Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

New Passport Office For Senior Officials In Abuja Sparks Scepticism Amid US Visa Policy Shift. The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a new passport front office in the capital, heralded as a solution to expedite passport processing for senior public officials and address long-standing delays for ordinary citizens. The initiative, announced today, aims to streamline access to travel documents, a move the government claims demonstrates its commitment to improving public services. However, the timing of this development, juxtaposed against the recent US visa policy changes restricting Nigerians to single-entry, three-month non-immigrant visas, has raised questions about the government’s true…

Nigerian Banks To Enhance Tax Compliance With New ₦5m Transaction Reporting Rule From 2026. Starting January 2026, Nigerian banks will begin reporting customer accounts with monthly transactions exceeding ₦5 million to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and other tax authorities, marking a significant step towards greater financial transparency. This directive, part of the 2025 Tax Reform Act, was announced by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) via its official X account, highlighting the government’s commitment to aligning Nigeria’s fiscal policies with global standards. The new rule, outlined in Section 30 of the Act, positions commercial banks as key players…

FCT Primary School Teachers Resume Classes After Wike’s ₦16 Billion Intervention Ends Three-Month Strike. Primary school teachers across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called off their three-month strike, bringing relief to thousands of pupils and parents as classrooms are set to reopen on Wednesday, 9 July 2025. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) FCT Wing announced the suspension following a ₦16 billion intervention by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, aimed at addressing long-standing salary arrears and implementing the new national minimum wage. The strike, which began on 24 March 2025, stemmed from the non-payment of teachers’ entitlements, including the…

EFCC Crackdown On Illegal Mining In Niger State Arrest 5 Chinese Nationals. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made a significant stride in its fight against illegal mining, arresting five Chinese nationals and four Nigerians in Kaniyan Village, Mokwa Local Government Area, Niger State. The operation, conducted by the EFCC’s Kaduna Zonal Directorate, underscores the agency’s commitment to tackling economic sabotage and environmental degradation caused by unauthorised mining activities across Nigeria. The suspects, identified as Wu Ping, Xu XianLiang, Xu Aimin, Xue Cihuo, and Liu Changhua, alongside Nigerians Ibrahim Abdullahi, Sunday Oladele, Destiny John, and Bulus Samuel, were…

Devastating Flash Floods Ravage Central Texas, Claiming Over 100 Lives. Central Texas is reeling from catastrophic flash flooding that struck over the Fourth of July weekend, leaving at least 104 people dead and more than 160 missing, according to state officials. The floods, driven by a slow-moving storm system that dumped up to 15 inches of rain in mere hours, have been described as one of the deadliest natural disasters in Texas history. The Guadalupe River, swollen by torrential downpours, overwhelmed communities in Kerr, Travis, and Burnet Counties, with the Christian summer camp, Camp Mystic, suffering some of the most…

Jeff Bezos Sells $666 Million In Amazon Shares As Part Of Strategic Plan Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has sold nearly three million shares of the tech giant, valued at approximately $665.8 million, over two days in early July, according to a regulatory filing released on Tuesday. The transaction is part of a pre-arranged trading plan, announced earlier this year, which will see Bezos divest up to 25 million shares by May 2026. The sale follows his high-profile wedding to Lauren Sánchez, a lavish three-day event in Venice that reportedly cost $50 million and drew a star-studded guest list. Bezos, who…

Chelsea Triumph Over Fluminense To Secure Spot In 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Final. Chelsea FC delivered a commanding performance at MetLife Stadium, defeating Brazilian side Fluminense 2-0 in the semifinal of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, securing their place in the final. New signing João Pedro emerged as the hero, scoring two stunning goals on his full debut against his boyhood club, propelling the Blues to a showdown against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, July 13. A Dominant Display Led by João Pedro Chelsea, under the guidance of head coach Enzo Maresca, showcased their…

CBN Tightens Banking Oversight With End To Forbearance And New Capital Restoration Plans. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the termination of all COVID-19-era regulatory forbearance measures, effective 30 June 2025, and directed banks to submit detailed Capital Restoration Plans (CRPs) by 14 July 2025. The move, outlined in a circular signed by Dr Olubukola Akinwunmi, Director of Banking Supervision, signals the CBN’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s banking sector as part of its ongoing recapitalisation programme. The forbearance measures, introduced during the pandemic to ease financial pressures on banks, included waivers on Single Obligor Limits (SOL) and…

Labour Party Faction Led By Julius Abure Converge To Expel Peter Obi Over ADC Coalition Alignment. A faction of the Labour Party (LP), led by Julius Abure, has announced plans to expel its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for his involvement with a new opposition coalition backed by the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The decision, revealed by Abayomi Arabambi, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, was made public during an interview on Channels Television’s *The Morning Brief* on Tuesday, 8 July 2025. Arabambi accused Obi of engaging in anti-party activities by aligning with the ADC-led coalition, which includes prominent figures…

Kuda Technologies Processes ₦14.3 Trillion in Transactions In Q1 2025, Signals Robust Growth. Lagos, Nigeria – Kuda Technologies, Nigeria’s leading digital bank, has reported a staggering N14.3 trillion in transactions processed across over 300 million dealings in the first quarter of 2025, underscoring its rapid expansion and growing influence in the fintech sector. The announcement, made during a media briefing in Lagos on Monday, highlights the bank’s pivotal role in driving financial inclusion and digital banking in Africa’s largest economy. Babs Ogundeyi, Kuda’s chief executive officer, provided a detailed breakdown of the figures, revealing that retail banking users contributed…

BREAKING: US Limits Nigerians’ Non-Immigrant Visas To Three-Month Validity, One-Time Entry. In a notable policy shift, the United States Department of State has introduced new restrictions on non-immigrant visas for Nigerian citizens, effective as of 8 July 2025. According to the US Embassy in Nigeria, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerians will now be valid for a single entry with a maximum duration of three months. This change, part of a reciprocal visa policy review, aims to align travel regulations between the two nations while preserving their robust bilateral relationship. The US Embassy clarified that visas issued…

Breaking: ASUU Calls Off Nationwide Strike After Federal Government Settles June Salaries. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its nationwide strike, bringing relief to students and parents across Nigeria. The decision follows the Federal Government’s prompt payment of the outstanding June 2025 salaries to university lecturers, which had triggered the industrial action. On Monday, ASUU directed its members to withdraw services due to delays in salary payments, citing its “No Pay, No Work” policy. The strike, which began affecting federal universities such as the University of Jos and the University of Abuja, disrupted academic activities and…