The Federal Government has warned expatriates against overstaying their visas in Nigeria, announcing a $15 daily fine for defaulters starting August 1, 2025.

Minister of Interior, Mr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, revealed that expatriates who overstay their visas by more than six months will face a five-year entry ban, while those exceeding one year will be banned for 10 years.

This is part of the new Expatriate Administration System, set to launch on May 1, 2025. The system aims to improve immigration compliance and data accuracy on foreign residents. Expatriates will have a three-month grace period to regularize their status before penalties are enforced. Additionally, the new e-visa system will replace the visa-on-arrival process, allowing travelers to get their visas within 48 hours.

Muhammad Sani Uba

The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has appointed Professor Sule Yau Sule of Bayero University, Kano, and Dr. Ruqayyah Yusuf Aliyu, also of Bayero University, Kano, to head two of its strategic committees as part of efforts to bolster press freedom and professionalism in the media space.

Professor Sule, a renowned communications scholar and respected academic, will serve on the Advocacy Committee as member, while Dr. Ruqayyah chairs the Membership Committee, highlighting IPI Nigeria’s commitment to intellectual depth and diversity in its leadership structure.

The appointments were announced by IPI Nigeria President, Musikilu Mojeed, in a statement issued by the institute’s Secretary, Ahmed Shekarau, on Sunday in Abuja. In total, 30 seasoned media professionals were named to serve across four standing committees – Fundraising, Programming, Advocacy, and Membership.

Mojeed said the reconstitution of the committees would “accelerate efforts to safeguard press freedom and promote ethical journalism practices in Nigeria.”

The Fundraising Committee is led by Ms Funke Egbemode, former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), with Alhaji Yusuf Alli as secretary. Members include Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information, Garba Shehu, Juliet Bumah, and Ken Ugbechie, publisher of Political Economist.

Other members are Victoria Ibanga, Olufunke Fadugba, and Gbemiga Ogunleye, a former Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.

Prof Sule Yau Sule

Mr Oladotun Oladipo, Managing Editor of Premium Eagle Ltd, chairs the Programming Committee, with Hajia Sani of Voice of Nigeria as secretary. Members include Zainab Okino, Dayo Aiyetan of ICIR, Catherine Agbo of 21st Century Chronicle, Emma Agu, and Ahmed Shekarau.

Tobi Soniyi, Media Adviser to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, chairs the Advocacy Committee, assisted by Ochiaka Ugwu of Peoples Daily. Other members include Danlami Nmodu, Laide Abbas of NTA, David Ajikobi, and Fred Ohwahwa.

On the Membership Committee, Linda Kpum of IPI Nigeria will serve as secretary, with members including IPI Nigeria Deputy President Fidelis Mbah, Naziru Abubakar, and Dr Bolanle Ismail of Crescent University.

Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila has donated 20 hecters of land to Nigerian Navy for the construction of a boarding senior secondary school in Sumaila loca government, Kano state.

Speaking while conducting the representatives of the Nigerian Navy round the land, Sen. Sumaila said the donation was to complement the Federal government’s efforts towards boosting education system.

Representing Kano South Senatorial Districtin, Sumaila said already the FG has earmarked N5.2bn in the 2025 budget for the construction of the school.

“The school is for both males and females and was to admit students from all over the country. The move will boost education system in Sumaila local government and Kano state.

“We thanked Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the gesture. I donated my land to the Nigerian Navy as part of my contribution to the project. As a representative, it is duty bound upon myself to contribute to this project because it is meant to help my constituents.

“Besides the donation of the land, I will continue to do follow ups to ensure that the project sees the light of the day. I will be part and parcel of any project that concerns my constitutes,” he assured.

In another development, Sen. Sumaila also assured consistent follow ups on the Kano-Wudil-Shuwarin road project, saying the project was critical to his constituents.

Sumaila, who stated this when he received a delegation from the Triactor Construction Company, also said he will liaise with federal ministry of works and the Traicter to ensure completion of the project in time.

It can be recalled that the Kano Wudil Road the Kano-Maiduguri dual carriage project was awarded by the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration but about 20 years, but the project was not completed.

Though the Buhari-administration commitment to improving road transportation led to the award of so many road contracts to restore the dilapidated roads in the country and among these roads was the renew contract of the dualization of the Kano-Maiduguri road yet the project was not completed.

However, following a motion by Sen. Sumaila on the Section One project, the Federal Executive Council terminated the contract and re-awarded same to Triacter construction company.

This particular portion of the road which has long been a death trap—causing frequent accidents, loss of lives, and persistent traffic congestion— will now receive the urgent attention it deserves.

The new contract, valued at One Hundred and Twenty-Four Billion, Four Hundred Million Naira (₦124,400,000,000), comes with a completion timeline of three years.