Author: Nigeriabrief

The Nigerian Immigration Service on Monday canceled Anti-Smuggling Week 2025, warning that organized criminal networks are expanding their operations through cyberspace and dangerous transport routes, exposing migrants to human trafficking, extortion, sexual exploitation, violence and death. The Commissioner for Immigration, Kemi Nandap, delivered the address at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja through the Deputy Commissioner for Operations and Logistics, Ada Umana. She said the department is renewing its anti-smuggling campaign with a focus on increasing awareness, solidarity and efforts to tackle migrant smuggling crimes. In a statement signed by military spokesperson Akinsola Akinrabi, Nandup said the week-long activities will build…

The Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) on Wednesday held a planned protest in Abuja citing the country’s deteriorating security situation, but the action recorded a low turnout. Protesters briefly gathered at the NLC Secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) before marching under tight security. Officers from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Services (DSS) were deployed to monitor the procession. The NLC had said demonstrators would gather at a labor hall in Abuja before marching through the streets of the capital, but the protests began slowly. An hour after the scheduled…

Transport Minister Saeed Alkali has said concessions in the transport sector in Nigeria are inevitable. Mr. Alkali said this at a symposium organized by the National Coordination Committee (NCC) of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) in Abuja on Tuesday. The theme of the event was “Nigeria’s Transport Sector Concessions: Focus on Viability and Pressing Labor Issues”. Represented by the ministry’s Road Transport and Mass Transport Director-General Ahidenor Sincere, the minister said concessions in the transport sector were of paramount importance, insisting that success would not come automatically. “It will be measured by its ability to provide efficient and affordable…

…Brent hits five-year low Nigeria’s ambitious spending plans for 2026 are under increasing pressure as a looming global oil glut threatens to push prices well below the government’s fiscal estimates, risking a deepening fiscal crisis for Africa’s most populous nation. On Wednesday, international benchmark Brent crude fell 2.86% to $58.83 per barrel by 4pm WAT. The US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) price fell by 2.88% to $55.04 per barrel, and crude oil prices fell below the $60 mark for the first time since February 2021. Investment banks and energy analysts now predict oil prices will average below $60 per barrel…

Chelsea booked a place in the EFL Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought 3-1 win over League One leaders Cardiff City at a raucous Cardiff City Stadium, with second-half substitutes having a decisive impact in a frenetic quarter-final clash. Cheered on by a packed and enthusiastic crowd, Cardiff kept pace with their Premier League opponents throughout the long game and produced an impressive and fearless display, particularly in a goalless first half, showing discipline both in and out of possession. Maresca feels change after ‘worst 48 hours’ Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca made 11 changes to his squad for Saturday’s Premier League…

The big task ahead of Eagles recruit Zulte Waregem star Tochukwu Nnadi is likely to be more of a headache than a joy for the newcomer at his invitation.The Eagles’ midfield had holes to fill, as well as endure a difficult period that had yet to receive the approval of the president from the fans.The last of the Eagles’ sweet rhythms was sung by Victor Moses, who tenaciously stepped into the big shoes left by former Eagles captain Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha.Okocha’s nephew, Fulham star Alex Iwobi, felt his uncle’s shoes were too big, but he is not without the…

The Federal Government said it aims to strengthen Nigeria’s conflict prevention framework through improved early warning and response systems as security challenges persist across Nigeria and the wider African region. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tugar, said this while addressing a meeting on Strengthening and Capacity Building of the National Early Warning and Response Group in Abuja on Wednesday. The event was represented by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimyebi Ebienfa. In his address, Mr Tugger said the engagement session was hosted by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution in collaboration with Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria, a…

It’s not much, but it’s enough to cover the rent, electricity, cell phone and groceries for the house she and her 11-year-old son share with five families. Everything was over in August. When she showed up at work one morning, her boss told her she could no longer work there. The Trump administration ended President Joe Biden’s humanitarian parole program, which granted legal work permits to Nicaraguans like Maria, as well as Cubans, Haitians and Venezuelans. “I feel hopeless,” said Maria, 48. She requested anonymity about her ordeal for fear of being detained and deported. “I don’t have any money…

Mission Local has put together the following guide to accompany our coverage of immigration fraud on the rise across the Bay Area. You can read that part here. Immigrant advocacy groups are reporting an alarming trend in the Bay Area, where scams impersonating immigration attorneys are on the rise. Dalia Blevins, a social worker at Centro Legal de la Raza, said particularly vulnerable populations seem to be targeted most often, including the elderly, those facing deadlines to find a lawyer and those with low literacy skills. To help our readers recognize the red flags of a scam, Mission Local, with…

It’s been a tumultuous year in San Francisco immigration court. At least 88 asylum seekers were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at court hearings. More than half of immigration inspectors were fired. Fear and anxiety are widespread.At the heart of it all has been immigration lawyer Miri Atkinson keeping things together. She leads the San Francisco Bar Association’s “Lawyers of the Day” program. This program provides free legal advice to people throughout Northern California when they appear in immigration court. She also heads San Francisco’s Rapid Response Network, which seeks legal representation for people in the city arrested…