Author: Daily Post Nigeria

The Federal Government has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to withdraw and deactivate passports belonging to individuals who have officially renounced their Nigerian citizenship.

The directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who stated that the move applies strictly to persons whose renunciation had been formally approved by the President.

“The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately withdraw and deactivate passports of Nigerians who have renounced their citizenship but still retain the documents.

“This directive applies strictly to individuals whose renunciation requests have been formally approved by the President.

“The Minister emphasized that the Ministry of Interior, entrusted with safeguarding the integrity of citizenship, derives its authority from the provisions of Section 29, subsections (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which state:

Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation.

“The President shall cause the declaration made under subsection (1) of this section to be registered and upon such registration, the person who made the declaration shall cease to be a citizen of Nigeria.

“He further noted that once a person ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria, such an individual is no longer entitled to possess any sovereign document of the country, including the Nigerian passport.

“The Minister added that this directive aligns with ongoing passport and visa reforms initiated by the Ministry in recent years.

“We will continue to strengthen systems that secure Nigeria’s borders, prevent identity fraud, preserve the sanctity of Nigerian citizenship, and facilitate legitimate travel while preventing unauthorized or ineligible access,” it concluded.

Nigerian govt moves to revoke passports of citizens who renounced nationality

The United States has announced a new policy targeting individuals involved in violations of religious freedom, including those linked to violence in Nigeria.

Mark Walker, the US Principal Advisor for Global Religious Freedom, made this known in a post on X on Friday.

The statement reads “The United States is taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond.

“A new policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act will allow the State Department to restrict visa issuance to individuals who have directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom and, where appropriate, their immediate family members.

“As President Trump made clear, the “United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other countries.”

“This policy will apply to Nigeria and any other governments or individuals engaged in violations of religious freedom” it said.

United States impose visa ban over religious violence in Nigeria

The Federal Government has launched the Electronic Pharmacy Regulations 2026 to strengthen oversight, improve medicine safety and regulate Nigeria’s fast-growing digital pharmaceutical market.

The launch in Abuja on Friday followed rising concerns over fake drugs and weak supply chain controls.

Represented at the launch by the Director of Hospital Services of the ministry, Dr Abisola Adegoke, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollum, described the development as a major milestone in healthcare regulation.

Speaking during her opening remarks, Kachollum said: “This framework… is a product of collaborative engagement with relevant partners, including technology innovators, healthcare providers and legal experts.”

She also noted that the document balances the need for accessibility, security and accountability, stressing that the framework is designed to protect Nigerians as healthcare delivery increasingly shifts online.

“We meet this evolution with a robust modern framework designed to ensure that ethical standards, honesty and trustworthiness are not compromised, to save citizens from potential risk,” she said.

According to her, the regulation would strengthen Nigeria’s broader digital health system. She added that the development of this regulation will further provide the needed backbone for the national electronic pharmacy policy.

“It is expected to improve medicine traceability, strengthen prescription regime and expand safe pharmaceutical access for both underserved areas and urban centres,” Kachollum said.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, said the regulation is part of reforms to organise Nigeria’s healthcare market and attract .

“By stabilising practices and improving transparency, the regulations address our ability to strengthen accessibility in medicines distribution across the nation,” Pate said.

He noted that Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector has historically been characterised by informal and loosely regulated distribution channels.

“The haphazard market does not serve anyone. A well-organised market… must have a well-functioning regulatory framework so that social harm is reduced,” the minister said.

He further pointed out that the regulation prioritises patient safety, data protection and accountability, stressing that digital tools will play a central role in improving health outcomes.

“This is an evidence-based way of monitoring and protecting public health while supporting innovation and investment. Our mission is to establish a safe, accessible and fully regulated national e-pharmacy ecosystem,” he said.

He also explained that the system would leverage technology to improve medicine access and adherence, warning that all operators must comply with the new regulations or face sanctions.

Also speaking, the Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Pharmacist Ibrahim Ahmed, pointed to how the rise of e-commerce and digital health platforms accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has further transformed how Nigerians access medicines, creating both opportunities and risks.

Ahmed said the pandemic exposed critical gaps, stressing that the need to regulate online pharmacy operations in Nigeria became more pertinent with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The pandemic accelerated interest in e-commerce, and highlighted long-running deficiencies in health systems, including inefficiencies of pharmaceutical supply chains, especially in Africa,” he said.

He further explained that the shift to digital platforms has outpaced existing regulatory systems.

“As the world pivots towards a digital direction, the ways in which patients access life-saving medications have evolved. Today, we meet that evolution with a robust, modern framework designed to ensure that ethical standards are not compromised and to save customers from potential risks,” Ahmed said.

He also stated that the new regulation establishes a comprehensive structure for digital pharmaceutical services.

“The regulations establish a comprehensive legal and technical framework for the registration, licensing, operation and oversight of digital pharmaceutical services,” he said.

According to him, the framework aligns Nigeria with global standards while encouraging innovation.

“Our objective is to establish a regulatory framework that aligns with international best practices for the protection of consumers, while fostering innovation in the healthcare sector,” he said.

“We will certify and license electronic pharmacies and provide a platform for verification of electronic pharmacies. We are safeguarding the public by ensuring that only persons with requisite knowledge and qualifications are involved in online pharmacy practice.”

FG Unveils New Regulations For Online Pharmacy is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

With Artemis II successfully completing its historic lunar mission on Friday, NASA is banking on billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk for the next step: landing astronauts on the Moon.

The Apollo program — which sent the first and only humans to the Moon’s surface between 1969 and 1972 — was designed so that only two astronauts could land on the lunar surface for a maximum of a few days.

More than 50 years later, American ambitions and expertise have grown, with NASA hoping to send four people on a mission lasting several weeks and eventually building a lunar base.

For the second phase of its mission, the space agency is looking to commercial landers designed by Musk’s SpaceX and Bezos’s Blue Origin to get its astronauts on the Moon.

After Artemis II splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday after its record-breaking journey, NASA officials urged all hands on deck for a crewed landing in 2028.

“We need all of industry to work and come along with us, and they need to accept that challenge and come with us and really start the production lines that are going to be required in order to achieve that goal,” Lori Glaze, the acting associate NASA administrator, told a press conference.

The Apollo program relied on a single rocket, the Saturn V, which carried both the lunar lander and the capsule carrying the astronauts.

NASA has opted for two separate systems for Artemis: the first to launch the Orion spacecraft carrying the crew from Earth, and another to launch the lunar lander, which will be privately contracted.

– ‘Camping trip’ –

The decision was driven by the technical limitations of the Apollo program, Kent Chojnacki, a senior NASA official in charge of lunar lander development, told AFP.

“It was very not expandable to long-term exploration and long-term stays,” he explained.

Although spectacular, the Apollo missions were like “camping trips,” said Jack Kiraly, director of government relations at the Planetary Society, which encourages space exploration.

The systems NASA is looking at now are “huge compared to Apollo,” said Chojnacki, noting that the new lunar landers being developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX are two to seven times larger than before.

The space agency is also drawing from external partners, such as the European companies that built the propulsion module for Orion.

The new approach opens access to more equipment and resources, but also significantly complicates operations.

To send these giant spacecrafts to the Moon, the private space exploration companies will need to master in-flight refueling, a complex maneuver that has not yet been fully tested.

After the lunar lander is launched, additional rockets will be needed to deliver the fuel required for the journey to the Moon, some 250,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) from Earth.

– ‘Lose the Moon’ –

Given this risky undertaking and the numerous delays — particularly those experienced by SpaceX that was supposed to have its lander ready first — pressure has mounted in recent months.

“We are once again about to lose the Moon,” three former NASA officials warned in an article in SpaceNews last September.

China, which is hoping to send humans to the Moon by 2030, has been making progress as well, raising fears in the Trump administration that the United States could get left behind.

With that in mind, NASA raised the possibility last fall of reopening the contract awarded to SpaceX and using Blue Origin’s lunar lander first, sending shockwaves through the rival companies.

Both firms announced they were realigning their strategies to prioritize the lunar project — and keep their lucrative contracts with NASA.

But concerns remain, particularly regarding the feasibility of in-orbit refueling.

“We do have a plan,” Chojnacki said, noting that NASA has a back-up plan in case of failure.

The timeline is also up in the air.

NASA says it plans to test an in-orbit rendezvous between the spacecraft and one or two lunar landers in 2027, and carry out a crewed lunar landing in 2028.

Before that, companies will need to test in-orbit refueling and send an unmanned lunar lander to the Moon to demonstrate its safety.

That all needs to happen within the next two years.

“It feels like a very small amount of time,” said Clayton Swope of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The post After Artemis II, NASA looks to SpaceX, Blue Origin for Moon landings appeared first on Vanguard News.

The Ondo State Police Command has prevented an attempted kidnapping along the Idogun–Imeri corridor in Ose Local Government Area, successfully rescuing two victims.

The attack occurred on Friday evening around 5:45 p.m., when suspected kidnappers stormed a social gathering attended by several guests.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, said officers responded promptly after receiving a distress call, moving quickly to the scene to confront the attackers and halt the operation.

Police operatives engaged the assailants, forcing them to abandon their mission. In the process, two victims were freed and taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment.

“Acting swiftly on distress information, operatives of the command were immediately mobilised to the scene, engaging the criminals and disrupting their operation,” the statement read.

“During the operation, two victims were successfully rescued from the assailants and have been taken to the nearest medical facility,” it added.

The Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, praised the officers for their swift and coordinated response, assuring residents that security efforts in the area have been strengthened.

According to the command, additional personnel have been deployed, while search operations are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.

The police reiterated their commitment to tackling violent crime, vowing to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

Lawal also commended the individual who provided timely information that aided the intervention, encouraging members of the public to continue sharing credible intelligence with security agencies.

Residents have been urged to remain calm but vigilant as efforts continue to maintain security in the area, with further updates to be provided as developments unfold.

Police Foil Ondo Kidnap Attempt, Rescue Two Victims is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

By Golok Nanmwa

Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Naanlong Daniel, has formally declared his intention to seek a second term in office, even as leaders and party officials in his Mikang Local Government Area constituency gave him a resounding marching order to contest.

Daniel made the declaration during a consultative meeting with members of the Mikang Legislative Arm and All Progressives Congress (APC) officials in the area.

Addressing the stakeholders, the Speaker described grassroots leaders as the “pillar and structure” of democratic governance, stressing that their experience and deep understanding of local dynamics are critical for sustainable development.

He expressed gratitude to God for the prevailing unity within the APC in Mikang, describing it as vital for political stability and progress in the area.

The Speaker said the consultation was to seek the support, prayers, and understanding of the legislators and party leadership, whose roles he described as indispensable in shaping the future of the local government.

Highlighting the importance of experience in governance, Daniel noted that his journey, including his time as Majority Leader, had been marked by loyalty and sincerity, which had prepared him adequately for the speakership.

He pointed out that the new harmonised Standing Rules across state houses of assembly in the federation now ensure that only returning members preside over legislative leadership, underscoring the need for continuity and institutional knowledge.

Lamenting that Mikang had lagged in development for years, the Speaker stressed that progress must be deliberate, conscious, and driven by visionary leadership.

“I remain a leader for the entire Local Government, not for any particular tribe or group,” he affirmed, while urging councillors and party officials to embrace purposeful leadership anchored on a clear vision for the people.

Daniel clarified that his re-election bid was not aimed at blocking anyone’s ambition but to consolidate existing gains and accelerate development across Mikang, which he said stands at a crossroads.

The Speaker assured his constituents of tangible dividends, disclosing that fertilisers would soon be distributed to farmers through councillors and party chairmen as points of contact.

He added that plans are underway to drill over 25 boreholes across the four districts of the local government.

On infrastructure, Daniel revealed that the Lifidi-Piapung to Baltep and Lalin to Garkawa road projects, facilitated through his office with the support of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, have been awarded and construction is ongoing.

He said the roads, when completed, would boost economic activities in the area.

The Speaker called for inclusive and friendly politics, warning against divisive tendencies, and reiterated his commitment to work with all stakeholders for the collective good of Mikang.

“I am a leader for everybody. I am here to seek your prayers, support, and cooperation so that together, we can move Mikang to greater heights and transform it into a tourist haven,” he declared.

In their responses, the Leader of the Mikang Legislative Arm, Hon. Putdet Shepshal, commended Daniel for his consistent and purposeful leadership, including interventions such as paying WAEC and NECO examination fees, JAMB registration, and scholarships for students across tertiary institutions.

Shepshal noted that the council had backed the Speaker even during their time in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and would continue to support him.

Similarly, APC Chairman in Mikang, Peleng Caleb, and the Chairman of Ward Chairmen, Hon. Sati Yongpian, described the Speaker as a “miracle child” and a unifying figure.

They collectively endorsed his re-election bid, assuring him of their full support.

The post Plateau Speaker declares bid for re-election appeared first on Vanguard News.

At least, 24 people have been killed in a brutal attack on Debe community in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State, triggering outrage from Amnesty International, which has called for immediate and impartial investigation.

The attack which occurred on the evening of April 5, 2026, coinciding with Easter Sunday, left scores dead and many others displaced, according to accounts gathered from residents who fled the violence.

Witnesses described the attack as indiscriminate and extremely violent.

One resident, speaking to Amnesty International, said: “The killers were on rampage. During the attack they killed Muslims, Christians and followers of traditional religion. They killed every human being they came across.”

In addition to the killings, widespread destruction was recorded across the community. Several homes were razed, leaving families without shelter, while a Catholic Church, identified as an outstation of Sacred Heart Parish Shafa, was completely destroyed.

Local traders were also affected, with at least 14 shops set ablaze, wiping out goods and livelihoods in the already vulnerable rural settlement.

The violence forced many residents to flee to neighbouring communities, creating a fresh wave of displacement in the area.

Responding to the incident, Amnesty International condemned the killings and urged Nigerian authorities to act swiftly.

The organisation called for a “prompt, thorough and impartial investigation” to ensure that perpetrators are identified and prosecuted.

It also stressed the need for immediate protection for survivors and humanitarian assistance for those displaced, noting that affected families require urgent support to rebuild their lives.

Authorities in Kebbi State are yet to issue a detailed official statement on the attack when this report was filed.

Gunmen kill 24 in Kebbi community as Amnesty demands urgent probe

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has accused Al Jazeera journalist, Mehdi Hasan of engaging in what he described as opposition-style journalism during a recent interview.

Bwala made the claim while speaking on News Central’s programme, 60 Minutes with Mr Kay, aired on Friday, where he reviewed his interview with Hasan.

According to him, the journalist’s approach was not neutral but aimed at challenging and discrediting the government.

“What Mehdi Hasan did was what we call opposition-style journalism, where you play the role of the opposition,” Bwala said.

He alleged that the interview was designed to extract statements that could be used against the administration.

“In that interview, Mehdi sought to elicit information from me to discredit the government, but he could not,” he added.

Bwala explained that a large part of the interview focused on his past political criticisms of President Bola Tinubu, which he acknowledged but said were not relevant to the main discussion.

“In the first 15 minutes, he kept asking about things I said when I was in the opposition. I admitted them, but I asked that we move on to the purpose of the interview,” he said.

He further claimed that the repeated focus on his past statements affected the flow of the discussion.

“He continued on that line, and at a point I warned him that if he kept going that way, I would deny it. He still continued, and that was why I reacted that way,” Bwala stated.

The presidential aide maintained that despite the tense exchange, he handled the interview properly and remained focused on defending the government’s position.

It was an opposition-style journalism – Bwala drops new comment on Al Jazeera interview

The Nigerian Navy officer involved in the unprofessional conduct during the official visit of President Bola Tinubu to Bayelsa State on Friday, will be facing a court-martial on Monday, THE WHISTLER has learnt.

This incident exposed a breakdown in discipline among security personnel assigned to the presidential convoy.

The officer, who was driving a Naval Police van as part of the president’s escort team, became involved in a confrontation that escalated into a public altercation.

The incident, captured in a widely circulated 53-second video, showed security operatives abandoning protocol and engaging in disorderly conduct in full view of civilians.

Footage of the incident showed the driver of a “Naval Police” Hilux vehicle stepping out of his truck to exchange heated words with personnel from the army who were also part of the convoy.

The confrontation intensified after the officer returned to his seat, when a soldier armed with a rifle approached the vehicle and threw a sudden punch at him, turning the verbal dispute into a physical assault.

The situation escalated rapidly as personnel from both the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy joined the altercation, trading blows and creating a chaotic scene that drew the attention of onlookers.

The public display of infighting among armed operatives during a high-profile state visit had triggered widespread criticism and raised concerns over inter-agency coordination and professionalism within Nigeria’s security architecture.

Reacting to the incident in a post via his X handle on Saturday, the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abi Folorunso, confirmed that those involved have been taken into custody and are undergoing disciplinary procedures.

“The affected personnel are in custody and already undergoing appropriate administrative and disciplinary procedures in accordance with extant military regulations,” he wrote.

However, further findings by THE WHISTLER indicate that the naval officer is currently being held at the Nigerian Navy Ship Soroh in Yenagoa, where he remains in custody pending further action.

A senior officer familiar with the development confirmed that the arrest followed a directive issued by the Commanding Officer, with initial documentation of the case scheduled through the Officer of the Day (OOD).

The officer said, “The individual is currently detained at the guardroom of NNS Soroh, with both hands and legs in handcuffs. On the directive of the Commanding Officer, he is to be presented before the Officer of the Day (OOD) tonight for preliminary documentation of the case.

“He will also appear before the Commanding Officer again on Monday between 9:00am and 10:00am.

“He is expected to face a court-martial on six charges, underscoring the gravity of the offence.

“The matter is currently under formal military disciplinary process, with further action to follow.”

Bayelsa Convoy Brawl: Military Personnel To Face Court-Martial Monday is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s resolve to decisively defeat all security threats confronting the nation.

Shaibu gave the assurance during an operational visit to Yobe, where he conducted a battlefield assessment and boosted troop morale.

This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, on Friday.

The COAS said the army remained steadfast in spite of recent attacks on troop positions, noting that ongoing operational adjustments were already yielding results.

“The Nigerian Army will remain aggressive and adaptive in responding to evolving threats across various theatres of operation,” he said.

Shaibu urged continued support from citizens and state governments, stressing that collaboration remained critical to achieving lasting peace.

He commended the government and people of Yobe for their sustained support to troops engaged in counter-insurgency.

During the visit, Shaibu was received by Gov. Mai Buni, represented by Deputy Governor Idi Gubana, at the Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport, Damaturu.

At Headquarters, Sector 2, Operation Hadin Kai, Damaturu, the COAS charged troops to remain resolute and intensify operations against terrorists.

He urged them to honour fallen comrades through renewed commitment to duty and sustained offensive actions.

In his remarks, Governor Buni commended the army’s resilience and sacrifices in restoring peace to affected areas.

He offered prayers for fallen soldiers, describing them as heroes who paid the ultimate price in defence of the nation.

Meanwhile, Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno, accompanied by Sen. Ali Ndume, paid a condolence visit to the army over recent personnel losses in the North-East.

Zulum pledged to evolve additional strategies to support security agencies in tackling emerging threats in the region. (NAN)

The post COAS vows decisive action against security threats appeared first on Vanguard News.