Audit Reveals Massive Collapse in Nigeria’s Public Service as 30 MDAs Declared ‘Structurally Failing’

A new federal compliance audit has exposed a deep crisis in Nigeria’s public sector, revealing that 30 major Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are “structurally non-compliant and operationally failing.” The report, covering January–October 2025 and compiled by PEBEC, shows that over half of the institutions evaluated did not meet the minimum 50% Business Facilitation Act (BFA) compliance benchmark.

Only five agencies—including the Nigerian Content Development Board, NDLEA, Customs, NCC and NPA—recorded strong performances. Meanwhile, critical institutions like NIMC, NBS, NIPOST, SEC, NUPRC, NIMASA, and NEXIM Bank ranked at the bottom, scoring below 50%, with NIMC posting a shocking 12.7%.

The audit paints a grim picture of widespread governance failure marked by sluggish approvals, analog processes, opaque systems, missing service timelines, lack of digital integration, and zero accountability. Despite billions invested in digital transformation, essential services such as identity registration and passport processing remain chaotic, leaving citizens to bear the brunt of a collapsing public service infrastructure.

Just In: Mali’s President Goïta Drops Bombshell — “We Either Fight for Our Freedom or Remain Slaves Forever”

In a powerful and emotional address, Mali’s President Assimi Goïta has sent a bold warning to his people and the world, insisting that Africa must choose between fighting for its freedom or remaining “slaves forever.”

According to Goïta, Mali and several African nations are being hunted, pressured, and manipulated by foreign powers using terror!sm as a tool of control.

“We either fight this w@r or remain slaves forever, because they are hunting us,” he declared.

Goïta accused powerful foreign interests of pretending to provide “help” while secretly working to dominate African countries politically and economically.

He alleged that these global actors are:

Influencing who becomes president, prime minister, mayor, and political leaders

Forcing African nations to give up shares in mining corporations

Trying to control national passports and security systems

Targeting ownership of Africa’s natural resources

His message to citizens was clear: wake up, recognize the thre@t, and defend national sovereignty before it’s too late.

This statement is already sparking debate across Africa — especially as more nations question the intentions of external powers on the continent.

Do you think African nations should cut ties with foreign powers and political influence?

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#AfricaRising #newsflashafrica #sovereigntyfight

BREAKING: Nigerians living in the Diaspora have called for urgent government action to resolve persistent difficulties associated with obtaining National Identification Numbers and Nigerian passports abroad.

US Halts Visa Issuance for Afghan Nationals After DC Shooting Involving Afghan Suspect

The U.S. government has paused all visa issuance for Afghan passport holders following the fatal shooting of National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom by an Afghan national in Washington, D.C. The State Department said the suspension is immediate and aimed at protecting national security. The attacker, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. in 2021, is being investigated for terrorism-related motives. The incident has intensified political tensions, with President Trump calling for a permanent ban on immigration from “Third World Countries.
#USVisaBan #AfghanNationals #WashingtonShooting

Supreme Court backs Trump’s move to block passport gender marker changes for transgender and non-binary applicants.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday granted the Donald Trump administration’s request to enforce a policy requiring U.S. passport applicants to be identified by their biological sex at birth (either “M” or “F”), rather than allowing them to use gender identity or an “X” marker.

Under the policy, instituted via executive order and implemented by the U.S. Department of State, all new passport applications must reflect the sex assigned at birth, reversing an earlier system that allowed transgender and nonbinary individuals to self-select their marker.

A federal district court had previously blocked enforcement of this policy nationwide, finding it likely violated equal-protection and due-process principles by discriminating against transgender and nonbinary Americans.

However, in a brief unsigned order, the Supreme Court granted a stay of that injunction allowing the policy to remain in force while litigation continues in lower courts.

In its order, the Court stated that “displaying passport holders’ sex at birth no more offends equal-protection principles than displaying their country of birth in both cases, the Government is merely attesting to a historical fact without subjecting anyone to differential treatment.”
Three liberal justices dissented, warning that forcing transgender and non-binary individuals to carry passports that contradict their lived gender identity heightens their risks of violence, harassment and discrimination.

The policy remains subject to ongoing legal challenges led by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of transgender and nonbinary applicants. They argue the policy exacerbates harm by denying individuals identification documents that align with their gender identity and undermines their safety and dignity.

This decision represents a significant setback for advocates of transgender rights in the U.S., and it signals how the Court is handling emergency appeals on gender-identity matters under the Trump administration’s agenda.

Nigeria Immigration Service Says Natasha Akpoti’s Passport ‘Seizure’ Was Routine.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has addressed claims that it seized the international passport of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Udughan.

A senior NIS official, who requested anonymity, described the incident at the airport as “routine.” “She was not detained. Her passport may have been taken for a standard clearance procedure,” the officer explained.

When contacted, NIS spokesman ACI Akinsola Akinlabi said he was away from Abuja but would investigate the matter to provide clarification.

Senator Akpoti-Udughan had earlier alleged during a Facebook Live session that her passport was confiscated on the orders of Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The passport was, however, returned to her during the live broadcast.

Sowore Regains Freedom After Four Days in Kuje Prison.

Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, has been released after spending four days in detention at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

Sowore confirmed his release on Monday through a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, writing:
“Leaving Kuje Prison in Abuja after being detained there illegally for four days by @officialABAT illegal IGP, Kayode Egbetokun. #FreeNnamdiKanuNow.”

The activist was arrested on October 23 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he had gone to see the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, during one of his court appearances.

His arrest followed a #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest outside the court, which was dispersed by police officers using tear gas and warning sh+ts. The demonstration was organized to demand the unconditional release of Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021.

On October 24, the Kuje Magistrate Court granted Sowore and others arrested alongside him bail in the sum of ₦500,000 each. The court, presided over by Abubakar Umar Sai’I’d, also ordered each defendant to submit their National Identification Number (NIN), three-year tax clearance certificate, and passport as part of the bail conditions.

Sowore was arraigned alongside Emmanuel Kanu, Nnamdi Kanu’s brother, and Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor. The police accused them of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace, alleging they trespassed into restricted areas during the protest.

His release marks the end of a four-day detention that began with his arrest on October 23.

Omoyele Sowore and Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer Released After Four Days in Kuje Prison.

According to a report by Channels TV, human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, representing Nnamdi Kanu, have been released from Kuje Prison after four days in detention.

Their detention followed their appearance at the Kuje Magistrate Court last week in connection with the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held in the Federal Capital Territory.

On Friday, the court, presided over by Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id, granted bail to Sowore, Ejimakor, Prince Emmanuel Kanu (Nnamdi Kanu’s brother), and ten others.

The defendants had been charged with unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace.

Each was granted N500,000 bail, required two sureties residing in the FCT, valid identification, a three-year tax clearance, and the surrender of their passports.

Following their release on Monday, Ejimakor described the detention experience as “traumatic and inhumane,” criticizing the police for the excessive use of force during and after the protest.

He noted that officers deployed tear gas directly at protesters and engaged in aggressive conduct even after control had been established.

Ejimakor clarified that the protest targeted the presidency and the perceived unjust prosecution of Nnamdi Kanu, rather than the judiciary.

He argued that any withdrawal of the case by the presidency or attorney general would leave the court with no basis to proceed.

Senate Proposes 10-Year Passport Ban for Nigerians Convicted Abroad.

The Senate has advanced a bill seeking to impose a 10-year international passport ban on Nigerians convicted of crimes in foreign countries, as part of efforts to protect the nation’s image and tighten passport issuance.

The bill, which scaled second reading on Tuesday, received unanimous support from senators after being put to a voice vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Sponsor of the bill, Senator Babangida Hussaini (Jigawa Northwest), said the measure was necessary to stop non-Nigerians from fraudulently acquiring Nigerian passports and to curb the misuse of the nation’s identity abroad.

“Nigerians of all shades and colours are being disrespected in foreign lands because of the ease of acquiring Nigerian passports,” Hussaini said. “We must reclaim the dignity of the green passport.”

Backing the bill, Akpabio described it as “a bold step to preserve the dignity and integrity of Nigerians.” He recalled a robbery incident in Dubai where suspects were initially identified as Nigerians but were later found to be foreigners using Nigerian passports.

“This bill will tighten passport issuance and ensure that anyone who damages Nigeria’s image abroad faces consequences,” he said, “Any Nigerian who tarnishes our image should not only face imprisonment abroad but also lose their passport for at least 10 years.”

The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Interior for further legislative action and a public hearing.

If enacted, the legislation will make Nigeria one of the few African nations to penalize citizens convicted abroad with a domestic passport ban — a move lawmakers say will help restore global respect for the Nigerian passport and serve as a deterrent against criminal behavior overseas.

"The Queen is coming home soon" – Actress Iyabo Ojo announces as her grandson, Rakeem, receives his Canadian passport.

Ex-Ondo Commissioner Slams UK Minister Kemi Badenoch Over Remarks on Nigeria

Former Ondo State Health Commissioner, Wahab Oluropo Adegbenro, has strongly criticized UK Minister Kemi Badenoch for her recent comments about Nigeria, questioning her loyalty to her Nigerian roots.

In an interview on ChannelsTV, Adegbenro accused Badenoch of painting Nigeria in a negative light just to gain political support in the UK.

He stressed that anyone who truly identifies as Nigerian should avoid publicly ridiculing the country, especially on international platforms.

“I don’t think Kemi Badenoch is a Nigerian in the true sense. If you are, you won’t look down on your country just to win votes in another. Yes, she has dual citizenship, but when you open your Nigerian passport, it clearly states it is the property of the Federal Government of Nigeria. That should mean something,” he said.

While Badenoch’s remarks—based on her personal experiences with Nigerian public services—have sparked mixed reactions, Adegbenro insisted that public figures with Nigerian heritage should protect the nation’s image, not exploit its weaknesses for political advantage.

The Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has accused the Federal Government of imposing more burden on Nigerians.
'It Is Alarming' - Peter Obi Knocks FG For Increasing Nigerian Passport Application Fees
He stated this while reacting to the new 5% tax on all refined fossil fuel sales, including petrol and diesel.

Speaking via a post on his 𝕏 handle late on Wednesday, Obi said instead of easing hardship, the government has imposed more burden on Nigerians.

The former Anambra State governor stated that the 5% fuel tax should have waited until Nigerians began to see tangible improvements in their lives based on all the promises from President Bola Tinubu.

He said, “Nigerians will pay a 5% tax when buying their everyday fuel or diesel at a time when millions can hardly even afford the cost of transportation.

“Mr. President just yesterday boasted that Nigeria has met its revenue target for the year. Yet instead of easing hardship, the government imposes more burden on Nigerians.

“Even the so-called alternative, CNG, has become unaffordable, rising from about N230 to N450, while the promised subsidies on the CNG have quietly vanished.

“If our revenues are truly ‘excessive’ as claimed, should they not first be used to fund education, healthcare, and pulling Nigerians out of poverty? Why tax citizens who cannot even breathe anymore?”

According to him, leadership is not about giving a burden but reducing suffering, and about care and compassion.

Nigerian Professionals, Families Left Stranded as U.S. Revokes Visas.

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has reportedly begun quietly revoking valid visas previously issued to Nigerian citizens, leaving professionals, entrepreneurs, frequent travellers, and families stranded with cancelled plans and mounting financial losses.

Former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye, raised the alarm in an article on Sunday titled “The Quiet Revocation: Why is the U.S. Silently Cancelling Nigerians’ Visas?” According to him, several Nigerians have recently received official letters from the embassy instructing them to submit their passports at its Lagos or Abuja offices, only for their visas to be cancelled without explanation.

The notices, citing Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 41.122, vaguely stated that “new information became available after the visa was issued,” but offered no details, evidence, or right of appeal.

Those affected reportedly include a prominent journalist, the head of a federal government agency billed to deliver an international address, and an Abuja-based entrepreneur with a clean travel record.

Others are professionals and frequent travellers who depend on U.S. visas for education, family visits, medical treatment, and business engagements. The sudden cancellations forced many to abandon trips, refund tickets, and explain missed meetings to partners.

In some cases, travellers only discovered the cancellations at airports, with a few briefly detained before being turned back. Neither the U.S. Embassy nor Nigerian authorities have issued an official statement on the matter, leaving affected citizens in uncertainty.

Many insist they have never overstayed visas, broken immigration rules, or posed security risks, sparking fears of a silent but deliberate tightening of U.S. visa policy against Nigerians.

Unlawful,’ SERAP Faults FG Over Passport Fee Hike
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Federal Government to urgently reverse the new passport fees announced by the Nigeria Immigration Service.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced new passport fees effective September 1, 2025. A 32-page, 5-year passport will now cost ₦100,000, while a 64-page, 10-year passport will cost ₦200,000—a 100% increase from the old rates.

The new charges apply only to applications within Nigeria, while diaspora fees remain unchanged at $150 (32-page, 5 years) and $230 (64-page, 10 years).

The NIS said the review balances service delivery with accessibility. The hike comes amid Nigeria’s worsening unemployment and the growing “Japa” migration trend, as more youths and professionals seek opportunities abroad.

Married man sentenced to prison for faking his death before fleeing US to live with mistress he met online.

A Wisconsin, USA man who staged his own kayaking drowning to abandon his wife and three children for a woman he met online has been sentenced to three months in jail.

Ryan Borgwardt, 45, of Watertown, appeared in court on Tuesday and was convicted of obstructing an officer. He received an 89-day jail sentence – matching the number of days he successfully misled law enforcement about his whereabouts.

The sentence was nearly double what prosecutors had recommended in a plea deal, according to FOX6News. “I deeply regret the actions I did that night and all the pain I caused my family and friends,” Borgwardt told the court before sentencing.

Judge Mark Slate, who presided over the case, said: “He obstructed law enforcement for a total of 89 days.” He added that the longer sentence serves as a warning to anyone considering faking their death to escape responsibilities.

Borgwardt was reported missing on August 12, 2024, after telling his wife the previous night he would be kayaking on Green Lake, about 100 miles northwest of Milwaukee. Investigators initially treated the case as a potential drowning. After 58 days of unsuccessful searches, suspicions grew that Borgwardt had staged his death.

Evidence revealed he had obtained a new passport three months earlier, applied for a $375,000 life insurance policy, reversed his vasectomy, and moved funds to a foreign account. Investigators later discovered he had been communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan and planned to meet her abroad

EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Embassy In Qatar Accused Of Victimising Passport Applicant Who Exposed Racketeering

The Nigerian Embassy in Qatar has allegedly refused to renew the passport of a Nigerian applicant after he exposed a passport racketeering scheme involving embassy officials.

Despite paying ₦315,000 (750 Qatari Riyals) for renewal, his name was reportedly removed from the list of over 500 passports issued between August 1–6, 2025. Sources told SaharaReporters the action was deliberate punishment for his role in exposing the scam.

A July investigation revealed that Nigerians in Qatar were stranded for months after the embassy collected huge sums for renewals but failed to deliver. Officials allegedly traced the applicant through his payment receipt in the report.

The move has left him stranded with an expired passport, affecting his job prospects, banking access, and ability to travel.

When contacted, the Nigeria Immigration Service said it does not speak for the embassy.

#Nigeria #Qatar #Passport #Corruption

Again, Naira Marley Denies Involvement In Mohbad’s Death, Calls For Fresh Probe

Nigerian singer and Marlian Records boss, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has again denied allegations linking him to the death of Afrobeats star Ilerioluwa Aloba (Mohbad), who died on September 12, 2023.

In a video released Tuesday, Marley insisted he was abroad at the time, stressing that his passport proves he was in Amsterdam when Mohbad passed. He criticised investigators for detaining him and Sam Larry despite their absence from Nigeria, arguing that police should have focused on those with Mohbad in his final hours.

Marley also alleged that social media platforms distorted the narrative against him, denying him and his circle the chance to mourn. He called for a fresh, impartial investigation into the singer’s death.

Addressing label disputes, he maintained that Mohbad had a 50-50 profit-sharing deal and alleged that the late artiste struggled with drug-induced paranoia and suicidal tendencies.

Mohbad’s death sparked nationwide protests, vigils, and ongoing calls for justice, while his family continues to demand an independent review of the disputed toxicology results.

#Mohbad #NairaMarley #JusticeForMohbad #NigeriaNews

EFCC Denies Political Motive In Declaring Atiku’s Son-In-Law, Abdullahi Haske Wanted.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed claims that its move to declare Abdullahi Bashir Haske, a businessman and son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, wanted was politically motivated or tied to Atiku’s 2027 presidential ambition.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, described such claims as “rubbish,” stressing that Haske had been under investigation for years.

“Haske is someone we have been investigating for so many years. He is on administrative bail but jumped the process and we declared him wanted. How can anybody be insinuating that?” Oyewale told Daily Trust.

Haske, founder of AA & R Investment Group, is wanted over alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering. He had earlier been questioned and detained, with his passport seized, but reportedly escaped using another passport.

The EFCC urged the public to provide information on his whereabouts, listing his last known addresses in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, Lagos.

#EFCC #Atiku #Corruption #Nigeria

COVID-19 Drove Me Into $4.2m Fraud, Apetu of Ipetumodu Tells U.S. Court.

The Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has pleaded for leniency before a U.S. court after admitting guilt in a $4.2 million COVID-19 relief fraud case that has drawn widespread attention in both Nigeria and the United States.

In a sentencing memorandum filed on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, before Judge Christopher Boyko of the Northern District of Ohio, the monarch’s lawyers argued that the coronavirus pandemic played a major role in pushing him into the crime. “COVID-19 affected all of us differently.

Conduct that we would never expect from ourselves or others sometimes manifested itself as we encountered a completely different society,” his counsel stated, adding that while the pandemic was not an excuse, it was a key factor, especially for Mr. Oloyede, who faced health challenges during the outbreak.

The 62-year-old traditional ruler was arrested by the FBI in May 2024 after disappearing from Nigeria two months earlier, sparking concerns in Ipetumodu over his absence from major traditional festivals such as Odun Egungun and Odun Edi.

He was accused of using six companies to file fraudulent loan applications under the U.S. Paycheck Protection Programme and Economic Injury Disaster Loan schemes.

Court records revealed that Oba Oloyede, who migrated to the U.S. in the late 1990s, had previously built a respectable career as a banker and adjunct professor before returning to Nigeria in 2019 to assume the throne. His lawyers described the fraud as a complete departure from his past life of service and responsibility, stressing that he had shown remorse and accepted full responsibility.

Prosecutors disclosed that part of the fraud proceeds were laundered through personal and business accounts, leading to the seizure of a Medina County property in Ohio and over $96,000 from one of his company’s bank accounts.

He was granted bail after surrendering both his U.S. and Nigerian passports but has since remained under court restrictions pending sentencing. Oba Oloyede, a father of six and foster parent to several others, is now scheduled to be sentenced on August 26, 2025.