The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has expressed deep concern over the multifaceted challenges confronting the nation, particularly in the areas of economy, insecurity, education, governance, and the media industry.

While noting that the federal government’s efforts to respond to these challenges through reforms, the NGE stated that the impact of these reforms is becoming unbearable for the poor.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its Standing Committee Meeting in Owerri, Imo State, signed by Eze Anaba President, and Onuoha Ukeh General Secretary, the Guild urged the federal government to put in place more safety nets to address hardship, inflation, and poverty.

The Guild also called for a holistic approach to addressing insecurity, including enhanced intelligence gathering, community policing, and strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders.‘

The NGE noted the recent major breakthrough in the ongoing war against terrorism, including the arrest of leaders of two militant groups on Nigeria’s most wanted list, the heads of Ansaru, an al-Qaida-linked group, and Mahmuda,” the communique said.It however emphasized the need for sustained efforts to address insecurity and restore confidence in farmers to return to producing food.

The professional media group also raised alarm in the education sector, noting the sorry state of education in the country and urged governments at all levels to prioritize education by improving funding, infrastructure renewal, and welfare for educators.

According to the Guild, “education is essential for economic growth and development, fostering innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

“The NGE also called on governments at all levels to be more committed and transparent in addressing the needs of citizens, especially the rural populace.

Speaking on the state of the media in the country, the Guild condemned growing hostilities against media organizations and professionals by some security agencies and non-state actors, calling on governments to partner with the media to deepen and protect democracy.

The editors warned against attempts to weaken the media, stating that “a weak media may fail to hold those in power accountable, limit access to information, and create a disconnect between the public and reality.

“The Guild thanked the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, for his efforts at delivering the dividends of democracy to his people and urged him to continue partnering with the media towards nation-building and promotion of peace and unity.

The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced a new requirement for visa applicants, mandating the disclosure of all social media usernames and handles used in the past five years.

The directive was issued on Monday via a post on the Mission’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. It aligns with the U.S. Department of State’s broader efforts to strengthen national security through enhanced applicant screening procedures.

According to the U.S. Mission, Nigerian applicants must provide a complete list of their social media profiles on the DS-160 visa application form, which is used for non-immigrant visa requests.

“Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 years on the DS-160 visa application form,” the Mission stated.

It further cautioned that failure to accurately disclose this information may result in visa denial and could affect future eligibility for U.S. visas.

“Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit. Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas,” the statement added.

The measure is part of a broader U.S. policy introduced in recent years, aimed at tightening immigration controls and improving background checks for travelers to the United States.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has said it will sustain its onslaught on criminal hideouts and illegal shanties in Abuja, particularly in Area 1, Durumi Distrit, where the administration described security threats as “worrisome”.

The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister of Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, made this known in a statement on Monday, adding that illegal shanties in Area 1, Duru I, will be “cleared very soon.”

According to the statement, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has set up a Stakeholders Committee made up of heads of security agencies, FCTA officials, civil society organisations, members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, and others, in a bid to ensure safety of Abuja residents.

“The ongoing onslaught on criminal hideouts in Abuja will continue. High level criminal activities such as robbery, carjacking, drug peddling and other heinous crimes with its attendant security implications to law abiding FCT residents cannot be allowed to continue,” the statement partly read.

Olayinka noted that the security agencies had previously arrested over 120 miscreants in the area, recovered seven stolen vehicles, 79 motorcycles, and 155 ATM cards, in an operation that lasted over three hours months ago, adding however, that the criminals had regrouped, and the shanties were back after previously being cleared.

“Three months ago, when security agencies carried out an operation in Area 1, Durumi, over 120 miscreants were arrested. Among those arrested in the operation that lasted over three hours were drug peddlers, one-chance operators, carjackers, and armed robbers.

“Seven stolen vehicles, and 79 stolen motorcycles were recovered, while 155 ATM cards were recovered. These ATM cards were those snatched from victims of one-chance operators, using the settlement as their base.

“Then, some of the shanties in Area 1, Durumi, were cleared. But today, the shanties are back, and the criminals have regrouped, making the area uninhabitable for law-abiding Nigerians. Consequently, the FCTA is already clearing shanties in the City Centre, and those in Area 1, Durumi will be cleared very soon,” the statement read.

Olayinka also noted that some of the shanties and makeshift houses were built on lands allocated over 20 years ago, disallowing allotees and even government agencies from making use of the lands.