Foreign Affairs - Abia ThinkTank News

May

18

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Historic Day In Vatican As Pope Leo XlV Officially Installed

Foreign Affairs, News Flash, Religion, World News

Historic Day In Vatican As Pope Leo XIV Officially Installed Pope Leo XIV, the first US pontiff, made his debut tour of St Peter’s Square on Sunday in a popemobile, greeting tens of thousands of pilgrims and well-wishers ahead of his inauguration mass. Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, who became head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics on May 8, stood in the white vehicle as it drove through cheering crowds, smiling, waving and making the sign of the cross. US Vice President JD Vance is among the hundreds of dignitaries due to attend the inauguration mass that begins at 10:00…

May

17

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

29-Year-Old Nigerian-British Elected As UK’s Youngest Mayor

Foreign Affairs, News Flash, Politics

29-Year-Old Nigerian-British Elected As UK’s Youngest Mayor Princess Opeyemi Bright has been inaugurated as the youngest Mayor in the United Kingdom, in a historic moment for Nigerians in the diaspora and youth leadership. At 29 years old, she now holds the esteemed position of First Citizen of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The inauguration, which took place on Friday, May 16, 2025, marks a new chapter in British politics and celebrates Nigerian global leadership. Born in the UK to Nigerian parents, Princess Bright’s rise is seen as a personal milestone and a reflection of the growing influence of…

May

17

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

100 Dead As Israel Launches Fresh Gaza Offensive

Foreign Affairs, Mishap, News Flash, War

100 Dead As Israel Launches Fresh Gaza Offensive The Israeli military said Saturday it had launched “extensive strikes” as part of a fresh offensive in Gaza, after rescuers reported 100 people killed in the besieged Palestinian territory. The army said on Telegram it had begun the “initial stages” of the offensive, known as Operation Gideon’s Chariots. The operation was part of “the expansion of the battle in the Gaza Strip, with the goal of achieving all the war’s objectives, including the release of the abducted and the defeat of Hamas”, it said in a post in Arabic. A separate statement…

May

04

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

FGN Blasts Meta Over Threat To Stop Whatsapp, Facebook In Nigeria

FGN, Foreign Affairs, News Flash, Telecommunications

FG Blasts Meta Over Threat To Stop WhatsApp, Facebook In Nigeria The Federal Competitive and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said that WhatsApp’s claim of being forced to exit Nigeria due to the commission’s recent fine appears to be a calculated move aimed at inducing negative public reaction and potentially pressuring the FCCPC to reconsider its decision. In a statement by the Director, Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC had investigated Meta Platforms and WhatsApp (jointly referred to as “Meta Parties”) for allegedly violating the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR). The…

May

03

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Meta Threatens To Shut Facebook, Instagram In Nigeria Over $290m Fine

Foreign Affairs, International, News Flash

Meta Threatens To Shut Facebook, Instagram In Nigeria Over $290m Fine Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has threatened to restrict access to the two social platforms in Nigeria following fines by local regulatory authorities. Last year, three regulatory bodies in Nigeria fined the US-based social media firm over $290 million for breaching various laws and regulations. Meta’s recent effort to contest the rulings in an Abuja High Court was unsuccessful. The court has mandated that the company settle the fines by the end of June. While Meta also owns WhatsApp, the company did not include the messaging…

Apr

30

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

FG Scraps Foreign Scholarships, Tags Scheme Waste Of Resources

Education, FGN, Foreign Affairs, News Flash

FG Scraps Foreign Scholarships, Tags Scheme Waste Of Resources The Federal Government on Tuesday announced the cancellation of the Bilateral Education Agreement, describing the scheme as a “waste of resources.” The development followed cries by previous beneficiaries of the scheme who accused the government of neglect. The BEA Programme, established through strong diplomatic ties and mutual cooperation, enabled Nigerian students to study in partner countries such as China, Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt, and Serbia. Recently, the government clarified that all supplementary allowances due to Nigerian scholars had been paid up to December 2024. It also appealed for patience, noting…

Apr

28

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Your 100 Days As President Hell For American People – US Senator Slams Trump

Foreign Affairs, News Flash, Politics, World News

Your 100 Days As President Hell For American People – US Senator Slams Trump US Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, has criticized President Donald Trump as he marks 100 days of his second stint in the White House this week. Schumer said Trump’s first 100 days as president have been hell for the American people. Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, 2025. His first 100 days of his second presidency will end on April 29 (Tuesday). However, in a tweet via his X account on Monday morning, Schumer…

Apr

25

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Abia Development Momentum And Governor Otti’s Strategic Partnership With The World Bank – By Ebere Uzoukwa, Ph.D (SSA To Governor Otti On Public Affairs)

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Economy, Foreign Affairs, Good Governance

Abia Development Momentum and Governor Otti's Strategic Partnership with the World Bank By Ebere Uzoukwa, Ph.D Governor Alex Chioma Otti's recent visit to the World Bank marked a significant milestone in Abia State's development journey. The meeting with World Bank Country Director, Dr. Ndiame Diop, focused on reviewing ongoing projects and strengthening partnerships to deliver sustainable development. A key outcome of the visit was the Governor's request to upgrade rural road specifications under the Abia RAMP initiative, aiming to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development by enhancing connectivity and economic development in rural areas. This initiative is a collaborative effort…

Apr

22

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

IMF Projects 3% Economic Growth Rate For Nigeria In 2025

Economy, FGN, Foreign Affairs, News Flash, World News

IMF Projects 3% Economic Growth Rate For Nigeria In 2025 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that Nigeria’s economy will grow by 3.0 per cent in 2025, according to its latest World Economic Outlook report released on Tuesday. However, the current Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) forecasts the economy to grow at 4.6 percent in 2025, yet with targets of the last ten years missed by an average of 41.57 percent, this may become another hopeful projection. The organisation also projects a 2.7% growth rate for the country in 2026. The global financial institution noted that while Nigeria faces…

Apr

08

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Nigeria Not Affected In Saudi Visa Ban – FGN

FGN, Foreign Affairs, Immigration, News Flash

Nigeria Not Affected In Saudi Visa Ban – FG Nigeria is not on the list of countries facing an entry ban into Saudi Arabia from April 13, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar has clarified. Tuggar said in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, that Saudi authorities officially confirmed yesterday that a viral memo suggesting Nigeria’s inclusion in the list was false. He described the document, which named Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco. India, Pakistan and seven others as the affected countries, as misleading and inaccurate. “The Saudi Tourism Centre confirmed no such directive exists.…