Nigeria and the United Kingdom have signed a series of new agreements covering port modernisation, migration, border security and business mobility as part of efforts to deepen economic and security cooperation .
At the centre of the deals is a £746 million infrastructure agreement to upgrade Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos, Nigeria’s busiest seaports, which was signed at Lancaster House in London .
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun signed on behalf of Nigeria, while UK Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation Blair McDougall signed for the British government .
Edun said the port deal aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s priorities on infrastructure, energy and industrial development under the Renewed Hope Agenda and will help attract investment, create jobs and reduce poverty .
He noted that the agreement reflects growing confidence and mutual trust between both countries and a shared commitment to delivering tangible economic results .
Nigeria and the UK also concluded three key documents on migration and security: a Migration Partnership, Cooperation on Organised Immigration Crime and Border Security, and an agreement on the expansion of business visas for UK companies working with Nigeria .
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji Ojo signed the migration related agreements for Nigeria, describing them as proof of a shared determination to build a safe, orderly and mutually beneficial migration system .
He said Nigeria is committed to a framework that protects its national interests, respects international obligations and tackles abuses of legal migration paths and related criminal activities .
Tunji Ojo said the expanded business visa arrangement will support economic growth, adding that visa policy reforms under the Tinubu administration are being designed as tools to drive trade and broader socio economic development .
He stressed that Nigeria’s ambition to build a trillion dollar economy requires removing barriers to trade, including bottlenecks linked to irregular migration, and pledged that the government will work quickly to implement the new understandings .
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the package of agreements as unprecedented in scope and said Nigeria is the first country to conclude such an extensive framework with the UK, underlining its importance in British foreign policy .
She said both countries share a clear vision of what they can achieve together and that the new arrangements will strengthen cooperation on migration management and security .
UK Trade Envoy Florence Eshalomi said the expanded business visa deal offers clear mutual benefits and is a bold step toward stronger growth, especially for Nigeria as one of Africa’s largest economies .
President Tinubu, whose state visit to the UK is the first by a Nigerian leader in 37 years, said the trip provides a fresh platform to deepen long standing ties and build on the institutional development Nigeria has enjoyed over time .
He called for stronger trade agreements and closer economic collaboration, emphasising that Nigeria and Britain can unlock more opportunities by working together .
On the sidelines, National Identity Management Commission Director General Abisoye Coker Odusote said NIMC will expand National Identification Number enrolment centres and improve services for Nigerians in the UK to help them access key services and connect with Nigeria’s digital economy .
She added that NIMC is also intensifying ward level enrolment within Nigeria to reach rural and underserved communities, in line with the federal government’s goal of using digital identity to support growth, social protection and better governance .
About the author
Ghana actor Van Vicker earns first class law degree from Wisconsin University
Award-winning Ghanaian actor and filmmaker Joseph Van Vicker has earned a first class Bachelor of Laws degree from Wisconsin International University College in Ghana. Sharing the achievement on Instagram on June 19, 2026, Van Vicker reflected on the significance of graduating with first class honours. He noted that academic success alone does not guarantee professional excellence in the legal field. Van Vicker is a celebrated figure in African cinema and television. He previously earned a first class degree from the African University College of Communication for his undergraduate studies. He is also currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy degree at the University of Education, Winneba. The actor enrolled at Wisconsin International University College to study the Bachelor of Laws program after completing his first degree. He has been active in the entertainment industry for many years, producing films and television […]
Brazilian legend Ronaldinho signs with Serie C club Ravenna at age 46
Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho Gaúcho has signed with Italian Serie C club Ravenna FC at the age of 46, marking a surprising return to the sport more than a decade after his last professional appearance. Ronaldinho, who previously played for AC Milan and Barcelona, will be officially unveiled at a major event in Miami on June 23, 2026. According to multiple reports, the former Brazil national team star will join the Romagna-based club for the 2026-27 Serie C season. However, there is important clarification about his role. Ravenna vice-president Ariedo Braida, who previously signed Ronaldinho at Milan in 2008, confirmed that Ronaldinho will participate in marketing events and promotional activities for the club but will not play competitive matches in Serie C. Instead, he will serve as an image ambassador and investor for Ravenna. The 46-year-old will attend the team's […]
Bolivia’s president declares state of emergency after weeks of protests
Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz has declared a nationwide state of emergency to free the country's roads from blockades after over six weeks of protests demanding his resignation. Paz announced the emergency measure early Saturday, stating it is to give freedom back to the people and liberate Bolivia from those using political conflict to block roads and harm the population. The president called the situation an organized attempt to destabilize democracy, saying the decision came after exhausting all avenues of dialogue. The emergency declaration gives Paz expanded constitutional powers to restore order, including the option to deploy armed forces to dismantle blockades. The order is effective immediately, but Paz must inform Congress within 24 hours, and Congress has up to 72 hours to endorse or dismiss the declaration. The conflict erupted in May after Paz scrapped two-decade-old fuel subsidies, causing gas […]
Trump unveils Qatar-gifted presidential jet, calls it flying White House
US President Donald Trump has unveiled a luxurious Boeing 747-8 jet gifted by Qatar as the new Air Force One, proclaiming at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, that the aircraft has been converted into a flying White House with unprecedented luxury. The jet, which Trump says is virtually double the size of the previous model, is painted in white, maroon and navy blue, with Trump personally selecting the red, white and blue paint scheme as a departure from the traditional light blue. The Qatari royal family donated the luxury Boeing 747-8 to the US Department of Defense in May 2025, intending for it to be integrated into the Air Force One fleet that serves to transport the president. Trump has said the Qatari jet would serve as a bridge aircraft to transport the president until the new fleet of Boeing planes […]
APC, ADC, PDP test strength in Ekiti gov election
The All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 12 other parties are testing their strength today as Ekiti State holds its 2026 governorship election. Incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC is seeking re-election, facing a major challenge from PDP candidate Wole Oluyede and ADC flagbearer Dare Bejide, as the three parties battle for over one million registered votes across 16 local government areas. Analysts see the poll as a key test of APC’s grip on Ekiti and of the opposition’s ability to rally discontented voters ahead of future contests in the South-West, with the ADC also looking to prove it is more than a “noisemaker” after being tipped for its first real electoral test in Osun and Ekiti. Party leaders from APC, ADC and PDP have expressed confidence about victory, with all three […]
Troops crush kidnap plot in Sokoto, rescue 22 victims
Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force (JTF) North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have successfully rescued 22 kidnapped victims and foiled separate abduction attempts in Sabon Birni and Isa Local Government Areas of Sokoto State. Among those rescued were 17 kidnapped passengers who were successfully extricated and handed over to the appropriate authorities for necessary action. The gallant troops stormed the kidnappers’ hideout after receiving credible intelligence, tracked the criminals, and engaged them in firefight to extricate the abductees. The operation demonstrated the Nigerian security forces’ commitment to securing the North-West region and dismantling criminal kidnapping networks that have plagued states like Sokoto. Security forces in the area worked in synergy to crush the kidnap plot, intercepting the criminals and disrupting their plans to move the victims to unsafe locations. The rescued victims were subsequently released to their families and […]
Related
APC, ADC, PDP test strength in Ekiti gov election
The All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 12 other parties are testing their strength today as Ekiti State holds its 2026 governorship election. Incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC is seeking re-election, facing a major challenge from PDP candidate Wole Oluyede and ADC flagbearer Dare Bejide, as the three parties battle for over one million registered votes across 16 local government areas. Analysts see the poll as a key test of APC’s grip on Ekiti and of the opposition’s ability to rally discontented voters ahead of future contests in the South-West, with the ADC also looking to prove it is more than a “noisemaker” after being tipped for its first real electoral test in Osun and Ekiti. Party leaders from APC, ADC and PDP have expressed confidence about victory, with all three […]
Troops crush kidnap plot in Sokoto, rescue 22 victims
Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force (JTF) North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have successfully rescued 22 kidnapped victims and foiled separate abduction attempts in Sabon Birni and Isa Local Government Areas of Sokoto State. Among those rescued were 17 kidnapped passengers who were successfully extricated and handed over to the appropriate authorities for necessary action. The gallant troops stormed the kidnappers’ hideout after receiving credible intelligence, tracked the criminals, and engaged them in firefight to extricate the abductees. The operation demonstrated the Nigerian security forces’ commitment to securing the North-West region and dismantling criminal kidnapping networks that have plagued states like Sokoto. Security forces in the area worked in synergy to crush the kidnap plot, intercepting the criminals and disrupting their plans to move the victims to unsafe locations. The rescued victims were subsequently released to their families and […]
Oyo abduction: Inside terrorists’ plot to stall rescue
Boko Haram terrorists trapped in the Oyo National Park are using improvised explosive devices (IEDs), landmines and diversionary attacks to stall rescue efforts for abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State. Security sources said the insurgents, believed to be a faction of Boko Haram (JAS) displaced from the North-East, have heavily mined the forest routes and laid booby traps to slow down or repel ground troops. The terrorists are also reportedly using some of the kidnapped children as human shields, making any forceful rescue operation extremely risky and raising fears of mass casualties if troops attempt a direct assault. The Department of State Services (DSS), through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has taken over communication with the abductors after the terrorists insisted on speaking only with the governor, the police commissioner or a top government official. So […]
U.S. lifts Strait of Hormuz blockade as U.S. and Iran sign deal to halt war
The U.S. Central Command has confirmed that the naval blockade over the Strait of Hormuz has officially been lifted as a result of the ceasefire agreement reached between the United States and Iran. The U.S. declared the cessation of its naval blockade affecting maritime movement to and from Iranian ports and coastal territories, including the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, with the blockade expected to be completely lifted within 30 days. According to senior U.S. officials, this measure is all part of the deal signed by President Donald Trump at the Palace of Versailles, where the U.S. and Iran agreed to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz and halt the war. In return for the blockade lift, Iran will now allow toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, ensuring safe passage for commercial ships without any charges […]
DSS rejects foreign funding for security and intelligence-gathering operations
The Department of State Services (DSS) has rejected proposals to allow foreign organisations to fund security and intelligence operations in Nigeria through the proposed DSS Security Trust Fund, warning of serious national security risks. DSS Deputy Director Emmanuel Duabry represented the service at a public hearing organised by the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence on bills aimed at strengthening the domestic intelligence agency's operational capacity. The DSS endorsed the bill to establish the Trust Fund but proposed far-reaching amendments, including the deletion of Section 3(d), which permits grants, donations and endowments from international organisations. Duabry said: "Allowing foreign funding for a security-related Trust Fund raises serious concerns relating to sovereignty, operational confidentiality, and institutional independence," urging lawmakers to expunge the clause. The DSS argued that accepting foreign funding could undermine institutional independence and expose intelligence activities to external […]
Insecurity: Fake news, political propaganda fueling terrorism — Abdulsalami
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has warned that political propaganda and fake news spread on social media are giving oxygen to terrorist groups and worsening insecurity in Nigeria. Abdulsalami said propaganda for political and other selfish gains is emboldening terrorists and undermining efforts by security agencies to combat insurgency and banditry. He decried how fake news spreads on platforms like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, noting that false stories, doctored videos and misinformation are being used to propagate extremist narratives and create distrust among citizens. According to him, some actors deliberately push misleading content to score political points or gain attention, without regard for how such propaganda can aid terrorists, destabilise communities and compromise security operations. Abdulsalami stressed that the fight against insecurity must be a collective responsibility, urging politicians, media practitioners and citizens to be more responsible […]