• Visa Denial Denied: South Africa’s Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, stated that immigration authorities have no record of a visa application or rejection for Nigerian singer Ayra Starr or her team, urging critics to provide names and reference numbers to verify the claims.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Background on 2024 Cancellation: The visa controversy stems from February 2024, when concert organisers Steyn Entertainment announced that Ayra Starr and her entourage were denied visas ahead of scheduled performances in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

  • Calls for Reciprocity: The reports prompted prominent Nigerian figures, such as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, to suggest applying reciprocal visa measures against South African artists.

  • Tyla Drops Lagos Tour Date: Amid heavy social media backlash, online petitions, and tensions regarding xenophobic attacks and the killing of a Nigerian in South Africa, Grammy-winning singer Tyla quietly removed her planned December 22 Lagos concert from her world tour website.

  • Diplomatic Relations Maintained: While the South African mission has received no formal notification regarding Tyla’s tour changes, Moroe emphasized that diplomatic ties between Nigeria and South Africa remain strong and cooperative.

• Inmate on Death Row: Elijah Oyebode, sentenced to death by hanging in 2019 for the murder of university student Rofiat Adebisi, has allegedly operated multiple TikTok accounts from the Ibara Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Social Media Activities: Operating under handles such as @ayola.oluwafu, Oyebode actively participated in livestreams, collected donations, placed online bets, and reached Level 20 gifting status while interacting with users unaware of his status.

  • Impersonation Concern: He also set up a secondary account impersonating activist and TikTok host Omolola Awoyele, using her name and photograph before later removing them following a confrontation.

  • Staff Complicity Allegations: Oyebode claimed that corruption runs deep within the facility, alleging that correctional officers smuggle in prohibited smartphones, facilitate drug trades, and even escort wealthy inmates outside to supervise personal construction projects.

  • Official Response: The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), through spokesperson Jane Osuji, acknowledged the potential presence of compromised staff and warned that unmonitored digital access poses a major national security risk, noting that over 1,400 officers have faced disciplinary actions for various misconducts.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced the passing of Corps Commander Franklin Agbakoba, its Enugu State Sector Commander.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to a statement released on Friday by Deputy Corps Commander in charge of Operations Kyrian Okolo, Agbakoba passed away on Thursday, July 30, while undergoing treatment at the Niger Foundation Hospital in Enugu. His remains have since been moved to the Eastern Medical Centre in Enugu.

While the statement did not disclose the specific cause or details surrounding his death, the FRSC paid tribute to his impactful tenure. Agbakoba was widely recognized for fostering strong collaborations among local security and emergency response agencies, as well as advancing vital road safety campaigns and partnerships throughout Enugu State.