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US to suspend visa issuance to Nigerians from January 1, 2026

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The United States will partially suspend the issuance of certain visas to Nigerian nationals from January 1, 2026, following a new presidential proclamation on border and national security.

The US Mission in Nigeria announced on Monday that the restriction will take effect at 12:01 am Eastern Standard Time in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”

According to the statement, Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the measure.

Others include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe

The proclamation provides for a partial suspension of visa issuance covering nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as F, M and J student and exchange visitor visas. It also applies to immigrant visas, with limited exceptions.

The US Mission clarified that the suspension does not apply to everyone.

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Exemptions include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with a passport from a country not affected by the suspension, and Special Immigrant Visas for eligible US government employees.

Other exempted categories include lawful permanent residents of the United States and participants in certain major international sporting events.

The US government stressed that the proclamation only applies to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and who do not hold a valid US visa as of January 1, 2026.

“Foreign nationals, even those outside the United States, who hold valid visas as of the effective date are not subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998. No visas issued before January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation,” the statement read.

Visa applicants from affected countries may continue to submit applications and attend interviews.

However, the US Mission noted that such applicants “may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States” under the new rules.

Recent weeks have seen a series of restrictive measures by the United States that have heightened concerns among Nigerians seeking to travel, study or migrate to the country.

In October, Washington added Nigeria back to its list of countries accused of violating religious freedom, a move that officials linked to persistent insecurity and attacks on Christian communities.

This was followed by Nigeria’s inclusion on a revised US travel ban list, imposing partial entry restrictions on Nigerian nationals.

The US has also tightened immigration and visa policies affecting Nigerians.

Earlier this year, the US government reduced the validity of most non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians to single-entry visas with a three-month duration.

More recently, reports indicated that applications for certain immigrant visas, including green cards, could face suspension under a new presidential proclamation, although US authorities have clarified that lawful permanent residents and holders of valid visas issued before January 1, 2026, are exempt and will not have their status revoked.

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My govt cares – Tinubu reassures Nigerians amid worsening insecurity, hardship

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Tinubu scraps Ministries of Niger Delta, Sports
President Bola Tinubu
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President Bola Tinubu has restated that his government is committed to addressing the country’s main problems, including economic difficulties, power shortages and safety issues.

Speaking in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Tinubu stated that his government is still focused on policies aimed at helping the poorest and most at-risk Nigerians.

He said: “We won’t stop moving forward, and we’ll keep looking for ways to help those who are struggling.

“This is a government that really cares.”

He noted that having steady power supply is very important for development, stressing that industrial growth and learning new skills mostly rely on having dependable electricity.

“You can’t have industrial growth, learning new skills, or people gaining strength without having enough power.

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“I promise Nigerians that we will provide electricity to support our country’s development,” he said.

The president also thanked Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, for the way he leads the state.

“Diri has shown the strength of leading with a clear purpose, and I am here today making a promise that the challenges we face, along with the legacy of those who led this country, including the battles and difficulties of ensuring security, will be met with hard work to properly equip and train our men and women in the Armed Forces. We will defeat terrorism and banditry.”

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BREAKING: Ebonyi Catholic Bishop, Peter Chukwu is dead

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Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, Dr Peter ChukwuP
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The Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, Dr Peter Chukwu is dead.

A source said the Bishop died where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

Meanwhile, a social media influencer, Nwoba Chika Nwoba, in a post on his Facebook page, mourned the demise of the Bishop.

He wrote, “A very bad one for us in Ebonyi State. The loss of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, Dr Peter Chukwu is a terrible loss.

“This loss is huge. God knows why, but it’s painful losing him in his 50s. A refined man and Associate Professor. This loss is beyond Ezza’s loss. It’s well. We can’t take war to God’s place. Kidney transplant issue. NCN.”

The authorities of the Catholic Church is expected to issue an official statement announcing the demise of the Bishop.

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Terrorism: Ex-Borno senatorial candidate jailed 10 years

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday sentenced former senatorial candidate in Borno State, Babagana Habeeb, to 10 years’ imprisonment for aiding terrorism through the sale of petroleum products to insurgents.

The trial judge, Peter Lifu, convicted Habeeb on a one-count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism filed by the Federal Government.

Habeeb, a fuel dealer based in Maiduguri, had pleaded guilty to the charge upon arraignment, admitting that he sold fuel to members of the Boko Haram operating in the North-East.

The convict, however, claimed that the transactions might have been carried out by attendants at his filling station.

During the proceedings, Habeeb appealed for leniency, kneeling in the dock as he urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

He told the court that he had two wives and six children and had been in detention for over 10 years without contact with his family.

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Counsel to the Federal Government, David Kaswe, opposed the plea, arguing that the support provided to the terrorist group had serious consequences.

Kaswe submitted that the supply of fuel enabled the insurgents to power motorcycles used in attacks, leading to loss of lives and displacement of communities.

He urged the court to impose a stiffer penalty, noting that although the defendant had spent over a decade in custody, a 20-year sentence would be appropriate.

In his judgment, Justice Lifu held that there was no evidence establishing that the defendant was a member of Boko Haram or had undergone weapons training.

He, however, ruled that the admission of selling fuel to the insurgents was sufficient to sustain the charge of aiding terrorism.

The judge also noted that the prosecution did not challenge the defendant’s claim of prolonged detention.

Justice Lifu consequently sentenced Habeeb to 10 years’ imprisonment.

He ordered that the sentence should take effect from the date of the convict’s arrest and detention.

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