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Why We Cannot Evacuate Nigerians In Iran – FG.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has explained why the Federal Government has not evacuated Nigerians in Iran amid ongoing tensions with the United States and Israel.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In an interview with Vanguard, NiDCOM’s Director of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said the government has not received any distress calls from Nigerians living in Iran.
“I’m not saying there are no Nigerians there; I’m only saying nobody has sent a distress call,” he clarified, adding that while some Nigerians may be in the country, none have officially reached out to the commission for help.
Balogun explained that flight cancellations to the region are due to the conflict, noting that no airline will operate in an active war zone. “You cannot fly where bombs are going up and down. No airline will fly,” he said, emphasizing that the situation affects all nationals, not just Nigerians.
He added that evacuations could only occur if a temporary ceasefire allows stranded travelers at airports to be moved, which has not happened.
When asked about the number of Nigerians affected, Balogun stated that NiDCOM does not have such data and advised contacting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “We don’t have embassies there. The only authority over embassies is the Minister of Foreign Affairs,” he said.
Regarding coordination with airlines or foreign authorities to prevent Nigerians from being stranded, he said such collaboration is currently impossible. “All flights are suspended. We cannot collaborate with anybody,” he noted, adding that Nigeria has no national airline currently operating international routes.
Balogun explained that Nigerians traveling to Iran usually do so privately, often connecting via countries like the United Arab Emirates or Greece.
On activating a full evacuation plan, he stressed that certain conditions must be met. Affected Nigerians must formally request assistance and be willing to return home. “You cannot force them; people went there voluntarily. In Sudan and Ukraine, some initially said they were not leaving. People must seek help and say, ‘our lives are in danger, can you evacuate us?’”
Once such a request is received and conditions allow, the government can arrange emergency measures, including chartering aircraft and establishing a rescue committee. “They must be Nigerians and be ready to come back home,” he concluded.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that it is yet to receive the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court judgment concerning the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The electoral commission stated that it would not take any decision based on information circulating on social media, stressing that its actions must be guided by verified legal documents rather than unconfirmed reports.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made the position known on Monday while responding to media enquiries about the political future of the ADC and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 general election.
The clarification follows a court ruling that affected the leadership of the party under former Senate President David Mark, raising questions about the validity of its leadership structure and Atiku’s presidential candidacy.
Speaking on the matter, Amupitan maintained that the commission had not received the official copy of the judgment and would therefore not act on information obtained from social media.
He said INEC would only take a position after receiving and examining the authenticated court documents.
Recall that the Federal High Court in Abuja had nullified the leadership of the ADC faction led by David Mark and invalidated decisions taken by its caretaker committee, including Atiku Abubakar’s nomination as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
In the judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu declared the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal and ruled in favour of Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s former National Deputy Chairman (North-East).
Gombe had approached the court to challenge the process through which the committee led by Mark assumed control of the party.
He argued that following the resignation of the former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership.
The former deputy chairman subsequently asked the court to invalidate decisions and actions taken by the Mark-led leadership on behalf of the party.
The court’s decision came barely 24 hours after Atiku held a campaign rally in Sokoto State as part of his activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to visit Jigawa State on Tuesday for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally and the commissioning of four major development projects.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The state government has declared Tuesday a work-free day to enable residents to participate in the scheduled activities.
Governor Umar Namadi announced the presidential visit on Monday, describing it as Tinubu’s first official visit to Jigawa since assuming office in May 2023.
Speaking with journalists in Dutse after inspecting the projects and the venue for the campaign rally, Namadi expressed satisfaction with the level of preparations ahead of the President’s arrival.
He said the inspection covered all the locations where the projects would be commissioned, as well as the rally venue, adding that Jigawa was fully prepared to receive Tinubu.
The governor, however, disclosed that government officials and representatives of the Presidency were still making some adjustments based on observations during the inspection.
According to Namadi, the President is expected to inaugurate the Renewed Hope Technical Services Centre, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Multipurpose Skills Acquisition Centre, the state’s agricultural mechanisation programme and a dualised road in Dutse.
He explained that the agricultural mechanisation initiative comprises 400 tractors, 60 combine harvesters, 150 boom sprayers and 150 seeders, alongside other equipment aimed at improving agricultural productivity across the state.
Namadi noted that although several other projects had been completed in the state, only four located within Dutse metropolis were selected for inauguration because of the President’s limited time.
He explained that the selected projects were relatively close to one another, making it easier for Tinubu to commission them within his available schedule.
The governor also assured residents that adequate security arrangements had been made ahead of the visit.
He disclosed that he had held meetings with security chiefs and members of the state security committee to review and strengthen security measures for the President’s visit.
Namadi subsequently appealed to residents to come out in large numbers to welcome Tinubu and participate in the scheduled APC campaign rally.
The Federal High Court has announced that its 2026 Christmas vacation will begin on Monday, December 21, and end on Tuesday, January 5, 2027.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The court is expected to resume regular sittings on Wednesday, January 6, 2027.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Information of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Dr Catherine Oby Christopher.
According to the statement, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, approved the vacation arrangement and the appointment of judges who will handle cases during the period.
Christopher explained that only designated judicial divisions would remain operational throughout the vacation to provide essential judicial services.
She added that the vacation judges would handle only matters involving the enforcement of fundamental human rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other issues of urgent national importance, including the trial of pre-election cases.
The statement read:
“Pursuant to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil) Procedure Rules, 2019, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, KSS, OFR, FCIArb. (UK), has approved the Christmas Vacation of the Court for the year 2026 and the roster of Judges designated to sit during the vacation period.
“The Christmas Vacation shall commence on Monday, 21st December 2026, and end on Tuesday, 5th January, 2027.
“Regular court sittings shall resume on Wednesday, 6th January 2027.
“During the vacation period, only the designated Judicial Divisions shall remain operational to provide judicial services to the litigating public.
“It is important to note that, during the vacation period, the Vacation Judges shall entertain only matters relating to the enforcement of fundamental rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other matters of urgent national importance such as trial of pre-election cases.”
Full List Of Federal High Court Vacation Judges
The judges designated to handle cases during the Christmas vacation are as follows:
Abuja Judicial Division
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Justice I. E. Ekwo
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Justice O. A. Egwuatu
Lagos Judicial Division
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Justice Akintayo Aluko
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Justice Ogazi F. Nkemakonam
Port Harcourt Judicial Division
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Justice P. M. Ayua
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Justice A. T. Mohammed
Enugu Judicial Division
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Justice F. O. G. Ogunbanjo
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Justice M. T. Segun-Bello
The statement added that the Chief Judge extended Christmas and New Year greetings to all judges and members of the court.
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