News
There’s No Free Ticket” – Canada Warns Nigerian Asylum Seekers Crossing From USA
The Canadian government said it’s working with U.S. visa officials in Nigeria to mitigate the surge of migrants coming to the United States seeking a safe haven in neighboring Canada.
There’s a growing number of Nigerian asylum seekers who legally travel to the United States on a visa and stay for a brief time before attempting to cross the border into Canada, according to the Canadian government. In response, three Canadian officials have been stationed to work with U.S. visa officials in the Nigerian city of Lagos to “combat abuse of U.S. travel documents,” the government announced in a press release Monday.
“Coming across the border in a way that seeks to circumvent our procedures is no free ticket to Canada,” Canada’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale said in a statement. “We will continue to ensure an orderly managed border, including the compassionate treatment of those who genuinely need Canada’s protection. And we will continue to work with the United States to deter the misuse of travel documents that has helped drive the influx.”
Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Ahmed Hussen will also travel to the West African nation this month to meet with Nigerian officials about the issue.
“Our government’s priority first and foremost is to ensure that all laws are followed to protect the safety and security of Canadians,” Hussen said in a statement.
The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria did not respond to ABC News’ request for comment Wednesday.
More than 25,000 asylum seekers were apprehended by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, mostly in Quebec, as they crossed “irregularly” into Canada from the United States between the ports of entry from January 2017 through March of this year. The influx of irregular border-crossers appears to be on the rise, and there’s concern the number will soar as the weather warms up.
The number of asylum seekers apprehended by the national police force in the first three months of this year was more than double the amount in the same period last year. And last year, the number intercepted at the border more than tripled in July and August, according to figures from the Canadian government.
Many of the asylum seekers crossing into Canada last year were Haitians who feared they would lose their temporary protected status (TPS) in the United States, after President Donald Trump’s administration announced it will end the program for Haitian immigrants by July 2019.
So far this year, most of the asylum seekers crossing into Canada by land have been Nigerian citizens, the Canada Border Services Agency confirmed to ABC News.
“Nigerians do not want to settle in the U.S. but in Canada. It is much easier for a citizen of Nigeria to obtain a tourist visa for the U.S. than for Canada,” Stephane Handfield, an immigration lawyer in Montreal, told ABC News in French. “So they get a U.S. tourist visa, stay a few days in the U.S. and cross the Canadian border.”
Handfield said it’s also easier for asylum seekers to obtain refugee status in Canada than in the United States.
Nigerians are fleeing their home country for a number of reasons, such as poverty, persecution and violent conflict, including Boko Haram’s years-long insurgency. The Nigeria-based jihadist group, which seeks to establish an Islamic state, has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced some 2.3 million since 2009, according to the latest figures from the United Nations.
“When people are fleeing persecution, whether they’re in Nigeria or elsewhere, they will take whatever method and route is available to them,” John Cockell, spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Canada, told ABC News. “International humanitarian law recognizes this and that’s why asylum seekers are not penalized for entering a country using irregular means, as many choose to do in the case of Canada.”
“We feel [Canadian] authorities have actually done a very good job with managing the increased numbers,” Cockell added.
The Canadian government said it will build new facilities for short-term accommodations at a popular border crossing into the province of Quebec from New York state. Canadian officials will also fast-track work permits for asylum seekers, so they can financially support themselves and their families while they wait to see if their claim for protection is granted.
“While we adhere to international conventions and want to offer asylum to those fleeing persecution and war, the fact remains that there are very specific laws, rules and criteria to be respected in order to find refuge in our country,” Canada’s Minister of Transport Marc Garneau said in a statement.
ABC News
News
Akpabio Removes Natasha Akpoti as Chairman of The Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has made a major change in the leadership of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been removed as the Chair of the committee, and a new replacement has been named immediately.
Although no official explanation was given at the time of the announcement, the development has sparked conversations in political circles. Senator Natasha, known for her passion in representing diaspora-related matters, has not yet reacted publicly.



Foreign
Newly Married Liverpool Striker Diogo Jota Dies at 28

The football world is in deep mourning following the sudden passing of Diogo Jota, star striker for Liverpool FC and the Portuguese national team. He was just 28 years old.
Jota lost his life in a tragic road incident in Spain alongside his younger brother in the early hours of Thursday, July 3, 2025.
The devastating news comes less than two weeks after his wedding to his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, which took place on June 22, 2025. The couple shared three children and had just begun a new chapter together.
Since joining Liverpool in 2020, Jota became a fan favorite for his sharp instincts, energy, and goal-scoring brilliance. He also proudly represented Portugal on the international stage, winning hearts with his commitment and character.
This is a heartbreaking loss for his family, friends, teammates, and the entire football community.
Rest in peace, Diogo Jota.
You will never walk alone. ❤️



News
Tinubu Appoints Grace Henry as First Female Chair of Nigerian Legion

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Grace Henry as the new chairman of the National Council of the Nigerian Legion, marking a historic first as both the first woman and the first non-commissioned officer to lead the country’s foremost veterans’ organization.
The announcement was made on Thursday in Abuja via a statement by Abdul Lauya, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Digital Communications to the chairman.
According to the statement, Henry’s appointment was formalized through a letter signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and takes effect from June 7.
Born on October 5, 1964, Henry brings with her over 25 years of military and administrative experience. She retired from the Nigerian Army in 2000 and most recently served as Director of Corporate Affairs at the Legion’s headquarters in Abuja. She is also the current National Coordinator for Female Military Veterans of Nigeria.
She succeeds retired Major General AbdulMalik Jibrin. Her appointment is widely seen as a reflection of the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting gender inclusion and equal representation within the military veterans’ community.
President Tinubu expressed confidence in her leadership and urged her to leverage her experience to reposition the Nigerian Legion, which serves as a vital support system for the nation’s ex-servicemen and women.
Her appointment is expected to usher in a new era of reforms and revitalization for the Legion amid growing calls for improved veteran welfare and institutional development.
The Nigerian Legion, a statutory body established to support the welfare of ex-servicemen and their dependents, plays a critical role in the rehabilitation, reintegration, and economic empowerment of military veterans. It also promotes national unity through remembrance events such as the Armed Forces Remembrance Day and collaborates with various agencies to uphold the dignity of retired military personnel.
In response to certain media reports describing her as “one of the most powerful non-commissioned ex-service personnel,” Henry distanced herself from the characterization.
“She wishes to make it clear that leadership is not about grandstanding or media posturing,” Lauya stated. “There is no such thing as being ‘most powerful’ under her leadership.”
Henry emphasized that the Legion remains a unified body, representing all veterans—commissioned and non-commissioned—without bias or division. She condemned any effort to create artificial hierarchies within the organization and called on the media to refrain from spreading unverified claims.
“She remains committed to the principles of unity, service, and integrity,” the statement added. “Ms. Grace Morenike Henry belongs to all and to none in particular. Her mission is to serve all Nigerian veterans equally and selflessly.”

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