Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

United States President Donald Trump has shaken the global tech industry after signing an executive order that slaps a $100,000 annual fee on companies seeking H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers. The policy, which kicks off on September 21, 2025, is a huge jump from the old fee of about $1,500. The H-1B visa programme is capped at 85,000 slots each year and has long been a lifeline for tech companies and startups hungry for highly skilled talent, especially in fields like software engineering and data science. US Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, defended the move, saying: “Companies need to decide…

President Bola Tinubu has thrown his full weight behind Nigeria’s bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, describing it as an opportunity to bring the global sporting event to Africa for the first time. The President’s commitment was conveyed by Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), during a reception in Abuja for the Commonwealth Sport Bid Evaluation Committee. Dikko said President Tinubu views the Games as more than just a sports event. According to him, it would be a “celebration of Nigeria’s emerging status in sports and a statement of Africa’s inclusivity within the Commonwealth family.” Hon.…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned those pushing for former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election. Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday night, Wike said such campaigns could plunge Nigeria into political crisis. He described the move as “hypocritical,” recalling how many of the same voices abandoned Jonathan during his 2015 re-election bid. “Anybody saying Jonathan should return because he will only do one term is only looking for a crisis,” Wike said. “These are the same people who frustrated him in 2015. Jonathan has made a name globally;…

The Abia State Government says over 3,500 landowners affected by the Abia Airport runway in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North, have received compensation. Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, made the disclosure during a weekend inspection visit with top officials, including Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije, and the Airport Project Coordinator, Pastor Okorougo Aje. Ajagba admitted some community members had not received payment but blamed it on incomplete indemnity certificates and account issues. He assured that Governor Alex Otti’s administration remains committed to fulfilling all agreements. Nsulu Stakeholders Dispute Govt’s Position But the Nsulu Stakeholders…

The people of Cross River woke up to shocking news on Thursday morning as the state Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Morrison Ogbonna, was found dead in his hotel room in Calabar. According to sources, Ogbonna’s officers had gone to pick him up for an official assignment when they noticed he was not responding to knocks on his door. The hotel management was alerted, and upon opening the room, the commander was discovered lifeless. Ogbonna was only transferred to Cross River in August 2025, replacing Mrs. Rachel Umebuali, who was redeployed to another state. His…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has assured Nigerians that peace has returned to Rivers State after months of political turmoil. Wike revealed that he spoke with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who is set to return to the state following President Bola Tinubu’s decision to lift the six-month emergency rule. Tinubu had in March suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy Dr. Ngozi Odu, and the State House of Assembly after a bitter power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike. The crisis threw Rivers politics into uncertainty, forcing the president to intervene directly. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics…

The Rivers State House of Assembly has reconvened following the expiration of the emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu in the state. Lawmakers, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, resumed plenary on Thursday, September 18, with a fresh agenda to restore normal governance after months of political tension. Lawmakers Commend Tinubu, Demand Commissioner List In a motion sponsored by nine members, including House Leader Major Jack, Linda Somiari-Stewart, and Sylvanus Nwankwo, the assembly commended President Tinubu for restoring democratic institutions. The House also urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to forward the names of his commissioner nominees to fill vacant positions in…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially lifted the six-month-long state of emergency in Rivers State, paving the way for Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly to return to office. Tinubu made the announcement in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday night, declaring that “with effect from midnight today, the emergency in Rivers State shall end.” The President explained that the intervention, declared on 18 March 2025, became necessary after bitter political battles between Governor Fubara and the State Assembly stalled governance and threatened peace in the oil-rich state. The Rivers political…

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE internal), just 54 days after the final paper was written. Announcing the results at a press briefing in Minna, Niger State, NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, revealed that 818,492 candidates (60.26%) scored five credits and above, including Mathematics and English. In total, 1,144,496 candidates (84.26%) secured five credits and above, whether or not English and Maths were included. According to NECO, Kano topped the chart with 68,159 candidates who cleared five credits, including English and Maths. Lagos followed closely with 67,007, while Oyo…

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has dragged the Department of State Services (DSS) to court over what he calls “unconstitutional censorship” of his social media accounts. Sowore’s suit, filed through his lawyer Tope Temokun at the Federal High Court in Abuja, came hours after the Federal Government charged him for describing President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in a social media post. In his filing, Sowore asked the court to restrain the DSS from directing global platforms like Meta and X (formerly Twitter) to delete his posts or suspend his accounts. Temokun described the DSS clampdown…