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Meet Nigeria’s Nationalist, Obafemi Awolowo

Rufus Okoro Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909 – 1987) was a Nigerian nationalist, lawyer, statesman, and one of the country’s most influential political leaders. Born Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo on March 6, 1909, in Ikenné, present-day Ogun State, Nigeria. He studied law at the University of London and qualified as a barrister. Awolowo founded the Action Group (AG) political party in 1951. He served as the Premier of the Western Region from 1954 to 1960, later emerged the Leader of the Opposition in Nigeria’s federal parliament. ALSO READ >>> Meet Nigeria’s First President, Nnamdi Azikiwe He served as the Vice-Chairman of the Federal Executive Council and Minister of Finance, during the Nigerian Civil War, 1967–1971. Awolowo introduced free primary education and free healthcare for children in the Western Region, which became a model in Nigeria. He advocated federalism as the best system for Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups. He was widely know...

Nigerians lament over new US' Visa Policy on Nigeria, others

Frank Musa
Nigerians, in their numbers, have continued to lament over the recent single-entry visa policy imposed on the applicants from Nigeria, among other African countries, by the United States' (US') President, Donald Trump.

It could be recalled that a few days ago, the US Government announced sweeping changes to its non-immigrant visa policy for Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and Ethiopia, reducing the duration and increasing the conditions under which most travellers from those countries can enter the US.

The US Department of State disclosed that nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of the four countries would now be single-entry and valid for only three months rather than the usual multiple-entry, five-year validity.

It claimed the measure was part of a "global reciprocity realignment", a sharp shift from previous visa terms, which often allowed for multiple entries within two years or more.

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However, the Nigeria's Government has denied reports that it only offers single-entry e-visas for three months to US citizens, disclosing Nigeria continued to offer five-year multiple-entry visas to US nationals.

The report stated that the US government's claim of reciprocity as the reason for its current visa policy towards Nigeria did not accurately reflect the actual situation.

On the other hand, the US citizens can reportedly get visas of up to a year in Cameroon, and similar duration in Ethiopia, though the authorities in these two countries were yet to comment as at the time of filing this report.

On their part, Ghana's government said the West African nation has issued more than 28,500 multiple entry visas to US citizens in this year alone.

As we count down the days after the announcement of the stringent measure from the Trump's controversial administration, Nigerians - both home and abroad - have continued to express worry over what their fate entails.