Headline

70 Nigerians Register For Evacuation From Lebanon

Published

1 year ago

October 13, 2024

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to rescue Nigerians currently trapped in Lebanon as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah worsens, according to The PUNCH.

This comes as the President of the Nigerian Community in Lebanon, Mr. Roland Aigbovbiosa, said more than 70 Nigerians have so far registered for evacuation from the crisis-ridden country.

The current crisis began in September when Iran launched a barrage of 180 ballistic missiles toward Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Iran-backed militant leaders.

The missile attack, which targeted key sites in Israel, sent Israelis scrambling to shelters, raising concerns about a wider regional conflict.

Although the Israeli Defense Forces managed to intercept the missiles, the incident has heightened instability in the region, including Lebanon, which borders Israel and faces its own internal security challenges.

In response to the situation, the Federal Government, through the Special Assistant to the Nigerian President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, issued an alert on October 1 via X.com, urging all Nigerians in Lebanon to get in touch with the Nigerian Embassy in Beirut for profiling, documentation, and potential evacuation.

The government activated its emergency evacuation protocols through the agencies working closely with the Nigerian mission in Lebanon, especially the National Emergency Management Agency, among others.

Some of the trapped Nigerians in the country cried out to the Federal Government last week for quick intervention as the conflict deepened in Beirut, the Lebanese capital.

Speaking with The PUNCH, the spokesperson for NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel, said the agencies and the coordinating Ministry of Foreign Affairs were already intensifying efforts on the evacuation plans.

He noted that the evacuation plans were to give a sense of national responsibility given the critical conditions of some Nigerians in the troubled country.

“That is the whole sense of it. If it happens, fine. If it doesn’t happen, fine. At least, it shows that the government did not fold its arms while its citizens were in a crisis zone.

“But as I speak to you, all the preparations are still on the table. So that is just the idea,” he stated.

On how far the registration for evacuation had gone, the President of the Nigerian Community said on Saturday, “Last week, the number was around 30. But since then, Nigerians have been coming almost every day, so we now have a little above 70.

“The issue we are facing now is knowing how soon the Federal Government will commence the evacuation.”

Explaining why the government should kick off the evacuation exercise immediately, he said, “Personally, I oppose the idea of waiting for the number to increase to either 400 or 500 before coming to evacuate the people, because even the life of a single person matters.

“I believe that whatever we have is enough for the evacuation to begin because the people who have indicated an interest in going back home are suffering.”

Headline

Russia, China Afraid Of US Under My Administration — Trump

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

United States President, Donald Trump, has said Russia and China fear the United States because of the strength of his administration, arguing that American global influence is driven primarily by its military power and leadership.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday stated that rival powers would not take NATO seriously without the United States, claiming the alliance lacks deterrent force in the absence of American involvement.

He expressed doubts about whether NATO members would come to the aid of the US in a real crisis, despite Washington’s continued commitment to the alliance.

The president credited his leadership with rebuilding the US military during his first term and sustaining its strength, describing this as the key reason adversaries show respect and caution toward the country.

He maintained that America’s military dominance has played a central role in preserving global stability and saving lives.

Trump also argued that his administration forced NATO members to increase defence spending, saying many allies had previously failed to meet financial commitments while relying heavily on the US.

He added that his actions helped prevent further escalation in Eastern Europe and contributed to the resolution of multiple conflicts.

According to Trump, the United States remains the only nation that commands genuine fear and respect from both Russia and China, a position he attributed to his administration’s approach to defence, diplomacy, and global leadership.

“He wrote partly, “The only Nation that China and Russia fear and respect is the DJT REBUILT U.S.A. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! President DJT.”

Headline

Trump To Withdraw US From 66 UN, International Organisations

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

United States President, Donald Trump, has announced plans to withdraw the US from 66 United Nations and international organisations, including key global bodies focused on climate change, peace and democracy.

The decision was disclosed in a presidential memorandum released by the White House on Wednesday evening, following a review of which “organizations, conventions, and treaties are contrary to the interests of the United States.”

According to Trump, the move will see the US end its participation in the affected organisations and cut all related funding.

A list shared by the White House showed that 35 of the organisations are non-UN bodies, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Although listed as a non-UN body by the White House, the IPCC is a United Nations organisation that brings together leading scientists to assess climate change evidence and provide periodic reports to guide political leaders.

The memorandum also announced the US withdrawal from 31 UN entities, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN Democracy Fund, and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which focuses on maternal and child health.

Several of the targeted UN bodies are involved in protecting vulnerable groups during armed conflicts, including the UN Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict.

Reacting to the announcement, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a note to correspondents on Wednesday evening that the organisation expected to issue a response by Thursday morning.

Despite repeatedly stating his desire to limit US involvement in UN forums, Trump has continued to exert influence on international decision-making.

In October last year, he threatened to impose sanctions on diplomats who formally adopted a levy on polluting shipping fuels that had already been agreed to at an earlier meeting, a move that stalled the deal for 12 months.

The Trump administration also sanctioned UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese after she released a report detailing the role of international and US companies in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

During his first term in 2017, Trump similarly threatened to cut aid to countries that supported a draft UN resolution condemning the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the US wields significant influence at the United Nations, including veto power, which it has repeatedly used to block efforts to end Israel’s war on Gaza before later mediating a ceasefire.

(Aljazeera)

Headline

UK Supported US Mission To Seize Russian-flagged Oil Tanker – Defense Ministry

Published

2 days ago

January 7, 2026

Editor

The British Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday that it provided support to the United States in its operation to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic.

US seized the tanker, which was being shadowed by a Russian submarine on Wednesday, after pursuing it for more than two weeks across the Atlantic as part of Washington’s efforts to block Venezuelan oil exports.

According to Britain, its armed forces gave pre-planned operational support, including basing following a US request for assistance.

The UK also said a military vessel provided support for the US forces pursuing the tanker, and the Royal Air Force provided surveillance support from the air.

Defence Secretary John Healey stated that the operation targeted a vessel with a nefarious history linked to Russian and Iranian sanctions evasion networks.

“This action formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting,” he said in a statement.

According to him, the US was Britain’s closest defence and security partner.

“The depth of our defence relationship with the US is an essential part of our security, and today’s seamlessly executed operation shows just how well this works in practice,” he added.

The British government said that the Bella-1 tanker, now renamed Marinera, is sanctioned by the US under its counter-Iran sanctions,

The MoD statement said the support was provided in full compliance with international law.