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U.S. Recalls Ambassadors From Nigeria, 29 Countries Under Trump Directive

Boluwatife Ajayi — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:02:20 +0000

The administration of US President Donald Trump has recalled nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial and senior embassy postings worldwide, including the US ambassador to Nigeria, as part of efforts to realign American diplomacy with its “America First” agenda.

The recalls, confirmed by the Associated Press, involve chiefs of mission in at least 29 countries who were informed last week that their tenures would end in January. Two State Department officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

Africa is the most affected region, with ambassadors recalled from 15 countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, Senegal, Rwanda, Somalia, Algeria, and Uganda. Other affected regions include the Asia-Pacific, Europe, South Asia, and the Western Hemisphere.

All the diplomats were appointed under former President Joe Biden but had initially survived an earlier shake-up that mainly targeted political appointees during the early months of Mr Trump’s second term.

The State Department said the diplomats are not being dismissed from the foreign service and may return to Washington for other assignments. It described the recalls as a “standard process,” noting that ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president and are personal representatives expected to advance the administration’s priorities.

The US Mission in Nigeria has not officially commented on the recall of Ambassador Richard Mills.

However, Mills addressed a news conference in Abuja during a visit by a US Congressional Delegation, where he said new US visa restrictions were aimed at improving security vetting and were not targeted at Nigerians.

Source: PremiumTimes

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Nigeria, US Hold Talks to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation

Boluwatife Ajayi — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 09:44:44 +0000

The Federal Government and the United States have engaged in discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation as Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, met with Richard Mills, the United States (US) Ambassador to Nigeria.

In a post on X, the US Embassy noted that the United States looks forward to continued collaboration with Nigeria on matters of mutual interest, though specific details of the discussions were not disclosed.

“U.S. Ambassador Mills and Nigerian Foreign Minister Tuggar met today to discuss areas of cooperation between our two countries. The United States looks forward to continuing to work together with Nigeria on issues of mutual concern.”

The bilateral discussions follow recent remarks by US Congressman Riley Moore, he indicated that Nigeria and the United States are nearing an agreement on a “strategic security framework” to address terrorism and other security challenges in the West African nation.

Source: TVC

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Tinubu, Macron Discuss Security Partnership as US Delegation Meets NSA

Boluwatife Ajayi — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 11:22:16 +0000

President Bola Tinubu has held a telephone discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron on Nigeria’s growing security crisis.

Macron in a post on X said he assured Tinubu of France’s support, especially against terrorist threats in the northern region, adding that France will work more closely with Nigerian authorities and help communities affected by violence.

The French leader’s message comes at a time of rising attacks, kidnappings, and school abductions in the North. It also follows the swearing-in of a new Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), and Tinubu’s recent directive for security agencies to expand recruitment and protect schools, farms, and places of worship.

While Macron spoke with Tinubu, a United States delegation, including the US ambassador, met with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu in Abuja. Their discussion focused on claims of religious violence and the wider insecurity in the country. Nigeria has repeatedly denied accusations of Christian persecution, insisting the crisis affects all groups.

Ribadu confirmed the meeting and said it was part of ongoing consultations between both countries. He noted that talks in Washington earlier had centred on shared security interests.

Source: Punch

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Two Nigerians Jailed in U.S for Romance Scam Linked to Elderly Victim’s Death

Boluwatife Ajayi — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 12:35:59 +0000

Two Nigerian men, identified as Chinagorom Onwumere and Stephen Anagor, have been sentenced in the United States for their roles in a romance scam and wire-fraud scheme that led to the death of an elderly American.

A U.S. federal judge, Clifton L. Corker of the Eastern District of Tennessee, delivered the sentences, which were announced by the Department of Justice. Their associate, 29-year-old Sudanese national Salma Abdalkareem, was also involved in the case.

Onwumere, 36, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after admitting to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aiding and abetting aggravated stalking that resulted in death, and aiding and abetting money laundering.

Court documents show that Onwumere and Anagor met during military training in South Carolina in June 2023 before carrying out the scheme.

Source: Punch

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US Lawmakers to Hold Briefing on Alleged Persecution of Christians in Nigeria

Boluwatife Ajayi — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:35:49 +0000

The United States House Appropriations Committee says it will hold a joint congressional briefing on Tuesday to examine claims of persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

In a statement on X, the committee said the session will include Mario Diaz-Balart, its vice chair and head of the national security subcommittee, along with members from the foreign affairs and financial services committees. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom and other experts will also take part.

According to the committee, the roundtable will gather key testimony for a detailed report requested by former President Donald Trump on attacks against Nigerian Christians and what steps Congress can take to protect vulnerable religious groups.

Congressman Riley Moore, who shared the notice on X, said Trump has called for urgent action. He added that the briefing is part of an ongoing investigation into religious freedom violations in Nigeria.

In November, President Bola Tinubu approved the Nigerian team for the US-Nigeria joint working group, created to boost cooperation on security issues.

The decision followed a visit to Washington, DC, by a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

Source: Thecable

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U.S. Embassy in Nigeria Restores Full Services as Government Reopens

Afinju FM — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 09:40:41 +0000

When the US government entered a shutdown, embassies and consulates worldwide, including those in Nigeria, announced reductions in public communication, saying routine updates would be suspended, except for urgent safety and security information.

After a prolonged budget impasse, the US government was reopened through a newly signed spending bill, ending what became the longest shutdown in the country’s history.

In a statement, the US embassy in Nigeria informed visa applicants and other service users that normal services had resumed.

According to the embassy, American citizen services and visa processing are continuing as scheduled.

The spending bill was approved after a narrow vote in Congress and signed by the president shortly afterward. However, it only funds government operations for a short period, meaning lawmakers will soon need to negotiate a longer-term solution.

Without a new funding agreement, another shutdown remains possible if opposing political blocs fail to reach consensus.

Source:Thecable

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Teju Babyface Speaks on Regretting His Relocation to U.S

Afinju FM — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:55:22 +0000

The comedian disclosed this on his YouTube Channel, reflecting on what he initially believed was a strategic career move that quickly spiralled into a period of deep uncertainty and regret, caused by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The comedian also illustrated his sense of disorientation by referencing the lyrics of Sunny Ade’s classic song ‘Esubiribiri Ebomi’.

“When we were leaving Nigeria, I knew without a shadow of doubt that it was the necessary next step in my career evolution and for us as a family, a unit. But when we got here and challenges started, especially when you consider that Covid-19 started a few months after we arrived, I was convinced that I had made the biggest mistake of my life,” he said.

“That I had shot myself in the foot, I had scored an own goal. As they say in the Yoruba movies, I had become the harbinger of my own misfortune. For the first time, I could understand what King Sunny Ade meant when he sang ‘Esubiribiri Ebomi’.

“Just a place of complete disorientation as to location and direction and I lived in that place for years. America has its own unique set of difficulties, when you add Covid to that, it was brutal. For about three years, I was convinced that I had made the biggest mistake of my life.”

Source: Thecable

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U.S Revokes Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka’s Visa

Afinju FM — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:30:38 +0000

Speaking to journalists at Freedom Park in Lagos, Soyinka said he was shocked by the decision and unaware of any reason for it.

“I have no visa; I’m obviously banned from the United States. If anyone wants to see me, they know where to find me,” he said.

According to Soyinka, the U.S. Consulate informed him in an official letter that his B1/B2 visa had been revoked. The letter did not give any reason.

Soyinka said he was puzzled by the move, insisting he has no criminal record and has never acted against U.S. laws.

He recalled earlier receiving a letter from the Consulate inviting him for a visa re-interview, which he declined, thinking it might be a scam.

The writer added that he had always maintained a respectful relationship with U.S. diplomats and was still trying to understand why his visa was cancelled.

Source: Punch

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Israel, Hamas Reach Ceasefire Deal to End Gaza War

Afinju FM — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 11:44:12 +0000

Under the deal, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, while Hamas will free 20 living hostages in the first phase. A source within Hamas said the swap will involve nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, including 250 serving life sentences.

The Israeli army confirmed preparations to withdraw troops from Gaza as part of the agreement. The deal also aligns with a peace plan announced earlier by U.S. President Donald Trump, which proposes Hamas’s disarmament and a transitional authority to govern Gaza.

News of the ceasefire sparked widespread celebration in Gaza, where residents expressed relief after years of bombardment and displacement. “Tears of joy flowed,” said displaced resident Samer Joudeh. “After two years of fear and loss, we finally feel a moment of respite.”

Talks were held behind closed doors in Egypt’s resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, with negotiators from Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. mediating. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed optimism, saying he would bring the hostages home “with God’s help.”

The war, which began after Hamas’s October 2023 attack that left over a thousand Israelis dead, has killed more than 67,000 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to health authorities.

Global calls for peace have grown amid mounting humanitarian crises and international protests. Both Israel and Hamas face accusations of war crimes, while mediators continue to push for lasting peace in the region.

Source: Channel

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Ghana Takes In West African Nationals Deported From US

Afinju FM — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:11:17 +0000

Ghana President, John Dramani Mahama disclosed this, adding that a first batch of 14 deportees, made up of Nigerians, a Gambian and others had already arrived in Accra, with the Ghanaian authorities facilitating their return to their respective countries.

“We were approached by the US to accept third-party nationals who were being removed from the US, and we agreed with them that West African nationals were acceptable because all our fellow West Africans don’t need a visa to come to our country,” he said.

He justified the decision by saying West Africans “don’t need a visa anyway” to come to Ghana.

The arrangement comes amid Washington’s intensified deportation drive under President Donald Trump, who has pushed for removals to “third countries” as part of his hardline immigration policy.

Recall Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said that the Federal Government would not accept deportees from outside Nigeria, citing national security and economic concerns.

Source: Punch

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