The United States Embassy in Abuja has clarified that the recent overhaul of routine visa services in Nigeria has not shut the door on all visa processing in the Federal Capital, confirming that applications for foreign media representatives, diplomats and other official travellers remain covered under separate arrangements. The clarification is particularly significant for Nigerian journalists and other foreign media professionals seeking I visas, amid growing uncertainty following the United States government’s decision to realign routine visa services in Abuja with designated regional visa hubs. The new arrangement, which took effect on August 1, 2026, moved routine visa processing away…
Author: Abimbola Ogunaike
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The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued more than 180 children allegedly trafficked from five states, uncovering a network of suspected criminal groups operating under the guise of civil society and humanitarian organisations. The agency also arrested a nurse at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Onitsha, Anambra State, after she was allegedly found in possession of one of the trafficked children. According to a statement on Monday, 31 August, 2026, by the spokesman of the agency, Vincent Adekoye, the latest operation led to the recovery of three children allegedly taken from distressed families in…
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, opposition political parties on Monday, 31 August, 2026 met in Abuja for a major summit aimed at strengthening cooperation. The summit organised by the G-100 is holding at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, with the theme, ‘A Framework for Opposition Cooperation and Coordination’ Representatives of six political parties: the African Democratic Congress, Allied Peoples Movement, Nigeria Democratic Congress (Taminu Turaki-led), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) were in attendance The convener of the summit, Salihu Lukman, noted that the objective of the meeting is…
By Chuks Collins, Awka Some yet to be identified three-man assassins suspected to be cultists have shot and killed a very popular media personality on the afternoon of Sunday, 30 August, 2026, in Awka, capital of Anambra State, reports thegazellenews.com The popular public announcer, broadcaster, radio guest artiste and comedian, Isaac Nwosu, aka ‘Aiza Nwosu’, was according to eye witnesses shot point while driving in Awka. Thegazellenews.com reports further that he was not the only one shot, two other victims were also shot and killed at separate locations, point-blank, gangster style on the same day. The state Commissioner of Police, Nnanna…
The Iconic Argentina mercurial midfielder, Lionel Messi on Monday, 31 August, 2026 announced his retirement from international football after earning 207 caps for his country, reports thegazellenews.com. “It was a decision that hurt – and still hurts deep down – but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave it my all – not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.…
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has acknowledged the depth of the crisis confronting West African integration, with its new Commission President, General Birame Diop, declaring that the regional bloc must rebuild its unity and urgently reopen meaningful engagement with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Diop, who assumed office on Monday, made the declaration in Abuja at the formal handover ceremony from the outgoing Commission President, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, signalling a potentially significant shift towards reconciliation with the three Sahel countries that withdrew from ECOWAS. The new ECOWAS chief said the regional organisation could not allow political…
On Monday, 31 August, 2026, Nollywood stars, family members and friends of late veteran actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo gathered at the Stadium in Ilaro, Ogun State, for his eighth-day Fidau prayer. Ogogo died on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the age of 66, was buried in Ilaro, his hometown, on August 24, in accordance with Islamic rites, a day after his death was announced. Videos shared via Instagram by #EmiraltyAfrica showed guests arriving in numbers for the ceremony. Among the Nollywood personalities in attendance were veteran actors, Yinka Quadri and Jide Kosoko, and actress, Faithia Balogun amongst…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola The Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) has debunked reports that veteran actor and its immediate past president, Adewale Elesho, is suffering from skin cancer, saying he has undergone a successful operation and is recovering. The National Publicity Secretary of the association, Oluwafemi Adejonwo, popularly known as Femson, disclosed this in a Facebook post on Sunday, 30 August, 2026 following concerns over an injury noticed on Elesho’s face. Speculation about the actor’s health intensified after the injury was noticed during the burial of veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, in Ilaro, Ogun State.…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola The Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, has dismissed allegations of financial misappropriation at the agency, insisting that its disbursement process is transparent and electronically traceable. Sawyerr made this known in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, 31 August, 2026 saying NELFUND requires adequate capital to provide loans to students under the Federal Government’s student loan scheme. He linked the scheme to the Tinubu administration’s decision to redirect funds from subsidy towards welfare programmes, including student financing. “There is no evidence of any financial misappropriation by NELFUND. The reality of…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered N1.233 trillion, and $684.4 million in cash and assets in thirty-four months, securing ten thousand, eight hundred and seventy-two convictions from fourteen thousand, four hundred and seventy-six cases filed in court, reports thegazellenews.com The Commission disclosed this in an operational performance report covering Sunday, 1 October, 2023, to Friday, 31 July, 2026, presented at the Executive Chairman’s media briefing. It said it received 49,673 petitions within the period, investigated 39,615 of them, representing 79.8 per cent, and filed 14,476 cases in court, representing 36.5 per cent of petitions…