US angry over Nigeria’s rejection of military base, not Christian killings CSO alleges.

A civil society organisation, Grassroot Advocacy for Peace and Good Governance, has claimed that the recent threats from U.S. President Donald Trump were not about alleged religious persecution but rather a reaction to Nigeria’s refusal to approve a U.S. military base and deportee resettlement deal.

Addressing journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Monday, the group’s chairman, Usman Muhammed Anache, alleged that Washington had been pressuring Abuja to allow the establishment of a U.S. military base following the withdrawal of American forces from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

According to him, Nigeria’s decision to decline the proposal, coupled with its recent alignment with BRICS, the economic bloc led by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, may have further strained relations between the two countries.

“The U.S. is displeased because Nigeria refused its request to set up a military base and to house American deportees. They have now resorted to using religion, knowing how sensitive Nigerians are to faith-related issues,” Anache said.

He commended Nigerian Christian leaders who openly rejected Trump’s claim of “Christian genocide,” noting that terrorist attacks in the country have affected both Muslims and Christians alike.

Anache further praised the Federal Government for what he described as its steadfastness in defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and promoting peace across West Africa.

“The divisive tactic of using religion to destabilize Nigeria will never succeed. This has been their plan since independence, but Nigeria has always stood united,” he added.

Trump had last week accused Nigeria of allowing the mass killing of Christians and threatened possible U.S. military action, a remark that has continued to attract condemnation from within and outside the country.

Our Moral Fabrics Is Gone,We Honor Thieves”Melaye Says,Shares Photo Of FIFA Stadium In Kebbi,Kenya.

Former lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye has criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC) government over what he described as a glaring case of mismanagement involving FIFA’s $1.2 million grant meant for sports development in Nigeria.

In a post shared on his X handle (formerly Twitter), Melaye compared a stadium reportedly built in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, with another constructed in Kenya. Both facilities were said to have been funded by FIFA with identical grants of $1.2 million to support football infrastructure across African nations.

“FIFA gave Nigeria $1.2 million and they gave Kenya $1.2 million. The goal was for both of them to build stadiums for football development. Our moral fabrics is gone, we celebrate rogues, we honor thieves. Up APC,” Melaye wrote.

Images shared by the former senator showed the Kenyan project as a modern, well-equipped football stadium with standard seating and professional facilities. In stark contrast, the Nigerian version appeared as a small, underdeveloped mini-stadium with limited infrastructure, a situation that has stirred widespread outrage on social media.

Melaye’s post has triggered a flurry of reactions, with many Nigerians demanding answers from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Ministry of Sports on how the FIFA funds were expended. Critics argued that the difference between the two projects reflects deeper corruption and poor accountability in public spending.

I told my twin brother, Wale Ojo, that as people of some influence, we should both try as much as possible to dress culturally, because when you, as a sub-Saharan Black African, strut around Europe and America in Western clothes, you look conquered. But when you are seen confidently, suavely and full of swagger in your authentic, native fabrics and fashion, you look like a conqueror. An African connected to his culture projects stature!

You Are Not a Tourist – Peter Obi Slams Tinubu’s Planned Trip, Questions Unstated Return Date.

Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his planned 12-day trip to Japan and Brazil, describing it as insensitive and ill-timed given Nigeria’s worsening security and economic crisis.

The President’s itinerary, announced on Wednesday by his spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, indicates that Tinubu will depart Abuja on Thursday, August 14, for a stopover in Dubai before proceeding to Yokohama, Japan, to attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) from August 20 to 22.

He is expected to visit Brazil thereafter, but the official schedule does not indicate his return date.

In a statement on Thursday, Obi expressed concern that Tinubu was leaving the country again, barely weeks after returning from Brazil, at a time he said “the nation bleeds.”

“Our President, who has not found it worthy to visit any of our troubled states, takes joy in travelling abroad at the slightest invitation or excuse, often departing several days before the actual event,” Obi said.

“The itinerary is silent on the President’s return date to his visibly troubled nation,” Obi added.

He accused the administration of “indifference” to worsening insecurity, food shortages, and economic hardship, noting that Nigeria is now “among the most insecure nations, the most fragile economies, and the hungriest countries in the world.”

The former Anambra governor pointed to Tinubu’s recent attendance at the BRICS Summit, preceded by a one-week state visit to St. Lucia, as an example of unnecessarily prolonged foreign trips. He argued that the upcoming Japan conference could have been attended within five days rather than 12, with the remaining time spent addressing urgent domestic challenges.

Obi said the President’s foreign travels “contribute little or no tangible value” compared to the pressing need for on-the-ground engagement in Nigeria’s crisis-hit communities. He urged Tinubu to embark instead on nationwide tours to “see, listen, and learn” about the people’s suffering.

“Mr. President must know that he is not a tourist, but the Chief Executive of a troubled nation,” Obi said, calling for a “strict work schedule and disciplined travel plan” to reflect the urgency of the country’s situation.

President Tinubu Back in Abuja After Visits to Saint Lucia and BRICS Summit in Brazil.

BREAKING: President Tinubu Returns to Abuja Following Visit to Saint Lucia, Brazil.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja, the country’s capital, following a two-nation diplomatic mission to Saint Lucia and Brazil.

The state visit kicked off on 28 June 2025, when Mr Tinubu flew from Abuja to Saint Lucia.

During his four-day stay, he held meetings with Governor‑General Cyril Charles and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre. The president addressed a special joint sitting of the Saint Lucian Parliament and signed a Technical Manpower Assistance agreement designed to send Nigerian professionals—including teachers, doctors, and engineers—to support capacity‑building efforts in Saint Lucia and other OECS member states.

From Saint Lucia, President Tinubu proceeded to Rio de Janeiro to represent Nigeria at the 17th BRICS Summit on 5–7 July 2025.

REVEALED: Trump’s Visa Restrictions Tied to Nigeria’s Rejection of U.S. Asylum Deal.

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.

Senegal, Gabon, Liberia… Trump hosts five African leaders at White House.

United States President Donald Trump has met with his counterparts from Senegal, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Gabon.


The African leaders had lunch with Trump at the White House on Wednesday and discussed expanding commercial opportunities between the US and their respective nations.

The meeting marked the beginning of a three-day mini-summit, featuring a series of largely closed-door engagements on trade and economic cooperation, expected to run through Friday.

While details of what has been termed the “African leaders” summit are not clear, observers say the narrow selection of participants raises questions about inclusivity and representation.


Analysts argue that inviting only five leaders out of Africa’s 54 countries sends the wrong message—particularly given the absence of regional powerhouses like Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya, which play key roles in shaping the continent’s political and economic direction.

Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt are aligned with BRICS, an economic bloc that Trump has repeatedly criticised.

Earlier this week, the US president threatened that countries aligning themselves with the “anti-American policies of BRICS” would be charged an additional 10 percent tariff.

All five African countries hosted at the White House currently face a 10 percent tariff.

Discussions could revolve around trade in critical minerals and possibly hosting deportees.

EFCC Commences Investigation of Suspect Over Undeclared $420,900, £5,825, CFA3,946,500 Alleged Fraud

The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has commenced a comprehensive investigation into the case of one Ahmad Salisu, arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, for allegedly concealing and failing to declare the sum of $420,900 (Four Hundred and Twenty Thousand, Nine Hundred US Dollars), £5,825, (Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty Five Pounds Sterling), CFA3,946,500 (Three Million, Nine Hundred and Forty Six Thousand, Five CFA) and Cameroonian CFA 224,000( Two Hundred and Twenty Four Thousand Cameroonian CFA).

Salisu was intercepted by Customs operatives during a routine check on Monday, July 7, 2025 at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. Upon physical inspection, it was revealed that the cash was meticulously concealed in a polythene bag covered by cloth and other fabrics in the luggage of the suspect.

Upon arrest, the suspect reportedly disclosed that he was transporting the funds on behalf of his brother Auwal Ahmad who is still in Saudi Arabia to be delivered to two individuals, Yusuf Adamu and Abdulhamid Rabiu who were also arrested upon their arrival to claim the monies. Following preliminary interrogation and documentation, the Nigeria Customs Service formally handed over the trio and the recovered funds to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.

In a joint press briefing at the office of Nigeria Customs Service Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Kano Zonal Director of the EFCC, Commander of the EFCC, Ibrahim Shazali stated that the EFCC and Nigerian Customs was committed to zero tolerance for illegal cash smuggling and all other forms of economic and financial crimes and will not spare any offender. “The EFCC and the Nigerian Customs Service, working in concert, have zero tolerance for illegal cash smuggling”, he said.

“Our surveillance is active, our intelligence is sharp, and our resolve to apprehend offenders is unwavering. Attempting to circumvent our financial laws and border controls is a futile and costly endeavour,” he added.

Shazali also called on the general public and other stakeholders to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity across the Nigeria borders. “We urge the public, particularly stakeholders within the aviation sector and financial institutions to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement of large volumes of cash. Protecting the integrity of our economy is a collective responsibility”, he said.

The Customs Area Comptroller, Dalhatu Abubakar in his remarks pointed out that currency declaration is part of Nigeria’s effort to combat money laundering and terrorist financing activities and all efforts must be enhanced to protect the sanctity of our borders in that regard. “The currency declaration regime is part of a holistic anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures provided in our laws to protect the sanctity and integrity of the Nigerian financial system. The measures are also aimed at controlling the flow of funds to criminal networks, terrorist, bandits and drug barons whose activities jeopardize our national security”, he said.

The suspects will soon be charged to court.

Trump Slams Nigeria with 10% Tariff Over BRICS Alignment.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a new 10% tariff on Nigeria and other countries aligning with the BRICS bloc, which he accused of promoting “anti-American policies.”

Trump made the declaration on Sunday via his Truth Social platform, warning that “any country aligning itself with the anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy.”

His post comes amid the ongoing BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where member nations criticized unilateral trade measures and rising protectionism—an indirect jab at Trump’s tariff-heavy approach.

Nigeria was formally admitted as a BRICS partner country in January 2025, becoming the ninth to join under the new partnership framework established during the bloc’s 16th summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024.

Other nations in this category include Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

In a joint communique on Sunday, BRICS leaders expressed “serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures,” calling such practices harmful to global trade and inconsistent with WTO rules.

President Bola Tinubu, who attended the summit, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to BRICS and the Global South, stating that the country aligns with the group’s push for global financial restructuring and equity.

Speaking through his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said, “Nigeria 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 also emphasized the need to address environmental degradation, the climate crisis, and health disparities—issues he described as critical to Africa’s development.

Nigeria associates with what I have heard at BRICS here in Rio, Brazil. The next issues are financial restructuring and reevaluation of the global structure.

BRICS must not only be a bloc for emerging economies but also a beacon for emerging solutions rooted in solidarity, self-reliance, sustainability, and shared prosperity.

We must be the architects of a future that addresses the specific needs and concerns of youths, who represent 70% of Nigeria's population.

I also took the opportunity to remind fellow leaders that Nigeria is not a passive participant in global affairs. We are taking bold, homegrown steps to accelerate renewable energy, mainstream climate action, strengthen urban resilience, and expand healthcare access.

The world is changing. Nigeria will not be left behind. We will help lead the way.

President Bola Tinubu and Director-General of the World Trade Organization Okonjo-Iweala at the ongoing BRICS Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

It is a pleasure to be back in Rio, this time for the BRICS Summit, where I held a warm and productive pre-summit bilateral meeting with my dear friend, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil.

Nigeria and Brazil share historic ties and common aspirations. I am pleased with the enhanced cooperation between our two countries over the past two years. Today, we agreed to further deepen collaboration in agriculture, technology, oil & gas, energy, trade, mining & extractive industries, and industrial development. These sectors are critical to inclusive growth and prosperity for both our peoples.

As two of the largest democracies in the Global South, we share a responsibility to lead with vision, courage, and fairness to shape a more balanced, equitable, and dignified global future.

~ PBAT

#NigeriaAtBRICS #BRICS2025

~ PBAT

#NigeriaAtBRICS #BRICS2025
@NGRPresident

@NigeriaGov

Tinubu arrives Brazil for BRICS Summit.

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to participate in the 17th Summit of Heads of State and Government for the Global South and Emerging Economic Bloc.

The block includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, also called the BRICS.

The President’s flight touched down at the Galeao Air Force Base tarmac at 8:45 pm local time on Friday, where the Galeao Air Force Base Commander coordinated the Guard of Honour.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he signed Saturday titled ‘President Tinubu Arrives In Rio De Janeiro For BRICS Meeting’.

Brazil’s Deputy Minister for Africa and the Middle East, Carlos Sergio Sobral Duarte, and the Deputy Minister for Trade Promotion, Science, Technology, Innovation, and Culture, received President Tinubu.

Tinubu is in Brazil at the invitation of President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva.

The Nigerian leader will attend a bilateral meeting hosted by President Lula on Saturday, July 5, ahead of the summit on June 6 and 7.

At the BRICS Summit, the President will participate in a plenary session and deliver an address on Nigeria’s ongoing reforms to reposition the economy for global competitiveness.

He will also meet with investors to capitalise on the country’s opportunities in agriculture, solid minerals, healthcare, and alternative energy.


The summit’s theme is “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.”

Deliberations will centre on health, Artificial Intelligence, governance, and Climate Change issues.

Ahead of the Leaders’ Summit, the political negotiators of BRICS brainstormed over aligning more commitments to combat socially determined diseases, artificial intelligence governance, and climate finance.

Their focus was on providing concrete solutions to the structural challenges faced by the Global South.

State Governors participating in the summit with the President are Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) and Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger).

Tinubu Ignored as Trump Invites African Leaders to White House.

President Bola Tinubu has been left out of a summit at the White House, where U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host the leaders of Senegal, Mauritania, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, and Gabon for talks on economic cooperation.

The meeting, scheduled for July 9, is aimed at strengthening commercial ties between the United States and selected African nations.

According to a White House source, President Trump will host the group for a working lunch emphasising that “African countries offer incredible commercial opportunities which benefit both the American people and our African partners”.

This invitation, it is understood, is part of Trump’s broader strategy to shift focus from traditional aid—deemed wasteful—to investment and trade deals under his “America First” agenda.

The summit comes amid a significant tightening of U.S. foreign aid to Africa, redirecting diplomatic efforts toward mutual economic gain.

President Tinubu, meanwhile, is currently on a two-nation diplomatic tour. He arrived in Saint Lucia on June 28, engaging in a state visit that included meetings with the Governor-General and Prime Minister, an address to the joint Parliament, and a working luncheon with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.

Following his Caribbean engagements, Tinubu is set to travel to Rio de Janeiro on July 6–7 for the 17th BRICS Summit, attending as a “partner country”.

Tinubu Embarks On State Visit To Saint Lucia, Attends BRICS In Brazil.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday, June 28, 2025, on a two-nation visit to Saint Lucia and Brazil.
Naija News reports that this was made known in a statement on Friday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

His first stop is Saint Lucia, where he will pay a state visit as part of efforts to deepen Nigeria’s engagement with Caribbean nations and strengthen South-South cooperation.

At the end of the visit to the island State, President Tinubu will fly to Brazil to participate in the 17th Summit of BRICS in Rio de Janeiro,

During the visit to Saint Lucia, President Tinubu will pay courtesy calls on the Governor-General, His Excellency Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles, and Prime Minister Philip Pierre.

A key highlight of the visit will be President Tinubu’s address to the special joint session of the Senate and the House of Assembly of Saint Lucia at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, Gros Islet.

The Heads of Government of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, members of the Nigerian community in the country and the Director-General of OECS, Dr Didacus Jules, have been invited to attend the special session.