A total of 35 individuals, including children, were deported to Nigeria on Wednesday aboard a chartered flight that departed from Dublin Airport to address immigration cases. The operation was carried out by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), comprising twenty-one (21) men, nine (9) women, and five (5) children. According to immigration officials, the children were part of family units and were removed alongside their adult relatives.
Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended the issuance of the block-work visa quota to Nigerians and nationals from Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, and Morocco until the end of June 2025, coinciding with the conclusion of the Hajj season.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has issued a stern warning to airlines, stating that carriers transporting passengers into Nigeria without valid entry visas, landing, and exit cards will face strict penalties. Speaking during a stakeholder sensitisation programme on the e-Visa, landing, and exit card initiative held Friday in Lagos, the Minister underscored the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to border security. Dr. Tunji-Ojo firmly asserted that Nigeria is not a dumping ground, emphasizing that no foreign national should be allowed entry without the proper documentation. While he acknowledged that the newly introduced e-Visa system was designed to streamline access into the country, he reiterated that national security would not be compromised. He called on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to actively enforce its oversight role, urging the agency to ensure full compliance by airlines with Nigeria’s 2025 Visa Policy.
President Bola Tinubu after spending two-weeks working visit to Europe has returned to the country on Monday. The President was received on arrival at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 9.50 p.m. by Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister, and other top government officials of the cabinet office.
The Nigerian Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development says it will launch an e-visa system and digital landing/exit cards to enhance national security from May, 2025. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this on Wednesday while receiving delegation led by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has cautioned international airlines over transportation of passengers halfway to their destinations, only to be deported back to Nigeria. NCAA condemned the practice, stating that it causes considerable distress for passengers and damages the reputation of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
