Kenya will now permit citizens of nearly all African countries to visit without requiring prior authorisation.  

According to a BBC report, Kenya will now permit citizens of nearly all African countries to visit without requiring prior authorization, as per a new directive from the cabinet.

A cabinet statement clarified that the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) requirement will be abolished for all African countries, except Somalia and Libya, citing security concerns.

Under the revised system, citizens of most African nations will be allowed to enter and stay visa-free for up to two months.

Additionally, members of the East African Community—comprising Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi—will be permitted to stay for up to six months in line with the bloc’s policy.

Although no fixed timeline has been set for the policy’s implementation, Kenya plans to introduce an enhanced process enabling instant travel approval, with a maximum processing time of 72 hours.

Major Seun Fadipe (retd), a former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Lt-Gen Oladipo Diya, has recounted how the late ex-military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, escaped a planned abduction in Enugu State in 1997.

Fadipe was the CSO to Diya who was the Chief of General Staff, the then de facto vice president of Nigeria under the military administration of Abacha. Fadipe was a guest on the Friday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.

Fadipe recalled how Diya and his co-travellers planned to abduct Abacha and force him to resign in Enugu but the then head of state caught wind of the development and aborted the trip at the last hour.

He said, “There was a coup, whether it was now a phantom one or it was a setup, it’s immaterial now because that’s the problem I had with my boss until he died. I was a major, if I wanted to be involved in a coup as a major, it would be a violent coup because there was no way I would do a palace coup because I had a lot of seniors ahead of me. I never planned any coup, I never intended to plan any coup but I got involved through my boss.”

“As of that time, Abacha was doing well but because he wanted to transmit to a civilian regime, things went haywire.”

Fadipe said it would have been easy for Diya and his co-coup plotters to take over in Abuja and control things from the nation’s capital but “maybe it was just providence or he (Abacha) got some information because all his advance parties had gone to the airport” yet he aborted the trip at the last minute.

“On the 9th of December 1997, we got to the office, and after the pleasantries with my boss, the ADC left. Once the ADC leaves, I will give my boss the security briefing for the period and after, he said: ‘Are you sure all is well?’ That was before the bomb attempt on the 13th of December 1997. That was the first time he told me directly that something was in the offing.

“A day before then, the Chief of Army Training Conference just took off in Enugu, and Abacha, being the C-in-C was supposed to open the event. The man had left the Villa and then on his way to the airport, all of a sudden, the man came back.

“So, after some time, my boss called me and told me that the man aborted his trip and he was back in the villa. My boss was a bit worried. I don’t know what was going on at that time. So I asked my boss to be on standby maybe the guy would still go back but to my surprise, that never happened.

“In the evening, Ishaya Bamiyi (then army chief) came to General Diya’s office. So, we were wondering, the chief of army staff, what’s he doing here? He was supposed to be in Enugu. So when he (Bamiyi) left, my boss called me and asked me to call him General Adisa Adisa.

“By then, Adisa had been removed as the Minister of Works and Housing. I called General Adisa and he came in almost immediately, this time around he was almost in mufti. So, on his way out, the man was asking me some questions but he discovered I was not privy to it.

“The next morning, my boss told me and a few security people: ‘If Oga had travelled yesterday, he would have been arrested and there would have been a change of government’. I just knew I was in trouble. He said if he (Abacha) had gone to Enugu, he would have been abducted and forced to resign and there would have been a change of government.”

Fadipe said he didn’t betray his former boss, stressing that he never disclosed any of the coup plans to the authorities.

“There was no way I would have betrayed my boss. A lot of things happened when we came out of detention; he was trying to malign me and all of that but I just know he was a man that was struggling to survive,” he said.

Fadipe and Diya, alongside over 200 others were arrested for treason and detained after the failed coup plot in 1997. Diya was tried by the military tribunal and was handed the death penalty but he was pardoned, alongside Fadipe, and others, by Abacha’s successor, Abdusalami Abubakar, after the sudden demise of Abacha in 1998. Diya died in March 2023 at the age of 78.

Veteran comedian Atunyota Akpobome, popularly known as Ali Baba, and his wife, Mary Bassey Akpobome, have shared adorable photos of their triplets as they celebrate their first birthday on Friday, January 24, 2025.

The couple, who welcomed their sons in 2024, revealed their faces for the first time in a heartfelt social media post.

Expressing her gratitude on Instagram stories, Mrs Akpobome praised God for His faithfulness, describing motherhood as a divine blessing. She also reaffirmed that “God is always on time” while wishing her boys: King Aaron, King Alexander, and King Andrew, a happy birthday.

Ali Baba also took to Instagram stories to share glimpses of the triplets.

NIGERIAN NI

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Finish government for the arrest and detention of Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa.

The President also described Ekpa’s arrest as well deserved.

Tinubu said his government has zero tolerance for actions and statements that could lead to divisiveness among citizens.

The Nigerian President spoke when he received the Letters of Credence from the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Sanna Selin, at the State House.

He said the Finnish authorities intervention was timely, because it safeguarded the nation’s integrity and mitigated an action that threatened peaceful coexistence.

Tinubu also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of the European Union, Mr Gautier Mignot, and the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of Algeria, Hocine Mezoued.

Speaking at the brief ceremony, Tinubu said, “I must thank you for your record on safeguarding human rights in our country with the trial of Simon Ekpa.

“Nigeria is indivisible. We have been through turbulent times and we don’t want to promote terrorism.

“I am a child born into activism, but not divisiveness. We need cohesion and cooperation to bring about development. Our watchword is stability and cohesion to move the country forward.

“The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has informed me. I know what the rule of law means. The rule of law safeguards our democratic credentials, morals and values. We must respect the rule of law.”

The President noted that the ambassador’s priorities, including ICT, agriculture and education, will directly impact the country’s development.

“Nigeria is undergoing a series of necessary reforms to stimulate growth and prosperity. Thank you also for the humanitarian support in the North-East. I believe that we can work together,” he added.

The Ambassador of Finland extolled Tinubu for his courage in initiating reforms that will benefit the economy and ensure prosperity in the future.

“Simon Ekpa has been hindering bilateral relations. The cooperation between our two countries is going very well now, and the National Security Adviser has been providing all the

evidence,” the ambassador noted.

Indications emerged on Friday that the 2025 Appropriation Bill will no longer be passed by the National Assembly at the end of January 2025.

According to the Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Akin Rotimi, the House leadership has approved the extension of the 2025 budget defence to give the Standing Committees sufficient time to conclude ongoing budget engagements with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

He said: “The House of Representatives has announced the postponement of its plenary resumption, previously scheduled for Tuesday, January 28, 2025.

“The new date for resumption is now set for Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

“This development was communicated to Honourable Members through an internal memorandum issued by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, Esq., on the directive of the House Leadership.

“The postponement is necessary to allow Committees sufficient time to conclude ongoing budget engagements and defences with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

“This measure ensures a thorough and comprehensive approach to legislative responsibilities.

“The House remains committed to fulfilling its legislative mandate for the benefit of Nigerians and appreciates the understanding of all stakeholders,” he said

A woman in Eswatini, Dumsile Dludlu, is facing up to three years in prison after she was remanded for allegedly snooping through her husband’s WhatsApp account without his consent.

The act, which contravenes Eswatini’s Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act of 2022, was condemned by Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi at the Mbabane Magistrates Court.

Dludlu pleaded not guilty to the charge of unauthorised access but admitted to insulting her husband. She stated in court, “I did insult him, but it wasn’t as severe as what’s in the police statement.”

The police statement had described her insults as more severe than Dludlu acknowledged.

Dludlu’s trial is set to resume on March 10, 2025.

The Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act criminalises the unauthorised access of digital devices, and violators face fines or imprisonment of up to three years.

The Act aims to protect individuals’ digital privacy and prevent unauthorised intrusions into personal communication.

Meanwhile, Eswatini Communications Commission CEO, Prince Mvilawemphi, has warned that accessing a partner’s cellphone is now considered a criminal offence in the country, with fines reaching up to E300,000

The Nigeria Labour Congress has said the Federal Government is prioritising revenue generation over the welfare of citizens by supporting the recent 50 per cent increase in telecommunications tariffs.

The tariff hike, announced by the Nigerian Communications Commission on Monday, will see MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile charge more for calls and messages.

The move, the first in 11 years justified by the need for telcos to cover inflation and the high cost of operations of over 300 per cent, has sparked outrage among citizens, with the NLC particularly calling for protest.

Speaking on Arise TV on Friday, the Labour Union president Joseph Ajaero criticised the government for aligning with telecom companies while Nigerians grapple with the rising cost of living.

Ajaero, who leads a workforce earning less than $50 monthly as minimum wage, expressed concern that the government is neglecting its regulatory responsibilities and acting as though these private telecom companies are public enterprises.

“These corporate entities will be smiling to the bank while poverty among Nigerians continues. That’s the challenge we face now. We hear the minister speaking as if these are government-owned businesses.

“When you increase tariffs by 50 per cent, aside from the taxes the government may collect, it’s seen as a way to boost government revenue. This has been the same approach even in the power sector.

He warned that the tariff increase would disproportionately affect low-income earners, many of whom already struggle to cover basic living expenses.

“Government officials often say that higher tariffs are good, but this only pushes the people further down the poverty line. This is where we disagree. The government has not acted as a proper regulator to strike a balance between corporate interests and the welfare of the people.

“The government needs to strike a balance. For someone earning N70,000, paying over N10,000 on this tariff increase alone is significant. How will they afford transportation, housing, and other basic needs? It’s not realistic because, in reality, there’s no housing that costs N10,000, and transportation costs are equally high,” Ajaero said.

The NLC president also criticised the government’s reliance on imported telecom and power equipment, arguing that local production of essential components like cables and meters could reduce costs.

The NLC chief urged the government to encourage local manufacturing rather than passing the cost of importation onto consumers.

Ajaero criticised officials who defend the tariff hike on the grounds of inflation and operational costs, describing their arguments as a pretext to boost government revenue while neglecting the plight of Nigerians.

“The justification for this increase—citing inflation, cost of living, and importation of equipment—doesn’t hold when there’s potential for local production. Why are we importing cables and other materials that can be manufactured locally?

“For instance, even for metering, we’re importing cables. These are items we could produce domestically, but instead, we rely on imports and then blame rising costs on currency value and importation expenses.

“Where did we go wrong that ordinary Nigerians must always bear the brunt? We need to rethink these policies and ensure that people aren’t left struggling to survive while corporations thrive,” he lamented.

On Wednesday, the union issued a statement warning of potential collective action, including a nationwide boycott of telecom services, to compel the government and the NCC to reverse the decision.

The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers will today engage the telecom regulator seeking a possible reversal of the 50 per cent telecom tariff hike to 10 per cent.

Hundreds of transgender federal prisoners face uncertainty and fear after President Donald Trump’s executive order mandating transfers to facilities based on biological sex rather than gender identity.

The move has sparked concerns, particularly from legal advocates who warn of the dangers these inmates may face in male prisons.

“It’s going to be incredibly dangerous,” said attorney Moira Meltzer-Cohen, who represents Donna Langan, a transgender woman serving a life sentence for bank robbery, as quoted by DailyMailUK.

Meltzer-Cohen fears a “bloodbath” if trans inmates are forced into male prisons.

The order, signed on Trump’s first day in office, states the government will recognise only two sexes and restrict “intimate spaces” like bathrooms and dorms to biological sex. Federal funding for transition-related healthcare has also been halted.

Sandra Gant, a federal public defender, revealed that her office was alerted after a trans client was segregated for transfer to a men’s prison. “She is terrified,” Gant shared, calling for legal strategies to challenge the policy.

Rhonda Fleming, a female inmate in Texas, welcomed the decision after her failed legal battle to exclude trans women from women’s prisons, citing fears for her safety. Fleming claimed some male inmates fake gender identities to serve sentences in women’s facilities.

The Bureau of Prisons, which oversees approximately 1,500 trans women and 750 trans men, has yet to decide on placements for inmates who have undergone gender-affirming surgeries, citing additional security concerns.

The executive order, part of Trump’s broader rollback of protections for transgender individuals, faces potential legal challenges from groups like the ACLU.

Emmanuel Adebayor, a former Togo striker, has spoken up about his departure from Arsenal.

Adebayor, speaking with Optus Sport, claimed the then-manager Arsene Wenger banished him from the training ground.

Wenger signed the striker from Monaco and he finished the 2007/08 season with 30 goals in all competitions.

However, the next summer, a bitter contract wrangle led to several top European clubs courting Adebayor.

And although he eventually put pen to paper on a new deal, his relationship with Wenger had been broken.

And the Frenchman asked Adebayor to leave, with Manchester City landing him from their Premier League rivals.

“I had a great season in 2008, I had everyone calling me,” Adebayor said.

“Milan, when Milan was great with Kaka, Gattuso, Maldini and Shevchenko, but I said I wasn’t going, I’m staying with Arsenal.

“I went on holiday but when I came back to the club I had a meeting with the boss, and he said ‘I don’t need you any more.’ And I was like ‘wow’, what am I going to do?

“I wanted a chance to fight for my place and he said no. He said if I stayed I’d not be in the squad for the league, not in the squad for the Champions League or the cup. I thought, ‘ok, this is harsh’.

“I decided to try and give it a chance to force my way back in, but I came back the next day to the training ground and they blocked the gate.

“I wasn’t allowed to enter the Arsenal training ground facility and that’s when I realised it was over.”