Premium Times
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Video - Former Nigerian President Buhari laid to rest
Thousands of mourners gathered at the residence of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to pay their respects. The 82-year-old former leader was laid to rest on Tuesday, in his garden.
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