The Special Fraud Unit of the Nigerian Police (PSFU) in Lagos has arrested a suspected female fraudster for allegedly defrauding a 50-year-old German man of US$220,000 (about 200,000 euros), after promising to marry him. The police spokesperson, SP Eyitayo Johnson, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Wednesday (19 April 2023), said the 21-year-old suspect lured the victim on …
Read More »Analysis: Return of the Interminable President in Africa
Nigerian human rights activist, lawyer and writer Chidi Anselm Odinkalu* writes on the democratic backsliding in Africa as military officers increasingly seize power and elected leaders elongate their tenure by arbitrarily changing the constitution. And he analyses the causes of the unsavoury trend and what it portends for the continent — Macky Sall, Senegal’s president since the beginning of April …
Read More »Nigerians living abroad to set agenda for President-elect
Nigerians living in the diaspora are determined to influence the government that will succeed the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who will step down on 29 May. The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) is currently collating ideas from its chapters worldwide to enable it formulate a paper which the group will hand over to President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu who will …
Read More »Italy declares emergency over migrants as drownings reach new high
Italy declared a nationwide state of emergency on Tuesday for the next six months following the exceptional increase in migrants continuously arriving via the Mediterranean routes. On Tuesday, the Council of Ministers led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni declared a national state of emergency on immigration after the Civil Protection and Sea Policies Minister Nello Musumeci proposed it. The decision …
Read More »Germany expels African ambassador in tit-for-tat action
The German government has expelled the ambassador of Chad, Mariam Ali Moussa. According to the Foreign Office, the diplomat must leave Germany within 48 hours. The move comes three days after Chad expelled German Ambassador Jan-Christian Gordon Kricke. “In response to the unfounded expulsion of our Ambassador to Chad, we today summoned the Chadian Ambassador in Berlin, Mariam Ali Moussa, …
Read More »Germany: Bundestag may revisit situation of African refugees from Ukraine — Karamba Diaby
A podium discussion on the situation of third-country nationals who fled the war in Ukraine took place recently in the East German city of Halle. There are currently about 38,000 refugees from Ukraine without Ukrainian citizenship in Germany. The objectives of the event, organised by AWO Akademie Mitteldeutschland, were to reflect on the racist experiences of the African refugees, spotlight …
Read More »IATA launches programme to drive aviation’s contribution to African development
Geneva, 3 April 2023 – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is launching “Focus Africa” to strengthen aviation’s contribution to Africa’s economic and social development and improve connectivity, safety and reliability for passengers and shippers. This initiative will align private and public stakeholders to deliver measurable progress in six areas. “Africa accounts for 18% of the global population, but just 2.1% …
Read More »Anthony Joshua announces come back with victory
Anthony Joshua after his victory over Jermaine Franklin/Photo: Anthony Joshua/Facebook British-Nigerian fighter Anthony Joshua has returned to the path of victory on Saturday, beating Jermaine Franklin to stage a comeback after string of losses. He however failed to secure the knockout he would have so craved on his much-anticipated comeback at London’s O2 Arena. The two-time heavyweight world champion bounced …
Read More »Interview: How to harness benefits of investing in Africa — Dennis Elverir, AIC
Producing in Africa is not only lucrative for the investors but also means reducing poverty and dependence on foreign suppliers. Yet Africa is still not seen in Europe as a favourable destination for investors. Dennis Elverir, head of the Africa office of African Investment Consultancy, explains how and where to invest in Africa and the hurdles to to watch out …
Read More »Nigeria to host African Diaspora global conference
Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), says Africa must take its pride of place on the global map, as it cannot be relegated to the background anymore given its huge human and natural endowments. Dabiri-Erewa stated this in Abuja at a press conference on Wednesday to announce that the Global African Diaspora Symposium (GADS) will …
Read More »Nigerian buys majority stake in Danish football club
Shola Akinlade, co-founder and CEO of financial technology company Paystack, has bought a 55 percent stake in a second division Danish club, Aarhus Fremad. This was made public Tuesday in a statement on the website of local football club Sporting Lagos also founded by the 37-year-old tech entrepreneur. Sporting Lagos FC is a professional football club in Lagos founded in …
Read More »Nigeria’s new leader says he’s received “greatest gift”
President-elect of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has described his victory at the 25 February presidential election as the greatest gift he could receive as he celebrates his birthday today. “With such a privilege already granted to me, I will not go so far as to suggest I am due any birthday presents this year,” Tinubu, who turned 71 on Wednesday …
Read More »Black children are six times more likely to be searched by British police
Accusations of racism against the British police are not new. A new study, triggered by a shocking case in London, shows that they are not unfounded. —- There are renewed allegations of racial discrimination as well as humiliation against the British police. A report published on Monday by child protection commissioner Rachel de Souza shows that police officers carried out …
Read More »Why Germany denies family reunification visas to foreign spouses
Love kept at a distance: German national Linda Wendt is fighting to establish a life in Germany with her husband. But he cannot move here without first passing a language test. A major problem — but not an isolated case. A special report by Andrea Grunau, DW Linda Wendt and Moro Diop* are a couple. But they live their everyday …
Read More »Germany: Asylum applications of Nigerians, Ghanaians taking longer to process
The duration of asylum proceedings in Germany increased again last year, the Federal Ministry of the Interior has reported. In 2022, it took an average of 7.6 months for a decision to be made by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, one month longer than in 2021, according to a response by the Ministry to a question from the …
Read More »Newly-elected President presents his plans for Nigeria
In his first official statement since his declaration as president-elect on 1 March, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu addresses Nigerians and the international community on what they should expect when he takes over the government of Africa’s most populous nation on 29 May. —- Nigeria: at the Cusp of Renewed Hope A fair, credible election has been held and has been …
Read More »Gender equality as a precondition for democracy, by Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, MEP
Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, Member of the European Parliament representing Germany on the platform of the Green Party, is attending the ongoing 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York, part of activities commemorating this year’s International Women’s Week. She writes about the conference and her views on how to address gender inequality—- By Dr Pierrette …
Read More »EU countries should mutually recognise asylum decisions — European Commission
In order to increase the number of deportations of rejected asylum-seekers, the EU states should mutually recognise such decisions, according to the European Commission. Today, an asylum-seeker rejected in one EU country can simply move on to another EU country and start the application process again there, said EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson in Strasbourg on Tuesday. “This …
Read More »Germany considers sending asylum-seekers to North Africa
The German government has appointed a special representative on migration who is expected to negotiate with major origin countries of refugees in Germany. Joachim Stamp was named early March as Germany’s first-ever “Special representative of the federal government for migration agreements.” He’s been saddled with the responsibility of finding a solution to the about 250,000 rejected asylum-seekers who are tolerated …
Read More »Buhari asks Nigerians abroad to support Tinubu
President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians living in the country to support President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as he takes over the reins of government on May 29. Speaking at a Town Hall meeting with Nigerians in Doha during his visit to the State of Qatar, President Buhari said his administration set forward to emplace credible, transparent and fair …
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