News
FG hopes on new satellite, NigComSat-2 to revive economy

The Nigerian government is preparing to launch a new satellite, NigComSat-2, which is expected to significantly impact various sectors of the economy. The announcement was made by Aisha Bantam, Assistant General Manager of Communications at Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT), during a capacity training session for journalists. According to Mrs. Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, the Managing Director and CEO of NIGCOMSAT, the government is fully committed to this project due to its potential to advance Nigeria’s space capabilities and drive economic growth.
Although the timeline for the satellite’s launch was not disclosed, Bantam assured that it would occur as soon as possible. NigComSat-2 is anticipated to enhance NIGCOMSAT’s ability to provide high-speed communication services both within Nigeria and internationally. The satellite will support a range of applications including broadband internet, telemedicine, e-learning, and will also serve critical sectors like agriculture, security, health, and education.
Nigeria’s history with satellite technology has been challenging. The country initially invested $340 million in NigComSat-1, which was launched on May 13, 2007. Unfortunately, the satellite experienced technical failures and was de-orbited in November 2008. A replacement, NigComSat-1R, was launched on December 19, 2011, following a contract with China Great Wall Industry Corporation. This satellite is expected to continue its service until 2026.
Despite the launch of NigComSat-1R, there has been a lack of political will to follow up with additional satellites, and many government agencies and businesses have preferred foreign satellite services. This has led to underutilization of NigComSat-1R. For instance, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) opted for a foreign Eutelsat service rather than using the indigenous satellite.
However, Egerton-Idehen expressed optimism about the government’s renewed commitment to satellite technology, highlighting the importance of having backup satellites and the role they play in various critical areas. She also acknowledged the media’s crucial role in promoting the satellite communication industry and educating the public on its benefits.
Overall, the upcoming NigComSat-2 represents a significant step for Nigeria’s space and communication capabilities, aiming to address past issues and support the country’s socio-economic development.
International
BREAKING: FG gives foreigners with expired visas 3 months to leave Nigeria

The Nigerian government has given foreigners with expired visa three months to vacate the country.
The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, announced this in a statement released on Friday, May 2, 2025.
In the statement signed by Akinsola Akinlabi, Public Relations Officer, the Nigeria Immigration Service warned that overstaying now attracts daily fines of “$15, plus bans of up to five years or permanent blacklisting” starting from September 2025.
“A 3-month grace period allows foreigners with expired visas to exit Nigeria without penalty, ending August 1st, 2025,” the statement added.
Also, the statement announced the introduction of a mandatory online landing card for inbound foreigners and exit card for outbound travelers — both accessible at lecard.immigration.gov.ng.
News
FG stops work on Sagamu-Iperu Road over poor quality

The Federal Government has directed that work should stop on the 12km Sagamu-Iperu Road by the Sagamu Interchange on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, gave the directive on Thursday during an inspection tour of road projects in Lagos and Ogun states.
He expressed displeasure at the quality and speed of work on the road.
He gave a seven-day period to the contractor handling the project to remedy the situation and remove the stone base.
Umahi also directed the contractor to bring in the right milling machine and the right mixture of stone base.
He also directed the contractor to speed up the work.
The minister said that the contractor had all the ramps and retaining walls on some bridges.
He added that some piers on some of the bridges had rusted rods.
“That is very dangerous. I am giving seven days, I am leaving behind the design head so that they can work till Sunday to come up with a comprehensive drawing and then costing so that I can appeal to Mr President.
“This is very urgent. If any of them should collapse, it will take multi-billion Naira to get them reconstructed, but now it will take less to get them amended.”
NAN
Crime
FBI, DEA seek 90-day extension to release Tinubu’s records

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration have requested a 90-day extension from a United States District Court to produce documents relating to an alleged drug investigation involving President Bola Tinubu dating back to the 1990s.
The request was submitted on Thursday in a joint status report filed with the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
The case stems from a series of Freedom of Information Act requests by an American legal transparency advocate and founder of the platform PlainSite, Aaron Greenspan.
Greenspan is seeking the release of records connected to a Chicago-based drug ring and has named Tinubu along with three other individuals: Lee Andrew Edwards, Mueez Abegboyega Akande, and Abiodun Agbele.
The court, presided over by Judge Beryl Howell, had earlier ordered the FBI and DEA to provide a status update on the search and release of non-exempt documents by May 2, 2025.
However, in the latest filing, both agencies said they needed more time to complete their searches.
The report reads, “Aaron Greenspan (“Plaintiff”) and Defendants Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the only remaining defendants in this case, respectfully submit the following joint status report proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings, pursuant to the Court’s Order of April 8, 2025 (ECF No. 47).
“Pursuant to the court’s order, the defendants, FBI and DEA must search for and produce non-exempt records responsive to the plaintiff’s FOIA requests (FBI Requests Nos. 1588244-000 and 1593615- 000, and DEA Request Nos. 22-00892-F and 24-00201-F).
“The FBI and DEA have initiated their searches for responsive, non-exempt, reasonably segregable portions of records requested by the plaintiff and anticipate completing their searches in ninety days.
”Greenspan opposed the delay, arguing that the agencies had already delayed the process for years and that some documents had already been identified.He proposed a much shorter deadline.
“Given the years-long delay already caused by the defendants and the fact that many responsive documents have already been identified, the plaintiff proposes that the FBI and DEA complete their searches and productions by next week, or, at the very least, produce unredacted versions of the already-identified documents by next week, with the remainder completed in 14 days.
The defendants provide no rationale for why their search for documents should take 90 days.
“The FBI and DEA have initiated their searches for responsive, non-exempt, reasonably segregable portions of records requested by the plaintiff and anticipate completing their searches in ninety days,” Greenspan said.
The FOIA requests, filed between 2022 and 2023, sought records from multiple federal agencies.
Initially, the FBI and DEA issued “Glomar responses,” refusing to confirm or deny the existence of relevant records.
The court later deemed this response inappropriate, ordering the agencies to proceed with full or partial disclosures where applicable.
Greenspan is also seeking reimbursement of $440.22 in filing and mailing costs.
The two sides remain at odds over when the next joint status report should be filed.
While the agencies proposed July 31, Greenspan urged the court to set the deadline for May 31, 2025.
“The plaintiff intends to request reimbursement for his costs: the filing fee of $402.00 and $38.22 for certified mail postage, totalling $440.22.
“The defendants propose that the parties submit a joint status report on or before July 31, 2025 to update the Court on the case status following the agencies’ search for responsive, non-exempt, reasonably segregable records requested by the plaintiff.
The plaintiff proposes that they submit a joint status report on or before May 31, 2025,” the report added.
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