United Nations Joins Nigeria In Commemorating Armed Forces Remembrance Day In New York

United Nations joins Nigeria in commemorating Armed Forces Remembrance Day in New York. The United Nations and members of the diplomatic corps on Thursday joined Nigeria to pay tribute to fallen heroes at the Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

The United Nations and members of the diplomatic corps on Thursday joined Nigeria to pay tribute to fallen heroes at the Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

The UN deputy secretary-general, Amina Mohammed, at the commemoration held at the Nigerian House in New York, commended Nigeria for its leadership role in Africa and globally.

Ms Mohammed said Nigeria remained one of the largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping operations.

She noted that for decades, Nigerian soldiers had served under the UN flag in some of the world’s most dangerous theatres and as force commanders leading complex peacekeeping missions.

According to her, Nigerian troops are widely recognised for their integrity, respect for the UN mandate, and strong commitment to protecting civilians.

She said the record of Nigerian peacekeepers demonstrated the country’s commitment to peace through action, often far from home.

The UN deputy secretary-general also commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing ambassadors to Nigerian missions abroad.

United Nations

Ms Mohammed said that since joining the United Nations in 1960, Nigeria had consistently demonstrated its commitment to peace beyond its borders. She stressed that the commitment was not only to Nigeria’s own security, but also to its neighbours and the wider world.

In his tribute, Nigeria’s defence adviser to the UN, Edward Koleoso, said the fallen soldiers stood firm when others wavered and “placed the survival of our Republic above their own lives”.

He acknowledged that society owes the fallen heroes a debt that can never be fully repaid.

Chargé d’affaires at the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN, Syndoph Endoni, praised the dedication and professionalism of the men and women of the Armed Forces.

Immigration Service (NIS) Updates Passport Tracking System Amid Public Outcry Over Delay

Immigration Service (NIS) updates passport tracking system amid public outcry over delay. The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced the rollout of an enhanced passport tracking feature.

The update posted by the Service on X on Thursday followed rising public clamour over delays in passport issuance and collection.

According to the Service, it had observed that hundreds of passports produced had remained uncollected, leading to increasing complaints from applicants. The updated system introduces a new status—“PRODUCED (PASSPORT PRODUCED, READY FOR COLLECTION)”—to the existing passport tracker.

The feature is intended to give applicants clearer visibility on when their passports are ready for pickup or courier delivery, thereby reducing uncertainty around processing timelines.

The development followed weeks of heightened criticisms from passport applicants, including prominent Nigerians, who have taken to social media to express frustration with the process.

Immigration Service

Public outcry on X had seen users report delays stretching into several months, as well as allegations of deliberate bottlenecks within the system.

However, the Service said the new tracker status would help applicants distinguish between production delays and passports that are ready but yet to be retrieved.

“This update enhances the existing tracking system, and helps applicants stay informed about timelines for passports produced and awaiting collection (for physical collection) or produced but not delivered (for courier delivery),” the Service stated.

Venezuela’s Acting President Rodriguez To Releases More Prisoners After Phone Call With President Trump

Venezuela’s acting President Rodriguez to releases more prisoners after phone call with President Trump. Venezuela’s acting President, Delcy Rodriguez, has pledged to continue the release of detainees held under the administration of ousted President Nicolas Maduro, describing her first phone call with United States President Donald Trump as “long, productive and courteous.”

Rodriguez said on Wednesday that the discussion focused on a bilateral agenda aimed at benefiting both countries, adding that the process of freeing detainees “has not yet concluded” as Venezuela enters what she called a “new political moment.”

“This opportunity is for Venezuela and for the people of Venezuela to be able to see reflected a new moment where coexistence, where living together, where recognition of the other allows building and erecting a new spirituality,” she said.

Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, said the call covered oil, minerals, trade and national security, describing a potential US–Venezuela partnership as “spectacular.”

“I think we’re getting along very well with Venezuela,” Trump said at the White House, praising Rodriguez as a “terrific person” and noting that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had also been in contact with her.

Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez

Trump’s comments come weeks after President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores were arrested by US forces during an attack on Caracas on January 3 and are currently being held in the United States.

The US president said last week that a second wave of attacks on Venezuela had been cancelled amid “cooperation” from leaders in Caracas, including the release of a large number of prisoners as a sign of “seeking peace” with Washington.

Rodriguez, flanked by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, also pledged “strict” enforcement of the law while crediting Maduro with initiating the release of detainees.

“Messages of hatred, intolerance, acts of violence will not be permitted,” she said.