Category: Happenings

The number of foreign students applying to bring family members to Britain has dropped by 80 per cent, new figures show.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a statement on Wednesday, May 1, said that the figures mean that his changes to the country’s visa system were working.

Home Office data reveals that more than 26,000 fewer student visa applications were made from January to March 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

Restrictions which bar most foreign students bringing their dependants into U.K. while they study came into force on January 1.

Across three visa categories reformed by the Home Secretary James Cleverly this year, there was a 24 per cent drop in applications overall, the figures showed.

The suspect, identified as Uzochukwu Okoli, was arrested after his daughter reported to the state Ministry of Women and Social Welfare about the ill-treatment being meted out to her by her father and the man he forced her to marry.

Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, the Media Aide to the state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, May 2, 2024.

Ikeanyionwu said the girl, identified as Chioma, who is currently 16 years old, told the ministry that after the d£ath of their mother, their father brought her back from Edo State, where they were going to school to take a husband.

The statement read, “She alleged that she was first forced to live with a 70-year-old man at the age of 14, but after some time, she ran back to her father’s house before he finally gave her out to a 34-year-old Chinedu N as husband.

Police operatives in Anambra State have arrested a 75-year-old barber, identified as Nwankwo Nweke, for allegedly raping his neighbor’s 8-year-old daughter.

The commissioner for women and social welfare in Anambra, Ify Obinabo, in a statement on Wednesday, May 1, said: “The parents of the 8-year-old, Mr John and Mrs. Ogochukwu Ugwuanyi explained that they sent their baby to get something at a nearby shop around 7 pm.

When she came back, they noticed the items were not complete and asked her to return to the shop after which they started looking for her.

On how they knew what transpired between their daughter and the 75-year-old, Mr and Mrs Ugwuanyi said that when their daughter finally came back that night, they questioned her to know what happened she told them that the suspect lured her to his house with a promise to give her mango.

Cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch on Wednesday, May 1, insisted that colonialism and the slave trade played a “minor role” in Britain’s economic development.

The Nigerian-born Business Secretary and Equalities Minister said that the UK’s economic success is instead the result of ‘British ingenuity and industry’ as she welcomed a new book by a rightwing think tank.

Despite the British Empire once being geographically the largest the world has ever seen, political economist Kristian Niemietz claimed Britain’s growth was not financed by the slave trade or its imperial possessions.

Writing for the Institute of Economic Affairs, Dr. Niemietz has argued that colonialism made only a ‘minor contribution’ to Britain’s economic development, ‘and quite possibly none at all’, with the benefits outweighed by the military and administrative cost of running an empire.

The teenage boy who died in the Hainault sword attack in north-east London, United Kingdom, has been identified as 14-year-old Nigerian, Daniel Anjorin.

It was gathered that Anjorin died from stab wounds shortly after he was taken to hospital on Tuesday, April 30. He was attacked on his way to school.

Four other people, including two police officers, were injured in the attack. Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley said one of the officers nearly lost her hand while apprehending the suspect.

The injuries suffered by all four are not thought to be life-threatening, and police don’t believe it was a targeted attack or terror-related. Police were called to reports of a car crashing into a house and people being stabbed in Hainault, north-east London.

Police said the 36-year-old suspect is in hospital being treated for injuries sustained when the vehicle he was in crashed into the house. The police said the suspect would be taken in for questioning immediately after he had some respite.

The Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote has described the floating of naira by President Bola Tinubu’s administration as the biggest mess that affected his company & other business owners in 2023.

Floating the naira allows market forces to determine its value in other currencies.

Speaking at an event on April 30, the billionaire said several manufacturing enterprises were impacted and suffered operational losses due to variations in the naira’s value against the US dollar.

According to him, “We are doing whatever it takes to make sure that at the end of the day, we will be paying dividends because if you look at our dividends last year, it was almost 50 percent more so we will try & get out of the mess.

The biggest mess created was the devaluation of the naira from N460 to N1,400. You can see almost 97% of the companies, especially in the food & beverages businesses, none of them will pay dividends this year for sure but, we will try & get out of it as soon as possible.

Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested a suspected human trafficker, identified as Olushola Areke, in Lagos State.

Olabisi Ayeni, the spokesperson of the 81 division of the army, in a statement, said troops of the 65 battalions operating under the 81 division arrested the suspect following actionable intelligence.

Ayeni said the suspect was accused of kidnapping Fayoke Kunle, a 22-year-old daughter of one Ainor Kunle.

“Mrs Kunle claimed she had voluntarily entrusted her daughter to the suspect, who had promised to secure employment for the young girl in Oshodi,  Lagos.

However, instead of heading to Oshodi as promised, the suspect moved Miss Kunle to Kano, where the victim later discovered herself and overheard discussions about being transported to Libya.

Miss Kunle courageously escaped from her captor and returned home on April 23, 2024.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, says social media have become a priority and issue of national security.

Speaking in Abuja, Ribadu said negative use of social media constituted both local and global threats.

He directed media managers in the defense, security, and response agencies to change their approach to engaging with the public and countering disinformation from enemies of the country.

According to him, members of the Strategic Communication Interagency Policy Committee must be proactive and strategic in national security communication management.

He said the spokesmen in the security sector must address the worrying use of the media and social media platforms in creating division between the citizens and governments at various levels.

Ribadu also listed the preponderance of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation as threats to national security and public engagement.

The Federal Government has approved 25% and 35% salary increases for civil servants across various consolidated salary structures.

The Head of Press, National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission, Emmanuel Njoku, in a statement on Tuesday, April 30, said the increases take effect on January 1, 2024.

The statement added that the augmentation applies to the six remaining consolidated salary structures, namely the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure, Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure, Consolidated Police Salary Structure, Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure, Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure, and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure.

Furthermore, the Federal Government has also approved pension increases ranging from 20% to 28% for pensioners enrolled in the Defined Benefits Scheme within the aforementioned consolidated salary structures, with the same effective date.

Changpeng Zhao, the billionaire founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, has been sentenced to four months in prison in the United States of America.

Zhao was sentenced by Seattle-based U.S. District Judge, Richard Jones, on Tuesday, April 30, following his guilty plea to anti-money laundering law violations.

Prosecutors had asked that Changpeng Zhao be jailed for up to three years when he appeared in a Seattle court as part of an effort by the Justice Department to clamp down on misbehavior in the crypto space.

In his plea deal, Zhao agreed to step down as Binance’s CEO and pay a $50 million fine for failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program, as well as sanctions violations linked to users in Iran, Cuba, Syria, and Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.

The minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has said any customer who is not currently enjoying a 20-hour electricity supply would not pay the new tariff.

The minister said this in Abuja on Monday, April 29, when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Power at an investigative hearing over the recent electricity tariff hike by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The minister also said that the federal government would pay the sum of N2.9 trillion to subsidise electricity this year if the tariff was not reviewed.

According to him, the government introduced the new policy to rescue the power sector.

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, May 1, 2024, as a public holiday in commemoration of Workers’ Day.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government on Tuesday, April 30. “‘In alignment with this year’s theme, which focuses on ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate, I wish to state that the Federal Government remains steadfast in its resolve to prioritise the safety and well-being of all citizens.

Let me reaffirm Mr. President’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for work, where every worker can thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations filed charges of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy against seven Nigerian men who acted as middlemen to receive $8 million proceeds of romance scams from the victims of Nigerian Internet fraudsters infamously called Yahoo Boys.

According to U.S. prosecutors, between March 2018 and June 2019, the septet collaborated with fraudsters based in Nigeria to execute romance scams across America, targeting lonely citizens who were vulnerable to falling for the schemes.

Using fake attractive personas online, the scammers lured vulnerable women into romantic relationships and began extorting them under the pretext of various financial needs like unprecedented medical illnesses and so on, the indictment sheet said.

The accused are 39-year-old Bolanle Christina Odeyale; Oghenemine Jeffrey Agbroko, 34; Charles Owhonigho Emurotu, 40; Jimmy Iwezu, 44, Lori Tsoritse, 38; Rukevwe Solomon Ologban, 44 and Christopher Onyedikachi Okereke, 38.

A grand jury indicted the seven defendants on February 14 after the FBI established that numerous elderly citizens had lost their life savings to the scam.

The indictment said the defendants colluded with the “Utah Money Transmitters” to facilitate the fraud money transfers outside the U.S.

“The defendants either helped the Utah Money Transmitters source opportunities to work with Yahoo boys or helped them to transmit the fraud proceeds from the District of Utah to other places within the United States or abroad,” stated the U.S. attorney’s office.

The accused opened new U.S. bank accounts to receive the proceeds of fraud from victims, took a cut of the fraud and sent the balance to the Yahoo Boys in Nigeria.

“By operating in the District of Utah, they opened accounts at United States financial institutions to be used to collect money from victims and to distribute money to the coconspirators, to conceal the ultimate destination of the funds and the Yahoo boys’ location and identities,” stated the attorney’s office.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to discontinue the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project to save jobs for Nigerians.

Obi said the project is a misplaced priority by the Federal Government adding that jobs would be lost to add to the current unemployment.

The FG has, then, begun the demolition of structures on the right-of-way of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.

The coastal road is designed to connect Lagos to Cross River state, passing through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states

Reacting to the development on Tuesday via his X page, Obi said the FG is insensitive to the cries of the people, as the project would amount to destruction of businesses and wastage of investments, adding to existing loss of jobs.


He wrote, “Contrary to reason and the necessity for compassion in public policy, the federal government has commenced the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project.

Related News
Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Demolition for first 3km begins Saturday

“The outcry against this project has been overwhelming due to the current situation in the country. However, reports as of yesterday indicate that demolition of businesses and residences in the designated right of way for the project has commenced from the Lagos end.

“The sight of this insensitive demolition is heart-wrenching. Livelihoods are being wiped away, lifetime investments are being wasted, and jobs are disappearing as bulldozers roar through. The homes of the elderly are being overturned by the power of bulldozers.


“This hasty flag-off defies the widespread outcry by the public, especially business and property owners directly affected by the project. Nobody knows the outcry that will accompany this project as it progresses towards poor rural landscapes.

“Thousands of jobs are about to be lost, with investments above $200 million at risk. Over 100,000 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector face imminent extinction, along with 80 small businesses and their 4000 mostly youth employees.

“At a time of rampant unemployment, the government is embarking on a job-losing project. The economic losses currently observed are primarily limited to the initial kilometers in the Lagos area.

“However, the 700 km stretch of this road will pass through rural regions where affected individuals lack the voice, power, or influence to assert their rights. Significant sections of the public have questioned the process preceding the project’s approval, yet the government remains deaf to reason and caution.

“While acknowledging the economic value of the road, its conception dating back to Tafewa Balewa’s time, several parameters have changed. Insecurity and poverty are rampant, placing this project lower on today’s national priorities.

“It’s time to question the rationale and timing of this and similar projects. The nation is in its worst economic state in history, with poverty and hunger spreading. The basic necessities of life are beyond reach for most Nigerians.

“This is a moment when a committed government cannot embark on non-essential projects. Existing highways urgently need maintenance, and insecurity makes travel unsafe.

“Just a few days ago, many lives were lost, and over 70 vehicles were burned in a fuel tanker explosion that occurred on the East-West road in Rivers State. This tragic accident was primarily caused by the extremely poor condition of the road, which has been neglected for years and urgently needs attention. Our economy is struggling, and our health institutions are ill-equipped. Why embark on an expensive new highway project when there are close to 50 abandoned federal highway projects across the country?

“The urgent necessities are nationwide security, poverty eradication, healthcare, and education, especially for the poor and underprivileged. It’s not too late to discontinue the Lagos-Calabar highway project.

“We cannot afford another expensive abandoned project. Nigeria’s urgent development needs are more real and essential. We do not need landscape decoration escapades.”

This comes days after the UK government published new details on the controversial deportation plan said to be aimed at deterring migrant arrivals on small boats from Northern Europe became law following months of parliamentary wrangling.

Lamonde reports that Rwanda has “in principle” agreed to receive no fewer than 5,700 migrants already in the UK, according to the Home Office.

The Home Office also said that of the 5,700 migrants to be deported, 2,143 “can be located for detention” before being flown to Rwanda.

Health Secretary, Victoria Atkins, said on Tuesday that law enforcement agencies will find the remainder, noting that “The expectation is that we remove that group of people by the end of the year.”

Atkins added that “If somebody doesn’t report as they should do. They will be found.”

The Home Office said that migrants who arrived in the UK between January 2022 and June 2023 are liable to have their asylum claims deemed inadmissible and be deported to Rwanda.

Official statistics showed that more than 57,000 people arrived on small boats after trying to cross the Channel during this 18-month period.

The figure underlines the scale of the challenge trying to stem irregular arrivals and the limits of the government’s contentious plan to send some of them to Rwanda.

Under the plan – set to cost UK taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds – their asylum claims will be examined by Kigali. If approved, they will be allowed to stay in Rwanda and not return to the UK.

Rwanda, home to 13 million people in Africa’s Great Lakes region, lays claim to being one of the most stable countries on the continent and has drawn praise for its modern infrastructure.

But Lamonde reports that rights groups accused the Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, of ruling in a climate of fear, stifling dissent and free speech. British lawmakers last week passed the Safety of Rwanda Bill, which compels British judges to regard the nation as a safe third country.

It followed a UK Supreme Court ruling last year that said sending migrants on a one-way ticket there was illegal.

The new law also gives decision-makers on asylum applications the power to disregard sections of international and domestic human rights law.

UK opposition parties, UN agencies and various rights groups have criticized the flagship policy of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government.

Recall that Sunak said last week that deportation flights are expected to begin within 10-12 weeks.

The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, on Monday, April 29, approved a new minimum wage of N70,000 for civil servants in the state.

The governor made the announcement at the inauguration of the newly built ultra-modern Labour House secretariat complex for labour unions in the state, along Temboga Road, Ikpoba-Hill, Benin City.

According to him, the new wage comes into effect on May 1st, 2024.

President Bola Tinubu says he is very proud of Nigerian youths because they are very excited & creative with technology.

The president said this during a meeting with Microsoft founder & philanthropist Bill Gates on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Special Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Sunday, April 28.

According to a statement by Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu said: “Technology is the enemy of fraud, corruption, and irregularity. We have been working hard on improving technology. There is always the initial resistance. Corruption, self-interest, and fraudulent activity will always be an enemy, but when you bend that curve, you will receive the benefit. The nation will receive the benefit.

I am proud of Nigeria’s youths. They are very excited and creative with technology. They encourage us as we continue to press our reform efforts forward for their future prosperity. This is Nigeria’s time to become what it ought to be.”

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has released the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, results.

Over 1.94 million candidates registered and sat the examination in 118 towns and over 700 centers across the country.

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, announced the release of the results at a press conference held at the board’s headquarters, Bwari, in Abuja on Monday.

The examination, which began on Friday, April 19 ended on Monday, April 29.

A Nigerian woman has received criticisms for the manner in which she’s teaching her daughter self-defense.

In a viral TikTok clip, the woman can be seen asking her daughter to punch her, scratch her face, as an example of what the girl must do to anyone who attacks or bullies her.

The video has sparked outrage online with some Nigerians questioning the woman’s method of teaching her daughter. Some observers also wondered if the woman in a bid to teach her daughter self-defense, isn’t unknowingly teaching her how to be a bully. However, in a reaction video, the mother claimed that her aim was to prepare her daughter for anyone who would dare bully her.

The Lagos State Police Command has launched an investigation into the death of a 42-year-old man, Gihan Mbelu, said to be the chairman of the Victoria Garden City in the Lekki area of the state.

According to a post by one Deji Lambo, the financial adviser and venture capitalist was found unconscious in his C300 4Matic car around 10.10 am on Friday, April 26, 2024, around VGC.

He was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital where he was confirmed dead by a doctor on duty.

It was gathered that people decided to inspect his vehicle which had been running for hours at the spot where it was parked.

Concerned by the discovery, some of the people in the area, upon close observation of the vehicle, found Mbelu in it,” the post read.


“While some people speculated that the 42-year-old man might be sleeping, some other persons, who were bent on ascertaining Mbelu’s true state, reportedly made frantic efforts to wake him up but it proved abortive.

“In a bid to rescue Mbelu, it was learnt that he was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital where he was reportedly confirmed dead by one of the doctors on duty.

“Mbelu’s corpse was said to have been deposited in the hospital’s morgue. The case was also reported to the police for an investigation to commence to ascertain the circumstances surrounding Mbelu’s death.”