Canada has announced temporary border measures that will bar travellers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan from entering the country for the next 90 days, as the government moves to prevent the ongoing Ebola outbreak from spreading into Canadian territory.
The Public Health Agency of Canada announced on Tuesday that effective May 27 at 11:59pm Eastern Time, immigration documents for residents of the three countries will be suspended, meaning that even those who hold previously approved temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorisations or permanent resident visas will not be allowed to travel to Canada for the duration of the suspension.
The government said it would also temporarily pause processing new applications for immigration documents from residents of the affected countries during that period.
A second measure set to take effect on May 30 will require Canadian citizens, permanent residents and foreign nationals who have been in any of the three countries within the previous 21 days and show no symptoms to undergo a mandatory 21-day quarantine upon arrival in Canada, with accommodation provided to those who do not have a safe place to quarantine.
Those arriving with symptoms will be isolated at a hospital for further assessment. Both measures are being implemented under Canada’s Quarantine Act and will remain in place until August 29, 2026.
“The health and safety of people in Canada is our top priority. These temporary border measures will help reduce the risk of Ebola disease entering the country while ensuring that travellers are managed based on their level of risk,” said Health Minister Marjorie Michel.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab added that the measures were “necessary to protect Canadians and reinforce the integrity of our border against this threat to public health.”
The government noted that the risk to people currently in Canada remains low, that there has never been a case of Ebola imported into Canada and that there are currently no cases of the disease in North America.
The measures were described as precautionary and partly motivated by the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, which Canada is co-hosting and which is expected to draw millions of international visitors.
People already in Canada from the affected countries are not impacted by the new measures and may remain for their authorised period of stay.
As part of activities marking the 2026 World Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, Pure Impacts Inspirational Network, a nonprofit organisation focused on empowering
The Ghana Police Service has confirmed the arrest of seven individuals, including two military personnel and three police officers, over their alleged involvement in a robbery syndicate linked to multiple attacks across Accra, Tema, Anyinam, Kumasi, and Takoradi.
The Police Service disclosed this in a statement shared on its official social media platforms on Tuesday, noting that the arrests were carried out by the Office of the Special Operations Assistant to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP.
According to the statement, the case began after an Ivorian investor, Mousa Bamba, reported that he had been lured to the Dzorwulu area under the pretext of a planned purchase of six kilograms of gold valued at US$450,000.
Bamba alleged that upon arrival, the suspects posed as officers of the Criminal Investigation Department, CID, and military personnel before robbing him at gunpoint and fleeing the scene.
Following his complaint, police launched investigations that led to the initial arrest of two suspects, Mohammed Umaro, also known as Alhaji, and Gabriel Sewornu, also known as Dangote.
Further investigations by the Ghana Police Service subsequently linked additional suspects to the operation, including two soldiers identified as Lance Corporals Eugene Akurugu and Emmanuel Arko, also known as Bullet, as well as three police officers; Inspector Richmond Osei, Corporal Gideon Anor, and Lance Corporal Felix Deku Tetteyga.
The Police Service stated that the officers involved have since been interdicted to allow for full investigations into their conduct.
It further revealed that intelligence-led operations by the Office of the Special Operations Assistant to the IGP led to the arrest of additional suspects, including Justin Oduro, also known as Don King and Mafia, Clement Gyasi, and Farouk Zakari, between May 23 and May 24, 2026.
“All suspects are currently in Police custody assisting investigations, while efforts continue to arrest other accomplices connected to the syndicate,” the Ghana Police Service said.
Chille Igbawua, a member of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, electoral panel and adviser to ADC National Chairman, David Mark, has told aggrieved aspirants, including former minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-deen to approach the party’s presidential primary appeal panel.
He reminded the aggrieved politicians that there are internal mechanisms put in place for grievance resolution instead of publicly rejecting the outcome of the primaries.
In an interview on Arise News on Tuesday, he said, “Anybody who is aggrieved by the primary process should go to the appeal and state their reasons. Saying you don’t agree with the process is jumping the gun.”
Amaechi had rejected the results of the presidential primaries, alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement and electoral malpractice.
The former Rivers State governor alleged that about 80 percent of party members across the country were prevented from voting during the exercise.
Also, Hayatu-Deen had announced that he would not attend the party’s presidential election results announcement, citing concerns over alleged widespread irregularities in the exercise.
He said, “The various electoral panels had appeal panels, which are on ground. So, the first appeal would come from screening. If you felt you were screened out unfairly, you will go to an appeal panel, and they will look at your case, and if you were right, you’ll be cleared.
“These are the internal mechanisms that are put in place for grievance resolution. Now, these same panels are on ground for the primaries proper. Anybody who is aggrieved by the primary process, you go to the appeal, state your reasons.
“So, I think it will be jumping the gun to say you do not agree, and then, well, maybe I expect that they will still go to the appeal panel.
“If you think things were not done correctly before the process started, it is known that these are human processes and something is bound to go wrong, and that is why the appeal panels were put in place, and it’s available for everybody.
“We withheld clearance for just two candidates, all of them got cleared by the appeal, and they contested the governorship primaries in their various states.”
The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has called on leaders in Nigeria and across the world to confront rising insecurity, economic hardship and global injustice as Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Adha 1447 AH.
In a statement issued to mark the Islamic festival, MPAC said Eid-ul-Adha represents more than ritual celebrations, describing it as a season that reflects sacrifice, faith, compassion and justice.
According to MPAC, the gathering of millions of pilgrims in Makkah for the Hajj remains one of the strongest symbols of equality and submission to Allah, where people from different races, social classes and nationalities worship together without distinction.
The group, however, expressed concern over worsening insecurity and economic hardship in Nigeria, noting that many families were unable to travel for Eid celebrations because of fear caused by kidnapping, banditry and violence.
MPAC said ordinary Nigerians were living under increasing fear and financial pressure, urging government authorities to prioritise policies that would restore security, protect lives and improve economic conditions.
The organisation also condemned the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine, describing the situation as “a painful stain on the conscience of the modern world.”
In statement signed by Disu Kamor, Executive Chairman of MPAC, the organization lamented the destruction of homes, hospitals, schools and refugee shelters, saying thousands of innocent Palestinians continued to suffer under violence and occupation.
“For the people of Palestine, this is yet another Eid under siege,” the statement said, while calling on people of conscience around the world to continue speaking against oppression and injustice.
Despite global and local challenges, MPAC said Eid-ul-Adha remains a message of hope, perseverance and faith, drawing lessons from the story of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), Sayyidah Hajar and Prophet Ismail (AS).
The organisation prayed for pilgrims performing Hajj from Nigeria and other countries, asking Allah to accept their worship and return them safely to their families.
MPAC further urged Muslims to move beyond symbolic sacrifice by promoting stronger families, compassionate communities, responsible leadership and a more just society.
Kehinde Akintola, in this piece, analyses the fate of the serving members of the House of Representatives, who lost out in the primaries conducted by political parties, while examining the growing turnover rate in the assembly and the likely outlook of the 10th House of Representatives. The results from the just-concluded primaries of the various […]
In this interview, Senator Victor Umeh representing Anambra Central at the Red Chamber speaks on governors using the power of incumbency to clinch their party’s senatorial tickets at the end of their tenure. He also throws light on the chances of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the forthcoming general election and the recent judgment of […]
An estimated 30,000 armed Fulani militants are operating across Nigeria in groups ranging from 10 to 1,000 members, according to the May 2026 report released by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.
The report stated that the militants have become some of the deadliest non-state actors driving religious freedom violations in Nigeria.
Titled “Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants,” the report said attacks carried out by armed actors of Fulani ethnic background intensified insecurity across the Middle Belt and Southern regions, leaving thousands dead, displacing communities and deepening tensions between religious groups.
“Violence by Fulani militants caused the highest number of deaths among all religious communities in Nigeria over the last year as compared to attacks by organised insurgent groups and criminal gangs,” the report stated.
The commission said many of the attacks were directed at Christian communities, though Muslim communities had also suffered raids, killings and kidnappings.
According to the report,
While the groups lack centralised leadership, USCIRF stated that some collaborate with criminal gangs and extremist organisations.
The report explained, “These actors operate in a variety of contexts and with a multiplicity of likely aims and motivations.
“While many Fulani militant groups wage independent attacks, others periodically coordinate with a wide range of other actors, from conventional bandit gangs seeking financial enrichment to recognised terrorist organisations that espouse a violent interpretation of Islam.”
The commission noted that militants frequently attack isolated rural communities at night using motorcycles, automatic weapons and machetes.
“They often wield machetes and descend on vulnerable communities during the night, eliciting terror as a way to force victims to quickly leave and to achieve greater control of desired land,” the report said.
USCIRF explained that attacks by Fulani militants and other armed groups had displaced at least 1.3 million people in the Middle Belt, forcing many into overcrowded camps lacking adequate sanitation and security.
The report detailed several attacks carried out in 2025 and early 2026, including mass killings in Benue and Plateau states.
“One attack in Benue in June 2025 killed at least 200 people, including internally displaced persons living in a Catholic mission,” the report said.
USCIRF also cited the massacre in Yelwata, Benue State, in 2025, where more than 200 Christians, “mostly sleeping women and children,” were reportedly killed and over 3,000 people displaced.
The commission said militants deliberately timed some attacks to coincide with Christian religious holidays.
“Militant actors have often carried out operations during Christian holidays such as Christmas or Easter to further maximise the psychological impact,” the report stated.
It added that in February 2026, suspected Fulani militants reportedly killed at least 32 people in Niger State and attacked Holy Trinity Parish in the Kafanchan Diocese of Kaduna State, killing three people and abducting 11 others, including parish priest Father Nathaniel Asuwaye.
The report also documented kidnappings targeting both churches and mosques.
“In February 2026, armed men kidnapped an imam and seven worshipers from a mosque in Plateau,” USCIRF stated, adding that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N16m.
The commission said Palm Sunday and Easter attacks in April 2026 left dozens dead in Plateau, Kaduna and Benue states.
“On Easter Sunday, Fulani militants reportedly killed five worshippers at two churches in Kaduna State while abducting 31 others,” the report stated.
USCIRF said conflicting narratives surrounding the violence had complicated efforts to determine the motivations behind the attacks.
The commission highlighted, “Some observers have argued that environmental and economic factors are the driving force behind Fulani militants’ acts of violence, while others have suggested that these actors are engaged in a concerted campaign of outright genocide against non-Muslims, especially Christians.
“In fact, multiple and overlapping factors, including religion in many cases, likely spur Fulani militants to attack communities or individuals.”
The report criticised the federal and state authorities for what it described as inadequate responses to the violence.
“Victims have long reported that security forces are consistently slow to respond to attacks on their communities,” the commission stated.
USCIRF further stated that some Christian advocates accused security agencies of showing favouritism toward Muslim communities during investigations and security operations.
The report noted that governors from 11 states launched an initiative in June 2025 to establish ranch lands for herders in a bid to reduce clashes over grazing routes and farmland.
At the federal level, USCIRF linked renewed Federal Government’s action to the October 2025 decision by the US President Donald Trump to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious freedom violations.
Following the designation, President Bola Tinubu classified kidnappers and violent armed groups, including Fulani militants, as “terrorists” in December 2025, the commission stated.
The report said the security agencies rescued 309 hostages in January 2026 during operations in Kogi and Kwara states, arresting 129 suspected Fulani militants and killing 55 others.
USCIRF also highlighted growing scrutiny of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.
The organisation has faced allegations from Christian leaders that it failed to stop militant violence and land invasions. However, MACBAN denied supporting criminal activity.
“We do not support, condone, harbour, finance, or protect any form of criminality, extremism or violence,” the association said, according to the report.
USCIRF said the US Congress introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 in February, proposing sanctions against MACBAN over allegations of involvement in severe religious freedom violations.
Despite recent security measures and peace initiatives, the commission warned that violence remained widespread.
“As a result, central Nigeria remains entrenched in an intense, daily, and seemingly perpetual crisis of insecurity,” the report concluded.
The commission added that the crisis was likely to continue “until the federal and several state governments create broader underlying conditions that are more conducive to the safe practice of religious freedom.”
A market survey by THE WHISTLER across the FCT, Kano, Kaduna, Anambra, Enugu and Lagos indicates that rising livestock and food prices are forcing many Muslim families to cut spending ahead of this year’s Sallah celebration.
Eid-ul-Adha is one of the most important religious celebrations for Muslims across Nigeria and beyond. But THE WHISTLER’s survey indicates that many families may be forced to scale down plans as the prices of rams, cows and staple food items continue to climb.
Okpe Emmanuel, official of the Animal Husbandry Services under the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
The survey showed increases in the prices of livestock and food commodities compared to 2025, with traders and buyers blaming inflation, insecurity, transportation costs, fuel prices and supply shortages.
In some of the markets visited by our correspondents, rams sold for as high as N1.2m. Rams that sold for about N380,000 last Sallah are now priced as high as N700,000 in some stalls visited by our correspondents. Cows also crossed N2.5m in some markets. A bag of rice averaged N55,000.
Traders who spoke to THEWHISTLER said the price increases are affecting patronage despite the rush usually associated with the festive period.
ABUJA
At the Kugbo Ram Market in Abuja, Kabiru Hassan, a ram seller who spoke in Hausa, said the prices this year had risen beyond what many buyers could afford. “The price of rams ranges from N250,000, N350,000, N500,000, N600,000 and N1.2m.
“This year the price is high due to the cost of transportation; last year’s N300,000 rams are now N350,000.”
Another livestock dealer at the market, Sani Ibrahim, confirmed that many traders were struggling to sell because buyers no longer had the spending power they had last year.
Kubwa Ram Market (by Federal Housing Junction), Abuja.
“The factors that cause it (rising cost) are from the leadership. There’s a huge difference in prices between the last year and now. The ram we are selling N1m now was N600,000 to N700,000.
“I came with over 30 rams, it was with grace I am able to sell only 3 rams for now. I have to slash the price to sell. The rams cost N1m but I later sold them at N700,000.
“We are calling on the government to look into the market issues and provide a solution to it.”
Buyers said the market reality has forced them to adjust budgets or change their plans.
Speaking with THE WHISTLER at Kugbo Market, Ibrahim Sediq, a civil servant, said his budget of N500,000 could no longer secure the size of ram he bought last year.
Kubwa Ram Market (by Federal Housing Junction), Abuja.
“If you look at all the rams here now, compared to this time last year, they’d have bought all of them. There’s no money. The one I bought last year was about N450,000.
“We are still bargaining. The high prices have affected my plan. My budget this year is N500,000 but the rams I’m seeing here are going for N600,000, N650,000 and N700,000.
“As you can see, the prices are high, that is why the market is not moving, because there’s no money.”
Another buyer, Mustapha Sheika, said although prices had increased, several factors were responsible for the rise.
“There’s a slight difference in this year compared to last year, yes, there’s an increase. Of course, last year we got it way cheaper than this year, but the change in price is not really very high. You can still get a good ram for around N300,000, N400,000, and N500,000.
“Based on my budget, I don’t plan to spend more than N400,000 on ram.”
Kubwa Ram Market (by Federal Housing Junction), Abuja.
Sheika added, “…If you understand a lot of the factors that contribute to some of these increases in prices, you will not really be (angry), you will understand, you know, you’ll understand why there’s that price increase.
“Number one, of course, there’s insecurity, you know, this livestock, they are moved from the north to Abuja and all the way down to southern Nigeria. So, of course, where you source them, there’s a lot of insecurity there, that’s one.
“Again, there’s an increase in petrol prices. The cost of transportation has gone up, so it also affects the prices.
“Then, by extension, there’s an increase in the prices of feed, which is also affected by some other factors that I mentioned earlier. So by and large, that’s what affected the increase in prices.”
At the same market, Okpe Emmanuel, a staff member of the Animal Husbandry Services under the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), said the restriction on livestock movement from Niger Republic had also contributed to the increase.
“The reasons why prices went up are many. What we heard was that the president of the Niger Republic refused rams or animals to cross the border. “So the border has been closed for animals coming to Nigeria except the ones being smuggled in or the ones we already have.
“The species of rams are different. The types that come from Niger are the Uda and the Balami, which you can see some of them here, are not as many as compared to previous years.” He also mentioned rising transportation and fuel costs.
Kubwa Ram Market (by Federal Housing Junction), Abuja.
“Also, the sellers transport the livestock from far away down here. The price of a single ram on transit is higher than the previous year.
“Last year, it was like N500 but this year I think it’s over a thousand just to transport a ram, not to talk of feeding along the way.
“The other factor is because of the fuel. Because of the war in Iran, the prices of fuel went up. So the price of everything, even medication, also went up.
“So if the prices of things go up like this, definitely the prices of the ram itself as a product will go up.”
Emmanuel, who supervises animal health checks at the market, said only healthy animals are allowed for sale.
“I was posted here to make sure all animals sold in this market are fit for human consumption.
“So we check for diseases of animals, whether they have them or not. We also see that they are treated and then kept, not to be given to people to eat.”
He said officials examine animals for signs of disease including discharge from the eyes, nose and mouth, dehydration, dysentery and feeding behaviour before certifying them fit for consumption.
KANO, KADUNA
At the livestock trading centre at Hauran Wanki in Kano, some sellers arrived from Jigawa State, with transportation costs already reflected in their prices.
Suleiman Garba, a ram seller who travelled from Kazaure in Jigawa State, said the cost of keeping and transporting livestock had risen sharply.
“The cost of feeding these rams for months, hiring a truck to bring them here, and the price of fuel, everything has gone up. If I sell below this price, I go home at a loss,” he told THE WHISTLER.
Hauran Wanki livestock market Kano.
Nearby, Musa Tukur, a father of six, walked away from a negotiation after a seller demanded N700,000 for a ram he considered average in size.
“Last year I bought a ram of this same size for N380,000. Today they are telling me seven hundred thousand. How do ordinary people celebrate Sallah at this rate?” he asked.
Findings by THE WHISTLER showed that small and medium-sized rams in Kano and Kaduna currently sell between N350,000 and N500,000, while larger breeds go for as much as N1m. Cow prices were higher.
At Zango Market in Kaduna, cows sold between N1.2m and N2.5m depending on size and breed.
A cattle dealer, Mallam Ibrahim Yusuf, said transportation alone cost him over N150,000 after moving three cows from Plateau State.
Hauran Wanki livestock market Kano.
“I spent over N150,000 on transportation alone for these three cows. The road is not safe, the checkpoints are many and every one of them costs money. By the time the animal reaches the market, the price has already been built into him,” Yusuf said.
A wholesale buyer, Hajiya Rakiya Abdullahi, said purchasing power had weakened significantly compared to last year.
“What N2m buys you today is what N1.2m bought last Sallah. The sellers know we must buy, so they hold firm on their prices,” she said.
The rise in prices extends beyond livestock.
At Singer Market in Kano, a 50kg bag of rice sold between N45,000 and N55,000 depending whether it is local or foreign.
Fatima Usman, a rice trader, said transport costs from the mills had pushed prices upward.
Yankaba Market, Kano
“The bags production now arrives at a higher landing cost than before. We are not cheating customers, we are simply passing on what we paid,” she said.
One of her customers, Aisha Bello, said the increase had disrupted her budget for the celebration.
“I budgeted N40,000 for a bag of rice and they are telling me N50,000. That N10,000 is somebody’s transport fare,” she said.
At Yankaba Market in Kano, a basket of tomatoes sold between N50,000 and N60,000.
Umar Dankano, a tomato wholesaler, said fresh items were sold almost as soon as they arrived.
“Buyers know the difference between tomatoes that came today and those that have been sitting since yesterday. The fresh ones go for N60,000 and nobody argues,” he said.
A food vendor, Hajiya Bilkisu Musa, said small business owners were finding it difficult to absorb the increase without transferring the burden to customers.
“I cannot increase my prices every week because my customers are also suffering. But I also cannot absorb these market prices alone. Something has to give,” she said.
ANAMBRA
In Anambra State, traders said prices had increased moderately compared to what was recorded in parts of northern Nigeria.
At Eke Awka Market, a bag of beans sold for N110,000, while foreign rice sold between N55,000 and N60,000. Local rice sold between N35,000 and N40,000.
Eke Awka livestock market in Anambra State.
The Chairman of the Anambra State Cattle Market, Bello Maugeri, told our correspondent that ram prices had risen by about N50,000 compared to 2025.
Eke Awka livestock market in Anambra State.
“The purchase of Ram Livestock is usually high during the Sallah celebration.
“The biggest ram we have varies from N350,000 to N400,000, with the least at about N250,000. When compared to 2025, we have only recorded a N50,000 increase from previous prices.”
Eke Awka livestock market in Anambra State.
He said goats were less affected because they are not usually associated with Sallah celebrations in the state.
“For goats, there is usually no traffic during Sallah. No one buys goats for this celebration, so the prices remain stable.
“The least goat of presentable size is N150,000 while the highest goats are N350,000 and N400,000 respectively.”
Eke Awka livestock market in Anambra State.
According to him, cows in the state are mostly purchased for burials, marriages and title ceremonies rather than Sallah celebrations.
“The Salah Celebration does not really impact the prices of cows here because most of the big dealers make efforts to sell off their livestock and travel for the Sallah Celebration. “This is why the ranch is currently scanty.”
He added that transportation remained the main reason behind the increase in cattle prices.
“However, if you compare the price to 2025, there has been a N100,000 gap. A Cow worth N1.3m last year is now N1.4m in 2026.
“The underlying factor for such a hike is transportation, beyond that, the prices are sometimes stable.“
ENUGU
In Enugu State, traders said garri had become more expensive due to reduced cassava cultivation.
Mrs. Maureen Ogbuh, a food seller at Ogbete Market, said a painter of garri which once sold below N1,000 now sold around N2,000.
“Garri is becoming scarce,” she told THE WHISTLER
“There was a time it was below N1,000. Two years ago, many people cultivated cassava, and there was much garri in the market. They lost a lot.
“Last year, many people abandoned cassava plantation. That is why it is becoming scarce in this part of the country.”
But while garri sellers dealt with scarcity, tomato farmers in parts of Enugu said oversupply was forcing them into losses.
A farmer, Nwam Nnamdi, said buyers from cities such as Aba, Port Harcourt and Onitsha were no longer coming in large numbers.
“We are losing a lot. Tomatoes are cultivated abundantly at some parts of the state, like Aninri, Nsukka, Awgu, Ezeagu and Akpugo.
“We have started harvesting, but buyers from Aba, Port-Harcourt and Onitsha have not started coming to buy from us. The supply is more than the demand.
“So there are cases of unsold tomatoes. If you check, there are much waste because it is perishable.”
At New Market in Enugu, Moses Arum, a trader, said a tin of rice had risen to N20,000 from N16,000, while a 100kg bag of beans now sold for N120,000.
“The cost of foodstuffs in this region is determined by supplies from the North. Of late, there have been reduced supplies from the far North, and it is affecting us down here,” he said.
Cow dealer Mallam Isa said residents in Enugu now preferred pork and chicken because beef had become expensive.
“Residents do not patronise us much for their daily meat consumption. They complain of the cost. They buy more of pork and chicken than beef,” he said.
He added that some rams now sold for as much as N500,000.
LAGOS
In Lagos, food prices also increased ahead of the celebration.
At Ilepo Market, a big basket of tomatoes sold between N135,000 and N140,000 compared to less than N100,000 in March.
Ilepo Market, Lagos State
A crate of tomatoes sold for N35,000, while a small bucket of pepper sold between N5,000 and N6,000. A bucket of onions sold for N5,000.
Ilepo Market, Lagos State
A bag of beans sold for N57,000, while rice sold between N53,000 and N58,000.
Ilepo Market, Lagos State
Traders linked the increases to transportation costs, festive demand and supply challenges.
At the Ahmadiyya livestock market, rams sold between N300,000 and N350,000, while cows sold between N2m and N2.4m.
Ilepo Market, Lagos State
Livestock sellers at the market blamed transportation expenses, feeding costs and the rising cost of sourcing animals from northern Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
