Tag: USA

U.S. halts all visa processing for applicants from Nigeria, 74 others

Aminu Imam
U.S. visa processing

The United States (US) Government, through its State Department, has announced the suspension of immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Nigeria, Iran and Russia, as part of measures aimed at cracking down on individuals considered likely to become a “public charge”. A State Department memo directed consular officers to refuse visas under existing immigration laws while the department reassesses its screening and vetting procedures. Countries affected by the decision include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Yemen and several others. According to the memo,…

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7.2m Nigerians may suffer, as US exits global agencies

Aminu Imam
US exits global agencies

7.2 million Nigerians could face key health, humanitarian, and development programme challenges following the United States’ decision to withdraw from dozens of United Nations and non-UN international organisations. The US said the move will end American funding and participation in bodies operating across the country, which are not serving the interests of the American people. In a fact sheet released on Tuesday, the White House said President Donald Trump had signed a presidential memorandum directing the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organisations, including 31 UN entities and…

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US introduces $15,000 visa bond for Nigerians, others

Aminu Imam
U.S. revokes visas

The United States (U.S) has introduced new travel restrictions that could require Nigerians applying for B1/B2 visas to post bonds of up to $15,000. According to information published on the US Department of State’s website, Travel.State.Gov, the payment of a bond does not guarantee visa issuance, adding that fees paid without the direction of a consular officer will not be refunded. Of the listed Nations, African countries accounted for 24 of the 38, including Nigeria, in the updated list released by the US State Department on Tuesday. Visa bonds are…

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Trump’s US invades Venezuela, captures President

Aminu Imam
US invades Venezuela

…To face narco-terrorism indictment Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the United States on sweeping criminal charges, including narco-terrorism, the US Attorney-General, Pam Bondi, said yesterday. Bondi disclosed that the indictments were filed at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York and include charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States. In a statement posted on the social media platform…

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US resumes Sambisa Forest’s surveillance after Sokoto airstrikes

Aminu Imam
US resumes

The United States (US) resumed intelligence and surveillance operations in Nigeria yesterday, following late Thursday’s strikes on ISIS terrorists in Sokoto. A report by Brant Philip, a Sahel-focused terrorism tracker, shared flight tracking data that showed the aircraft flying over Borno state. The aircraft was a Gulfstream-V, a long-range business jet often modified for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, according to the data. Philip said Saturday’s intelligence operations focused on the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the ISIS affiliate in Nigeria, which operates primarily in the north-east and Lake…

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Airstrike Fallout: Traditional ruler cautions locals in Sokoto

Aminu Imam
Sokoto airstrike fallout

The traditional ruler of Jabo in Tambuwal LGA of Sokoto State, Abubakar Jabo, has advised residents against visiting the explosion site to pick metal fragments and debris. The airstrike in the area, which occurred in the early hours yesterday, did not affect residents nor damage residential buildings. A visit to the scene where debris fell revealed that several fragments were being collected by some locals. The officials of Police Base 15 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) in Sokoto led by the Commandant, Hassan Jatau, had cordoned off the area on arrival.…

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Trump hands Nigeria £1.6bn health package in return for protecting Christians

Aminu Imam
Trump's health package

…As US, FG seal landmark $5.1bn pact The United States (U.S) and Nigeria have signed a landmark five-year bilateral health cooperation agreement worth $5.1 billion (£4bn), with Washington contributing nearly £1.6bn ($2.1bn) and Abuja committing about £2.2bn ($3bn) in new domestic health spending—the largest co-investment under President Donald Trump’s ‘America First Global Health Strategy’ to date. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in December, is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, reducing preventable deaths, and combating HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, polio, and maternal and child mortality. Nigeria currently bears about 30%…

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‘U.S conducting surveillance flights over Nigeria after Trump’s military intervention threat” – Report 

Aminu Imam
US conducting surveillance

The United States (U.S) has been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November, according to Reuters reports. Citing December flight tracking data and current and former US officials, the report said the US contractor-operated aircraft used for the surveillance missions typically takes off from Ghana and flies over Nigeria before returning to Accra, the Ghanaian capital. It is not immediately clear what information the flights are intended to obtain. A former US official told Reuters the aircraft is among several assets the President Donald Trump administration…

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US stops Green Card, citizenship applications for Nigerians

Aminu Imam
US stops Green Card

The United States (U.S) has placed a temporary halt on Green Card and citizenship applications linked to Nigerians. This action follows a new expansion of Washington’s immigration restrictions and affects several other countries recently added to a broader travel control policy. The suspension targets legal immigration filings, including applications for permanent residency and naturalisation. Many of those affected are Nigerians already living in the United States who were in the process of adjusting their status or applying to become citizens. Under the new directive, immigration authorities have stopped processing petitions…

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U.S express optimism Nigeria will end insecurity, terrorism

Aminu Imam
Screenshot 20251208 203018

The United States (U.S.) has expressed optimism that the Federal Government will win the fight against insecurity and terrorism in Nigeria. A member of the US Congress, Rep. Riley Moore, gave this optimism yesterday through a post he shared on his official X account following a recent congressional delegation’s discussions with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribaɗu, on countering North-East terrorism and halting Christian killings in the Middle-Belt. Ribaɗu’s discussions with the delegation stems from an October 2025 directive by US President Donald Trump to the House Appropriations Committee…

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