Connect with us

News

Shettima Cancels Samoa Trip Mid-way Over Damaged Aircraft Windscreen

Published

on

Vice President Kashim Shettima will no longer represent Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads Of Government Summit in Samoa as earlier planned.

The trip was cancelled after “a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York,” the Presidency revealed in a statement Thursday night.

Advertisement

Therefore, a delegation led by the Environment Minister, Balarabe Lawal, will now represent Nigeria at the biennial event.

The statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, is titled ‘Cockpit windscreen of VP Shettima’s plane damaged at JFK airport, ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at Samoa Commonwealth summit.’

READ ALSO: 12 States Delay N30,000 Minimum Wage Tor Teachers – Report

Advertisement

Shettima departed Abuja last Sunday for the gathering at the behest of President Bola Tinubu.

Onanuga said, “Vice President Kashim Shettima’s trip to Samoa to represent Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads Of Government Summit has been cancelled after a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.

“The foreign object damaged the cockpit windscreen of the plane.

Advertisement

“President Tinubu, acting promptly, has approved a ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at the summit in the Samoa capital of Apia while the plane’s repair has commenced.”

The delegation, which will now represent Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting in Samoa, is being led by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal.

The summit began on the Pacific island on October 21 and ends on October 26.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: Frustrated GoTV Subscribers Demand Refund After Channel Shutdown

Shettima was scheduled to join King Charles of England and other world leaders from 56 member countries at the first CHOGM to be held in the Pacific island of Apia, Samoa, from October 21 to 26.

The theme will focus attention on how member countries can harness their strengths through resilience, unlock potential, leverage the ‘Commonwealth Advantage’, and foster a connected, digital Commonwealth.

Advertisement

At the meeting, Nigeria and other member countries will also elect and appoint the next Commonwealth Secretary-General.

The leaders will deliberate on the theme, ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth.’

However, “Vice President Shettima and foreign minister Yusuf Tuggar have left New York for Nigeria,” Onanuga revealed.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: FEC Approves $618m Loan For Fighter Jets, Ammunition

This would not be the first trip Shettima is backing out of.

In May, he was scheduled to represent Tinubu at the US-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas, but returned midflight due to a technical fault with his aircraft.

Advertisement

The Presidency said Shettima heeded the advice of the Presidential Air Fleet to shelve the trip.

Shettima has so far visited Rome, Italy; St. Petersburg, Russia; Johannesburg, South Africa; Havana, Cuba; Beijing, China; Iowa and New York in the United States of America; Davos, Switzerland; Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast (twice); Nairobi, Kenya and Stockholm, Sweden.
PUNCH

Advertisement

News

Lagos Blue Line Raises Daily Trips

Published

on

The Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line will from Monday, August 11, 2025, operate every 10 minutes, cutting the Marina to Mile 2 journey time to just 10 minutes. This represents an eight-minute reduction in travel time.

According to a press statement by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, the reduction in train headway will save commuters about 44 per cent in time and improve overall journey experience.

Advertisement

With the new schedule, Blue Line trips will increase to 90 from the current 72 on Mondays through Saturdays, while Sunday trips remain unchanged at 22.

READ ALSO:VeryDarkMan: Portable Denies Stealing Keke In 2020 [VIDEO]

The Managing Director of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo, attributed the achievement to new rolling stock procured by the Lagos State Government with Federal Government support.

Advertisement

Akinajo said, “We are excited to facilitate the increase in the number of trips since our commitment is to have a world-class, sustainable transport system that satisfies stakeholders and drives the growth of Lagos.”

She explained that the “increase in the number of trips and rolling stock foreshadows the operation of the entire Blue Line when the infrastructure is completed to the terminal point at Okokomaiko, in the last quarter of 2026.”

READ ALSO:Customs Intercept Cargo Of 1,620 Extinct Birds In Lagos

Advertisement

The statement added that the Blue Line, which commenced passenger operations on September 4, 2023, has so far transported over five million passengers.

It also noted that the second phase of the Blue Line, currently under construction, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with passenger operations beginning in the first quarter of 2027.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

US Envoy, Minister Address Visa Policy Changes, Urge Compliance

Published

on

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Richard Mills, and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, on Friday addressed the recent changes to US visa policies and jointly called for increased awareness and compliance among Nigerian citizens.

The US had earlier imposed tighter visa restrictions on Nigerians. It revised its visa reciprocity schedule for Nigeria, limiting the validity of certain non-immigrant visas — including B1/B2 (business and tourism), F (student), and J (exchange visitor) categories — to just three months with single-entry access.

Advertisement

Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja, Mills clarified that the new visa measures announced by the US Mission are not punitive, but rather part of a global effort to tighten security, enhance service delivery, and ensure compliance with US immigration laws.

READ ALSO:FULL LIST: Ghana Releases Identities Of Helicopter Crash Victims

Myself and the minister just had a very useful and productive discussion about US visa laws and how to communicate to the Nigerian people the importance of compliance with US visa laws,” Mills said.

Advertisement

The envoy underscored the enduring and strategic relationship between the two countries, emphasising that the US continues to welcome Nigerians for study, business, tourism, medical visits, and family reunions—but with the clear expectation that visitors respect visa regulations.

Let me be clear, the United States values its very strong relationship with Nigeria and the many kinds of connections that exist between our two countries.

“US visas play a vital role in keeping these countries going and strengthening them

Advertisement

“Both governments want visitors to respect our national laws and regulations,” the ambassador said.

READ ALSO:Your View Host, Morayo Brown, Resigns From TVC

Mills warned that visa misuse—such as overstaying or providing inaccurate information—undermines trust and can lead to severe personal consequences, including deportation or a lifetime travel ban.

Advertisement

“If you overstay, it can result in deportation and a lifetime ban on future travel to the US, which we don’t want to see Nigerian citizens face,” he said.

He urged applicants to be honest and transparent, stressing that “visa compliance is a cornerstone of mutual trust and respect between our two nations.”

Addressing concerns about the processing system, Mills revealed that the recent changes reflect the US administration’s security-focused review of global visa operations.

Advertisement

He noted that the US government requires more rigorous background checks, including access to Nigerian criminal records, to ensure applicants are properly vetted.

READ ALSO:Full List Of Schengen Countries Offering 5-yr Visa Programme

We needed to address some of the security vulnerabilities that we saw in our visa processing.

Advertisement

“The Nigerian government is working to find a mechanism so that we can have a better understanding of who’s before us when they apply for a visa,” Mills explained.

In addition, the ambassador stressed that compliance also applies to student visa holders.

“If you skip classes, if you leave your programme of study without informing your school, your student visa could be revoked,” he warned.

Advertisement

He concluded by encouraging Nigerians to visit the US embassy website for official guidance and support.

READ ALSO:US Visa Adjudication Sparks Concerns Over Diplomatic Relations

“If you have any questions about our visa regulations or policies, don’t hesitate to go to our website. All Nigerians have access to it,” the envoy added.

Advertisement

The minister, in his remarks, praised the US embassy for taking the initiative to clarify its position directly with the Nigerian public.

This brings me to believe that we need to come together at times like this to have a common position so that Nigerians can be better informed about what we do,” he said.

The minister described Nigerians as global travellers who frequent the United States more than almost any other destination and emphasised the importance of clear, accessible information about visa processes.

Advertisement

“Nigerians visit almost all parts of the world, and because we engage and we travel a lot, we feel that it is necessary to have information shared with us from time to time as it affects the travels amongst our people,” he said.

READ ALSO:US Visa Adjudication Sparks Concerns Over Diplomatic Relations

Mohammed reaffirmed that the ministry will continue to work closely with the US Mission to ensure transparency, understanding, and public education on all consular issues.

Advertisement

“Let me recognise the mutual respect and partnership between Nigeria and the United States and its embassy to keep Nigerian travellers well informed about its visa and consular services,” he said.

He also dismissed the notion that the new visa processes were discriminatory, quoting the ambassador.

Before coming to this office, we had engagements with Amb Mills, and what he has told me is that this is in no way punitive. It’s just to enhance service delivery between the two countries.”

Advertisement

The minister echoed the US position on the importance of complying with host country laws and urged Nigerians to uphold the country’s image abroad.

READ ALSO:Venezuelan Deportees: US Embassy Gives Reason For Reducing Visa Validity For Nigerians

“When someone comes into Nigeria, we expect that person to also comply with our laws here. So what I want to say here is that Nigerians must continue to demonstrate, as they do, a better sense of patriotism about their country and also show better compliance with not just our laws, but laws of other countries,” he said.

Advertisement

Mohammed added that the renewed engagement with the US mission reflects the Federal Government’s “New Hope Agenda,” aimed at fostering partnerships that benefit Nigerians at home and abroad.

“This is a new way of forging a better partnership and collaboration between the two countries.

“And the more we engage, the better it is for the two nations,” he said.

Advertisement

The most important thing is that we remain two countries trying to forge better relationships for the benefit of both nations,” the minister concluded.
(PUNCH)

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

K1 De Ultimate Apologises Over Airport Row

Published

on

Fuji music legend, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, has apologised over the incident involving him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on August 5, 2025.

In a statement he personally signed on Friday, the singer expressed regret over the controversy but maintained that the flask he carried on the day contained only water, not alcohol as alleged in some reports.

Advertisement

The incident that occurred at the local wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport was, to say the least, unfortunate.

“Unknown to many, I suffer from chronic dehydration, and my doctor strongly advised that I remain constantly hydrated. This is why I always carry a water flask with me.

READ ALSO:Treat KWAM 1 Like Any Nigerian, Not APC’s Musician, ADC Tells FG

Advertisement

“Contrary to the negative narrative being circulated in some quarters, the flask contained only water — not alcohol,” he said.

K1 explained that the flask was empty during two separate security checks and was only filled with water at the airport lounge before he proceeded to the tarmac.

He stressed that he had not yet boarded the aircraft, “let alone being deboarded,” and said his account could be verified through CCTV footage.

Advertisement

The Fuji star apologised to the Presidency, the Ministry of Aviation, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, ValueJet, and Nigerians at large.

READ ALSO:NCAA Stops Fuji Star K1 De Ultimate From Flying For Six Months

I acknowledge and deeply regret the concerns that arose from the incident.

Advertisement

“It was never my intention to cause any disruption or violate aviation protocols.

“My unwavering patriotism and loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria have never been in doubt.

“I would never do anything to tarnish the image I’ve built over the past five decades,” he said.

Advertisement

K1 added that he remained committed to his role as a cultural ambassador for Nigerian music and thanked his fans for their support.

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending