IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it will roll out the contactless passport application system in Europe, the United Kingdom, and Ireland on Friday. This is according to a statement from the NIS issued on Wednesday by its spokesman AS Akinlabi.

“This initiative set for launch on 7th of February 2025 will enable Nigerians in the Diaspora to apply for and renew their passports online from the comfort of their homes,” the NIS Comptroller General Kemi Nanna Nandap said when she paid a courtesy call on the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa in Abuja.

Akinlabi said the move followed “the roll-out of the contactless passport application system in Canada on 5th November 2024”. “For emphasis, the Contactless Passport Application which is currently available on Google Play Store (NIS mobile), is designed to allow Nigerians to renew their passports without visiting any Passport Centre for biometric enrollment,” the NIS said.

“The Service reiterates its commitment to innovative and efficient service delivery to Nigerians anywhere in the world.” “The launch of the contactless passport application solution in Europe is a significant step towards efficient, secure, and convenient travel document management for Nigerians in the diaspora,” Dabiri-Erewa said.

“NiDCOM will continue to support, monitor, and collaborate with the NIS to ensure the success of this initiative” 

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday seeking to ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports, in his latest move targeting transgender people since returning to office. “From now on women’s sports will be only for women,” Trump said before he signed the order at the White House, surrounded by dozens of children and female athletes. 

“With this executive order the war on women’s sports is over.” Top Republicans including US House Speaker Mike Johnson and firebrand Congresswoman Marjorie Green were among those in the audience to watch the signing ceremony. “We will defend the proud tradition of female athletes, and we will not allow men to beat up, injure and cheat our women and our girls,” Trump added to applause and cheers.

Trump’s order allows US government agencies to deny funds to schools that allow transgender athletes to compete on women’s teams. “If you let men take over women’s sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated… and risk your federal funding,” Trump said. Trump said he would now push the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to change its rules on transgender athletes before the 2028 Los Angeles games.

He said he had ordered Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “make it clear” to the IOC that “we want them to change everything having to do with the Olympics and having to do with this absolutely ridiculous subject.” Trump added that he had directed Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem to deny visa applications to “made by men attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while identifying themselves as women athletes to try and get into the Games.”

Republican Trump has repeatedly targeted gender non-conforming people in a blitz of orders pushing his radical right-wing agenda at the start of his second term. 

South Korean ministries and police announced on Thursday that they have blocked access to DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, after the company failed to respond to inquiries from South Korea’s data watchdog regarding its user data management practices.

DeepSeek, which launched its R1 chatbot last month, claims to rival leading U.S. AI models at a fraction of the investment cost. However, South Korea, along with France and Italy, has sought clarification on how the company handles user information.

Following DeepSeek’s lack of response, several government agencies, including the defense ministry, police, and trade ministry, confirmed they have implemented access restrictions to prevent potential security risks. The defense ministry stated that it has blocked DeepSeek on military-related PCs with internet access and reinforced security guidelines for soldiers regarding generative AI use.

Similar restrictions have been placed by the finance, unification, and foreign ministries, with Italy and Australia also taking action against DeepSeek.

Amid the increasing global AI competition between China and the U.S., Beijing criticized the ban, asserting that it does not require companies to illegally collect or store data and accused countries of politicizing economic and technological issues.

Meanwhile, South Korea continues to strengthen its AI and semiconductor industries, announcing a $23.5 billion investment to support high-tech sectors. 

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has assured Nigerians of better days ahead under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Wike, who was in Ibadan to commiserate with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on the loss of his elder brother, asked the citizens to be patient with the President.

According to the minister, Tinubu means well for Nigerians as the policies initiated by the current administration were designed to achieve results. “On the current state of the nation, I would just say that the people should be patient. But this country was something else a few years ago. This country was gone and if we want a remedy, with what Mr President is doing today, we need to be patient. It will take time,” Wike said.

“So, on the policies that Mr President is putting in place, they will have some effects and people will have to feel them but, at the end of the day, we will achieve what we are supposed to achieve. “For me, nobody should panic, because Mr President means well for the country and Nigerians should expect better things.” The minister recalled that the country was at the brink before the current administration came to power.

According to him, the policies introduced by the Tinubu administration were necessitated by the need to change things for the good of the country. Wike was accompanied to the South-Western state by some members of the former G-5 Governors Forum. They included former governors Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

Others are Senators Sandy Onor, Philip Aduda, Olaka Nwogu, Mao Ohuabunwa, and former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Chibudom Nwuche. 

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has suspended the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Samson Osagie.

The Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, announced the suspension in a statement on Thursday.

He said the governor also approved the suspension of the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Damian Lawani. The two top officials were suspended over allegations of “grave official and financial interactions,” the SSG noted. The suspension, which takes immediate effect, is pending the conclusion of an investigation into the allegations.

“It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that Governor Monday Okpebholo has approved the suspension from office of the Chairman of Edo Local Government Service Commission, Damian Lawani and Commissioner for Justice, Samson Osagie, over allegations of grave official and financial infractions.

“The suspension is with immediate effect. Consequently, the governor has ordered the setting up of an Investigative Committee to investigate the allegations levelled against them and make appropriate recommendations accordingly. “The suspension of Osagie and Lawani became necessary to enable the government carry out a thorough investigation into the allegation of financial infractions levelled against them. 

The suspension is pending the conclusion of the investigation,” the statement said. The suspension came less than three months after the two officials were appointed. 

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury which the club believe is set to rule him out for the rest of the season. The 27-year-old was taken off on a stretcher late on during the home defeat by Crystal Palace on Sunday with an issue United boss Ruben Amorim described at the time as a "serious situation".

"Assessment of the injury is ongoing to determine the appropriate course of treatment and the timescale for his rehabilitation," Manchester United said on Thursday. "Everyone at Manchester United wishes Lisandro Martinez strength for a successful recovery and we will be supporting him every step of the way."

Martinez's absence will be a blow for Amorim as he tries to improve the fortunes of the Old Trafford side. United are 13th in the Premier League after the defeat by Palace, which was the club's seventh loss in 13 home games this season. The news comes at a time when there are renewed doubts over the fitness of left-back Luke Shaw, who has not started a game for United in almost 12 months.

"Licha [Martinez] is really important for us, not just as a football player but the character he has, especially in this hard moment," Amorim said after the Palace game. "Now it's time for us to help Licha."