International
The Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams to visit Nigeria on Sunday
The New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, will arrive in Nigeria on Sunday for a two-day visit as part of his Africa tour.
Nigeria’s Consul-General in New York, Amb. Lot Egopija, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in New York.
Egopija disclosed the Mayor would be attending the meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum during the visit.
He said, “He will be visiting the Minister of FCT to commence sister-city relationship between the city of Abuja and New York.”
A sister-city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities aimed at promoting cultural and commercial ties.
According to the Consul-General, Eric Adams would also pay courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as meet with the business community in the FCT.
NAN reports that Egopija had in January briefed Adams, at a meeting of African Consuls-General, on areas of interest on the sister-city relationship with New York.
“We have started an engagement on the need to have the sister-city relationship between the City of New York and the FCT.
“We want a situation whereby the city of Abuja and New York are able to partner in area of education, fire service, medical support and other social services.
“Also, cultural engagement, the Mayor has taken due note of my suggestion and said, the city would be willing to collaborate with the mission, especially as it relates to our desire to promote the ‘Seki Dance’.
“The Seki Dance troupe and America Tap dance have a similarity; the origin of America Tap dance has been attributed to come from Niger Delta region of Nigeria,’’ Egopija told NAN.
International
Nigeria remains committed to religious freedom – Tinubu replies Trump
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to religious freedom amid the allegation of genocide against Christians in the country by the Donald Trump administration.
In a statement he personally signed and shared by Bayo Onanuga his spokesman,Tinubu said his administration had since 2023, maintained open and active engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders to strengthen national unity and address security challenges affecting communities across the country.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality. Nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” Tinubu said.
He reiterated that religious freedom and tolerance have long been “a core tenet of our collective identity,” adding that Nigeria “opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.
”Tinubu emphasised that his government remains committed to working closely with the United States and other international partners “to deepen understanding and cooperation on the protection of communities of all faiths.
”Read the full statement below:
Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions.
The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.
Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.
Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.
Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths.
BOLA AHMED TINUBUPRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

International
Trump orders US Military to resume nuclear weapons testing
Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately,” Trump posted.
President Donald Trump on Thursday directed the United States military to resume nuclear weapons testing, ending a 33-year break.
The announcement came on Truth Social, minutes before he met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea.
” Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately,” Trump posted.
“Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.
”The move appears aimed at both Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia recently carried out a series of nuclear-related tests, though the Kremlin said none involved actual nuclear explosions.
“Until now, we didn’t know that anyone was testing ” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Russia would only test in response to another country doing so.
No nuclear power other than North Korea has conducted explosive testing in over 25 years. The U.S. last tested in 1992, Russia in 1990, and China in 1996.
International
UK: King Charles strips his brother, Andrew of ‘Prince’ title, mansion
Andrew, 65, the second son of the deceased Queen Elizabeth II, has faced growing scrutiny over his relationship with the late sex offender Epstein.
Britain’s King Charles has stripped his younger brother, Andrew, of his title of prince and ordered him to vacate his Windsor home, Buckingham Palace.
The move seeks to further distance the royal family from Andrew’s ties to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Andrew, 65, the second son of the deceased Queen Elizabeth II, has faced growing scrutiny over his relationship with the late sex offender Epstein.
Earlier this month, he was directed to stop using his title of Duke of York.
The king has now taken tougher measures by removing all of Andrew’s remaining titles, meaning he will henceforth be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
According to the palace, a formal notice has been issued requiring him to surrender the lease of his Royal Lodge mansion on the Windsor Estate. He is expected to relocate to private accommodation on the Sandringham estate in eastern England.
The decision, which comes as King Charles continues cancer treatment, is seen as one of the most decisive actions taken against a senior royal in modern British history.
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