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Travel Alert Sparks Diplomatic Tension as FG Challenges US Over Security Claims”
The Federal Government on Tuesday criticized the latest travel advisory issued by the United States, which warned its citizens against traveling to Nigeria due to increasing insecurity. The government described the advisory as unjustified and damaging to Nigeria’s global image.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, voiced the government’s displeasure during the annual retreat of the Nigeria Reputation Management Group, organized by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Abuja.
In the advisory posted on the US Mission in Nigeria’s website, American citizens were warned to avoid travel to numerous Nigerian states due to threats of terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime. It further noted that kidnappers often target dual nationals and US citizens perceived to be wealthy, with attacks even occurring on interstate roads.
The warning listed Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and northern Adamawa as no-go areas due to terrorism and kidnapping; while Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara were flagged for kidnapping threats. Similarly, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers (excluding Port Harcourt) were noted for high levels of crime, kidnapping, and gang violence.
In response, Tuggar, represented by his Special Assistant on Media and Communication Strategy, Alkazeem Abdulkadir, condemned the advisory as “unfortunate,” noting that no country, including the United States, can claim perfect security.
He remarked, “There’s a saying that if the lion doesn’t learn to tell its story, the hunter will always be glorified. In 2024 alone, around 47,000 people died from gun violence in the United States, and projections for 2025 stand at 45,000. Yet, we rarely issue travel advisories about America.”
He further explained that Nigeria had previously responded in kind to similar advisories from other countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom. “In the ministry, we call this self-flagellation—Nigerians tend to mock themselves instead of defending their image,” he added.
Tuggar urged communication experts to be more proactive in shaping Nigeria’s global narrative in an increasingly manipulated information space. “Your role is critical—not just in managing reputation but in crafting a national story told with integrity, clarity, and patriotism,” he said.
He emphasized that as Nigeria repositions itself globally under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, public relations must play a more strategic role in promoting unity, attracting investments, fostering bilateral ties, and asserting Nigeria’s voice in global discourse.
Also speaking at the event, PR expert Modupe Adetokunbo decried the worsening perception of Nigeria, linking it to socioeconomic frustration. “When you ask the average Nigerian, ‘How are you?’ the answer has gone from ‘We thank God’ to ‘It is well.’ That’s where you find the ‘japa’ phenomenon, rising anger, capital flight, and institutionalized begging,” he said.
Adetokunbo cited a recent viral video in which foreigners were seen giving money to police officers, calling it a reflection of a wider societal malaise, not just institutional rot in the police force.
Meanwhile, President and Chairman of NIPR Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, called for a deliberate effort to reclaim and amplify Nigeria’s success stories. He stressed that leaving the international media to define Nigeria’s image only reinforces negative stereotypes.
According to Nivo News, the General Overseer of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has declared what he described as divine judgment on bandits and their alleged sponsors responsible for insecurity across parts of Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking on Sunday at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State, during a sermon themed “Covenant Day of Vengeance,” Oyedepo stated that those behind killings, kidnappings, and violent attacks would face divine retribution. He further claimed that within the next seven days, consequences would begin to manifest against those he accused of fueling unrest in the country, assuring worshippers that the coming week would be marked by “testimonies of vengeance.”
He was quoted as saying that judgment had been pronounced on individuals responsible for such acts and their supporters, adding that the outcome he referenced would unfold within a week.
In a related remark during a recent midweek service, Oyedepo also acknowledged the presence of fraudsters within and outside religious spaces, warning that his identity and images were being exploited for fraudulent schemes. He urged members of his congregation to remain vigilant and committed to truth to avoid falling victim to scams involving impersonation.
He recounted a case where an individual allegedly posed as him in an attempt to defraud unsuspecting victims, noting that such incidents highlight the growing sophistication of fraudulent activities.
A political disagreement has emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State following Governor Abdullahi Sule’s reported endorsement of Senator Aliyu Wadada as his preferred successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the move has sparked tension between the governor and his predecessor, Umar Tanko Al-Makura, who faulted the decision, describing it as premature and not properly consulted within party structures.
Al-Makura, a prominent figure in the state’s political landscape, expressed displeasure that he only became aware of the endorsement through media reports. He argued that the decision should have involved wider consultation, warning that such early endorsements could undermine internal party processes.
He further noted that the APC had not begun its formal nomination process, insisting that declaring support for a candidate at this stage was inappropriate and ahead of schedule.
The controversy was further heightened by former Inspector-General of Police, Muhammad Adamu, who is also aspiring for the APC governorship ticket. He rejected the endorsement, stating that no individual has the authority to impose a candidate, and reaffirmed his intention to contest in the party primaries.
In response, Governor Sule, through his media aide, defended the endorsement, stating that it was consistent with political traditions in the state. He referenced past succession arrangements, including Al-Makura’s own endorsement of him, arguing that the current process was in line with established practice but being conducted more transparently.
The governor’s camp clarified that Senator Wadada remains a preferred aspirant and not the party’s official candidate.
Senator Wadada, reacting to the development, called for calm among party members, describing the situation as part of normal political competition. He also downplayed tensions with other aspirants, noting that the contest should be seen as a democratic process.
Meanwhile, support for Adamu continues to grow in parts of Nasarawa South, where youths, women, and stakeholders have openly backed his ambition, alongside broader endorsements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Adamu, however, maintained that he remains firmly in the race, accusing some political actors of inconsistency in the unfolding succession dynamics.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has described as unnecessary the denial issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) regarding an invitation allegedly extended to him for the groundbreaking ceremony of an ecumenical chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the Sultan’s media team maintained that an official invitation was duly sent to His Eminence requesting his attendance as Royal Father of the Day. The statement explained that the event also listed key dignitaries, including the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, as Distinguished Guest of Honour, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu as Mother of the Day.
The Sultan’s office emphasised that his participation in the proposed Christian event would promote interfaith harmony, noting his role as Co-Chairman of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC). It added that globally, religious leaders often engage in events outside their faith traditions as part of efforts to encourage unity and peaceful coexistence.
The response follows an earlier clarification from CAN, which denied issuing any invitation to the Sultan and stated that the document circulating in public was not from the association. CAN further explained that the communication in question originated from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and insisted that it had no involvement in inviting the Sultan to the event.
While acknowledging that the SGF’s office was linked to the invitation process, the Sultan’s media team expressed concern over CAN’s denial, describing it as unnecessary and capable of creating misunderstanding, especially since the Sultan did not request to attend the ceremony.
The statement also urged religious bodies to focus on messages that strengthen unity and promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds.
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