First Independent Mena Newspaper
A total of 191 Nigerian migrants have been voluntarily repatriated from Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed on Wednesday, April 23. The return operation, carried out from the southern Libyan city of Sebha to Lagos, Nigeria, included 111 women among those brought home. According to a statement issued by the IOM, the operation […]
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has issued a stark warning about the rapid global expansion of Asian cybercrime syndicates, whose scam operations are now reaching as far as Africa, South America, and the Pacific Islands. Originally concentrated in Southeast Asia — particularly Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos — these networks have evolved […]
Nigeria is facing a new and dangerous phase in its battle against terrorism, as the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) begins deploying armed drones in its insurgency campaign. In a recent attack in Borno State in Northeast Nigeria, the group used modified drones carrying locally made grenades, injuring five soldiers and signaling a major […]
US president Donald Trump has unveiled a controversial new tariff policy, imposing sweeping duties on imports from over 180 countries, including 51 African nations. The tariffs, which include a baseline 10% on all imports and higher duties on certain countries, are part of Trump’s strategy to combat what he describes as unfair trade practices that […]
Nigeria is preparing a new law that would make crypto assets legal in the country, ending years of ambiguity and legal void. Under the new law, a crypto asset is defined as “a digital representation of value that can be transferred, digitally traded and used for payment or investment purposes.” The new legislation will end […]
President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Nigeria’s oil-producing Rivers State, suspending the governor, deputy governor, and all state lawmakers amid escalating security concerns and political upheaval. The dramatic intervention follows reports of militant attacks on critical oil infrastructure in the strategically vital region. In a televised national address, Tinubu cited “disturbing […]
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a 5,000-member counterterrorism force in response to the escalating security crisis in the Sahel and wider West Africa. Announced during the 43rd meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja, this force is designed to confront the growing influence of jihadist […]
Chinese state-owned firms are playing a dominant role in port development across Africa, with a presence in 78 ports across 32 countries as builders, financiers, or operators, sparking concerns about China’s long-term geo-strategic aims. According to a new report by the Washington-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies, these Chinese firms are not only builders and […]
A new report by Drone Wars UK has highlighted the alarming rise of military drone strikes across Africa, resulting in nearly 1,000 civilian deaths over the past three years. The report, titled ‘Death on Delivery’, warns that the uncontrolled spread of armed drones, primarily imported from countries like Turkey, China, and Iran, is exacerbating civilian […]
A new report from the African Development Bank (AfDB) underscores Africa’s impressive economic recovery, highlighting the continent’s resilience, growth, and the impact of bold reforms. With a projected GDP growth from 3.2% in 2024 to 4.1% in 2025 and 4.4% in 2026, Africa is now the second-fastest-growing regional economy globally, trailing only Asia. This growth […]