The Federal Government announced on Monday that its newly launched electronic visa (e-visa) system, which became operational on May 1, has recorded significant success.

In the first six weeks alone, the system processed over 14,000 visa applications.

Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, revealed this during a stakeholders’ sensitization workshop on key immigration reforms, held at the Nigeria Immigration Service headquarters in Abuja.

He also disclosed that two major digital platforms—the electronic Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card and the electronic Temporary Work Permit—are set to go live within the coming week.

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“I can tell you within the first six weeks of the e-visa, we were able to process over 14,000 visa applications. Within six weeks. So, that by any standard in the world, that is a pass mark. It is a huge one and, of course, those little hitches, I tell you, within the next one to two weeks, will be history. We will correct them.

“We are already working. Even yesterday in my house, the CGIS was there. Technological partners were in my house. The DCG visa was in my house. All of us in my house. We worked for hours yesterday, Sunday, even in my conference room at home. We were working because we understand when you are in the process of innovation, there is no room, there is no opportunity for you to close your eyes. You must make sure it works. We are ready for the challenge”.

He said the Federal Government decided to come up with the e-visa system knowing that it is not just a migration management document but also an enhancer of economic growth.

“To me, when somebody needs a visa to Nigeria, and all he is looking for is who knows the minister, who knows the CG Immigration ,who knows the Perma.net Secretary, that is not how to grow a country. That is the truth.

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“You must make it easy while not compromising national security. There must be that strategy. So, the e-visa, I want to assure you, is here, and by the grace of God, is here to stay”, he stated.

“We are not yet where we want to be, but we are not where we were. There has been progress, and the simple truth is, we will continue to invest in our e-border governance and put more boots on the ground to make sure that every inch of the Nigerian border space is well protected”, he vowed.

On the e-CERPAC and TWP, the minister said the era of using TWP to circumvent CERPAC was gone.

“That era when people will come on TWP almost for free, keep renewing over and over, just to evade the law, is gone. So, for us, TWP is automated just like CERPAC is already automated”, he said.

He added that the elimination of manual archiving in the passport application processes has saved Nigeria about a billion Naira annually as the contract regarding that had since been cancelled.

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Explaining some of the recent digital innovations by the Service, Comptroller General of Immigration Service CGIS, Kemi Mandap said the new visa regime comes with its several innovative services, including the e-Visa Application Channel, e-CERPAC, Landing and Exit Cards and Temporary Work Permit.

“The already installed e-Gates at our major Airports and commissioned Command and Control Centre is positioned to house and harness these technologies. These digital solutions leverage technology to streamline processes, enhance security, and improve the overall experience for travellers and stakeholders”, she explained.

According to her, the e-Visa system allows for seamless online applications, eliminating the need for physical visits to immigration offices.

“The e-CERPAC integrates residence permits into a digital document, simplifying processes for foreign nationals residing in Nigeria. Our Temporary Work Permit has also been digitized, reducing processing times and increasing efficiency”, she added.

Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has filed five-count criminal defamation charges against Hon. Mashood Mustapha and his brother Bolakale Mustapha at the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital.

The suit, which came up for hearing before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar on Monday, was filed by the governor on behalf of the people of Kwara State.

The alleged defamation case, which concerns offences of perjury and inciting public disturbance, was filed by Mr Ayoola Akande, Kwara State Director of Public Prosecutions, who represented the state government in court.

Hon. Mashood Mustapha was a member of the National Assembly representing Ilorin West and Asa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015. He was also a gubernatorial aspirant in the All Progressives Congress primary election for the 2019 election.

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According to the charges before the court, the defendants are alleged to have uploaded and published a five-minute, forty-one-second video likely to disturb public peace.

The first defendant, Bolakale, was also alleged to have filed an action against the governor at the Federal High Court based on a false allegation.

The charges further revealed that the second defendant, Mashood, uploaded a video containing abusive, insulting, and derogatory language against the governor, Mallam Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq.

According to The PUNCH, two defendants denied the alleged offences, saying the allegations were false.

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The prosecution team, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ayoola Akande, prayed the court to remand the defendants in federal correctional custody on the basis that their bail application was not ripe for hearing.

He added that “the alleged offences are not ordinarily bailable,” noting that one of the offences carries a 14-year jail term.

Professor Kayode Olatoke SAN and Moses Ebute SAN represented the two defendants respectively.

In their separate submissions, the counsels urged the court to dismiss the prosecution’s prayers, arguing that their clients’ alleged offences are bailable.

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They prayed the court to grant the defendants bail on liberal terms, arguing that they are well-known in the state and ready to provide reliable sureties.

The court, in its short ruling, admitted that the offences against the defendants are bailable and granted them bail in the sum of ₦5 million with a surety. The matter was adjourned for further hearing until July 18, 2025.

Speaking to the press after the judgment, one of the lead counsels for the second defendant, Moses Ebute SAN, said: “Ordinarily, the case was a bailable offence and the honourable judge, in his wisdom, has graciously granted our client bail with conditions being fulfilled.

“Although we indicated to the court that we were ready to proceed with the trial immediately, the prosecution requested a date, probably to get their house in order. We will return on 18 July to commence the trial.”

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a Rano Air aircraft with registration number 5N-BZY following an in-flight engine failure during a flight from Kano to Sokoto.

In a statement released on Monday, the NCAA confirmed that the flight made an emergency air return after the crew reported the incident to the Air Traffic Control.

Passengers and crew were thrown into panic after smoke was observed in both the cabin and the flight deck mid-air.

According to the Directorate of Airworthiness, led by Victor Foyea, oxygen masks were deployed and standard safety procedures were immediately activated to facilitate a safe landing.

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“The Rano aircraft 5N-BZY experienced a failure on its engine 1. Smoke was noticed in the cabin and flight deck. Oxygen masks were donned. The appropriate safety protocols were initiated on the ground for landing. Smoke dissipated. The pilot safely landed the aircraft without incident,” the NCAA stated.

The regulatory authority confirmed that no immediate casualties or injuries were recorded, and the aircraft landed safely at the Kano airport where emergency services had been placed on standby.

As a precautionary measure, the NCAA ordered the grounding of the aircraft pending a thorough investigation into the cause of the malfunction.

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The aircraft was also scheduled to operate a Sokoto-bound flight, which has since been cancelled.

As of the time of reporting, the aircraft remains grounded, with engineers working on diagnostics and repairs.

The NCAA reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and emphasized that precautionary measures, including flight cancellations, are necessary whenever there is a hint of mechanical irregularity.

“Even more advanced countries experience air incidents. But in Nigeria, flights are grounded or cancelled at the slightest indication of safety concerns. Safety remains our top priority,” the statement added.