Fresh details have emerged linking the recent visa clampdown on Nigerians by former U.S. President Donald Trump to Nigeria’s refusal to accept asylum seekers—particularly deportees from American prisons
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, made part of the revelation while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday evening.
Tuggar disclosed that the U.S. had been pressuring African countries, including Nigeria, to receive Venezuelan deportees, many of whom are ex-convicts.
He described the request as unjust.
You have to also bear in mind that the US is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans to be deported from the US, some straight out of prison,” Tuggar said.
It will be difficult for a country like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria. We have enough problems of our own. We cannot accept Venezuelan deportees to Nigeria, for crying out loud. We already have 230 million people. You will be the same people that would castigate us if we acquiesce to accepting Venezuelans from US prisons to be brought in,” he added.
The minister’s comments come amid speculation that Trump’s imposition of a 10 per cent tariff on Nigerian exports, alongside the new U.S. visa restrictions, were retaliatory responses to Nigeria’s stance on asylum deportees and its recent outreach to BRICS nations.
Tuggar, however, dismissed the notion that the tariff hike was directly linked to President Bola Tinubu’s attendance at the BRICS summit in Brazil.
The issue of tariffs may not necessarily have to do with us participating in BRICS,” he said.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria revised its visa issuance policy, reducing validity for Nigerians to a single-entry visa lasting just three months. While the embassy claimed the change was based on visa reciprocity, Tuggar refuted this.
The claim of reciprocity is false,” he said. “We issue them five-year multiple entry visas, the same way that they issue regular travellers five-year multiple entry visas.”
He explained that Nigeria had only modified its system by introducing online electronic visas to improve efficiency.
“What Nigeria has done that differs is simple. We used to have a visa-on-arrival that wasn’t running efficiently. We introduced these online electronic visas so that it saves you time.”
According to diplomatic sources, Washington has been lobbying several countries to serve as temporary host nations for asylum seekers while their cases are processed—a period that could last up to seven years. While some countries have conceded to this arrangement, Nigeria has remained firm in its rejection.
Tuggar further warned that yielding to the U.S. request could open the floodgates for more deportations in future.
The issue of accepting Venezuelan deportees, honestly, I don’t think is something that Nigeria is in a position to work with. And I think it would be unfair to insist that Nigeria accepts 300 Venezuelan deportees. Maybe that might just even be the beginning.”
Observers say the Trump administration’s pressure tactics—often characterized by punitive measures such as trade sanctions and visa restrictions—were part of a broader strategy to gain leverage in diplomatic negotiations. The visa restrictions, many believe, are being used to draw Nigeria back to the negotiation table.
Since assuming office, Trump has signed a raft of executive orders to expedite the deportation of undocumented migrants, many of whom are asylum seekers. In a widely condemned move, the U.S. also pushed for the deportation of non-nationals to third-party countries.
African nations, including Libya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Djibouti, were reportedly identified as target destinations, alongside Central American states like El Salvador and Panama. A few of these countries have already received deportees under such arrangements.
The U.S. was also said to have requested electronic visa access for its citizens seeking entry into Nigeria, without visiting Nigerian embassies. But sources familiar with the talks said Nigeria turned down the proposal, citing the lack of similar privileges for its own citizens in the U.S.
In its revised visa policy, the U.S. embassy listed additional conditions Nigeria must meet to qualify for improved visa reciprocity, including the issuance of secure travel documents, effective visa overstay management, and the sharing of criminal and security data with American authorities.
It is understood that Washington also seeks access to Nigeria’s criminal database in order to identify and deport Nigerian nationals with prior criminal records currently residing in the United States.
Breaking: Tinubu Not Responsible For U.S Decision To Restrict Visa For Nigerians – Presidency
The presidency has debunked the claim that the American government’s decision to restrict visas for Nigerians is due to President Bola Tinubu’s decision to stop issuing 5-year multiple-entry visas for US citizens.
According to a statement on Thursday by the presidency, President Tinubu has never stopped issuing the 5-year multiple-entry visas for US citizens.
The statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said that, upon assuming office, President Tinubu issued a service-wide directive for Nigeria to implement all bilateral agreements with other nations and adhere to the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic relations.
The clarification comes amid the uproar generated by the American government’s decision to limit most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens to single-entry visas with a three-month validity period.
However, some reports claimed the action of the U.S government was influenced by the decision of the Tinubu government to stop issuing 5-year multiple-entry visas for US citizens.
ObasEmpire reports that Onanuga, however, described such reports as misinformation and fake news.
Contrary to misinformation and fake news circulating online, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has never stopped issuing 5-year multiple-entry visas for US citizens, in accordance with the principle of subsisting bilateral agreements and reciprocity.
Immediately after assuming office, President Tinubu’s administration issued a service-wide directive that Nigeria implement all bilateral agreements with other nations and adhere to the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic relations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clearly stated the position of the Federal Government of Nigeria on the recent adjustment made by the United States’ non-immigrant visa policy for Nigerians.
The Ministry and other senior government officials will continue to engage with the United States to address the unfavourable restrictions in a just and fair manner that reflects the mutual respect and partnership that so exist between our two friendly nations,” the statement read.
The presidency added that the claim by the U.S government that its recent visa policy actions are influenced by reciprocity does not reflect the actual situation of things, as Nigeria has not deviated from agreements with the American government.
We want to reiterate that the US government’s claim of reciprocity as the reason for its current visa policy towards Nigeria does not accurately reflect the actual situation.
The Nigerian government has not deviated from granting US citizens a 5-year multiple-entry non-immigrant visa, just as the US has continued to grant the same to Nigerians,” it said.
The Nigerian government added that its 90-day single-entry Visa validity period only applies to the newly introduced e-Visas, a short-term visa category for tourists and business people who may not wish to undergo the standard visa application process and wait.
It added that it would continue to engage the American government to resolve any issues that have led to the recent visa restrictions on Nigerians.
The 90-day single-entry Visa validity period only applies to the newly introduced e-Visas, a short-term visa category for tourists and business people who may not wish to undergo the standard visa application process and wait. The e-visa replaces the now obsolete Visa-on-arrival, which was inefficient and often used as a means of extortion. The e-visa is a fast, online process that does not require the applicant to go to the embassy. Applicants receive the e-Visa within 48 hours of submitting their application.
The e-visa policy aligns with President Tinubu’s efforts to boost investment, trade, and tourism in the country, as well as promote the ease of doing business for non-nationals. Moreover, e-visas are a widely adopted global policy in dozens of countries.
Although Nigeria has an e-visa policy for citizens of the US and several other countries, the US has not reciprocated this gesture for Nigerians.
In the spirit of cooperation, mutual understanding, and partnership that have characterised the relationship between Nigeria and the United States over the decades, the Tinubu-led administration will continue to dialogue and engage with US authorities to resolve any issues that have led to the recent developments,” the statement concluded.
The Supreme Court has affirmed the 2024 governorship election victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissing the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
In a unanimous decision by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba, the apex court ruled that the appeal lacked merit. It upheld the earlier judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which had both declared Okpebholo the validly elected governor.
The court held that Ighodalo and the PDP failed to present credible and admissible evidence to support claims of irregularities, including allegations of over-voting and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
Many of the documents presented, the court noted, were merely “dumped” on the tribunal without proper linkage to the allegations in 432 out of the 4,519 polling units.
Ighodalo had approached the apex court after the Court of Appeal, in its May 29 ruling, affirmed the tribunal’s dismissal of his petition. He argued that the lower courts failed to properly evaluate the evidence, and insisted that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act.
The PDP and its candidate had earlier contended before the tribunal that INEC failed to pre-record some sensitive materials and that results were allegedly manipulated in 765 polling units. They called 19 witnesses and tendered 153 BVAS machines used in 133 polling units, but the tribunal ruled that they failed to substantiate their claims.
INEC had declared that Governor Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ighodalo, who secured 247,655 votes.
U.S. President Donald Trump is hosting five West African leaders on Wednesday for a “multilateral lunch” at the White House as the region reels from the impact of U.S. aid cuts.
The leaders of Liberia, Senegal, Gabon, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau are expected to discuss key areas of cooperation, including economic development, security, infrastructure and democracy, according to a statement from the Liberian presidency. The White House has not provided further details.
The surprise meeting comes as the Trump administration has taken radical steps it said are meant to reshape the U.S. relationship with Africa
Earlier this month, U.S. authorities dissolved the US Agency for International Development, and said it was no longer following what they called “a charity-based foreign aid model” and will instead focus on partnership with nations that show “both the ability and willingness to help themselves.”
The U.S. African Affairs senior bureau official Troy Fitrell earlier this year said that Trump administration wants to focus on eliminating trade deficits with Africa.
Assistance involves a donor and a recipient, but commerce is an exchange between equals,” he said.
Critics say that the abrupt shift will result in millions of deaths.
A study published in the Lancet medical journal late last month projected that USAID’s dismantling and deep funding cuts would lead to more than 14 million additional deaths globally by 2030, including 4.5 million children.
West African countries are among the hardest hit by the dissolution of the USAID. The U.S. support in Liberia amounted to 2.6% of the country’s gross national income, the highest percentage anywhere in the world, according to the Center for Global Development.
Five nations whose leaders are meeting Trump represent a small fraction of the U.S-Africa trade, but they possess untapped natural resources. Senegal and Mauritania are important transit and origin countries when it comes to migration, and along Guinea Bissau are struggling to contain drug trafficking, both issues of concern for the Trump administration.
Liberia’s President Joseph Nyuma Boakai in a statement “expressed optimism about the outcomes of the summit, reaffirming Liberia’s commitment to regional stability, democratic governance, and inclusive economic growth
Gabon, Liberia, Mauritania and Senegal are among 36 countries which might be included in the possible expansion of Trump’s travel ban.
Nollywood actress, Priscilla Ojo has released a threat letter received following a heartbreaking incident at her mother’s office.
Earlier, Obasemprire reported that Iyabo Ojo’s office in Lagos was gutted by fire on July 8, 2025, around 7 pm.
The letter, dated May 25, 2025, was sent to Iyabo Ojo’s office three months before the fire incident.
It contained threats to life and a strategy to ruin Priscilla’s wedding , which took place in May 2025
According to the letter, Iyabo Ojo is under watch and won’t escape scrutiny within three months.
Priscilla shared that investigations are underway to apprehend the perpetrators.
The letter reads, “You put someone in trouble and you out enjoying giving out your daughter in marriage abi?.O ma laya o. you can’t escape in the next 3 Months as we are out monitoring you. Watch out. We shall render that your Daughter married useless and rubbish it with scatter scatter. That your daughter will not enjoy her marriage”.
According to Priscilla, the fire incident at her mother’s office was a deliberate act, which she described as “Plan B” by the perpetrators, whose initial plan to disrupt her wedding failed.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for a reevaluation of the current global governance structure and the financial and healthcare systems.
ObasEmpire reports that the Nigerian President stated this at the 17th meeting of the Global South and the Emerging Economies bloc, BRICS, on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil
Tinubu urged greater equity and inclusion for low-income and emerging economies, particularly in Africa.
This was disclosed in a statement released by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The President stated that environmental degradation, the climate crisis, and healthcare inequalities should receive more attention, as they contribute to slowing growth and development.
Tinubu, invited to the summit by Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, stated that Nigeria supports the BRICS position on the need to focus on collective, fair, and equitable global development.
Nigeria became the ninth partner country of BRICS in January 2025, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. The 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024 created the partner-country category.
President Tinubu said, “Nigeria, therefore, associates with what I have heard today and all that has happened in BRICS. The next issues are financial restructuring and reevaluation of the global structure.”
He noted that environmental degradation, climate crisis, and global healthcare inequalities were shared concerns pertinent to Africa.
Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most,” he added.
Tinubu emphasised the need for a new path of justice, anchored in fairness, sustainable technology transfer, and accessible financing, so that emerging economies can fully benefit from various initiatives.
The African continent is creating the path through the African Carbon Market Initiative and the Great Green Wall. We believe that COP-30 will strengthen our resolve to adopt a strategic approach to achieving a healthy global environment.
Nigeria strongly believes in South-South cooperation. We can, therefore, not be passive participants in global decision-making on financial restructuring, debt forgiveness, climate change, environmental issues, and healthcare.
We must be the architects of a future that addresses the specific needs and concerns of youths, who represent 70 per cent of our population in Nigeria. Therefore, Nigeria remains guided by our long-term vision, 2050, and nationally determined contribution.
We are taking bold steps to accelerate renewable energy adoption, mainstream climate action, promote nature-based solutions, strengthen urban resilience, champion South-South cooperation, align with the global renewal framework and achieve universal health coverage for all,” the President stated.
Tinubu also said that addressing non-communicable diseases must remain a collective health concern.
As we approach COP-30 and look to strengthen the global health system, we believe the BRICS must not only be a bloc for emerging economies but also a beacon for emerging solutions and resolutions rooted in solidarity, self-reliance, sustainability, and shared prosperity of a common future.
Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to strategic collaboration that translates into sustainable and inclusive development for all,” he noted.
In exercising its pro tempore presidency of BRICS, the Brazilian government announced Nigeria’s formal admission as a partner country on January 17, 2025.
As the world’s sixth-most populous country and one of Africa’s major economies, Nigeria shares convergent interests with other BRICS members
The 2023 presidential candidate for the Labour Party, Peter Obi on Friday visited the St. John Vianney College Ukwulu, Anambra state.
Obi’s visit comes shortly after the institution emerged victorious at the inaugural UK-Nigeria Debate Championship.
In a post made on X, the former governor of Anambra State said he visited the college in line with his desire to keep investing in the future of Nigerian children.
He added that he congratulated the students and members of the staff for their success in the debate.
He wrote, “In recognition of their brilliance and to support their continued growth, I presented the school with a ₦10 million donation towards infrastructural development. A sound learning environment remains essential if our children are to compete globally.
“I encouraged the students to see their victory as a collective triumph for all young Nigerians who believe that excellence can emerge from our classrooms. I urged them to keep studying hard, reminding them that their future – and the nation’s – lies in their hands,” Obi said
He further appreciated the management of the institution for their efforts in ensuring quality education for the students.
I also extend deep appreciation to the school’s proprietor, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma (Fr. Ebube Muonso), for his visionary leadership and commitment to academic excellence and moral formation. His dedication has created an environment where students can thrive, not just locally, but on the global stage.
The team at St. John Vianney exemplifies what Nigerian youths can achieve when given the right foundation. I am deeply inspired by their discipline, eloquence, and intellect. May their success continue to inspire many more across the country,” Obi noted.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has reduced its premium motor spirit price.
ObasEmpire gathered that the NNPCL retail outlets in Abuja on Saturday slashed their petrol pump price to N910 per litre from N945.
This was the case in NNPCL filling stations in Zone 6, Kubwa Expressway, Wuse Zone 4, and other parts of Abuja.
The new petrol price at the state-owned oil firm represents a N30 drop from its earlier N945 per litre price.
The development comes barely four days after Dangote Refinery reduced its petrol ex-depot price to N840 per litre from N880 following a drop in global crude oil prices.
Members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association also announced a reduction in the petrol price to between N930 and N940 per litre from N945 and N975 in Abuja and N890 per litre, down from N925 in Lagos State.
Police in Iran’s Qom province said Saturday that 22 people “linked to Israeli spy services” had been arrested since June 13, Fars news agency reported
22 people were identified and arrested on charges of being linked to the Zionist regime’s spy services, disturbing public opinion and supporting the criminal regime,” the agency said, citing the head of police intelligence in Iran’s Qom province.
It came after Iranian police announced the arrest on Thursday of 24 people accused of spying for Israel and of seeking to tarnish the country’s image, according to a statement carried by Tasnim news agency.
A European national was also arrested for spying, Tasnim reported on Friday, without giving their nationality or the date of the arrest.
Iran regularly announces arrests of suspected spies. Several have been executed in recent weeks.
Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights said at least 223 people have been arrested nationwide on charges related to collaboration with Israel, cautioning that the actual figure was likely higher.
