Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike China will introduce a new digital arrival card and expand its visa-free transit policies as part of efforts to simplify travel and revive tourism. Beginning November 20, 2025, travellers can submit entry details online through the National Immigration Administration’s platforms, reducing reliance on paper forms. Digital kiosks will support those who have not completed the process before arrival. Several traveller groups, including Hong Kong and Macao permit holders, cruise passengers and airport transit passengers, are exempt from the new requirement. The upgrade is one of ten measures aimed at boosting accessibility. From November 5, China’s 24-hour visa-free…

By Atoyebi Nike Dozens of world leaders are gathering in Belém, Brazil, between Thursday and Friday for high-level discussions ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference, which officially opens on Monday. The talks are aimed at accelerating global efforts to curb rising temperatures. European leaders at the pre-summit meeting include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, alongside officials from the EU and the United Nations. Brazil hopes the gathering will build momentum for COP30, which will welcome tens of thousands of participants from nearly 200 countries. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,…

By Atoyebi Nike The President of the Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo, has cautioned that the Federal Government’s planned 15 percent import duty on petrol could worsen the economic strain on Nigerians. He said the union is reviewing the proposal and consulting widely to understand its full impact.  Osifo warned that the duty could quickly translate into higher pump prices since Nigeria still sources most of its petrol from abroad. He questioned the rationale behind imposing new taxes when the nation’s refineries remain idle. Osifo noted that the Dangote Refinery already enjoys duty waivers because it operates in a free…

By Bagudu Mohammed I recently stumbled upon a fascinating concept: “why the brain needs friends.” The phrase instantly ignited curiosity, provoking reflection and a kind of quiet wonder that felt both enlightening and entertaining. It made me think deeply about the human craving for friendship, social interaction, and belonging, the same desires that have turned new media into one of the most transformative forces in modern history. In earlier times, friendships were sustained by patience and distance. People could go months without speaking and still call one another “dear friends.” But today, silence is interpreted as neglect, and not replying…

By Atoyebi Nike Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has restated his administration’s commitment to transforming the education sector through expanded infrastructure, reforms and new learning opportunities. He made the pledge at the combined 15th, 16th and 17th convocation of Adamawa State University, Mubi, where 9,225 students graduated. The graduating class included 42 First Class students, 1,734 with Second Class Upper, 5,252 Second Class Lower, 1,842 Third Class and one with a Pass degree. The postgraduate category featured 22 PhDs, 100 MScs, 47 MPAs and several PGDs. Fintiri praised the graduates, calling their achievements a symbol of hope. He reaffirmed…

By Atoyebi Nike The Chairman of the OPEC Board of Governors for 2025, Adeyemi-Bero, has called on Nigerian oil producers to scale up local refining and reduce crude exports. He said the country must build capacity at home to avoid relying on external markets for value addition. At the NAPE Pre-Conference Workshop in Lagos, he noted that the Dangote refinery has eased pressure on foreign exchange and supported GDP growth. He added that its operations helped prevent a possible return of fuel subsidies by ensuring domestic supply. Adeyemi-Bero pointed to countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which retain…

By Atoyebi Nike United States President Donald Trump has again alleged that Christians in Nigeria are facing large-scale attacks, describing the situation as a direct threat to Christianity in the country. In a video shared on the White House X account on Wednesday, Trump claimed that “thousands” of Christians were being killed by what he called “radical Islamists.” Trump announced that he was classifying Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” saying the designation follows US legal standards for nations accused of violating fundamental rights. He cited figures comparing killings in Nigeria to global numbers, insisting the statistics justify immediate…

By Atoyebi Nike The National Pension Commission (PenCom) says free health insurance for retirees will begin later this year, starting with low-income pensioners. Director-General Omolola Oloworaran, represented by Usman Musa, announced this on Wednesday in Abuja during a workshop on the Contributory Pension Scheme. She said the initiative is part of PenCom’s “Pension Revolution 2.0,” aimed at strengthening social protection and improving the welfare of retirees beyond monthly pension payments. According to PenCom, over 10 million Nigerians are now enrolled in the CPS, with pension assets exceeding N25 trillion. More than 844,000 retirees currently receive benefits. Oloworaran highlighted recent reforms,…

By Atoyebi Nike The Kaduna State Government says it has offered education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities not cash incentives to armed groups as part of a new dialogue-driven peace strategy aimed at ending years of killings and kidnappings. Commissioner for Information Ahmed Maiyaki explained the approach on Wednesday at a Peace Journalism workshop organised by the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel in collaboration with the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria. Maiyaki said the policy, known as the Kaduna Peace Model, shifts from “confrontation to conversation,” focusing on rebuilding communities and addressing the social and economic drivers of insecurity. He noted that the government…

By Atoyebi Nike The Council of the European Union has approved its updated nationally determined contribution (NDC), reaffirming the bloc’s climate commitments ahead of the COP30 summit in Brazil. The new NDC, adopted on Wednesday and covering the period up to 2035, builds on previous updates from 2020 and 2023. The bloc restated its legally binding goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and acknowledged the Council’s agreement on a 90% emissions reduction target for 2040, compared to 1990 levels. Based on that trajectory, the EU introduced an indicative emissions cut of 66.25% to 72.5% by 2035,…