Abdulmumin Jibrin, a key political associate of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general election, has met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja — marking their second meeting in just two weeks.

According to sources, Sunday’s meeting, which held from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., may have centered on the political relationship between Tinubu and Kwankwaso, as well as the rising anti-All Progressives Congress (APC) sentiment in parts of northern Nigeria.

Jibrin, however, declined to disclose the details of their discussions when approached by State House correspondents.

Read Also: Tinubu has been fair to all regions – Umahi

The latest visit comes less than two weeks after Jibrin’s July 30 meeting with the president, during which he spoke about national unity and development. When asked then about the possibility of defecting to the APC, Jibrin said, “Everything is open and everything is a possibility. The most important thing is the stability of the country and its unity.”

The renewed engagements between Jibrin and Tinubu follow recent comments by Kwankwaso alleging that the southern region is receiving preferential treatment in terms of infrastructure and development under the current administration.

Jibrin is known to maintain strong political connections with both President Tinubu and former Kano governor Kwankwaso.

Kuwait has unveiled sweeping reforms to its visa policy aimed at attracting more tourists, business travelers, and expatriate families. The changes, announced Tuesday, mark one of the most significant overhauls to the country’s immigration system in years.

Among the headline changes is the removal of the university degree requirement previously needed for certain visa categories. The policy had long been criticized for limiting access for family members of expatriates and visitors from less affluent countries.

Officials say the decision is intended to foster family reunification and broaden access to the Gulf state.

Key Reforms
Under the new rules, the duration of visit visas has been extended. Visitors can now stay for up to three months on a standard visit visa, with the option to extend to six months—or even up to a year—by paying additional fees. While the final pricing for extensions is yet to be approved by the Cabinet, authorities expressed confidence that overstay violations will remain minimal.

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Another major update is the lifting of restrictions on which airlines travelers may use. Previously, those entering on family visit visas were required to fly exclusively with Kuwaiti national carriers. That policy has now been scrapped, allowing more flexibility and increased competition among airlines.

Middle East Airlines is among the first international carriers to receive authorization under the new rules.

“The state is not a marketer for airlines,” said Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, emphasizing that the reforms reflect a new direction in policy-making.

Expanded Family Visa Access
The eligibility for family visit visas has also been broadened to include relatives up to the fourth degree, a move expected to benefit Kuwait’s large expatriate community, where extended family ties are culturally significant.

In addition, authorities confirmed that travelers flagged for security reasons will now be informed immediately, although resolving such issues will remain the responsibility of the individual through legal or diplomatic processes.

A Strategy for Growth
The visa overhaul is part of Kuwait’s broader strategy to strengthen its status as a regional tourism and aviation hub. It comes as the country prepares to open a new international airport and seeks to lure back foreign airlines that previously exited the market.

“We accept the comments with open hearts,” Sheikh Fahad said, referring to the feedback that spurred the reform process. “We are building a system that welcomes visitors and respects their needs.”

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for urgent action to create sustainable and inclusive community-based support systems that prioritise breastfeeding, especially in underserved areas.

Mr Muhammad Okorie, UNICEF’s Social Policy Manager and Officer-in-Charge of the Lagos Field Office, made the call in Benin on Monday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Okorie spoke as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week with the theme “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems.”

He stressed that enabling mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies was not just a matter of personal choice, but a systemic issue requiring the commitment of multiple stakeholders.

”There is a critical need to strengthen systems that support mothers to breastfeed successfully. We must ensure that this system exists, from the family to religious institutions, healthcare systems, workplaces and communities, every actor must play a role,” he said.

According to him, while UNICEF plays a catalytic role in advocating for child health and nutrition, breastfeeding outcomes are shaped significantly by social norms and cultural practices.

Read Also: Nigeria making progress in humanitarian crisis- UNICEF

”Some mother-in-laws still insist newborns be given water, even when science has shown that breast milk alone contains all the nutrients; water and antibodies a baby needs in the first six months.

”The entire community must ensure that harmful practices are challenged, and the breastfeeding environment is enabled.”

The UNICEF’s Social Policy Manager revealed that the organisation had been supporting the government at federal, state, and local levels to raise awareness, bust myths, and train health workers on how best to support mothers.

Okorie also said that the agency worked with antenatal and postpartum services to ensure mothers get practical support through their breastfeeding journey.

”One of the key policy areas UNICEF is championing is the extension of paid maternity leave across both public and private sectors.

”Some states like Lagos have reviewed maternity leave duration from four to six months, which is commendable, however, the private sector is often left out.

”This week is a perfect opportunity to advocate for inclusive legislation that ensures private-sector employees also benefit,” he said.

He added that even when women return to work, workplaces should offer breastfeeding-friendly environments.

”Many organisations don’t have breastfeeding rooms or crèches, which adds to the burden of nursing mothers.

”There’s a need for peer support groups, breastfeeding corners, and enabling work spaces. All of this is essential to help women meet the target of exclusive breastfeeding,”he further said.

Okorie also stressed the importance of early initiation, adding that a child deserved and had the right to be put to the breast within the first one hour of birth.

”That first breast milk is not just food, it is the child’s first vaccine and the first bond of love,” he said.

(NAN)

Afrobeats superstar Davido has gifted his longtime aide and logistics manager, Israel DMW, a brand-new Rolex wristwatch worth millions of naira.

The heartwarming moment, captured on video in Atlanta, showed Israel beaming with excitement as he received his first-ever Rolex from his boss. Overwhelmed with joy, Israel praised Davido for fulfilling his promise and blessing him with the luxury timepiece.

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This grand gesture comes weeks after rumours of a rift between the two surfaced when Davido unfollowed Israel on Instagram. Israel, however, debunked the speculation by sharing photos of himself alongside Davido during the singer’s Canada tour, reaffirming their strong bond.

Israel DMW has remained a loyal member of Davido’s 30BG team for years, often expressing his admiration for the singer’s generosity.

As Davido prepares for his much-anticipated wedding to his longtime partner, Chioma, Israel has already shown excitement for what he describes as an unforgettable celebration.

The United States Mission in Nigeria on Monday, warned that any visa applicant found to be travelling primarily to give birth in the U.S. to secure citizenship for their child will be denied entry.

The warning was issued in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) via the official handle @USinNigeria.

The mission stressed that consular officers will deny visa applications if they suspect the applicant’s primary purpose of travel is to give birth in the United States.

“Using your visa to travel for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States so that your child will have U.S. citizenship is not permitted. Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent,” the post stated, tagging it with hashtags #VisaWiseTravelSmart and #USVisa.

Read Also: Seven Asian countries Nigerians can visit without visa

However, as US immigration policies become more strict, a number of countries still uphold unrestricted birthright citizenship, granting automatic citizenship by birth to anyone born on their soil, regardless of parental citizenship or legal status.

Here are six countries welcoming citizen by birth for Nigerians

1. Canada

Canada grants automatic citizenship to any child born within its borders. While the child is immediately recognized as a citizen, foreign parents must go through a separate immigration process to gain citizenship, typically through family reunification.

Canada’s passport ranks among the top 10 most powerful in the world.

2. Mexico

Mexico maintains unrestricted birthright citizenship, excluding only children of foreign diplomats. All others born on Mexican territory are entitled to citizenship by law.

3. Brazil

In Brazil, all children born in the country are constitutionally guaranteed citizenship.

Parents are allowed to apply for residency, and can proceed to naturalization after just one year.

The Brazilian passport ranks among the 20 strongest passports globally.

4. Argentina

Argentina provides automatic citizenship to any child born within its borders.

Foreign parents can apply for citizenship after only one year of residence, making it one of the most lenient systems in the world.

The Argentine passport also ranks among the top 20 globally.

5. Peru

Peru offers unrestricted jus soli, granting citizenship to any child born in the country, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.

While the child becomes a citizen at birth, foreign parents can apply for residency and later seek naturalization.

Peru’s passport grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 130 countries, including most of Latin America and parts of Europe.

6. Costa Rica

Children born in Costa Rica automatically receive citizenship.

Parents can apply for residency after three years and may seek naturalization after a total of ten years (three years before application + seven years of residency).

Though the process is longer, the country remains an attractive option due to its stable legal framework and peaceful environment.