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Visas Issued Before January 1, 2026, Remain Valid… US Assures Nigerians After Travel Restrictions

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The United States embassy has clarified that visas issued before January 1, 2026, will remain valid amid concerns over new travel restrictions.

Nigeria was among 15 mostly African countries, including Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, and The Gambia, placed on partial travel suspensions by the US government on December 16.

In Nigeria’s case, the US cited the free operation of radical Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in certain parts of the country, creating “substantial screening and vetting difficulties”.

An overstay rate of 5.56 percent on the B-1/B-2 visa and an overstay rate of 11.90 percent on the F, M, and J visas were also cited as reasons for the addition of Nigeria to the list.

As a result, the travel suspension covered immigrant visas as well as non-immigrant visas, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J categories — routes most commonly used by Nigerians despite data showing relatively low visa overstay rates.

B visas are for temporary visitors for business (B-1) or tourism (B-2); F and M visas are for students (academic and vocational); while J visas are for exchange visitors.

January 1, 2026, has been set as the effective date.

In a statement on Monday, the US embassy clarified that the presidential proclamation does not affect immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with a passport of a nationality not subject to a suspension, special immigrant visas (SIVs) for US government employees, participants in certain major sporting events, and lawful permanent residents (LPRs).

The embassy added that the restrictions only apply to foreign nationals who are outside the US on the effective date and do not hold a valid visa on the effective date.

“No visas issued before January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation,” the statement reads.

The embassy added that visa applicants who are subject to the proclamation may still submit applications and schedule interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the US.

BIG STORY

100,000 US Visas Revoked Since Trump’s Return… 8,000 Students Affected —- State Department

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The US State Department says it has revoked over 100,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last January for a second term.

In November 2025, the State Department said 80,000 visas had been revoked since January.

The majority of the revocations involved business and tourist travellers who overstayed their visas.

In an X post on Monday, the State Department said 8,000 of the revoked visas were held by students, while 2,500 specialised workers also lost their legal status.

A department spokesperson added that most of the students and workers whose visas were revoked had criminal encounters with law enforcement.

Nearly 500 students lost visas for drug possession and distribution, while hundreds of foreign workers lost visas because they were believed to be abusing children, according to a department spokesperson.

Half of the revocations for specialised workers were based on drunken driving arrests.

Last August, the Trump administration announced it was reviewing all 55 million foreigners who have valid US visas.

“We will continue to deport these thugs to keep America safe,” the state department wrote in the X post.

When Trump began his second term, he declared a national emergency at the southern border in his inaugural address and promised to tackle “illegal” immigration.

The US has since tightened its visa requirements, announcing changes in its visa policies and implementing travel restrictions on multiple countries, including Nigeria.

 

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Chimamanda Serves Euracare Hospital With Legal Notice Over Son’s Death

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Chimamanda Adichie has served Euracare Hospital in Lagos with a legal notice, alleging that medical negligence and professional impropriety led to the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi.

Nkanu, one of Adichie’s twin sons, died on January 7, 2026, following complications during a series of preparatory medical procedures.

The legal notice dated January 10 argued that the attending anaesthesiologist and other medical personnel at Euracare breached their duty of care.

According to the filing, the child had been referred to Euracare from Atlantis Pediatric Hospital on January 6 for critical procedures ahead of an emergency medical evacuation.

The procedures included an echocardiogram, a brain MRI, a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line), and a lumbar puncture. Intravenous sedation was said to have been administered using propofol.

It added that a specialist team at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, United States, was on standby to receive him.

The legal document stated that during transport from the MRI suite to the cardiac catheterisation laboratory, while under sedation, the child suffered sudden and severe complications, which culminated in his death.

“Our clients inform us that these procedures were required as part of the preparatory process for the child’s transfer and medical evacuation to the United States, where a specialist team at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, was already on standby to receive him,” the notice reads in part

“It is our further brief that sedation was administered on the child at your facility using propofol. During transport to the cath lab following the MRI procedure under intravenous sedation, the child suffered sudden and severe complications, culminating in his untimely death on the 7th of January, 2026.”

Adichie’s legal representatives outlined multiple alleged lapses in care. They claim the child was moved between clinical areas without adherence to critical patient-safety protocols. Specific concerns raised include potential propofol dosing issues, inadequate airway protection, a lack of continuous monitoring, and movement without supplemental oxygen, proper equipment, or sufficient medical personnel in attendance.

The notice to Euracare Hospital demands the provision, within seven days, of certified copies of all related medical records. The request includes admission notes, anaesthetic charts, drug administration records, monitoring logs, procedural notes, ICU records, and the identities of all involved staff.

The hospital was instructed to preserve all evidence, including CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, pharmacy records, and internal communications.

The notice also warned that failure to comply or any destruction of evidence would lead to legal action and all available judicial remedies.

The Lagos government has also ordered an investigation into the allegations.

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80-Year-Old Ex-Convict Arrested As NDLEA Recovers Drugs Hidden In Mannequins [PHOTOS]

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An 80-year-old grandpa, Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta, has been arrested as the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recovered large quantities of tramadol concealed inside mannequins.

In a statement on Sunday, the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, 80-year-old grandpa, known for notorious drug business, was previously arrested on the 14th, prosecuted and sentenced to two years in Akwa-Ibom State, and was re-arrested on Saturday after a credible intelligence-led operation by NDLEA. The statement reads, “Notorious for illicit drug business, Nkanta was first arrested by NDLEA on 14th December 2022, prosecuted and sentenced to two years in jail by a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

“Not ready to let go of the old habit, Nkanta returned to the illicit drug trade and following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, 10th January 2026, tracked the Octogenarian ex-convict to his Mmanta – Abak village, Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom state, where he was arrested with 5.7 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis in his residence.”

In another successful operation in Akwa Ibom state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Oron-Ibaka road in Oron LGA on Friday, 9th January, intercepted a 37-year-old businessman, Ani Onyebuchi Romans, while travelling with full body mannequins for his clothing business in Cameroun.

A search of the mannequins by the operatives of the NDLEA revealed that they were stuffed with pills of tramadol weighing 5.3 kilograms.

The statement disclosed that “the suspect claims he resides in Cameroon and was reportedly returning to his base after the Christmas and New Year holidays when he was apprehended. It was revealed that he bought the drugs in Onitsha, Anambra state and was trafficking them to Cameroun to sell, using two mannequins to conceal the opioids.”

In another operation in Oyo state, NDLEA operatives’ raid across different locations led to the seizure of dangerous illicit drugs and arrest of notorious dealers, including 45-year-old Remi Bamidele (Alias ‘Aluko the Mafia’) at Sasa, Ibadan, where a total of 10.696 kilograms of Colorado, Scottish Loud, Ghana Loud, Canadian Loud and skunk, all strains of cannabis.

At the time of his arrest on Thursday, 8th January, two vehicles, including a Toyota Venza and a Toyota Yaris marked HG 06 LYD, were recovered from him.

NDLEA officers on Friday, 9th January arrested Adeola Toheeb, 27, at the Adegbayi area of the state capital, Ibadan, with various quantities of Colorado, Ghana Loud and skunk, while Habeeb Ali, 29, was nabbed at Ring road, Ibadan with 1.264kg Colorado, Scottish Loud and skunk.

Not less than One Million Three Hundred and Seven Thousand One Hundred Naira (₦1,307,100) cash exhibit was also recovered from him at the point of his arrest on Saturday, 10th January.

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