ALL WE NEED IS ONE MORE STATE FOR SOUTH EAST – OZEKHOME TO REP

ALL WE NEED IS ONE MORE STATE FOR SOUTH EAST – OZEKHOME TO REP Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN) has criticised the House of Representatives for their latest proposal for the creation of 31 additional states. Ozekhome, who is a human rights lawyer, said all the country needs is one additional state for the South-East to equal other geopolitical zones in the country. Ozekhome, who spoke in a statement made available to Sundiata Post on Saturday, flayed the lawmakers for turning a blind eye to the suffering of Nigerians, and focusing on irrelevant issues of creating additional 31 states that are inconsequential to the present economic realities. He argued that the existing states cannot survive on their own as they always run to Abuja for survival, hence, what is the wisdom in creating additional 31? The statement reads: “I am surprised and greatly disturbed to hear that members of the NASS are proposing 31 additional states to the present already behemoth,over bloated and unwieldy 36 state structure that Nigeria operates. I see this needless venture in the midst of more critical national issues as nothing but jesters playing out Baba Sallah’s Al Awada Kerikeri histrionics and buffoonery. “How can they be talking about creating additional 31 states when over 2/3 of the present states are not viable entities existing on life support and merely dependent on the federal centre for monthly oxygenation under section 162 of the 1999 Constitution?P“How can we be talking of going through the stringent provisions of section 8 of the 1999 Constitution for a meaningless exercise that adds no value to a nation gasping for existential breadth? “How can they be talking about creating new states when hunger, starvation, squalor and melancholy envelope inhabitants of the present minion states that literally beg for crumbs from the Abuja master’s table? “All that Nigeria needs now are only two things to correct the inherent injustices in our warped federalist system and move towards growth and development:one additional state in the South East to equal others; and a brand new Constitution that is legitimate, people-driven autochthonous, credible and referendum-compliant to help correct our deep fault-lines and lopsided federation that make some states mere vassals consumers of the national cake without knowing or caring how the cake is baked. “The NASS should immediately drop this provocative,funny and phoney butterflies-chasing and stop insulting our collective intelligence. Their present venture amounts to rubbing hot pepper deep inside Nigerians’ already bruised bodies of gaping sores.”

NIGERIAN BILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN JAILED IN DUBAI

NIGERIAN BILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN JAILED IN DUBAI A Dubai court has sentenced the owner of Rahmaniya Group and Ultimate Oil & Gas, Abdulrahman Bashar to one year in prison for a financial crime involving his dealings with CI Energy Company, an oil and gas firm. The ruling marks the second time in less than five years that Abdulrahman Bashar would be sentenced to jail, the first being a ten-month imprisonment declared against him by a UK court in 2020. According to court documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the UAE court gave the verdict on 30 January 2025 even as Mr Bashar, 48, failed to show up for trial despite being notified. The public prosecution in the UAE charged the businessman for issuing seven cheques with a combined value of 126.45 million dirhams, drawn on an Emirates Islamic Bank account with a mismatch in his signature. The prosecution accused the Nigerian billionaire of issuing the cheques by “deliberately signing and drafting them in a way that prevents their cashing,” consequently asking that Mr Bashar be punished under extant laws. The court, relying on evidence presented to it, including statements by Jamal Awad Nasser Hussein (the agent of CI Energy), duplicates of the cheques and statements of account, noted that the cheques were returned unpaid on presentation at Emirates Islamic Bank because of disparity in Mr Bashar’s signature. “It is established that the crime of issuing a cheque is realised merely by giving the cheque to the beneficiary knowing that there is no balance available for withdrawal,” the court said during the proceeding led by Jugde Hussein Hamdi. “The court sees from the examination of the documents that the incident within the scope of what it has extracted in the aforementioned manner is sufficiently established against the accused to convict him,” it added. It remarked that the defence attempted to question the evidences presented against it as a ploy to convince the court to disregard them, adding that the accused’s denial of the charge was intended to avert punishment. To avoid delay in justice delivery, the court chose to refer a civil case filed by the prosecution for compensation to a competent civil court since the claims require a special investigation. The businessman’s previous recordJustice Butcher of England and Wales High Court, in a verdict issued in February 2020, sentenced Mr Bashar to a jail term of ten months for flouting several orders of the court in a case initiated by Sahara Energy Resources. is “punished,” not “published.” (Here is the hyperlink) “The basis of the sentence was that Mr Bashir had committed continuing breaches of the order of Mr Justice Robin Knowles of 1 August 2019 and of the order of Mr Justice Bryan of 6 September 2019,” Justice Butcher said. The orders required Rahmaniya Oil and Gas to honour the request for supply of 6,400.49 metric tonnes of gas to Sahara Energy Resources or its agent. Instead, Abdulrahman Bashar failed to “allow or procure Rahmaniya Oil and Gas Limited or its servants or agents to allow the release of the said gas oil from the terminal,” according to court documents obtained by PREMIUM TIMES. The court issued a binding indication that the term could be commuted to six months if he abided with the previous court order that he disregarded. Ganduje’s ally fights to repossess multi-billion naira properties seized by Kano governmentRahmaniya was fined £500,000, while Adebowale Aderemi, the manager of the company, was asked to pay a penalty of £10,000. Who is Abdulrahman Bashar?According to information on his company website, Abdulrahman Bashar is chair of Ultimate Oil and Gas DMCC. He is also managing director and chief executive officer of Rahamaniyya Group of Companies, Nigeria. His companies are engaged in the trading, supplying,…

ANOTHER TANKER EXPLOSION IN NIGER, VEHICLES SHOPS RAZED

ANOTHER TANKER EXPLOSION IN NIGER, VEHICLES, SHOPS RAZED A gas tanker explosion in Sabon Wuse, located within the Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, has resulted in significant damage to numerous vehicles, shops, and food supplies, prompting business owners to assess their losses.Naija News understands that the gas explosion occurred at approximately 11 p.m. on Saturday, when a gas tanker was discharging its contents at a local filling station. The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, verified the occurrence in a statement on Sunday, noting that although there were no fatalities, the extent of the destruction was considerable. According to Channels Television, eyewitnesses reported that the blast created shockwaves throughout the community, instilling fear among residents. The ensuing fire rapidly spread, affecting a nearby petrol station and consuming several shops and parked vehicles. A local resident of Sabon Wuse, Musa Aliyu, characterized the incident as horrifying. “The fire was so intense that its flames could be seen from different parts of the town. People ran out of their homes in fear. We thank Allah that no one was injured, but the destruction is huge,” he said. Firefighters reached the location after several hours; however, the blaze had already destroyed significant assets by that time. The site of the gas explosion in Sabon Wuse, Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State. In the aftermath, residents have called on authorities to enforce more stringent safety measures for gas and petrol stations to avert future incidents. This explosion highlights the dangers involved in the management of combustible materials.

PDP STAKEHOLDERS CLASH OVER LEGITIMACY OF BOT

PDP STAKEHOLDERS CLASH OVER LEGITIMACY OF BOT The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened as stakeholders clash over the legitimacy of its Board of Trustees (BoT). While some party members argue that the BoT’s tenure has expired, others insist that its leadership retains the authority to steer the party through turbulent times. Reports indicate that 85 of the 127 BoT members have been absent from recent meetings, raising concerns over the board’s ability to form a quorum and make binding decisions. Critics claim that the Senator Adolphus Wabara-led BoT is acting without constitutional backing, rendering its decisions invalid. The PDP has been grappling with internal discord since the 2023 elections, exacerbated by leadership disputes. The battle over the National Secretary position between Sunday Ude-Okoye and Senator Samuel Anyanwu has further fueled tensions. A recent Appeal Court ruling confirmed Ude-Okoye as National Secretary, but Anyanwu and his supporters continue to challenge the decision. On January 28, a confrontation erupted when Anyanwu’s loyalists forcefully removed Ude-Okoye from a BoT meeting, prompting security intervention. PDP governors, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, have since backed Ude-Okoye, urging the party’s National Working Committee to enforce the court ruling. However, Anyanwu remains defiant, petitioning the police and judiciary to recognize his claim to the position. He argued that the BoT’s endorsement of Ude-Okoye lacks legal standing, as most members’ tenures have expired. PDP Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor also denounced the BoT’s recent actions, insisting that over 70% of its members are either inactive or ineligible. He accused Wabara of exploiting the situation for personal gain. “Over 70 per cent of the current BoT members’ tenures have long expired, and nearly 15 of them are already facing physical health challenges. Therefore, the BoT is not currently properly constituted and does not have the necessary numbers to form a quorum to sit, address, or speak on any issues. “Now, Wabara, knowing that the BoT he presides over is merely a shell in name and lacks substance, is going ahead with all these meetings across the country which seem to aim only for his personal aggrandisement, rather than the betterment of the party. “In the name of God and everything that is worth integrity, they should not refer to themselves as members of the BoT. Their tenures have expired. They are PDP elders,” Osadolor told Punch. In defence, a BoT member, Senator Umar Ibrahim-Tsauri, acknowledged the tenure expiration issue but maintained that the board is acting within the party’s constitution to prevent further instability. He stated that the BoT has instructed state and zonal executives to nominate replacements for expired positions. “It is true that the tenures of some of the BOT members have expired. But due to the sad, unfortunate, and avoidable situation the party is experiencing, the board decided to rely on section 32 (6) of the party’s constitution which gives it the power to regulate its proceedings. “It should be noted that the board has already instructed all state and zonal executive committees to bring their nominations to replace those whose tenure has expired. “The PDP is in a deep challenge caused by an internal crisis. So, it is not a surprise that people continue to bring in something unwarranted, unimportant, and not useful to the progress and stability of the party. “You don’t expect the BoT members to sit down and act illegally with their experiences. All the members have earned a reputation over the years. “How do you expect them to knowingly commit an act that will be regarded as null and void? Remember they are all elder statesmen. In fact, some of them are even Senior Advocates of Nigeria,” Ibrahim-Tsauri said.

THE IGP AND POLICING IN AN ERA OF BITTER DISCONTENT, BY FIDELIS NWANGWU

THE IGP AND POLICING IN AN ERA of BITTER DISCONTENT, BY FIDELIS NWANGWU What are exactly the facts of the matter, in relation to the proper or improper occupation of the office of the IGP by Mr Egbetokun? Presently, we are witnessing a series of social actors and those within the security sector, who are expressing very strong opinions about the desirability or the lack of it, of the continued stay in office of the Inspector-General of Police. Some of their arguments could be emotive, touching on concerns around stagnancy at the hierarchical level of the force, and how this might affect morale of senior level cadres, with ramifications for effective policing. In the politically charged maelstrom that Nigeria has become, issues which ordinarily ought to have been rested by very straightforward points of law, if not common sense, now rather get refracted through different echo chambers – some of which are fouled – and become magnified and many times infused with very negative – if not toxic – energies, to assume shapes and forms that makes them almost unrecognisable from the originating subjects. These then become very serious and volatile issues in the realm of public opinion. We routinely witness many of these issues that become overamplified out of the ordinary in the course of our daily national experience. These could be largely ascribed to a general era of discontent, in which many no longer subscribe to shared perspectives, or a sense of group identity or community, with many things seeming to divide instead of drawing us together. In this context in which divisiveness is so pervasive, many malcontents find ammunition in issues that do not serve their personal or group interests to further drive-in wedges that tears us apart. One issue that has occupied and appears to have taken over the echo chambers for longer than usual and is indicative of our present discontent with government, public institutions and personalities – which might possibly still be a fallout of the bitterness of the last elections – is that of the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police. Presently, we are witnessing a series of social actors and those within the security sector, who are expressing very strong opinions about the desirability or the lack of it, of the continued stay in office of the Inspector-General of Police. Some of their arguments could be emotive, touching on concerns around stagnancy at the hierarchical level of the force, and how this might affect morale of senior level cadres, with ramifications for effective policing. Yet, the fact remains that what is being construed as a major issue – as driven by self-interest – by some at the hierarchical level of policing, also speaks to the critical challenge that the nature of leadership tenure has imposed on the efficacy of Policing. With numerous Police IGPs not spending up to a year in office, this poses severe hinderances to the proper implementation of their different policies and designs to enhance national security. This is what the recent amendment to the Police Act by the National Assembly seems to have taken into consideration by securing a fixed tenure of four years for anyone appointed into the role of IGP. The Echo Chambers Two very significant factors appear to be at play in heating up the polity and causing the degree of noise we are experiencing, in relation to the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). And, as alluded to, these appear driven by parties with various levels of interest, in either seeking for their candidates to be elevated to the post of the IGP, or just in order to create public disaffection for the government of the day. The first pertains to those who are seeking to…

WHO ACTUALLY ARE THE IGBO?, BY DONS EZE

WHO ACTUALLY ARE THE IGBO? BY DONS EZE The election of Senator Azuka-Mbata, an Ikwerre man from Rivers State, as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the controversy it generates, has made us to reproduce a little bit from our recently published book titled “The Igbo, People, History and Worldview”, with regard to Igbo identity. The Igbo, also called Ndigbo (local parlance), Ibos (anglicized), and Eboes (Diaspora Igbo), refer to one of the most resourceful and largest ethnic groups in Africa whose homeland is in south-central and south-eastern Nigeria, but who equally maintain strong presence in other parts of Nigeria, in addition to virtually every corner of the globe. In Jamaica, the Igbo occupy Montego Bay, Maroon Village and St. Anne’s Bay. They are in Haiti, and in.Virginia, the United States of America. These are part of Igbo Diaspora. The Igbo are well-travelled people and they constitute the second largest community in every Nigerian city behind the indigenous population. The main characteristic feature of the Igbo is that majority of them speak the Igbo language, which is divided into numerous regional dialects that are somewhat mutually intelligible within the larger “Igboid” cluster. When we say Igboid, we mean “similar or resemble, having the likeness of, or expressing the basic characteristics of.” Igboid means exhibiting what we know as “typical ‘Igbo’” features. In laymen’s terms, it means “basically sounds ‘Igbo’”, or that it is “recognizable as a type of ‘Igbo’”. It we may ask, is Ikwerre language “recognizable” as a type of the Igbo language? Your guess is as good as mine. The Igbo are resourceful people, hardworking, friendly, hospitable and accommodating. They do not discriminate. They are forward-looking, ingenious, creative, resilient, brave, strong-willed, and willing to take risks. A 19th century former Igbo slave boy, Olaudah Equiano, in his memoir, described the Igbo people of his days as “happy clean people, without unemployment, without prostitution, without drunkards, and without beggars”, while G.T. Basden an Anglican prelate, in his book, “Niger Ibos”, said the “Igbo are very cheery, intelligent, virile, and loveable people with a wonderfully patient persistence to attain any desired goal, a natural astuteness born of necessity together with a loyalty which, though often begotten by fear redirected along the right lines, go far to make them a great nation”. Similarly, pioneer Catholic cleric and evangelist, Bishop Joseph Shanahan, noted that “the Ibo has a child’s winsomeness. He loves fun and banter. If you show him the good side of your character, he will show you the best side of his. The people know a good man when they see one. Their own souls aspire to goodness, and they have not stifled the aspiration. It is my firm conviction that we shall meet great numbers of our Ibos, pagans, and practically all our Catholics, in heaven”. As an ethnic group, the Igbo generally encompass several people of different backgrounds who are united mostly by language, Nri, Aro and slave trade. Language, because majority of the people speak the Igbo language; Nri, because the Nri kingship system was the first in Nigeria; Aro, because the Aro people were the harbingers of the ugly spectacle of European slave trade that took heavy tolls on many Igbo communities. In 1591, the Igbo region of present-day Nigeria was depicted on the Portuguese world map as being inhabited by “some vigorous people whose deep culture celebrated energy, accomplishment, and wisdom”. Before the coming of the Europeans, the Igbo lived in clusters of individual family units that constituted kindreds (umunna). Several of these kindreds formed an Igbo village or town. Every member of an Igbo village was related to each other one way or another, thus constituting a network of beings, such that what affected one equally…

ANOTHER TANKER EXPLOSION IN NIGER, VEHICLES, SHOPS RAZED

ANOTHER TANKER EXPLOSION IN NIGER, VEHICLES, SHOPS RAZED A gas tanker explosion in Sabon Wuse, located within the Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, has resulted in significant damage to numerous vehicles, shops, and food supplies, prompting business owners to assess their losses.Naija News understands that the gas explosion occurred at approximately 11 p.m. on Saturday, when a gas tanker was discharging its contents at a local filling station. The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, verified the occurrence in a statement on Sunday, noting that although there were no fatalities, the extent of the destruction was considerable. According to Channels Television, eyewitnesses reported that the blast created shockwaves throughout the community, instilling fear among residents. The ensuing fire rapidly spread, affecting a nearby petrol station and consuming several shops and parked vehicles. A local resident of Sabon Wuse, Musa Aliyu, characterized the incident as horrifying. “The fire was so intense that its flames could be seen from different parts of the town. People ran out of their homes in fear. We thank Allah that no one was injured, but the destruction is huge,” he said. Firefighters reached the location after several hours; however, the blaze had already destroyed significant assets by that time. The site of the gas explosion in Sabon Wuse, Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State. In the aftermath, residents have called on authorities to enforce more stringent safety measures for gas and petrol stations to avert future incidents. This explosion highlights the dangers involved in the management of combustible materials.

CRACKS IN TINUBU’S DYNASTY AS PRESIDENT LOCKS HORN WITH LAGOS LAWMAKERS, GAC

CRACKS IN TINUBU’S DYNASTY AS PRESIDENT LOCKS HORN WITH LAGOS LAWMAKERS, GAC The removal of the embattled lawmaker, Mudasiru Obasa, as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has created cracks in President Bola Tinubu’s dynasty. Ismaeel Uthman writes There are indications that President Bola Tinubu’s decades-long political dynasty in Lagos is experiencing its first major crisis following the intrigues surrounding the removal of the embattled lawmaker, Mudasiru Obasa, as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Obasa’s removal and the support given to the lawmakers by many Governance Advisory Council members without consulting Tinubu signal an unexpected political move within the All Progressives Congress, a party where the President remains the state and national leader. Previously, it was widely believed that the President approved Obasa’s removal before the state lawmakers took action. However, sources close to Tinubu and familiar with Lagos APC politics revealed that the President was not consulted before the lawmakers took the decision. According to the sources, the President was embarrassed that such a significant political move was executed without his knowledge and was puzzled why many GAC members would support the decision. Obasa was removed as Speaker on January 13 by 36 lawmakers over allegations of misconduct, abuse of office, and financial mismanagement. The Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, was immediately sworn in as the new Speaker, while the Chief Whip, Mojeed Fatai, was elected as the new Deputy Speaker. Obasa, who had been Speaker since 2015 and represents Agege Constituency I, insisted upon his return to Lagos from the United States that he remained the speaker. His removal has since divided the GAC caucus and the APC in Lagos. To assert his authority, President Tinubu, according to sources, directed GAC members to persuade Lagos lawmakers to reinstate Obasa and allow him to resign. Sunday PUNCH gathered that the GAC members held a marathon meeting on Monday at the Governor’s Lodge in Marina, Lagos, where they conveyed the President’s directive to the lawmakers. However, despite apologising to Tinubu at the meeting and reaffirming their loyalty to the President, the lawmakers reportedly insisted that Obasa would not be reinstated. Of the 39 lawmakers present at the meeting, 37 voted against Obasa’s reinstatement. It was gathered that the members agreed to write a letter of apology to the President explaining why Obasa could not be reinstated. A viral video on social media showed some APC members dancing and singing praises of the new Lagos Assembly Speaker, urging her to continue her speakership. According to sources, six GAC members chosen across the three senatorial districts of the state travelled to Abuja on Wednesday to deliver the lawmakers’ letter to Tinubu. However, for undisclosed reasons, they were unable to meet with the President. Providing insight into the crisis, a prominent APC chieftain with knowledge of the ongoing intrigues described the development as a major political challenge for Tinubu. According to the source, the Lagos progressive family would never remain the same due to the political machinations. He explained that the crisis was driven by three major political factors: the 2027 governorship election, the rivalry between the Justice Forum and Mandate caucuses within the APC, and the ambitions of Lagos indigenes to dominate the state’s political structure. Sunday PUNCH learned that Obasa belonged to the Mandate group, while many of the lawmakers and GAC members were affiliated with the Justice Forum. The APC chieftain stated that many GAC members, particularly Lagos indigenes, initiated Obasa’s removal to stifle his governorship ambition. He also noted that the power struggle between the Mandate group and the Justice Forum over the control of the party’s structure ahead of the 2027 elections played a significant role in Obasa’s ouster. “The President is not happy that the lawmakers…

GUNMEN KIDNAP OHANAEZE YOUTH COUNCIL PRESIDENT IGBOAYAKA IN IMO

GUNMEN KIDNAP OHANAEZE YOUTH COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IGBOAYAKA IN IMO A yet-to-be-identified group of gunmen, dressed in black and numbering up to seven, have abducted the President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, in Imo State. Chilos Godsent, President of the Igbo National Council (INC), disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday morning, February 9, 2025. According to Godsent, Igboayaka was whisked away at Works Layout, Owerri, Imo State, to an unknown location by the gunmen. The assailants, who used a Sienna and a Lexus SUV, carried out the abduction at around 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2025. He stated that Igboayaka’s family is still in shock over the incident. Godsent urged the Nigeria Police Force, Imo State Command, to take immediate action to rescue Igboayaka and bring the perpetrators to justice. “The Igbo National Council (INC) wishes to call on the leadership of the Nigerian Police Force, Imo State Command, to immediately swing into action to determine the identity of the gunmen who forcefully took the President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, captive on the evening of Saturday, February 8, 2025, in Owerri Metropolis, and to make the findings public,” the statement partly reads. The Imo Police Command has yet to react to the development as of the time of filing this report.

US VISA DROP BOX NO LONGER AVAILABLE IN NIGERIA

US VISA DROP BOX NO LONGER AVAILABLE IN NIGERIA The drop box visa processing option is no longer available for US visa applicants in Nigeria, marking a significant shift in the visa renewal process. Sources confirm that the service, which previously allowed eligible applicants to renew their visas without an in-person interview, has been quietly removed from the appointment booking system. While the US Embassy in Nigeria has yet to issue an official statement on the change, applicants attempting to schedule visa renewals have reported that the drop box feature is no longer an option on the appointment booking platform. Applicants who spok stated that they have not been able to access the platform suggesting that it may have been removed. However, sources confirm the feature may have been removed as a slew of executive orders from Donald Trump started to impact the world. This development is coming amid a backlog of visa applications, with many applicants waiting months to secure drop box appointments before this removal. Some even reported waiting nearly a year to get a physical appointment, adding to the frustration of an already tedious process. This change comes at a time when many applicants had already been struggling with long wait times—some as long as a year—to secure an in-person visa appointment. As of January, dropbox appointment slots were unavailable in Lagos, pushing many applicants to seek alternatives in Abuja. Now, with the complete removal of the drop box feature, all applicants will have to go through in-person interviews, returning to the process that was in place before 2020. What you should know The drop box (Interview Waiver) program in Nigeria was initially introduced to ease the visa renewal process by allowing certain applicants to submit their documents without attending an in-person interview at the US Embassy or Consulate. To qualify, applicants had to meet specific criteria, including: Having a prior US visa that expired within the last 24 months. The previous visa must have been issued in Nigeria as a full-validity, multiple-entry visa.Applying for the same visa classification as the prior approved visa. No record of overstaying, working without authorization, or having criminal convictions in the US. In August 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Department of State expanded eligibility, allowing those whose visas expired within 48 months to apply through the drop box system. This measure aimed to streamline visa renewals and reduce in-person interactions amid pandemic restrictions. However, the drop box service in Nigeria has faced previous suspensions. In 2018, during Donald Trump’s first administration, the US government removed the option, citing concerns over visa overstays by Nigerian travellers. At the time, the US mission mandated in-person interviews for all applicants, leading to longer processing times and delays in securing visa appointments. With the recent removal of the drop box feature, Nigerians applying for US visas will now revert to full in-person interviews, adding to the already extended wait times for visa appointments. This policy shift may significantly impact business travelers, students, and frequent visitors who previously relied on the drop box system for faster renewals.