The New Diplomat

[PHOTOS] Peter Obi Embarks on Spiritual Quest in Rome, Seeks Divine Intervention for Nigeria

The New Diplomat — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 13:01:02 +0000

By Abiola Olawale Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, visited Rome, Italy to pray for Nigeria. Joined by his wife, Margaret, Obi, a two-term governor of Anambra State, said he undertook a sacred pilgrimage to Rome during the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year. He said he prayed for Nigeria’s healing, peace, and responsible leadership. […]

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SERAP Writes Newly Nominated INEC Chair, Demands Prosecution of Electoral Offenders

The New Diplomat — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 12:49:44 +0000

By Abiola Olawale The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Professor Joash Amupitan, President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to launch swift prosecutions against politicians and their sponsors implicated in grave electoral offenses. SERAP’s letter, dated October 11, 2025, and signed by Deputy Director […]

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Trump Escalates Trade War: Slaps 130% Tariffs on Chinese Goods

The New Diplomat — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 09:17:19 +0000

By Obinna Uballa President Donald Trump has announced sweeping new trade measures against China, declaring that the United States will impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese imports, on top of the existing 30%, starting November 1 or sooner. The move marks a dramatic escalation in tensions between Washington and Beijing, effectively reviving the trade […]

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Senior Advocates of No-Consequence (SANs), By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu

The New Diplomat — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 08:41:48 +0000

The ritual of the “Call to Bar” is the formal ceremony for the admission of new entrants into Nigeria’s legal profession. The responsibility for administering it resides in the Body of Benchers (BoB), a statutory entity described by law as “a body of legal practitioners of the highest distinction in the legal profession in Nigeria.” The solemnity […]

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How Much Mercury is in the Fish You Eat?

The New Diplomat — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 16:38:17 +0000

Low-mercury seafood options include scallops, clams, shrimp, and salmon, all with less than 0.02 ppm. Top predators like swordfish, shark, and Gulf of Mexico tilefish have the highest mercury levels, some over 1.0 ppm. Experts recommend eating high-mercury fish no more than 3 times a month, or avoiding them entirely. Mercury in fish is a […]

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[FULL LIST] Presidency Unveils Names of Beneficiaries of Tinubu’s Presidential Pardon

The New Diplomat — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 16:02:33 +0000

By Abiola Olawale The Nigerian Presidency has officially unveiled the names of 175 beneficiaries granted clemency under President Bola Tinubu’s presidential prerogative of mercy. The announcement, ratified by the Council of State on October 9, 2025, includes posthumous pardons for iconic figures like Herbert Macaulay and Major-General Mamman Vatsa, alongside living convicts such as former […]

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Arise TV Anchor Somtochukwu Maduagwu’s Burial Date Announced

The New Diplomat — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 15:49:18 +0000

By Abiola Olawale The family of Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a 29-year-old Arise News anchor, reporter, and producer, has unveiled a schedule for her funeral rites, culminating in her burial on Saturday, October 18, 2025. Known affectionately as “Sommie,” Maduagwu’s tragic death during an armed robbery in Abuja has sparked widespread grief, tributes, and renewed demands […]

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A list of this year’s Nobel Prize winners so far

The New Diplomat — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 14:24:32 +0000

The awarding Friday of the Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado brought this week’s Nobel announcements to a conclusion. Only the economics prize remains, to be awarded Monday. The peace prize is the only Nobel awarded in Oslo, Norway. The others are awarded in Stockholm. The award ceremony will be held on Dec. 10, […]

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Oil Prices Drop to $59 on Gaza Ceasefire and Trump’s China Tariff Threat

The New Diplomat — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 13:37:15 +0000

WTI crude tumbled below the critical $60 per barrel mark for the first time since May, with front-month futures settling at $58.90 per barrel for a steep 4.24% loss on Friday, October 10. The international benchmark, Brent, followed suit, closing down 3.82% at $62.73 per barrel. This decisive collapse was driven by a powerful one-two […]

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Why Forgiveness Is Hard, By Funke Egbemode

The New Diplomat — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 13:29:46 +0000

Ebun noticed that her husband was avoiding intimacy with her. He was travelling more, sleeping outside the home under one flimsy excuse or the other. The traffic was terrible. I did not want to drive home that late because my spare tyre is bad. I had had an extra bottle of beer and my friends […]

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Ranked: Europe’s Most Dangerous Cities, According to Citizens

The New Diplomat — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 09:33:41 +0000

Key Takeaways Numbeo’s Crime Index is based on user surveys, scaled 0–100, and reflects perceptions of crime and safety rather than official statistics. Bradford, UK is the most dangerous city in Europe according to the latest mid-2025 crime rankings. At the country-level, France has the most cities in the top 30. Where do European’s feel the least […]

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As its ruling party turns 80, an emboldened Kim Jong Un shows off North Korea’s new hypersonic weapon, ICBM

Hamilton Nwosa — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 09:26:29 +0000

North Korea showed off a new hypersonic glide vehicle and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) at a military parade late Friday, as it marked 80 years of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea. The Hwasong-11Ma hypersonic weapon and the Hwasong-20 ICBM, which state media called North Korea’s “most powerful nuclear strategic weapons system,” were among an […]

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Nigeria Immigration Offers Voluntary Return Program for Visa Overstayers

The New Diplomat — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 09:03:07 +0000

By Abiola Olawale The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has rolled out the Post-Amnesty Voluntary Return and Documentation Programme (PAVRDP). This initiative provides undocumented foreign nationals a grace period to either regularize their status or depart Nigeria voluntarily. The program kicks off on October 13, 2025, just days after the closure of the government’s five-month Expired […]

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Details as Fitch Holds Steady on Nigeria’s ‘B’ Rating

The New Diplomat — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 08:33:57 +0000

By Abiola Olawale Fitch Ratings has reaffirmed Nigeria’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating at ‘B’ with a Stable Outlook. Fitch said the affirmation comes amid Nigeria’s ongoing battle against high inflation. The country’s new economic status was reviewed in a report published on Friday. According to the report, “Nigeria’s ‘B’ rating is due to its […]

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FG Refutes Report Claiming It Stopped FIRS, Customs from Deducting Cost of Collection

The New Diplomat — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 08:17:54 +0000

By Abiola Olawale The Federal Government has denied reports that the government has scrapped the long-standing cost of collection deductions for key revenue agencies. The clarification comes hot on the heels of the remarks made by Finance Minister Wale Edun, underscoring ongoing efforts to streamline Nigeria’s revenue mobilization without disrupting operations. However, the Federal Ministry […]

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Nigeria’s Public Debt Soars to N152.4trn Amid Mounting Fiscal Pressures

The New Diplomat — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 08:01:21 +0000

By Obinna Uballa Nigeria’s public debt burden has risen to an unprecedented N152.40 trillion as of June 30, 2025, marking a N3.01 trillion or 2.01% increase from N149.39 trillion recorded at the end of March, according to the latest figures from the Debt Management Office (DMO). In dollar terms, the debt profile climbed from $97.24 […]

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Shockwaves in Opposition: Governors Mbah, Diri Set to Join APC Next Week

The New Diplomat — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 06:08:53 +0000

By Obinna Uballa Nigeria’s political landscape is bracing for a major shake-up as Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Douye Diri of Bayelsa State prepare to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) next week, in what insiders describe as one of the most consequential realignments since 1999. […]

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Genocide allegations dangerous, could damage Nigeria’s global standing – Bolaji Akinyemi warns

The New Diplomat — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 06:05:28 +0000

By Obinna Uballa Former Minister of External Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, has raised alarm over what he described as an “unjustified and unfair” attempt to label Nigeria with genocide allegations, warning that such claims could carry grave diplomatic and reputational consequences for the country. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Akinyemi expressed deep […]

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New INEC Boss and Tinubu’s Visibilization of Northern Yorubas

The New Diplomat — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 04:22:59 +0000

By Farooq A. Kperogi Everyone who is familiar with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unabashed Yorubacentricism expected him to appoint a Yoruba person to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu as INEC chairman. However, because, as I pointed out in my September 20 column, no president, prime minister, or head of state has ever appointed an INEC chairman […]

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Army confirms killing of four soldiers by Boko Haram in deadly midnight raid on Borno

The New Diplomat — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 19:37:12 +0000

By Obinna Uballa Four Nigerian soldiers have been confirmed dead and five others injured after Boko Haram terrorists launched a fierce midnight attack on a military base in Ngamdu, along the Damaturu–Maiduguri Road in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State. The assault, which occurred around 2:30 a.m. on Friday, was met with stiff resistance […]

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Super Eagles Keep World Cup Dream Alive with Crucial 2–1 Win Over Lesotho

The New Diplomat — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 19:33:38 +0000

By Obinna Uballa Nigeria’s Super Eagles revived their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a determined 2–1 victory over Lesotho on Friday, a much-needed result that keeps them in contention ahead of the final round of qualifiers. After a cagey and goalless first half, captain William Troost-Ekong broke the deadlock in […]

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Oil Drops Below $60 on Gaza Ceasefire

The New Diplomat — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:35:37 +0000

WTI crude fell below $60 per barrel as easing Middle East tensions and weak China–U.S. sentiment erased much of oil’s geopolitical risk premium. Friday, October 10, 2025 The relatively successful implementation of the Israel-Gaza ceasefire deal has lowered geopolitical risk premiums in oil futures and sent front-month ICE Brent prices below $64 per barrel. The […]

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María Machado Dedicates Nobel Peace Prize to Trump

The New Diplomat — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 16:53:40 +0000

By Abiola Olawale María Machado, a Venezuelan democracy activist and winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, has dedicated her award to the President of the United States, Donald Trump. This comes after the Norwegian Nobel committee announced that Machado has clinched the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, a decision the White House protested as “political”. […]

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“Don’t Rush to Confirm Amupitan’s Nomination as INEC Chairman,” PDP Tells Senate

The New Diplomat — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 16:50:18 +0000

By Abiola Olawale The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Senate to apply a measured approach for the confirmation of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The PDP’s statement, issued Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, warned against hasty approval of President […]

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Jonathan Set to Meet Tinubu over Possible Release of Nnamdi Kanu

The New Diplomat — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 16:30:01 +0000

By Abiola Olawale Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore has disclosed that former President Goodluck Jonathan is reportedly set to engage President Bola Tinubu on the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. Sowore made this known following a meeting with Jonathan in Abuja on Friday, […]

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Labour Party, CSOs task new INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan, on transparency, integrity

The New Diplomat — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 16:27:44 +0000

By Obinna Uballa The appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has continued to elicit strong reactions across Nigeria, with both the Labour Party (LP) and a coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) calling for transparency, independence, and integrity in the handling of his […]

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UK Unveils Temporary Work Visas for Mid-Skilled Jobs to Tackle Labour Shortages

The New Diplomat — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 16:25:22 +0000

By Obinna Uballa The United Kingdom has announced a new temporary work visa pathway covering 82 mid-skilled occupations, including artists, human resource officers, carpenters, and plumbers, in a bid to fill growing labour shortages across key sectors of the economy. The move follows a new report released on Thursday by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), […]

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Trump Blasts Nobel Committee for ‘Choosing Politics Over Peace’ After Prize Snub

The New Diplomat — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 15:30:54 +0000

By Obinna Uballa The United States government has blasted the Norwegian Nobel Committee for what it described as a politically motivated decision after President Donald Trump was overlooked for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. In a strongly worded statement posted early Friday on X (formerly Twitter), White House Communications Director Steven Cheung accused the committee […]

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Federalism and Electoral Integrity: Bridging the Gap Between Nigeria and the USA

The New Diplomat — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 15:06:41 +0000

By Sonny Iroche In the tapestry of modern democracies, few threads are as intricate as federalism, the delicate balance of power between central authority and subnational entities. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and a federal republic since its independence in 1960, has long modeled its governance after the United States, the cradle of modern federalism. […]

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Senate Issues Ultimatum to Finance Ministry to Submit 2024 Budget Performance Report

The New Diplomat — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 12:45:58 +0000

By Abiola Olawale The Nigerian Senate has handed the Finance Ministry a two-week deadline to deliver a detailed performance report on the 2024 budget. The New Diplomat reports that the directive emerged from a high-stakes closed-door meeting at the National Assembly between the Senate Committee on Finance and President Bola Tinubu’s economic team. Led by […]

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