Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has urged the Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general to sustain the virtues of unity, peace, and sacrifice that defined the Holy month of Ramadan.

Mbah made the call in his Eid-el-Fitr message to Enugu and Nigerian Muslim Ummah on Thursday.

In a message he personally signed, the governor said, “I extend my warmest greetings to the Muslim Ummah in Enugu State in particular and Nigerians in general as they celebrate the joyous occasion of Eid-el-Fitr, marking the successful completion of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

“The sacred period of Ramadan, defined by sacrifice, discipline, and deep spiritual reflection, typifies the rebirth that we fervently pray for and look forward to as a nation.

“As we mark this special day, may the enduring lessons of brotherhood, compassion, and the shared humanity that prevailed throughout Ramadan usher in a new season of unity and progress in our country.

“May these virtues inspire us to rise above every challenge and strengthen our bonds to work together towards a more peaceful, just, and prosperous Nigeria.

“In Enugu State, we remain committed to building an inclusive society where every citizen can thrive and contribute meaningfully to our shared future irrespective of religious and ethnic backgrounds.

“I pray that this Eid-el-Fitr celebration brings joy to every home, rekindles hope in our hearts, and reinforces our common resolve to build a Nigeria of our dreams.”

Mbah wished Nigerians, especially Muslims a happy Eid-el-Fitr.

Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has appointed veteran journalist Onyekwere Nwobodo as Special Adviser on Media, making him the chief spokesperson of the state government.

The appointment, which took effect last Monday, places Nwobodo at the helm of government communications, overseeing press relations and strategic messaging across all platforms.

A seasoned media professional, Nwobodo rose through the ranks at The Punch newspapers, serving as Judiciary Editor, Assistant News Editor, and Bureau Chief for the South‑East and South‑South.

He later led the state-owned Daily Star as General Manager and Editor‑in‑Chief.

A member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, he brings extensive experience in journalism, political communication, and public engagement to his new role.

Nigeria has signed a new deal with the United Kingdom (UK)
which will allow Britain deport thousands of failed asylum seekers and
criminals to the West African country.

The agreement was signed by Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of
interior, and Shabana Mahmood, home secretary, during President Bola Tinubu’s
state visit to the UK, the Home Office announced on Thursday.

Tinubu’s two-day state visit spanned Wednesday and Thursday.

The new deal will also allow Britain to send visa
overstayers to Nigeria and comes with wide flexibility for the English country.

Under the agreement, the Nigerian government will, for the
first time, allow undocumented deportees to use UK letters, an alternative
identification certificate issued to individuals without a valid passport and
used to support the return of people with no right to remain in the UK.

Nigeria uses emergency travel documents as supplementary IDs
for undocumented travellers.

The Home Office said Nigeria’s willingness to accept UK
letters as an alternative removes one of the major administrative hurdles to
returning individuals to their countries.

The start date and duration of the deal were not specified.
It is also unclear if there will be any financial incentives.

In 2022, the UK struck a similar deal with Rwanda, agreeing
to pay at least £370 million to the East African nation as part of its plan to
relocate asylum seekers there. But that deal later went sour after British
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the pact “dead”.

It is also uncertain if the deportees will include other
nationalities or be restricted to Nigerians.

Currently there are 961 Nigerian failed asylum seekers in
this country who have exhausted their rights of appeal, Daily Mail reports.

There are also 1,110 foreign national offenders from Nigeria
who the Home Office is waiting to deport.

Both groups are now more likely to be kicked out speedily.

Tunji-Ojo said Nigeria’s signatory to the deal shows that
“we are totally committed to being a responsible country in fulfilling our core
obligations”.

“And for us to sustain that relationship, we must remember:
‘He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.’ So, we need to be as open
and as fair as possible,” the minister said.

Alex Norris, UK minister for border security and asylum,
said Nigeria is a key partner in tackling illegal migration as the UK’s largest
African visa market.

“We owe everyone across the system fairness,” Norris said,
adding that “anyone who abuses our systems, breaks our laws or tries to cheat
their way into Britain will be stopped and removed”.

A further agreement to launch joint operations and share
information on criminal gangs abusing visa routes was also reached, the Home
Office added.

The deal was prompted by a string of high‑profile
cases involving fake job sponsorships, sham marriages, and forged financial or
employment records.

Nigeria is also set to review its laws to tackle immigration
crime, ensuring the toughest possible sentences are handed down to offenders.

The Home Office noted that a new partnership targeting
online scammers involved in romance fraud, investment scams and cryptocurrency
schemes would also deliver stronger protections for the UK public.

The new “fusion cell” model will bring together public‑sector
bodies, banks, tech firms and communications companies to rapidly share
intelligence on criminal tactics so swift action can be taken.

Aprokorepublic

Many African countries are only weeks away from fuel
shortages, as larger and more powerful economies move ahead of them in the
queue amid the war in the Middle East.

According to a Bloomberg report on Wednesday, the war has
sparked a scramble by African nations to secure new sources of petroleum,
putting strained budget and fragile economic recoveries at risk.

Bloomberg said although the Dangote refinery has ramped up
quickly after initial construction delays, it will not be able to fully replace
supplies from the Gulf, particularly after meeting its domestic obligations in
its Nigeria.

“The Persian Gulf was once a dependable, steady and
conveniently located fuel supplier to meet Africa’s steadily rising demand,”
the publication said.

“Most of the diesel that’s shipped out of the Strait of
Hormuz usually headed to the continent.

“The US-Israel strikes on Iran have changed all that —
effectively closing the crucial maritime chokepoint and leaving a gigantic fuel
hole for developing nations to fill.”

Bloomberg said countries in eastern and southern Africa
depend on the Middle East for three-quarters of their supply.

The report also highlighted Kenya’s vulnerability, noting
that it renewed contracts last year with major Gulf players Aramco, Adnoc, and
Enoc.

Compounding the challenging outlook, Bloomberg said numerous
refineries — from Mombasa and Lusaka to Durban and Limbe — have closed over the
past decade, reflecting a long-standing lack of investment.

“Several projects have been pitched in recent years to build
new capacity, but plants have remained closed. South Africa stands as the most
severe example, with domestic refining being cut in half,” the report said.

“Prices will soon be — or have already been — hiked, driving
inflation and setting back hopes of lower interest rates. Costs are set to
climb sharply when South Africa does its monthly adjustment in April — diesel
is seen spiking to a record — and there’s not much the Treasury can do about
it.”

The publication said smaller nations also face persistent
foreign-exchange shortages, which can delay fuel shipments, while investing in
strategic oil reserves remains a luxury that few governments can — or are
willing to — finance.

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Nigeria ranked fourth in the global terrorism index (GTI)
2025 as attacks increased by 43 percent compared to 2024.

Pakistan topped the index, followed by Burkina Faso in
second position and the Niger Republic, which is third in the ranking.

The GTI 2026, which measures the impact of terrorism in
countries in 2025, was released by the Institute for Economics & Peace
(IEP), a non-profit think tank headquartered in Sydney, Australia.

According to the report, terror attacks in Nigeria increased
by 43 percent in 2025, with 171 incidents recorded during the year, compared to
120 in 2024.

Nigeria moved up two places in the ranking, from sixth in
2024 to fourth in 2025.

The report stated that Islamic State West Africa Province
(ISWAP) and Boko Haram were responsible for most of the terror attacks in the
country in 2025.

Civilians were the most targeted groups in 2025, accounting
for 67 percent of the attacks, while the military accounted for 19 percent,
according to the report.

“In 2025, Nigeria rose two places in the index, reflecting
the significant increase of terrorist activity in the country,” the report
stated.

“Terror attacks in Nigeria increased by 43 per cent this
year, from 120 incidents in 2024 to 171 in 2025.

“Deaths from terrorism have continued to rise, increasing by
46 per cent to 750 in 2025. This marks the highest death toll since 2020,
driven by internal instability as well as ongoing conflict between ISWAP and
Boko Haram.

“Together, fatalities attributed to these groups accounted
for 80 per cent of all terrorism-related deaths in the country in 2025.

“Terrorist activity this year was heavily concentrated in
the northeastern state of Borno, which experienced 67 per cent of attacks and
72 per cent of deaths in 2025.

“Civilians continued to be the most targeted group in 2025,
accounting for 67 per cent of fatalities, while military forces represented 19
per cent.

“This percentage has been steadily increasing over the last
five years, highlighting a clear shift in terrorist targeting patterns in the
country.”

The report also stated that 750 people died and 243 were
injured in 171 terror attacks in Nigeria in 2025, while 12,581 deaths have been
recorded since 2007.

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Peller, the Nigerian TikToker, has addressed the controversy
surrounding his recent visit to the Benin Kingdom, following condemnation from
the Benin traditional council.

The council had criticised the visit, describing it as
“unauthorised” and a breach of palace protocol.

It also summoned Peller to appear before a committee of
chiefs and warned that the queen involved in the encounter could face removal
from the palace.

In a statement released on Thursday, Peller’s management
clarified that the visit was properly initiated through official channels and
was never intended to disrespect Benin culture.

According to the statement, a formal request for a courtesy
visit was submitted to the palace on February 23. The visit was initially
scheduled for March 3 but was later moved to March 6. To substantiate their
claim, the team attached a copy of the submitted letter.

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They explained that although they had been informed ahead of
time that the Oba would not be available, they were nonetheless welcomed into
the palace and received by chiefs, who guided them through its history and
traditions.

The team acknowledged that certain moments during the visit
may have been perceived as inappropriate but insisted there was no ill intent.

“We would like to sincerely address the concerns surrounding
Peller’s recent visit to the Benin Kingdom. First and foremost, we acknowledge
the deep cultural significance of the Benin Kingdom and extend our utmost
respect to its traditions, heritage and people,” the statement reads.

“Peller and his team, with the facilitation of Uyiekpen
Ogiefa, son of Chief Courage Uyi Ogiefa, the N’ozeben of the Benin Kingdom,
formally submitted a letter on February 23rd to the palace requesting a
courtesy visit scheduled for March 3rd, and it was later moved to March 6th
(letter attached herein).

“Ahead of the visit, the team was clearly informed that the
Oba would not be available. However, they were graciously welcomed to the
palace, with arrangements made for them to be received by Uyiekpen Ogiefa and
the palace chiefs, as well as guided through the palace while being educated on
its history, culture, and traditions.

“This was fully respected, and the visit proceeded
accordingly. That said, we understand that certain moments during the visit may
have been perceived as inappropriate. We sincerely wish to clarify that this
was never the intention. Any mispronunciations or actions were unintentional
and purely human, possibly influenced by excitement and the warmth of the
reception.”

The statement reaffirmed Peller’s commitment to promoting
Nigerian culture, stressing that he would never deliberately disrespect the
heritage he is passionate about showcasing to the world.

“Peller is deeply passionate about promoting Nigerian
culture, and it would never be his intention to disrespect the very heritage he
is committed to showcasing to the world. At no point was it the mission or
intention to offend or disrespect the culture in any way,” they continued.

“We, however, acknowledge that there may have been
misconceptions arising from the visit and sincerely apologize for any such
misunderstandings. We appreciate the feedback and the continued support.”

Aprokorepublic

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has said it is leveraging the historic state visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the United Kingdom to deepen diaspora enrolment in the National Identification Number (NIN) scheme.

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, was among top government officials who received the President and the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, during the visit hosted at the invitation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

NIMC said the visit reflects Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in critical areas, including digital transformation, identity management and innovation.

In a statement, the commission’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, noted that the engagement created “a strategic platform to advance the ongoing diaspora National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment initiative.”

He added that the initiative is designed to ensure Nigerians in the diaspora are seamlessly integrated into the national identity database, in line with the government’s broader digital inclusion agenda.

“For NIMC, the occasion is far more than diplomatic pageantry. It is a strategic opportunity, one the Commission is seizing with purpose.

” At the heart of its agenda is the on-going diaspora National Identification Number (NIN) enrollment initiative, a drive to ensure that Nigerians living abroad are not left behind in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystem”, Adegoke said.

Adegoke quoted the NIMC boss as saying that the Commission had resolved to not only expand NIN enrollment access globally but also to significantly scale up operations in the United Kingdom.

“The UK is home to one of the largest Nigerian diaspora communities in the world,” she noted, and highlighted the deep historical, economic, and diplomatic bonds that make the present push both timely and necessary.

She assured that more enrolment centers would be opened with better service delivery, and seamless digital processes as Nigerians abroad deserve nothing less.

“The stakes are real. Enhanced NIN services in the UK mean that Nigerians in the UK can obtain their NIN and NIN-related services without delays, access essential services, and seamlessly plug into Nigeria’s growing digital economy, from wherever they are in the world.

“But the Commission’s ambitions don’t stop at international borders. Back home, NIMC is simultaneously executing a ground-level revolution through its ward-level enrollment strategy, a grassroots initiative designed to carry identity services directly to the people, especially in rural and underserved communities where access has historically been limited.

“No more long distances. No more unnecessary barriers. Identity, delivered to the doorstep.

This dual-track approach, scaling the diaspora enrollment drive while intensifying registration at the ward level, is not coincidental.

” It is deliberate, and it reflects NIMC’s deep commitment to inclusive identity management. It is also perfectly aligned with the Federal Government’s broader vision of harnessing digital identity as a catalyst for economic growth, social protection, and effective governance” Engr Coker-Odusote said.

She added that the visit to the United Kingdom not only reinforced Nigeria’s diplomatic and innovation agenda, but also highlighted the critical role of identity infrastructure in connecting citizens at home and abroad to opportunities in an increasingly digital world.

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The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has issued Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to Binani Air Global Services to commence scheduled flight operations.

Speaking in Abuja during the presentation of the certificate, the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo commended the airline’s resilience and determination, describing the certification as a historic milestone and a significant breakthrough, marking the emergence of a female-led airline in a sector long dominated by men.

Capt. Najomo lauded the airline’s owner, Sen. Aishatu Dahiru Binani and the management team for their persistence throughout the certification process, stressing their determination and consistency in addressing every requirement and obstacle until the certification was finally achieved.

Najomo, however noted that obtaining the AOC marks only the beginning of a more demanding phase, advising the airline’s management to prioritise proper planning, professionalism, and continuous adherence to safety and operational standards as there is no room for shortcuts in the industry.

Sen. Binani expressed gratitude to the NCAA for its guidance and professionalism throughout the process, describing the journey as both challenging and rewarding.

She also acknowledged the support of President Bola Tinubu, and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for their deep commitment to creating an enabling environment which has contributed significantly to the airline’s success.

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The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned Nigeria’s ranking as the fourth most impacted country in the 2026 Global Terrorism Index, describing it as a damning indictment of the All Progressives Congress-led administration’s handling of national security.

According to the Global Terrorism Report, the Sahel region has emerged as the “global epicentre of terrorism,” accounting for almost half of all terrorism-related fatalities for the third consecutive year in 2025.

The report, released on Thursday, showed that Nigeria climbed to fourth position on the index, recording 750 deaths in 2025—a 46 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the report reflects worsening insecurity across the country and accused the government of failing in its primary responsibility to protect lives and property.

The PDP urged President Bola Tinubu to use his political acumen to decisively address the protection of lives and property across the country.

The statement read in part, “The just-released Global Terrorism Index 2026 by the Institute for Economics and Peace indicates that our country, under the leadership of the APC-led government, has infamously earned a fourth position in the world on the impact of terrorism survey.

“Nigeria and four other countries accounted for almost seventy per cent of deaths from terrorism. Nigeria also had one of the two largest increases in deaths from terrorism. While this report is not surprising to Nigerians, it is most painful that those who promised and were elected and appointed to secure our country are winning, dining, and dancing in a faraway land, whilst terrorists are killing and kidnapping citizens rampantly.”

“This global report aligns with the daily lived reality of Nigerians, who are now more insecure than they have ever been in this Fourth Republic. In fact, under President Tinubu’s watch, insecurity has not just become very lucrative; it has attained a trillion-naira economy status.”

“We call on the President and the entire security hierarchy to stop performing reactive responses that have defined post-attack communications and rather adopt a whole-of-society approach towards solving insecurity.

“Furthermore, they should evolve programmes and policies capable of delivering negative peace (cessation of attacks and incidents) immediately and providing the basis for positive peace (voluntary and unforced harmonious co-existence).

“It needs reminding that the primary duty of every government is the protection of lives and property—a task that this administration has consistently and glaringly failed.”

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