• Nigeria ranks as fourth most improved visa-friendly African country
• UK establishes Africa’s largest visa application centre in Lagos
• TETFund suspends scholarships overseas due to financial incapability and abscondment
• NNPC reveals that the PH refinery is solely for NNPC outlets
• Yakubu Gowon advises Northern leaders to prioritise national interest

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the five top Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.

Nigeria ranks as fourth most improved visa-friendly African country

Nigeria has been ranked the fourth most enhanced visa-friendly African country within the last eight years. Travelling between other African countries has become easy due to the evolving trends in visa policy reforms across the African continent.

According to a report by the Africa Visa Openness Index, 39 African countries improved their visa ratings between 2016 and 2024, reflecting the ease of travel restrictions.

The top 10 visa-friendly African countries are Benin, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, The Gambia, Ghana, Senegal, Namibia, Angola, and Rwanda.

UK establishes Africa’s largest visa application centre in Lagos

The United Kingdom has just recently opened what is to be its largest African visa application centre in Lagos, Nigeria.

The British High Commissioner announced this news on November 27, saying that Nigerians looking to travel to the UK can now book appointments to submit their visa applications via the VFS Global Visa Application Centre located in Abuja, Ikeja (Lagos State) and Victoria Island (Lagos State).

“I am delighted to witness the opening of this, the largest visa application centre in Africa. Nigeria remains one of the UK’s most important partners, and we hope that VFS delivers ever-improving services to those applying for visas to the UK.” Mr Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner said.

TETFund suspends scholarships overseas due to financial incapability and abscondment

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has temporarily suspended the foreign section of its TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff (TSAS) Intervention due to the cost of overseas training and scholars running away.

The suspension is set to take effect from January 1, 2025, in a letter written to heads of beneficiary institutions, including vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts.

The letter was written and signed by TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono stated, “In response to the current excessive cost of training in foreign institutions, coupled with the high rate of abscondment of scholars, the Board of Trustees of the Fund has approved the suspension of the foreign component of the TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff (TSAS) Intervention.

NNPC reveals that the PH refinery is solely for NNPC outlets

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has revealed that the recently commissioned Port Harcourt Refinery will exclusively be for its outlets (NNPC) across the country.

The news shocked oil marketers as NNPC stated that all petroleum products (petrol, diesel and kerosene) from the Port Harcourt Refinery would be closed from external marketers as they would only be available for retail outlets belonging to NNPC.

The oil giant company also stated that it had yet to begin bulk sales of petroleum products as it was still selling out the products from Dangote Refinery; therefore, it could not yet set a price for its petroleum products.

Yakubu Gowon advises Northern leaders to prioritise national interest

Former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has shared vital advice with members of the League of the Northern Democrats (LND), advising that they discard sectional interests but instead embrace the country’s collective interest.

He requested that the North focus more on Nigeria’s collective interest as that would help promote and sustain the ongoing democracy in the nation.