Ojulari Assumes Duty As NNPC Boss

The new Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Bayo Ojulari, has officially taken over the reins of the company from his predecessor, Mele Kyari.

In a brief handover ceremony held at the NNPC Towers on April 4, 2025, Ojulari commended Kyari for his contributions to the growth of the NNPC Limited and his sterling service to the nation.

He further stated that the objective of his management was to consolidate on the successes of his predecessor and take the company to the next level.

The new GCEO said though the targets set for his management were quite enormous, he would be relying on the co-operation of the management and staff of the NNPC Limited, as well as the counsel of his predecessor to achieve set targets.

“I will be counting on your support. I will need it. I will be coming around to seek your counsel,” Ojulari told Kyari.

Earlier in his remarks, Kyari congratulated Ojulari and thanked the management and staff of the NNPC Limited for their support while in office.

He pledged to do everything within his power to support the new management to succeed, stressing he was only a call away.

NNPC Announces Appointment of New Team

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced the appointment of a new 8-man senior Management Team.

The NNPCL announced this via a statement issued by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, on Friday, April 4, 2025.

Soneye stated that the development followed the appointment of the company’s Group Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors.

The team, which would be headed by the GCEO, Bayo Ojulari, has Rowland Ewubare as Group Chief Operating Officer; Adedapo Segun as Group Chief Financial Officer; and Olalekan Ogunleye as Executive Vice President Gas, Power and New Energy.

Other members of the team are Udy Ntia as Executive Vice President Upstream; Mumuni Dangazau as Executive Vice President Downstream; Sophia Mbakwe as Executive Vice President Business Services; and Adesua Dozie, as Company Secretary and Chief Legal Officer.

According to Soneye, all appointments are with immediate effect.

Supreme Court Sacks Abure As LP Chairman

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has nullified the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Abuja recognizing Mr. Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).

In a unanimous judgement on Friday, April 4, 2025, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to have pronounced Mr. Abure as the party's National Chairman having earlier found that the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership. The apex court declared that the issue of leadership is an internal affair of a party over which courts lacked jurisdiction.

The court however added that Mr. Abure’s tenure had since expired. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal filed by Senator Ester Nenadi Usman and one other, hence pronounced that it was meritorious.

It proceeded to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the Mr. Abure faction of the LP for being unmeritorious.

Ojulari Replaces Kyari As NNPC Boss

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has sacked the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL), Mele Kyari.

Tinubu also dissolved its board, removing the Chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure.

This latest development was disclosed on 2nd April 2025 from the State House, Abuja. According to the Press Release, Tinubu invoked his powers under section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to carry out the sweeping reconstitution, citing the need for “enhanced operational efficiency, restored investor confidence, and a more commercially viable NNPCL”.

Hence, Tinubu approved a new 11-man board, which has Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as non-executive Chairman.

It's noteworthy that Engr. Ojulari is the erstwhile Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the defunct Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC).

The statement said, “Adedapo Segun, who replaced Umaru Isa Ajiya as the chief financial officer last November, has been appointed to the new board by President Tinubu. “Six board members, non-executive directors, represent the country’s geopolitical zones. They are Bello Rabiu, North West, Yusuf Usman, North East, and Babs Omotowa, a former managing director of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas( NLNG), who represents North Central.

“President Tinubu appointed Austin Avuru as a non-executive director from the South-South, David Ige as a Non-executive director from the South West, and Henry Obih as a non-executive director from the South East. “Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will represent the ministry on the new board, while Aminu Said Ahmed will represent the Ministry of Petroleum Resources”.

The statement further mentioned that all the appointments take effect from April 2, 2025.

Malawi Warns Institutions, Recipients on Honorary Doctoral Degrees, others

The Malawian National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has issued a strong warning to all indigenous and foreign Institutions on higher education in Malawi.

It clarifies that receiving an honorary degree does not automatically qualify an individual for the title of "Doctor" or "Professor", as the case may be.

In a statement released on March 27, 2025, the NCHE emphasised that honorary degrees are purely symbolic recognitions, hence do not hold the same academic weight as a PhD or a Professorship.

While warning that only accredited and recognized institutions were permitted to award honorary doctoral degree (honoris causa) to distinguished individuals, it cautioned them to desist from recognizing anyone with professorship award.

The council noted an increasing trend where individuals who had been conferred honorary degrees begin to use academic titles without completing the rigorous scholarly processes required for those qualifications.

“An honorary degree is a recognition of one’s contributions to society, but it does not equate to an earned academic qualification,” the statement read.

NCHE further cautioned institutions against misleading the public by allowing honorary degree recipients to assume academic titles. The council stressed that only accredited institutions and duly qualified individuals can rightfully hold and use such titles.

This warning comes amid growing concerns that some individuals in Malawi are falsely portraying themselves as professors or doctors after receiving honorary degrees from unaccredited institutions.

The NCHE has urged all stakeholders to hold hands in upholding the integrity and dignity of higher education in the country.

Meta Launches New Friends' Tab on Facebook

Meta has unveiled a new ‘Friends’ tab on Facebook — rather counterintuitive statement - considering what the platform was originally meant to be.

The new ‘Friends’ tab is aimed at reviving the platform’s original purpose of connecting people with their personal social circles.

The CEO, Mark Zuckerberg announced the development on March 27 2025, and is a part of the social media company’s effort to bring back what it refers to as “OG Facebook”, or the earlier version of the platform that prioritized direct interactions between friends.

It's noteworthy that the feature is now available in the US and Canada.

“We’re introducing a new Facebook Friends tab that makes it easier to connect with your friends,” the social media company said in an official statement.

“Connecting with friends has been a part of Facebook since it was launched. Over the years, Facebook evolved to meet changing needs and created best-in-class experiences across Groups, Video, Marketplace and more, but the magic of friends has fallen away.

"We will be adding several “OG” Facebook experiences throughout the year, beginning with the revamped Friends tab,” it added.

Over the past few years, Facebook has mostly steered away from a social network primarily centered on friends and family to a platform where algorithmically recommended content dominates.

This has seen the introduction of AI-powered recommendations in users’ feeds, surfacing posts from strangers, trending videos, and content from influencers rather than personal connections.

While this approach has helped drive engagement, it has also led to criticism from longtime Facebook users, many of whom have expressed frustration over their feeds being inundated with viral content, advertisements, and recommended posts at the expense of updates from friends.

Now, Meta is seemingly going back to its roots.

The Friends tab is not the first attempt by Meta to reintroduce a more personalized user experience. In 2022, Zuckerberg introduced a dedicated “friends” feed, which allowed users to view posts from personal connections in reverse chronological order.

However, this feature was not prominently placed in the app, making it difficult for users to access and utilize effectively. It remains to be seen whether Meta can leverage this to retain younger users, especially since many of them have migrated TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.

Facebook, once the go-to platform for social networking, has seen a decline in engagement from Gen Z users, who often perceive the platform as outdated or too focused on older demographics.

The Friends tab replaces what was previously a section dedicated solely to friend requests and “People You May Know” suggestions. With the latest update, this tab has been transformed into a dedicated feed exclusively featuring content from users’ Facebook friends.

Unlike the main feed, which remains heavily influenced by Meta’s content algorithms, this section removes posts from groups, pages, and recommended sources, ensuring that users only see updates from their direct connections.

The content displayed in the Friends tab includes status updates, posts, Stories, Reels, birthday reminders, and friend requests, making it a one-stop destination for friend-related interactions.

Additionally, Meta has provided users with the option to pin the Friends tab to their main navigation bar, allowing for quick and easy access.

This feature can be customized through Settings & Privacy. Hence, users need to go to Settings and click on the Tab Bar.

2 Dead, 4 Missing in Spanish Mine Accident

At least two miners reportedly died on Monday, 31st March 2025 and four were missing in an accident in a mine in the northern Spanish region of Asturias, the regional emergency service said.

The emergency service said another three people had been injured due to a machine malfunction inside the mine in Degana at 9:32 a.m. (0732 GMT) local time.

Three helicopters and two ambulances have been sent to the scene of the incident.

Reports earlier revealed there had been an explosion in the mine and that several people were trapped.

Meet Ten Countries with Highest Malaria Mortality

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by female Anopheles mosquitoes and affects several countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, the disease is one of the most severe public health problems worldwide and the leading cause of death in many developing countries.

While the disease can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites and with medical treatment, the number of people dying from the same is startling. Nearly 600,000 persons died from Malaria globally according to 2023 WHO statistics, with 263 million malaria cases recorded.

Out onumbere numbers, 569,000 representing 95%, and 246 million representing 94%, respectively were recorded in the WHO African Region.

Children under 5 suffered the most, with about 76% of deaths coming from that category in the said region.

A list of the ten countries with the highest malaria mortality rates is given below:

1. Nigeria

Nigeria can be said to be leading the malaria burden globally, accounting for approximately 31% of all malaria deaths worldwide. In 2022, the country reported nearly 200,000 malaria-related deaths. Children under five and pregnant women are the most affected groups, with a national malaria prevalence rate of 22% among children aged 6-59 months as of 2021, according to the WHO. 2. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

As a result of its tropical regions and other major challenges in DRC's healthcare infrastructure, high incidence and mortality rates associated with malaria are consistently recorded in the country. The country currently accounts for approximately 12% of global malaria deaths.

3. Niger

Malaria is a leading cause of death in Niger, representing approximately 6% of global malaria deaths. The country's predominantly rural population and limited access to healthcare services make malaria a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.

4. Tanzania

Approximately 4% of Tanzanians die globally from malaria deaths, according to the World Health Organisation. Despite ongoing control efforts, malaria remains a major public health issue, particularly affecting children under five years old.

5. Mozambique

Mozambique contributes to approximately 4.2% of global malaria deaths. The country's climate and environmental conditions promote malaria transmission, leading to significant health impacts.

6. Uganda

Uganda has relatively higher numbers compared to other African countries as far as number of global malaria deaths are concerned. With an estimated 5.1% of global malaria deaths, malaria is endemic across the country, with high transmission rates posing substantial health risks to the population. 7. Angola

Angola represents approximately 3.4% of global malaria deaths. Many, particularly pregnant women and children die from malaria in this part of Africa, according to statistics available to the World Health Organisation.

8. Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso contributes to about 3.2% of global malaria deaths. According to the World Health Organisation, the high transmission rates are a significant public health concern, especially in rural areas. ​ 9. Mali

Mali accounts for approximately 3.2% of global malaria deaths. The country's malaria situation poses ongoing challenges to public health efforts.

10. Cameroon

Cameroon represents about 2.6% of global malaria deaths. Malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, with children under five being the most vulnerabl

Samsung co-CEO, Jong-hee Dies of Cardiac Arrest

The co-CEO of Samsung Electronics Company, Han Jong-hee has died of a heart attack. This was announced by the Management of the South-Korean tech giant on 25th March 2025.

This development has reportedly left the newly-appointed boss Jun Young-hyun solely in charge of the company as it revamps its underperforming chip business and navigates trade uncertainties.

Young-hyun was appointed barely a week ago at the Samsung’s Annual Shareholders Meeting, following his promotion in 2024, to lead its semiconductor division.

Jong-hee, 63, became the Chief Executive Officer of South Korea's biggest company in 2022 and was also in charge of its consumer electronics and mobile devices division.

Samsung said in a stock exchange filing that Young-hyun would be the sole CEO of the company after Jong-hee's death.

Samsung shares were down 0.5% in line with the broader South Korean market (.KS11), opens new tab.

The world's biggest memory chipmaker has been suffering from weak earnings and a sagging share price in recent quarters after falling behind rivals in advanced memory chips and contract chip manufacturing, which have enjoyed strong demand from AI projects.

Samsung has also ceded its smartphone market crown to Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab.

Jong-hee, who was also a board member, passed on at a hospital on March 25 while being treated for cardiac arrest.

Samsung has not yet decided on a successor, its spokesperson disclosed during the announcement.

It's noteworthy that the company has traditionally had a co-CEO structure that divides oversight of its consumer and chips divisions.

Jong-hee joined Samsung nearly 40 years ago and built his career in its television business.

It's being speculated that Jong-hee was the key figure behind making Samsung’s TV business influential on a global scale.

Hence, with his sudden passing, it could yield a long-term impact on its business strategy, particularly in areas like marketing.

Burundi's President Says Rwanda Plans to Attack his Country

The Burundi's President, Evariste Ndayishimiye has claimed that he had seen "credible intelligence" that Rwanda plans to attack his country.

Ndayishimiye also stated, while responding to questions on the BBC news, that Rwanda had tried to launch a coup a decade ago in Burundi, akin to what it's currently doing in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rwanda has already hit back via its President, Paul Kagame, calling the president's comments "surprising" and insisting that the two neighbours are co-operating on security plans for their shared border, which has been shut for over a year.

Despite extensive United Nations (UN) evidence, Rwanda has always denied arming and backing the M23 rebel group, which has recently seized large parts of eastern DR Congo alongside Rwandan troops.

Rwanda has also denied links to the resurgent Red Tabara rebel group, which President Ndayishimiye says is a proxy force similar to the M23 and is being supported by Rwanda to destabilise Burundi.

"They would say it's an internal problem when it's Rwanda that's the problem. We know that President Paul Kagame has a plan to attack Burundi," Ndayishimiye added.

"Burundians will not accept to be killed as Congolese are being killed. Burundian people are fighters.

"But now we don't have any plans to attack Rwanda. We want to resolve that problem by dialogue."

At the heart of Ndayishimiye's comments was a call for peace and the full implementation of an agreement between the two nations - a peace deal that had been signed in previous years - but according to Burundi, had not been honoured by Rwanda.

"The people who did the 2015 coup were organized by Rwanda, and then they ran away. Rwanda organised them - it went to recruit the youth in Mahama camp. It trained them, it gave them arms, it financed them. They are living in the hand of Rwanda," he alleges further.

"If Rwanda accepts to hand over the troops and bring them to justice, the problem would be finished."

Namibia Swears-in First Female President, Nandi-Ndaitwah

Namibia has sworn in its first woman president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, on 21st March 2025.

With her election, Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, became one of the few women to lead an African nation in a ceremony attended by Heads of State from several countries on the continent, including Angola, South Africa, and Tanzania.

She won elections that extended the ruling party’s 35-year grip on power. It could be recalled that the opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) mounted a strong challenge but secured only 25.5 percent of the presidential vote.

According to data, unemployment is prevalent in Namibia among the young population, with 44 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds unemployed in 2023 in a country of just three million people.

“We will increase investment in the development of infrastructure to open investment opportunities, enhance economic productivity, promote economic growth, and improve the quality of life for our people,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said in her first address as Namibian President.

Namibia is one of the world’s leading uranium producers and is also rich in diamonds, but it has a high disparity between the rich and the poor.

UK's Heathrow Airport Shuts Down Over Fire Outbreak

Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom (UK) has announced it would be closed on Friday, March 21, 2025, after a serious fire outbreak at a nearby electrical substation wiped out power, disrupting flight schedules around the world.

The London Fire Brigade said around 70 firefighters were tackling the blaze in the west of London, which caused a mass power outage at Heathrow, Europe’s busiest and the world’s fifth-busiest airport.

Huge orange flames and plumes of smoke could reportedly be seen shooting into the sky.

About 150 people were evacuated from nearby buildings and thousands of properties were without power.

The fire brigade said the cause of the fire was not known yet.

“To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March,” Heathrow Airport said in a post on X, adding that passengers were advised not to travel to the airport.

According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, at least 120 inbound flights to Heathrow were having to divert to other airports, while 1,351 flights had been due to land and take off at Heathrow of Friday.

Industry experts said tourism, travel, and trade would be further disrupted around the world, as flights will be cancelled or delayed due to aircraft being out of position.

British Airways had 341 flights scheduled to land at Heathrow on Friday.

“This will clearly have a significant impact on our operation and our customers, and we are working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond,” it said.

The fire forced planes to divert around the world, Reuters reported.

Qantas Airways sent its flight from Perth to Paris, a United Airlines New York flight headed to Shannon, Ireland and a United Airlines flight from San Francisco was due to land in Washington D.C. rather than London.

Some flights from the U.S. were turning around mid-air and returning to their initial point of departure.

Heathrow is one of the major hubs of the world. This is going to disrupt airlines’ operations around the world,” said Ian Petchenik, spokesman for FlightRadar24.

A Heathrow spokesperson disclosed that there was no clarity on when power would be restored, and they expected significant disruption over the coming days.

Heathrow, and London’s other major airports, have been hit by outages in the past in recent years, most recently by an automated gate failure and an air traffic system meltdown, both in 2023.

Coach Chelle Names Troost-Ekong as Super Eagles Captain

In a move targeted to reshape the Super Eagles' formation, the Head Coach, Eric Chelle has made some significant changes to the team's captaincy structure, thereby naming William Troost-Ekong as the Captain of the Nigeria's national team.

The changes to the leadership structure were necessitated by the absence of Ahmed Musa and Kenneth Omeruo, who are not expected to be involved in the remaining World Cup Qualifiers games.

Musa, who had been the substantive captain of the team, is yet to announce his retirement, but it is clear he would not be playing a major role in the team's quest to qualify for the World Cup.

In Musa's absence, Troost-Ekong will lead the team, with Wilfred Ndidi serving as his first assistant. Moses Simon will be the second assistant, while Victor Osimhen will complete the leadership group.

The Super Eagles are expected to make a strong start to their World Cup Qualifiers campaign when they take on Rwanda on 21st March 2025, at Amahoro Stadium in Rwanda.

Declaration of Emergency State According to Nigeria's Constitution

On 18th March 2025, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State, following a prolonged political crisis in the state.

Here are some facts you need to know as regards when and how such Declaration can be made in accordance with the Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria, as amended.

Section 305:

1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the President may by instrument published in the Official -Gazette} of the Government of the Federation issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency in the Federation or any part thereof.

(2) The President shall immediately after the publication, transmit copies of the Official ¬Gazette of the Government of the Federation containing the proclamation including the details of the emergency to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each of whom shall forthwith convene or arrange for a meeting of the House of which he is President or Speaker, as the case may be, to consider the situation and decide whether or not to pass a resolution approving the Proclamation.

(3) The President shall have power to issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency only when:
(a) the Federation is at war;
(b) the Federation is in imminent danger of invasion or involvement in a state of war;
(c) there is actual breakdown of public order and public safety in the Federation or any part thereof to such extent as to require extraordinary measures to restore peace and security;
(d) there is a clear and present danger of an actual breakdown of public order and public safety in the Federation or any part thereof requiring extraordinary measures to avert such danger;
(e) there is an occurrence or imminent danger, or the occurrence of any disaster or natural calamity, affecting the community or a section of the community in the Federation;
(f) there is any other public danger which clearly constitutes a threat to the existence of the Federation; or
(g) the President receives a request to do so in accordance with the provisions of subsection (4) of this section.

(4) The Governor of a State may, with the sanction of a resolution supported by two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly, request the President to issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency in the State when there is in existence within the State any of the situations specified in subsection (3) (c), (d) and (e) of this section and such situation does not extend beyond the boundaries of the State.

(5) The President shall not issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency in any case to which the provisions of subsection (4) of this section apply unless the Governor of the State fails within a reasonable time to make a request to the President to issue such Proclamation.

(6) A Proclamation issued by the President under this section shall cease to have effect:
(a) if it is revoked by the President by instrument published in the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation;
(b) if it affects the Federation or any part thereof and within two days when the National Assembly is in session, or within ten days when the National Assembly is not in session, after its publication, there is no resolution supported by two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly approving the Proclamation;
(c) after a period of six months has elapsed since it has been in force: Provided that the National Assembly may, before the expiration of the period of six months aforesaid, extend the period for the Proclamation of the state of emergency to remain in force from time to time for a further period of six months by resolution passed in like manner; or
(d) at any time after the approval referred to in paragraph (b) or the extension referred to in paragraph (c) of this subsection, when each House of the National Assembly revokes the Proclamation by a simple majority of all the members of each House.

Sudan Bans Imports from Kenya Over War Dispute

Sudan has stopped all imports from Kenya after accusing the Kenyan government of supporting a paramilitary group involved in the country’s ongoing war.

The move comes after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and several Sudanese political groups signed an agreement in Kenya on February 22, 2025 to form a parallel government opposing Sudanese authorities.

Sudan’s leaders reportedly opposed this, hence accused Kenya of helping the RSF take political control. The Sudanese government announced the ban on March 13, saying it was a response to Kenya hosting meetings of the RSF and its allies.

Sudan’s Minister of Trade and Supplies, Omar Ahmed Mohamed Ali, signed the order, which applies to all goods coming from Kenya by land, sea, and air.

The government said the ban is necessary to protect Sudan’s national security and would remain in place until further notice. Relevant officials were told to enforce the ban immediately.

Sudan relies on Kenya for many imports, including tea, food, and medicine. The trade ban is likely to affect businesses in both countries. Two days before the agreement was signed, Sudan recalled its ambassador from Kenya in protest. But Kenya has defended itself, saying it only hosted the meetings to help find a peaceful solution to Sudan’s ongoing war, with support from the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU).

It could be recalled that a civil war between two major rival factions of the military government of Sudan began during the Ramadan period on April 15, 2023. The two opponent factions consist of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allies.

More than 20,000 people have thus far lost their lives, and 14 million forced to flee their homes, according to the UN reports. Some studies suggest the real death toll could be much higher, possibly around 130,000.

The fighting has now spread to most parts of Sudan, and the situation is getting worse by the day.

The UN and other international groups have warned that millions of people are at risk of starvation as food supplies run out.

U.S Plans Travel Ban on 43 Countries

President Donald Trump of the United States (U.S) has disclosed plans to impose a travel ban on 43 countries across the globe. According to a report on 15th March 2025 an internal memo had a list of a total of 43 countries divided into three groups: red, orange, and yellow. Although the list has yet to be approved by the Trump administration, it comprised several African countries. The Red group consists of 11 countries - Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Cuba, Bhutan, Venezuela, North Korea, Yemen, and Somalia - whose nationals would indefinitely be barred from entering the U.S. The Orange group comprises 10 countries whose visas would be sharply restricted. They include Russia, Belarus, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Pakistan, Laos, Turkmenistan, Haiti, and Eritrea. The countries in the Yellow group, which were 22 in number, comprising many black nations, were given 60 days to address concerns. The nations on the 22-country yellow list included Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe. However, a U.S official told disclosed that there could be changes on the list and that it was yet to be approved by the administration, including the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio The proposal is part of an immigration crackdown that President Trump launched at the start of his second term in January, 2025. You would recall that, on assumption to duty, Trump reiterated his commitment to repatriate individuals who were illicitly living in the U.S.

Renaissance Energy Acquires Shell Petroleum Company

The Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, a leading consortium of Nigerian oil firms, has eventually acquired the Shell Petroleum Development Company, of Nigeria Limited (SPDC).

This latest development was disclosed to the public after the former completed the processes involving the acquisition of the latter in a $2.4 billion deal.

According to the Management of the newly acquired oil entity, the SPDC had been renamed to Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited after 46 years of operation in Nigeria.

The company’s spokesperson, Tony Okonedo, said: ”Going forward, SPDC will be renamed as Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.”

Reacting to the complete acquisition of Shell, the Managing Director/CEO of Renaissance lauded the Nigerian government for giving the approval for Shell’s acquisition.

“We are extremely proud to have completed this strategic acquisition.

“The Renaissance’s vision is to be “Africa’s leading oil and gas company, enabling energy security and industrialisation in a sustainable manner.

“We and our shareholder companies are therefore pleased that the federal government has given the green light for this milestone acquisition in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act,” he said.

Trump Launches App for Self-Deportation of Illegal Immigrants

The administration of President Donald Trump of the United States (US) has rolled out a new mobile app, called CBP Home, that is aimed at encouraging undocumented immigrants in the US to leave the country of their own volition. This is targeted to reduce the number of people residing in the country without legal status.

The app, developed by the US' Customs and Border Protection (CBP), is designed to allow undocumented individuals to self-report their intent to depart from the country, providing them with a process that may help them avoid arrest, detention, and harsher immigration penalties.

The CBP Home app was announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on March 10. Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem described the initiative as a way to streamline the voluntary departure process for undocumented immigrants, offering them an alternative to forced deportation.

The app is positioned as a tool for individuals who wish to leave the U.S. on their own terms while potentially preserving the option to return legally in the future. Noem stated, “If they don’t, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return.”

The CBP Home app replaces CBP One, a mobile app that was originally introduced under the Joe Biden administration for immigration-related services.

Initially, CBP One was designed to assist commercial trucking companies in scheduling cargo inspections, but its functionality was later expanded to allow migrants in Mexico to schedule appointments to seek entry at legal border crossings. Under this system, migrants could request asylum or other forms of legal entry through an official appointment process.

However, CBP One faced a lot of criticism from Republican lawmakers and immigration enforcement advocates, who argued that it facilitated mass migration without sufficient oversight. Critics claimed that the app essentially allowed migrants to enter the US without proper vetting, leading to concerns over national security and border control.

Upon taking office, President Trump ordered the shutdown of CBP One, effectively canceling pending appointments for thousands of migrants and leaving many uncertain about their next steps.

The CBP Home app is intended to provide an accessible, structured way for undocumented immigrants to begin the voluntary departure process. Through the app, individuals can register their intent to leave, possibly allowing them to avoid detention and future immigration penalties.

The administration views self-deportation as a cost-saving measure, as it reduces the burden on immigration courts, detention centers, and enforcement agencies.

Acting CBP Commissioner, Pete Flores described the app as a means to encourage undocumented individuals to leave before they are forcibly removed. He said "By using CBP Home, individuals may have an opportunity to depart on their own terms, which could potentially make it easier for them to apply for legal entry at a later date, depending on their immigration history."

However, the administration has not provided specific details on whether using the app would grant any leniency in future immigration proceedings, but officials have framed it as a less punitive alternative to formal deportation.

Unsurprisingly, the CBP Home app has sparked debate, and some have questioned whether the app will actually lead to a significant number of voluntary departures, since it is likely that undocumented immigrants who have lived in the US for years will be unwilling to leave unless faced with imminent deportation.

More so, immigrant rights groups argued that self-deportation policies often create a climate of fear within immigrant communities.

UK Announces New Visa Rules

The United Kingdom (UK) has announced changes to visa rules for care givers, health workers, and students, starting from April 9, 2025.

The new visa rules, which was part of the measures to reduce immigration metrics in the country, was laid in Parliament on Wednesday.

The Home Office said care providers who wish to recruit staff from abroad will have to first prove that they have attempted to employ someone already in the country who needs new visa sponsorship.

Under the new measure, employers will have to prioritise hiring foreign carers already living in England before recruiting from overseas.

The Government said it hopes the measures will help “end the reliance on overseas recruitment” and bring down record levels of immigration to Britain.

The minimum salary required for Skilled Worker visas is also being increased. From April it will rise from £23,200 per year to £25,000 (or £12.82 per hour) to reflect the rise in minimum wage.

According to the Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, he said: “International care workers play a vital role in our social care workforce. We value their contribution and work supporting vulnerable people across the country every day.

He said, “As we crack down on shameful rogue operators exploiting overseas workers here in the UK, we must do all we can to get the victims back into rewarding careers in adult social care.

“Prioritising care workers who are already in the UK will get people back to work reducing our reliance on international recruitment, and make sure our social care sector has the care professionals it needs.”

Also, to clampdown on abuse to the short-term student route, changes to expand powers for caseworkers to refuse visa applications suspected of not being genuine, have also been confirmed.

Students from overseas who are studying English in Britain for between six and 11 months are allowed to apply for the permit. But the Home Office said there are increasing concerns that the route is being abused by people who do not actually intend to study or leave the UK at the end of their course.

Between July 2022 and December 2024, the Government revoked more than 470 sponsor licenses in the care sector.

Figures released earlier this year showed nearly 400,000 fewer people from abroad have applied for UK work or study visas since strict new immigration rules came into force.

Provisional data showed 547,000 visa applications were received between April and December 2024, down from 942,500 in the same period in 2023.

The drop of 395,100, or 42 per cent, has been driven by sharp falls in the number of overseas students and foreign care workers applying to come to Britain.

Applications to come on a health and care worker visa fell by a much steeper 79 per cent, from 299,800 in April to December 2023 compared with 63,800 in the same period last year.

Court Stops FCCPC from Sanctioning MultiChoice Over Tariff Hike

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, restrained the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, from sanctioning MultiChoice Nigeria Limited following its recent increase in the DStv and GOtv subscription rates.

Justice James Omotosho gave the order after an ex-parte motion moved by Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, counsel to MultiChoice.

Justice Omotosho, in the motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/379/2025, ordered FCCPC not to take “any administrative steps” against the pay-Tv company.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FCCPC had summoned MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd to provide explanations regarding the March 1 price review of its packages. The commission directed the company’s chief executive officer to appear for an investigative hearing on Feb. 27, raising concerns over frequent price hikes, potential market dominance abuse and anti-competitive practices within the pay-TV industry.

The FCCPC also issued a stern warning, stating that failure to justify the price adjustment or comply with fair market principles would lead to regulatory sanctions.

However in the ex parte motion filed by MultiChoice’s legal team led by Onigbanjo, the company sought an order of interim injunction restraining the FCCPC and its officers from carrying out the threat against it, as communicated via a letter dated March 3, pending the hearing and determination of the motion for an interlocutory injunction.

It also sought an order restraining the commission and its officers from issuing any further directive or taking any steps capable of disrupting its business activities, pending the hearing and determination of the motion for an interlocutory injunction.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the FCCPC, its agents, servants, or privies from sanctioning or penalising MultiChoice (the applicant) in any manner whatsoever in relation to its price increase pending the hearing and determination of the motion for an interlocutory injunction.” Onibanjo, in his grounds of argument, submitted that Nigeria operates a free-market economy where prices of goods and services are not regulated.

He argued that the FCCPC Act and other enabling laws do not grant the commission the authority to regulate prices or require businesses to seek approval before adjusting the cost of their services.

He added that MultiChoice had communicated its intention to increase prices via a letter dated Feb 21, 2025.

He said that the FCCPC, however, in a letter dated Feb. 27, ordered the pay-TV company to suspend its planned price increment.

The lawyer said following the development, the company filed a suit on March 3, challenging, among other things, the FCCPC’s power to regulate prices or suspend its price adjustment.

He said MultiChoice, after filing the suit, proceeded with the planned price increase.

He said despite the pending suit, the FCCPC threatened to prosecute MultiChoice via a letter dated March 3 if it failed to provide reasonable justification for disregarding the directive to suspend the price increment. In an affidavit deposed to by Gozie Onumonu, Head of Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations at MultiChoice, the company argued that its subscription rates in Nigeria are the lowest among all the countries where it operates.

“For instance, the cost of the Premium package in Nigeria is equivalent to $29.81, while the same package costs $85.11 in Kenya,” Onumonu said.

The officer maintained that MultiChoice had the legal right to operate its business, including adjusting its prices when necessary.

When the matter was called on Wednesday, Onigbanjo moved the motion, praying the court to grant their reliefs.

The judge, after hearing the lawyer’s application, restrained the FCCPC from taking any “administrative steps” against MultiChoice pending the determination of the case.

The judge equally ordered an accelerated hearing on the matter and adjourned the matter until March 27 for hearing.