The European Union said it has earned €3.4m from rejected Schengen visa applications submitted by Nigerian citizens, Nairametrics reports. This, according to Schengen visa statistics on Saturday, occurred from Nigerian visa applicants in 2023. Globally, the EU governments raked in €130 million from rejected Schengen visa applications with African and Asian countries shouldering 90 per cent of the costs, according to reports from EUobserver.com on Saturday. The report also indicates that African countries particularly, are disproportionately impacted, with rejection rates as high as 40-50 per cent for Ghana, Senegal, and Nigeria. Notably, the figures do not account for the costs…
Author: Daily News Hub
A socio-cultural organisation of Ibadan indigenes, Ibile G-7, on Sunday, kicked against a statement credited to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on the enthronement of the current Balogun of Ibadanland, Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin, as the substantive Olubadan. Ibile G-7 described Makinde’s comments as unfortunate and capable of leading to disaffection in the ancient city. The Governor had on Saturday said Olakulehin would be installed as the 43rd Olubadan when he’s strong enough to complete the installation processes. But Ibile G-7, in a swift reaction, said Makinde is not a medical doctor, and couldn not determine if the Olubadan-designate was fit…
Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and it stands as a mandatory religious duty for Muslims. This pilgrimage must be carried out at least once in the lifetime of every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able to undertake the journey. As one of the five pillars of Islam, Hajj holds immense spiritual and religious significance, forming a core component of the Muslim faith and practice. The religious significance of Hajj lies in its commemoration of the trials and sacrifices of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), his wife Hajar (Hagar), and their son Ismail (Ishmael). The…
A civil society organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has dragged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to court. SERAP described its legal action against the government as imperative in order to ensure financial transparency. The lawsuit demands the publication of detailed spending reports and agreements related to loans acquired by the administrations of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari. The suit, which was filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, aims to compel the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Debt Management Office to disclose how these loans, which amounts to billions…
No fewer than five bandits have been killed by the troops of Operation Whirl Punch in the Dantarau general area of the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. It was learnt that the troops had taken a fighting patrol to the Kachia-Kajuru general area when they clashed with the bloodthirsty bandits. Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. Aruwan also said scores of bandits that engaged the troops in a gun duel sustained fatal injuries. He, however, warned locals against providing medical support to questionable individuals without making…
Suspected bandits, on Sunday, abducted the presiding priest of St. Thomas Parish, Zaman Dabo Community, in the Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Rev. Father Gabriel Ukeh. Father Ukeh was reportedly abducted at the parish rectory in the early hours of Sunday. The Vicar General (Pastoral), Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Kazah, disclosed this on Sunday in a press statement. According to Kazah, “While we solicit for fervent prayers for his urgent and safe release, we equally condemn this act of incessant kidnappings for ransom of innocent and defenceless citizens of our communities, and we call upon the government to…
Sacked employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria are still grappling with the shock of their sudden dismissal. They’ve now accused the apex bank’s management of maltreatment and injustice. The workers have also claimed that many of them were not paid their entitlements before they were sacked, a move they argued violates the bank’s human resource rules and policy. North Central Coordinator of the Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Communities Development Association Youth Wing, Paul Dekete, in a statement on Sunday in Jos, Plateau State,called for the immediate reinstatement of the sacked workers. According to the statement, “The purge wasn’t limited…
By Dele Sobowale “The jaws of power are always open to devour, and her arms are always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking and writing [the truth] – John Adams,1735-1826, US President, 1797-1801. The Nigerian media, print, electronic, main line and online, except the traitors in the industry, is under attack now as never before since the late General Sani Abacha. Now, as then, those whose principles have not been compromised by being now closer to the corridors of power must close ranks and wage this war against freedom to the end. The end, of…
The Federal Ministry of Works says it is working with the police to tighten security and stop vandalism on the Third Mainland Bridge to save the public infrastructure. The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos. NAN reports that operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the police command in Lagos State had on Friday arrested a suspected vandal removing LED road stud lights on the newly-renovated Third Mainland Bridge. According to the police, the suspect had already removed 10 of the…
Samuel Adesola, Abuja Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 127 suspected internet fraudsters in Akure, Ondo State. The spokesman of EFCC, Mr Dele Oyewale, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja. According to him, the alleged internet fraudsters were arrested in an early morning sting operation at a “Yahoo Party” held simultaneously at Signature and Abah Clubs on Saturday, in Akure, Ondo State. ”Credible intelligence showed that the alleged party was initially scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, 2024 but was later moved to Saturday to beat security and intelligence…