Author: Akintayo Adams

The United Kingdom has announced changes to its visa application centres in Nigeria. Starting in 2025, the UK visa application process in Nigeria will transition to VFS Global, a new supplier. This transition will result in changes to the locations where applicants submit and collect their visa applications. According to a statement by the UK Embassy in Nigeria on Wednesday, applicants can now visit one of three designated locations in Abuja and Lagos for their visa-related needs. The Embassy explained that these changes are part of ongoing efforts to streamline and improve the visa application process in the country. Applicants…

A piece of conceptual art consisting of a banana duct-taped to a wall, titled “Comedian” by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, sold for $6.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York. The artwork originally debuted at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019 and quickly became a viral sensation. The winning bid was placed by Justin Sun, founder of the cryptocurrency platform TRON. Sun plans to eat the banana as part of the artistic experience, honoring its place in both art history and popular culture. Get instant and latest news updates via our WhatsApp Community, X/Twitter, or Google News online channel.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The warrants accuse them of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks that triggered Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian territory. The ICC’s decision turns Netanyahu and Gallant into internationally wanted suspects, likely complicating efforts to negotiate a ceasefire to end the ongoing conflict. The court’s charges include allegations that they intentionally deprived the civilian population in Gaza of essential supplies such as food, water, medicine, and electricity. Netanyahu and…

Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist agitator and self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile, has been sent to prison in Finland. The Päijät-Häme District Court remanded him on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent. This follows his alleged involvement in spreading terrorist propaganda on social media. Four other individuals were also arrested in connection with the case, with charges related to financing terrorist activities. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation confirmed the arrests and stated that the suspects’ activities were believed to have contributed to violence in southeastern Nigeria. Get instant and latest…

The Nigerian Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request for a $2.2 billion loan to help finance the ₦9.7 trillion budget deficit for the 2024 fiscal year. The approval came after the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, chaired by Aliyu Wamakko, presented its report during a plenary session. Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau commended the committee for its swift action and thorough examination of the loan request. The loan, which is part of the external borrowing plan for the 2024 fiscal year, will be raised through instruments like Eurobonds and Sukuk. Finance Minister Wale Edun explained that approximately…

Manchester City midfielder Rodri recently shared his thoughts on the long-standing debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. During an interview with the Spanish talk show El Hormiguero, Rodri declared Lionel Messi as the greatest player of all time. He noted that while Ronaldo has achieved remarkable success, Messi’s natural talent sets him apart. Rodri explained, “Cristiano has managed to match Messi without innate talent. But those of us who have played against them can see the difference. We didn’t want Cristiano to step into the box because he was lethal there. But with Messi, the danger was everywhere on…

The military rulers dismissed Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga of Mali following his criticism of them. The announcement was made on Wednesday by Alfousseyni Diawara, the Secretary General of the presidential office, who stated that “the duties of the prime minister and the members of the government are terminated.” This decision came shortly after Maïga’s remarks at a rally in Bamako, where he accused the junta of unilaterally and indefinitely postponing the transition process that was initially scheduled to begin on March 26. Maïga also expressed frustration over the lack of debate on the issue, claiming he had to rely…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved significant leadership changes at two federal universities within the past 24 hours. The reshuffling involves the immediate swap of the Pro-Chancellors and Chairmen of the Governing Councils for the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) and Federal University Lokoja. Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, who was serving as the Pro-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, will now take over at Federal University Oye-Ekiti. Engineer Kayode Ojo, who previously held a similar position at Oye-Ekiti, will assume the role in Lokoja. This strategic move is part of President Tinubu’s initiative to foster diversity and national cohesion in the management…

Nigerian singer Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, is poised to debut at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2025. Alongside him, Afrobeat star Seun Kuti will be returning to the festival. The recently released digital flier by the organizers also lists Ghanaian singer Amaarae and South African artist Tyla as part of the lineup for the event. Coachella, commonly known as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, is an annual festival held in California, USA, attracting over 125,000 attendees. It is celebrated as the world’s biggest music and arts festival. Seun Kuti first performed at Coachella…

The Nigerian Naira experienced a significant depreciation against the dollar on Wednesday. At the official market, the Naira traded at ₦1,687.52 per dollar, representing a 0.51% depreciation from the previous day’s rate of ₦1,678.93. The depreciation was attributed to ongoing economic pressures and a surge in demand for foreign exchange amidst limited supply. The Investors and Exporters (I&E) window also saw fluctuations, with the Naira trading between ₦1,705 and ₦1,601.50 per dollar. Analysts have expressed concerns about the Naira’s stability and have called for strengthened monetary policies to address the persistent challenges in the forex market. Get instant and latest…