• UK announces increment of visa fees from April 9
• NCDC reveals Lassa fever claims 118 lives and infects 20 healthcare workers in Nigeria
• Price of petrol rises to ₦935/litre in Lagos State 
• Okpebholo suspends all security chiefs and vigilance groups over killings of hunters in Edo
• Tinubu claims no one is bigger than Nigeria as he affirms commitment to national unity

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

UK announces increment of visa fees from April 9

The United Kingdom has announced an increase in visa fees starting April 9, affecting various categories like study, visit, sponsorship, and transit visas.

With the new fees, a six-month tourist visa will now cost £127, up from £115, a nearly 7% increase. The fee for a two-year visitor visa has gone up from £432 to £475, while five-year and ten-year visitor visas now cost £848 and £1,059, respectively.

Students and their dependents will face a 10% increase, with fees rising from £490 to £524. Transit visa costs have also changed, with air passengers now paying £39 instead of £35, and land travellers paying £70 instead of £64.

NCDC reveals Lassa fever claims 118 lives and infects 20 healthcare workers in Nigeria

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported that Lassa fever has claimed 118 lives, with a case fatality rate of 18.3%.

According to the NCDC, a total of 3,465 suspected cases have been recorded across 91 Local Government Areas in 33 states.

In a statement, the agency’s Head of Corporate Communication, Sani Datti, revealed that 20 healthcare workers have been infected. These cases include 8 in Ondo, 4 in Bauchi, 1 in Edo, 2 in Taraba, 1 in Ebonyi, 2 in Gombe, 1 in Benue, and 1 in Ogun.

Price of petrol rises to ₦935/litre in Lagos State 

Over the weekend, petrol marketers in Lagos raised pump prices to between ₦925 and ₦935 per litre.

The price hike follows an increase in the landing cost of petrol, Dangote Refinery’s decision to stop selling in naira about two weeks ago, and delays in finalising negotiations on the naira-for-crude policy.

As of last Monday, the landing cost of petrol had risen to ₦843 per litre, up from ₦797 per litre recorded two weeks earlier.

Okpebholo suspends all security chiefs and vigilance groups over killings of hunters in Edo

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has suspended the Commander of the Security Corps, Friday Ibadin, a retired Commissioner of Police.

Additionally, he ordered the suspension of unauthorised vigilante groups after reviewing an initial report on the killing of 16 traveling hunters in Uromi, the headquarters of Esan North East Local Government Area.

In a statement, the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, emphasised that unlawful actions disguised as security measures would not be tolerated.

Tinubu claims no one is bigger than Nigeria as he affirms commitment to national unity

President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to national unity and progress on Sunday, emphasising that no individual, including himself, is greater than Nigeria.

He encouraged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of Eid-el-Fitr by showing kindness, compassion, and generosity, particularly toward the less privileged.

Speaking to journalists after the Eid-el-Fitr prayers at the National Eid Prayer Ground in Abuja, Tinubu urged citizens to uphold the positive values learned during Ramadan and avoid reverting to past undesirable practices.