These are the stories you should be monitoring today:

The Federal Government has approved a 10-year validity period for the Nigerian passport to reduce the stress involved in getting a renewal every five years. 

The development was made known by the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammed Babandede, who disclosed in a report monitored on Channels Tv on Thursday, that the approval were part of the reforms by President Buhari to improve the quality and security of the passport booklets.

“Ten years after the enrolment of the e-passport system, we need to improve the security features. You can’t keep documents for 10 years without seeing decreased values in them, so we are improving the security features which would raise the standards of the passports,” the CG explained.

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Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has said that the reconstruction of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway will commence in two weeks.

Osinbajo who disclosed this during a dialogue on Thursday with stakeholders in the company of  Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman, among others, stated that the reconstruction is part of the Federal Government’s plan to find a lasting solution to the gridlock around the axis.

He added that it was also an important residential community that must be allowed to thrive aside the economic implications.

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The Nigeria Police says it has not received any formal complaint about the reported abduction of Senator Dino Melaye.

Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday night, however said the authorities are aware of the media reports and are investigating the incident which reportedly took place on Thursday.

“The Force has commenced investigation into the purported kidnap of Senator Dino Melaye, and wish to implore any of his family members, relatives or friends who witnessed the kidnap or have information about the purported kidnap of the Senator to report the incident at the nearest police station to assist the police in the investigation,” part of the statement added.

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There was heavy security presence at the complex of  the Ekiti House of Assembly on Thursday, following speculations of renewed crisis among the lawmakers who are currently on recess.

State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Caleb Ikechukwu, who spoke to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, confirmed that the deployment of its personnel to the House was based on information the command received about an impending crisis, insisting that the command was only being proactive in the course of maintaining law and order.

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Brother to the late First lady, Stella Obasanjo, John Abebe, was on Thursday remanded in Ikoyi Prison, Lagos over an alleged case of forgery slammed against him by the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Abebe’s remand followed a hearing by Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a four-count charge of forgery, fabricating evidence, using fabricated evidence and attempt to pervert the course of justice.

The matter has been adjourned to August 2, 2018.

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And stories from around the world:

U.S. President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen said that Trump knew in advance about a June 2016 meeting in Trump Tower at which Russians offered to provide damaging information about his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, CNN reported on Thursday.

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North Korea has returned remains believed to be of US troops killed during the Korean War, the latest move in the cautious diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang. (BBC)

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Pakistan’s electoral commission is expected to announce the full results of a disputed election on Friday, paving the way for the winner, former cricket hero Imran Khan, to begin searching for coalition partners. (Reuters)

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An Iranian special forces commander has warned President Donald Trump if the US attacks Iran it “will destroy all that you possess”.

Major General Qassem Soleimani vowed that if Mr Trump started a war, the Islamic Republic would end it, Iranian news agency Tasnim reported.

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India’s federal investigating agency will determine whether personal data from Indian voters and Facebook users was compromised by the political consultant company Cambridge Analytica.

The minister of electronics and information technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad, said the Central Bureau of Investigation would look at whether the British company violated Indian laws. (The Guardian)