Nigeria Sign Agreements With UK On Migration, Business Visas, Border Security

Mr Tunji-Ojo acknowledged that Nigeria had an existing, commendable working relationship with the UK Home Office.

Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (Chairman, House Committee for Niger Delta Development Commission)
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo
The federal government of Nigeria and the United Kingdom have signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The agreements cover a migration partnership, cooperation on organised immigration crime and border security, and a statement of intent to expand business visas for UK companies operating in Nigeria.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, signed two of the MoUs on Wednesday and the third on Thursday on behalf of the federal government in the UK, according to a statement by his media aide, Babatunde Alao.

Mr Tunji-Ojo said the agreements reflected Nigeria’s commitment to a migration framework that is transparent and aligned with national interests and international obligations.

The minister said the partnership underscored a shared determination to build a migration system that is safe, orderly and mutually beneficial.

He added that the focus over the next year would be on achieving measurable progress and effective implementation, expressing hope that the agreements would serve as a model for future bilateral cooperation.

Mr Tunji-Ojo acknowledged that Nigeria had an existing, commendable working relationship with the UK Home Office.

“This relationship with the UK means a lot to us, and you can see the level of commitment that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has put in,” Mr Tunji-Ojo said.

He reiterated that Nigeria remained steadfast in its duty to protect citizens while ensuring that those who abuse legal pathways or engage in criminality are held accountable.

While signing on the expansion of business visas for UK companies, Mr Tunji-Ojo said that, following Mr Tinubu’s bold reforms, the use of visas serves as a catalyst for socio-economic development in Nigeria.

Mr Tunji-Ojo emphasised that, in building a trillion-dollar economy, Nigeria must cut trade barriers, including those on irregular migration.

The UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said Nigeria will always be categorised as number one in successful bilateral relations.

“We are obviously always having bilateral discussions with other countries; however, you will always be number one because you are the first to have gotten such an extensive agreement, and we really do appreciate it.

“I think we both understand one another, and I think we have a shared vision here for the work that our countries can do together, and I really do appreciate it,” the home secretary said.

During the signing of the third MoU, UK trade envoy Florence Eshalomi stated that the agreement to expand business visas for UK companies would bring clear benefits to both countries.

Ms Eshalomi attributed the heightened partnership as a bold step, vital for economic growth in Nigeria.

The MoU on Migration Partnership establishes a comprehensive framework for promoting safe, orderly, and regulated migration between the two countries, while reaffirming full respect for national laws, international obligations, and human rights.

In addition, the Statement of Intent on Cooperation on Organised Immigration Crime and Border Security establishes a three-year strategic plan between the UK Home Office and Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) to combat criminal networks that profit from irregular migration.

Nigeria Sign Agreements With UK

The MoU on the Expansion of Business Visas for UK Companies Working with Nigeria announces the expansion of the Business Visa Scheme for UK companies seeking to conduct business in Nigeria, mirroring the UK’s existing enhanced processes for trusted Nigerian companies.

The scheme will be open to credible UK-domiciled firms with verified business or investment interests in Nigeria and is designed to facilitate easier mobility for legitimate business travellers between the two countries.

Nigeria’s 4th Place In Global Terror Ranking Confirms Tinubu Failure Says ADC

Nigeria’s 4th place in global terror ranking confirms Tinubu failure, says ADC – Party Proposes National Intelligence Coordination to Fix Failing Security System.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has responded to the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026 report, stating that Nigeria’s ranking as the 4th most terrorism-affected country in the world is clear evidence of the failure of the Bola Tinubu-led government to secure the nation.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party cited data from the report, including a 43 percent rise in attacks and increasing civilian deaths, and said the findings point to a breakdown in governance, not just a security lapse.

To address the crisis, the ADC outlined a three-part strategy focused on improving intelligence coordination, decentralizing policing to bring security closer to communities, and shifting from reactive responses to preventive, intelligence-led security operations.

The full statement read:

Against the deeply troubling backdrop of yet another deadly terrorist attack in Borno State, where dozens of Nigerians have been killed and many more injured, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reviewed the newly released Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026, which delivers a clear and troubling verdict on the state of insecurity in Nigeria today.

Nigeria is now ranked the 4th most terrorism-affected country in the world. That is not an abstract statistic. It is a direct reflection of the failure of the Bola Tinubu-led APC government to secure the country.

At a moment when Nigerians are grieving and communities across the country are living under constant threat, Tinubu, his National Security Adviser, and the Minister of Defence are abroad. The contrast is clear: a country in crisis, and a leadership that is absent.

Nigerians should take note of this moment. It raises a fundamental question about Tinubu and the APC’s priorities. At a time that demands focus, discipline, and urgency, the Tinubu government appears more concerned with pageantry, paparazzi, and propaganda — rather than real performance .

The Global Terrorism Index confirms what Nigerians already know from lived experience. Terror attacks have surged by 43 percent, rising from 120 incidents in 2024 to 171 in 2025. Violence is increasingly concentrated in Borno State, which now accounts for 67 percent of attacks and 72 percent of deaths. Most concerning, civilians now make up 67 percent of those killed. That is a measure of how exposed ordinary Nigerians have become.

The threat to Nigerian families is also evolving. ISWAP is responsible for over half of all attacks and deaths across the country. Boko Haram remains active and deadly. New groups like Lakurawa are emerging, showing that Tinubu’s national security strategy is not containing the insecurity problem but expanding it.

These outcomes point to something deeper than isolated security lapses. They reflect a breakdown in governance. The GTI identifies weak governance, internal instability, and economic hardship as key drivers of terrorism. That is not a political talking point. It is the assessment of an independent international body.

A government that is truly focused on protecting its people would demonstrate coordinated and visible leadership during crises strengthen local security architecture and address the economic and social conditions that fuel recruitment into extremist groups. Instead what Nigerians see is a leadership class that is more preoccupied with political positioning than with the urgent business of governance.

This is why the ADC will take three decisive steps to fix Nigeria’s broken security system and restore safety across the country.

First, we will fix coordination. Nigeria does not lack intelligence, it lacks coordination. Today, agencies operate in silos, warnings are missed, and response is delayed. The ADC will establish a legally mandated national intelligence coordination system, led by a Coordinator of National Intelligence, and a unified Joint Terrorism Task Force. The goal is simple: no more missed signals, no more confusion, no more excuses.

Second, we will bring security closer to the people. Nigeria cannot be policed effectively from Abuja alone. The ADC will implement a decentralized policing system with federal, state, and community layers, each with clear roles and national standards. This will ensure faster response, clearer accountability, and security that reflects the local realities of the 774 local government areas.

ADC, Tinubu

Third, we will shift from reaction to prevention. Today, Nigeria reacts to attacks after lives are lost. The ADC will build an intelligence-driven, preventive security system that is powered by data, early warning systems, and rapid response units in every state.

Our focus will be to stop attacks before they happen, not merely respond after tragedy strikes.

Signed:
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi National Publicity Secretary African Democratic Congress (ADC)

Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed Urges New Permanent Secretaries To Show Integrity

Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed urges new permanent secretaries to show integrity. The Bauchi governor said effective service delivery depended on strong leadership at the top management level.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi has tasked the 17 newly sworn-in permanent secretaries with upholding professionalism, integrity, and efficiency to strengthen the civil service.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday in Bauchi, Mr Mohammed described the appointments as strategic and necessary to fill vacancies created by retirement.

He said effective service delivery depended on strong leadership at the top management level.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to a merit-based system, stressing that the newly appointed officials emerged through rigorous screening processes, including examinations and interviews.

He said the civil service remained a critical driver of government policies, hence, he charged the appointees to serve as a bridge between policy formulation and implementation.

“You are now accounting officers of your respective ministries, departments, and agencies, entrusted with public resources and administrative leadership,” Mr Mohammed said.

He said there was a need for synergy between permanent secretaries, commissioners, and other government officials, adding that cooperation and mutual respect were essential for good governance.

Bala Mohammed

The governor also warned against corrupt practices, insubordination, and abuse of office, stating that his administration would not tolerate any act capable of bringing the government into disrepute.

He further urged the officials to maintain neutrality, remain disciplined, and uphold institutional memory through proper documentation and adherence to established procedures.

Mr Ningi pledged their loyalty and commitment to the administration’s vision, assuring that they would discharge their duties with diligence, integrity, and a strong sense of responsibility.