News

Lack of suitable accommodation causes asylum-seekers mental ill-health, says Red Cross

The issue of accommodation provision for individuals seeking asylum within a country has recently been a topic heavily discussed in the field of immigration studies. In contribution to this, a new report by British Red Cross has highlighted how the UK asylum system is deeply flawed, and has caused increasingly negative impacts on the mental health of individuals seeking asylum. …

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Nigerians with expired passports can come home and renew at the airport – Minister

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has announced that Nigerians living abroad who have difficulties renewing their expired passport and want to travel home could do so with the document. Aregbesola said government was conscious of the difficulties Nigerians were experiencing with passport renewal due to the Covid-19 pandemic and it was committed to alleviating the situation. “It is …

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Bank offers loans to Nigerians living abroad to build homes in Nigeria

Nigerians in the diaspora have an opportunity to own houses in the country and also participate actively in money and capital markets, thanks to several investment packages rolled out by Ecobank. Mrs. Olukorede Demola-Adeniyi, Head of Ecobank’s Consumer Banking, has said that the bank is offering mortgage loans to Nigerians living abroad to finance property ownership in the country. She …

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Germany: Petition against obligation to report people without papers launched

An alliance of humanitarian and rights organisations are calling for the abrogation of the legal obligation to report people without residency status who seek medical care —– Almost 50 organisations and associations are demanding the abolition of the legal obligation to report people without regular residence status who seek medical care. Going to the doctor without fear is not possible …

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Why COVID-19 is likely to slow down a decade of youth development in Africa – Expert

By Prof Wim Naudé* Until COVID-19 hit, the quality of life of youth (age 15-24) in sub-Saharan Africa had been steadily improving. According to the World Bank, by 2019 the youth literacy rate stood at 73%. Gross secondary school enrolment rates increased from 13 % in 1971 to 43 % by 2018. Youth unemployment rates have remained fairly stable, at around …

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Diaspora voting: What chances for Nigerians abroad?

About 17 million Nigerians are believed to live in the diaspora and they are constitutionally excluded from participation in their homeland’s electoral process from outside the country. Voters who are resident outside Nigeria can only vote during elections if they travel back to Nigeria to register as voters in Nigeria and to vote during elections in Nigeria. As the country …

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What Tanzanian President Suluhu’s visit to Kenya means for the two countries

President Samia Hussein Suluhu has moved quickly to consolidate her power with the demise of the former president John Pombe Magufuli. Key in her agenda, is her effort to repair the frosty relations between Nairobi and Dodoma on the economic, diplomatic and political realms, writes Prof David Monda* as he analyses the Tanzanian leader’s maiden visit to Kenya. —– Kenya …

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Nigeria: FG extends deadline for NIN-SIM linkage

The Federal Government has extended the ongoing National Identification Number (NIN) and Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) integration exercise till June 30. Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, gave the directive according to a statement jointly signed by Ikechukwu Adinde, director of public affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Kayode Adegoke, head of corporate communications at …

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Excessive Lead in rural drinking water supplies in West Africa – study reveals

Testing of a sample of community water systems by a group of international researchers has revealed that: 80% of public taps and boreholes with handpumps had at least one part that exceeded international guidance on lead9% of drinking water samples exceeded World Health Organisation guidelines on leadNo-known safe exposure level to lead The scientists are warning that drinking water supplies …

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George Floyd: Verdict ushers new era in struggle against hegemonic power structures

Finally, the verdict on the police killing of Afro-American George Floyd has been issued and was handed down on 20 April 2021, in the court of Minneapolis. The white former police officer Derek Chauvin officer was found guilty by the jury on three counts, including second-degree murder. For the first time in US history, the established jurisprudence acknowledges and acts …

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Nairobi ranked top city in Africa for innovation – report

The recently released Knight Frank Africa Horizons Report 2021/22, ranked Nairobi as the top city in Africa for innovation, followed by Cape Town in second, Kampala third, with Cairo and Johannesburg at fourth and fifth place respectively. The report notes that the ability of African cities to emerge resilient from the pandemic will depend on their ability to innovate, providing long-term social …

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Chancellor Merkel receives European Civil Rights Prize for supporting Sinti and Roma

Chancellor Angela Merkel has been awarded the European Civil Rights Prize of the Sinti and Roma for her advocacy against antiziganism. “We must outlaw antiziganism just as we outlaw anti-Semitism,” Romani Rose, chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, said in his address at a ceremony which took place in Mannheim on Wednesday. He pointed to the …

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Mobile phone users in Kenya and Nigeria increasingly targeted by malware apps – Report

NAIROBI, Kenya, April 29, 2021/ — With Kaspersky (africa.Kaspersky.com) research showing that stalkerware affected one out of every 100 mobile users in Kenya and Nigeria in 2020 and malware every four out of 100 in South Africa, consumers must remain vigilant when it comes to their online activities if they are to keep themselves safe from the growing threat of …

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Nigeria to clear backlog of passport applications soon – Minister

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been quoted as having assured that the backlog of passport application and issuance would be cleared latest by 31 May 2021. In a statement issued by Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public Relations and Protocol Department of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the minister made the pledge when he received Hon …

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Lewis Hamilton reacts emotionally to George Floyd verdict

Celebrities have been reacting to the guilty verdict passed on the policeman who killed George Floyd last year, sparking worldwide protests for racial justice and against anti-black racism. In an emotional statement Lewis Hamilton, the British race driver and Formula 1 world champion said: “JUSTICE for George! “The emotions I feel right now are hard to describe. Derek Chauvin has …

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NIDOE appoints committees to reposition organisation

In pursuit of its goal of more inclusiveness and widening its horizon, the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE), under the leadership of Dr Bashir Obasekola, has appointed several Ad-Hoc Committees to help it achieve its objectives. The Committees are: 1. Ad-Hoc Committee on Youths inclusion Mandate and objectives: Inclusion of the youth is paramount for NIDOE to continue as …

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