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FG To scrap Visa-on-arrival Policy By April

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The Federal Government has revealed plans to discontinue its visa-on-arrival policy, describing it as “unsustainable” and a potential security risk.

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Friday at the graduation ceremony of 100 officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service who underwent a five-day specialised training on the application of Advance Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record data in national security and law enforcement at the service headquarters, Abuja.

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Explaining the benefits of a data-driven visa system, Tunji-Ojo said, “We believe that it is better for us to make decisions based on objectivity rather than subjectivity.

“Of course, that will lead to the cancellation of the visa-on-arrival process because visa-on-arrival, we understand, is not a system that works.

“I don’t expect you to just come to my country without me knowing you’re coming in. No, it’s never done anywhere.”

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According to the minister, Advance Passenger Information systems will be deployed at the land borders.

Also, new regulations would require pre-arrival clearance from Interpol, criminal record systems and other background-check agencies in real-time.

READ ALSO: List Of Countries Every Nigerian Can Visit Without A Visa in 2025

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He stated, “We’ve sorted API in five international airports. We’ll now adapt it to land borders because we’ve seen a pattern where people fly out and re-enter through the land borders.

“What we are looking at is that for any decision that borders on immigration into Nigeria, it will be impossible for approvals to be given without the clearance of Interpol, criminal record system and all background checking agencies in real-time. We have to ensure this.”

“When it comes to security,” he explained further, “life will never remember us for the 99 per cent we get right. History will remember us for the 1 per cent we do wrong. And security is not a sector where you can afford to be 99.9 per cent accurate. It just has to be 100 per cent.”

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Set to commence between March 1 and April 1, 2025, he said the reforms aim to protect Nigerians and meet international security obligations.

We must be responsible in the comity of nations,” the minister concluded, vowing to defend “even the weakest Nigerian with our last drop of blood.”

Nigeria’s visa-on-arrival policy was introduced to simplify entry procedures for eligible foreign nationals visiting for business or tourism.

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Instead of obtaining visas at Nigerian embassies or consulates before travel, qualified travellers could receive entry approval upon landing, provided they met all documentation and fee requirements.

READ ALSO: FG Announces Date For Online Visa Applications

This approach was designed to encourage investment and boost tourism by reducing bureaucratic hurdles.

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However, security experts have warned against potential security lapses, including the difficulty of thoroughly vetting entrants who only submit their documents at the port of entry.

Tunji-Ojo said the aim is to replace the current system by April 1, 2025, with stricter processes that include pre-arrival clearance and more rigorous screening, ensuring better tracking of travellers and safeguarding Nigeria’s borders.

So we are going to bring these massive reforms, and these reforms start between March 1 and April. What we’re trying to do is to be able to safeguard our people.

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“It is for us to be responsible in the comity of nations and to be able to contribute our fair quota to all our foreign international partners,” he stated.

He urged the 100 officers to apply their learning to the best of their ability.

READ ALSO: Kenya Grants Visa-free Entry To all Africans, Excludes Two Countries

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“We have over 10,000 immigration officers. You are part of the privileged 100. It’s an opportunity for you to write your name in gold.

“You are my biggest assets. The Minister of Interior and the Comptroller-General are useless without efficient, capable and competent offices.

“If you sleep and a person of interest enters this country, the target might be your wife, husband, children or even you. Implement it with all patriotism,” Tunji-Ojo added.

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For her part, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, said the programme originated from discussions held with a delegation of the United Nations Office for Counter-Terrorism during the seventh border Management and Identity Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, from December 11 – 13, 2024.

Over the past five days, we have successfully trained 100 immigration officers, drawn from the command and control centre and other key units,” she stated, urging them to apply their skills diligently.

Meanwhile, the International Organisation for Migration, Paola Pace, said the end of the five-day training marks the start of a new call for improved service delivery.

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READ ALSO: Ghana Announces Visa-free Entry For Africans

She opined, “While this training marks the completion of one phase, it is by no means the end of our work as it lays the foundation for the next and must now be transmitted into sustained action.

“As you return to your respective duties, I encourage you to apply the knowledge gained to enhance Nigeria’s border management, foster intelligence collaboration with effective intelligence sharing, and ensure API aligns with national security priorities while supporting broader migration governance and patents.”

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The Programme Management Specialists, Robert Musgrave, a PIU expert, and Dennis Hands, a law enforcement expert, expressed satisfaction with working with the participants.

They emphasised the positive impact of the training on participants regardless of rank or position.

The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of certificates to the participants by the Minister of Interior.

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FG Security Agency, Nigerian Army Move To Tackle Illicit Small Arms, Light Weapons

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The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Northeast Zonal Centre, under the Office of the National Security Adviser to the President has partnered with the Nigerian Army to fight the menace of the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in the country.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to Brig.-Gen. U.V Unachukwu, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Nigerian Army Headquarters in Maiduguri on Wednesday, Maj-:Gen Abubakar Adamu (Rtd), the Northeast Zonal Coordinator, NCCSALW Northeast Zonal Centre, said the collaboration was necessary in mopping up Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Zone.

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While stating the negative impact the proliferation of illicit SALW has on peaceful coexistence in the nation and its socio-economic activities, Adamu pledged the Centre’s continuous cooperation with the Division especially in intelligence sharing which he said, was paramount in preventing the proliferation of this SALW in the country.

READ ALSO: FG Predicts Heavy Rainfall, Flood In Seven States

“One of our responsibilities is to prevent the proliferation of small Arms and Light Weapons and to also enlighten the people. We are a multi agency department and we have the police, the DSS, and also retired military officers as well as serving military officers.

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“We have been empowered to receive all illicit small arms and light weapons that have been retrieved from all the agencies and we are the people responsible to destroy them

“We are also the only organization empowered to prosecute gun runners and all the people that have been arrested in terms of dealing with small arms and light weapons.

“What we are doing is to visit major stakeholders and to also share intelligence, information and to collaborate because we know without the armed forces, there is no way we can eradicate the proliferation of small Arms and Light Weapons,” he said.

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READ ALSO: FG Predicts Heavy Rainfall, Flood In Seven States

He further commended the Nigerian Army for always being at the forefront in ensuring that country is safe for all to live in, promising to strengthen the partnership in order to further make the country a better place for all to live.

Responding, Brig.-Gen. U.V Unachukwu promised the Division’s support to the Zonal Centre so as to achieve its mandate while recalling the pass records of the Zonal Director as a result-oriented senior officer.

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He also commended the Centre for working hand in hand with all the security agencies, traditional rulers and key stakeholders, adding that this would go a long way in mopping up and tackling the proliferation of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons in the country.

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Arrears: AAU Management Replies ASUU Over

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The management of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma has responded to a recent publication by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), AAU Chapter, alleging that the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sunday Olowo Samuel, claimed to have cleared all staff arrears.

A statement issued by Otunba Mike Aladenika, Principal Assistant Registrar and Head of Information, Protocol, and Public Relations, described the claim by ASUU as far from the truth.

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Aladenika said the Acting Vice-Chancellor’s 31-paragraph address to journalists did not state that all outstanding salary arrears had been paid.

He noted that instead, the VC emphasized the administration’s commitment to gradual liquidation of these arrears.

READ ALSO: AAU Acting VC Meets With Journalists, Rolls Out Achievements

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According to the imagemaker of the university, the Vice-Chancellor, in his speech, rather highlighted prompt payment of salaries and pensions as a hallmark of his administration, and noted that the university had implemented the new minimum wage of N70,000 as soon as it was approved.

Aladenika questioned where ASUU got their information from, given the Acting Vice-Chancellor’s clear statements.

“It’s worth noting that when the current administration took over, ASUU members were owed over 35 months in arrears.

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“However, the debt has since been reduced as those owed 35 months and above were paid 10 months emblock in the 1st tranch, while in the 2nd tranch, those owe 20-months and above were also paid 10 months salary arrears, emblock. Apart from individuals among them who got paid on personal requests, the payment of the backlogs is still ongoing as various applications on salary arrears are been attended to, demonstrating the management’s commitment to gradual payment.

READ ALSO: Okpebholo Approves Construction Of 500-room Hostel For AAU

“On the issue of the 13th month salary, it’s essential to clarify that this has never been a right, but rather a subject of tripartite negotiations between workers, management, and the state government. There has been no prior agreement or understanding on this matter, and it has always been a point of negotiation for our unions.

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“It’s worth noting that the university has never paid 13 months’ salary in a 12-month financial year. However, this doesn’t mean that the management is opposed to negotiations on the matter. Rather, we believe that it’s essential to approach such discussions in a constructive manner, rather than using it as a bargaining chip for blackmail.

“The management is open to negotiations, but we urge all parties to engage in good faith and avoid misrepresentations.”

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US Court Sentences Osun Monarch To Prison Over $4.2m Fraud

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A United States District Court has sentenced the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, to four years and eight months imprisonment over a $4.2million COVID-19 relief fraud scandal.

Justice Christopher Boyko while delivering the sentence on Tuesday, also ordered the monarch to pay $4.2 million in restitution.

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According Osun Defender, the monarch was also ordered to pay the sum of $195,000 to the IRS for filing a false tax return.

Justice Boyko also ordered Oloyede to forfeit $96,000 in money seized from his bank account and his home on Foote Road that he bought in 2021 for $130,000.

READ ALSO: US court Jails Five Nigerians 159 Years For $17m Fraud

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Boyko said Oloyede was a “very smart guy who did a lot of stupid things.”

Oba Oloyede, a US-based accountant and information system expert, was appointed the new Apetu in July 2019.

The monarch was arrested alongside alongside Nigerian pastor, Edward Oluwasanmi in early 2024 for their roles in a scheme to fraudulently obtain $4.2m in COVID-19 relief funds.

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The two men were charged with 13 counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property.

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