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FG Partners for Better Treatment of Nigerian Travelers
FG Partners for Better Treatment of Nigerian Travelers
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has taken an important stride towards enhancing the security and protection of Nigerian citizens traveling abroad through a partnership with ASFAAR, aims at addressing issues surrounding the integrity of Nigerian data and documents.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, on Tuesday while speaking at the Asfaar Press Launch and Media tour of Visa Processing facilities in Abuja, said Nigerians all over the world are maligned, noting that ASFAAR platform provides additional verification of traveler’s data, including their name, address, and character.
Represented by his Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communication, Alkasim AbdulKadir, he cited an example of a recent case where a Nigerian woman was wrongly tagged with luggage containing harmful substances.
He noted that: “If that person had come through ASFAAR, what it will have done is that it will have vetted her. It will have known her home address, it will understand her character.”
He stressed the importance of the Ministry’s collaboration with ASFAAR, saying it is part of their mandate to offer maximum support for such a platform.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is established to protect the sovereignty of Nigeria as a country where other countries are concerned, and this is one gateway for us to do that.”
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for the protection and well-being of Nigerian citizens abroad, and this partnership is expected to enhance the security and protection of Nigerian travelers.”
Also speaking, a representative of the Ministry of Justice, Barrister Maculey William, said the partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ASFAAR, aims to streamline the process of obtaining visas and enhance the protection of Nigerian citizens abroad.
“We check the laws, what have we encountered in the past years was that Nigerians have had a tough time, but with this partnership, we are working to change that.”
William also explained that the new system will allow Nigerians to access any embassy with ease and resolve cases efficiently as he highlighted the importance of collaboration between the government and ASFAAR.
“The partnership will provide first-class service to Nigerians, and the sharing of revenue will be kept under the federal executive council. How it’s being shared is being kept under the federal executive council, they are fully in charge.”
On his part, the Managing Director and the Chief Executive Officer of Asfaar, Dr. Jamil Hausawi, explained that the partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to ease visa restrictions and challenges faced by Nigerians traveling abroad, particularly to Saudi Arabia.
He said: “We started last November 2024, and one visit in Saudi Arabia due to a lot of complaints of visa restrictions and a lot of challenges Nigerians facing when they are traveling, especially to Saudi, not only for homeland privilege, but even more for work, teaching as a doctor and tourism to the Middle East.”
He further explained that the partnership led to the development of an indigenous digital ecosystem platform that meets international standards, including integration with Nusuk, a platform belonging to the Saudi Arabian government.
Hausawi highlighted the support received from key stakeholders, including the Office of the Vice President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said: “The main objective of this initiative is to make existing name registration the primary tool for any business application, ensuring that applicants are verified as Nigerian citizens responsible for their actions.”
Hausawi emphasized that the platform aims to simplify processes, enhance transparency, and detect potential issues related to government offices or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“This platform is just a solution, a complement to all what we have, all what we need,” Dr. Hausawi explained.
“As far as you are Nigerians, we try to help, we try to make it simple, transparent, and we will be able to detect any issue related to our principal offices, the federal government, or Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” He said.
End
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Cattle Rustlers in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 212 Battalion deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Tuba have arrested three suspected cattle rustlers during an operation in Karnuwa general area of Borno State.
Security sources said the operation followed intelligence provided by a local resident, Malam Muhammadu Ardo, concerning alleged cattle rustling activities within the area.
The troops reportedly mobilised to Karnuwa at about 12:30 p.m. on May 4, 2026, where they apprehended the suspects identified as Mallam Mohammad Abatcha, 28; Mallam Mamman Bukar, 18; and Malam Modu Hassan, 30.
According to the sources, the suspects were intercepted while using a pickup vehicle with registration number WW 806 GZ Delta, allegedly employed in transporting stolen cattle.
The rustled cattle were recovered and immediately handed over to their rightful owners at the scene of the arrest.
Items recovered from the suspects included a bow and arrow, three mobile phones, five national identity cards and the sum of N20,650.
Preliminary investigation reportedly revealed that the suspects admitted to repeatedly stealing and selling rustled cattle to buyers in Maiduguri.
Security sources further disclosed that investigators suspect possible links between the suspects and members of the Islamic State West Africa Province or Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad due to alleged inconsistencies observed in their statements during interrogation.
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Cattle Rustlers in Borno
Troops Discover Illegal Refinery Site, Recover 600 Litres of Stolen Crude in Rivers
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 29 Battalion operating under the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), have uncovered an illegal refining site and recovered about 600 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Security sources said the discovery was made at about 10:00 a.m. on May 12, 2026, during ongoing anti-illegal bunkering operations in the Niger Delta region.
The troops reportedly discovered the illegal refining site around Asa community, where a large cooking pot loaded with stolen crude oil was found stockpiled in sacks.
Military authorities said the recovered products and equipment were handled in accordance with operational directives guiding anti-crude oil theft operations under Operation Delta Safe.
The operation was conducted without any confrontation or security incident.
The Nigerian military has continued to intensify operations against crude oil theft, illegal refining and other forms of economic sabotage across the Niger Delta region.
Troops Discover Illegal Refinery Site, Recover 600 Litres of Stolen Crude in Rivers
Troops, NDLEA Raid Drug Hideout in Katsina, Arrest Suspected Supplier to Terrorists
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Malumfashi at Kafur, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, have raided a suspected drug peddlers’ hideout in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Security sources said the operation was conducted at about 12:30 p.m. on May 12, 2026, at Huguma village following intelligence on illicit drug activities within the area.
During the raid, troops apprehended one suspect identified as a major supplier of illicit drugs and other substances to terrorists and criminal elements operating within Kafur Local Government Area and surrounding communities.
Items recovered during the operation included 146 grams of suspected cannabis and 16.5 grams of a substance identified as Exol-5.
The suspect and the recovered drugs have since been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and necessary legal action.
Troops, NDLEA Raid Drug Hideout in Katsina, Arrest Suspected Supplier to Terrorists
Troops Neutralise Two Terrorists in Night Ambush Operation in Borno
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Cattle Rustlers in Borno
Troops Intercept Vehicle Conveying Illegal Diesel in Bayelsa
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