NNPP Chieftain Olufemi Ajadi writes a letter to President Trump over the stringent US visa rules for Nigerians

Ambassador Ajadi and Donald Trump – By Our Correspondent

A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has written an open letter to former United States President Donald J. Trump, advising to him to remove the stringent visa restrictions currently affecting Nigerians who wish to travel to the US.

In the strongly worded letter made available to journalists on Tuesday, Ajadi noted that Nigerians have long enjoyed cordial relations with the United States, and that the imposition of harsh visa rules undermines people-to-people ties, business collaborations, and educational opportunities.

According to him, many law-abiding Nigerians are unfairly denied access to the US due to policies that stereotype the country’s citizens, despite Nigeria’s significant contributions to global development and the large Nigerian diaspora community in America.

“Mr. President, Nigeria is a nation of hardworking and resourceful people,” Ajadi wrote. “Our citizens contribute positively to the US economy, academia, technology, medicine, and culture. It is therefore unfair to subject them to unnecessary bottlenecks and humiliating visa processes. I respectfully urge you to consider a review of these rules in the spirit of fairness, justice, and mutual respect.”

Ajadi, who is also a businessman and social activist, emphasized that easing visa restrictions would not only strengthen diplomatic ties but also create opportunities for trade, cultural exchange, and bilateral cooperation.

He called for fairer treatment of Nigerian travelers, while assuring that the government and people of Nigeria remain committed to international peace and collaboration.

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He further argued that many young Nigerians look up to the US as a destination for higher education and innovation, stressing that rigid visa hurdles discourage intellectual growth and international partnerships.

Ajadi concluded his letter by expressing optimism that President Trump, known for his bold decisions, would give fair consideration to the plight of millions of Nigerians who seek legitimate entry into the United States for studies, tourism, business, and family reunification.

The NNPP chieftain’s appeal adds to growing voices from civil society, political leaders, and the Nigerian diaspora calling for a review of immigration policies that affect the movement of Nigerians to the United States.

“Lagos is Africa’s foremost investment destination,” Speaker Obasa Declares

With a 20-million-strong population, $260 billion GDP, and status as West Africa’s maritime gateway, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa has once again declared Lagos as Africa’s premium business destination.

The Speaker reaffirmed this stance when he hosted a high-profile delegation from China’s Guangxi Province, led by Zhang Xiaoqin, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Guangxi People’s Congress, on Monday at the Assembly complex.

While hailing the visit as a ‘watershed moment’ for cross-continental collaboration, Speaker Obasa lauded the delegation’s expression of interest in deepening bilateral ties between Nigeria and China, with Lagos as a focal point – saying it underscores the state’s growing geopolitical clout as Africa’s fifth-largest economy and a hub of innovation, commerce, and cultural dynamism.

He said, “Lagos is more than a city – it is a vision of progress. Lagos is the best place to invest in Africa because we have the population and the enabling laws for ease of doing business. Our economy is huge and vibrant, one of the biggest in Africa. Whatever you invest here, you will recoup your investment. In the area of tourism, we are still expanding, and every idea is welcome to make us harness our potential.”

Further, he declared the state’s readiness to welcome investments in infrastructure, citing the existing collaboration between Lagos and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in the construction and operation of the Red and Blue Rail lines.

The proposed engagement with Guangxi Province, the Speaker said, unlocks doors for mutual growth in trade, technology, and cultural exchange. Therefore, he continued, “Our Assembly is committed to crafting legislative frameworks that foster sustainable development and global partnerships, and collaborating in the area of legislation and exchange of ideas for good governance.

“Lawmaking is the bedrock of progress. We will ensure our statutes align with global best practices to secure win-win outcomes for Lagos and our partners.”

Earlier, Xiaoqin had described the visit as “a foundation for enduring friendship,” with plans for follow-up technical exchanges. He described Lagos as a “vibrant economic ecosystem” and said that it shares maritime advantages with Guangxi that could be leveraged to grow tourism. “We are looking forward to enhancing collaboration in the area of trade, economy, and tourism. We hope you will provide more care for the Chinese citizens in Lagos,” he said.

Indeed, Guangxi, a southern Chinese region bordering Vietnam and famed for its ASEAN trade corridors, shares synergies with Lagos in port logistics, agriculture, and tourism. Guangxi’s interest signals China’s broader strategy to expand its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) footprint in Nigeria, with Lagos positioned as a linchpin.

For Obasa, the engagement is both diplomatic and symbolic: a reaffirmation of Lagos’s legislative maturity and its readiness to shape Africa’s 21st-century narrative.

Presidency Advised to Consider Strategic Lockdowns as Security Solution

Policy memorandum from CRADI outlines targeted, intelligence-led measures against insurgents and bandits

The Presidency has been advised to adopt strategic, intelligence-driven lockdowns as part of a new framework to counter terrorism, banditry, and other forms of violent criminality threatening national stability.

This recommendation was contained in a Policy Advisory Memorandum submitted to the Federal Government by the Crest Research and Development Institute (CRADI) and authored by conflict and security expert, Isa Mohammed.

The memorandum argues that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity requires urgent, innovative approaches beyond conventional military operations, pointing to lessons from other conflict zones as well as Nigeria’s own COVID-19 lockdown experience.

A Nation at a Crossroads

Nigeria currently faces overlapping layers of violence:

• Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency in the Northeast.
• Banditry, mass kidnappings, and illegal mining in the Northwest.
• Farmer–herder clashes and communal violence in the North Central.
• Separatist-linked attacks in the Southeast.
• Oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and cult-related violence in the South-South.
• Rising cases of kidnappings and armed robbery in the Southwest.

According to the memorandum, this mosaic of insecurity has eroded public trust in state authority and demands a coordinated strategy that can disrupt criminal networks while safeguarding civilian lives.

“Conventional military campaigns alone cannot address these overlapping threats,” Mohammed wrote. “Strategic lockdowns, when carefully designed, can restrict terrorist mobility, cut off supply lines, and create the operational space for intelligence-led security operations.”

Buratai’s Call Sparks Policy Debate

The proposal builds on a recent intervention by former Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd.), who called for a nationwide strategic lockdown as a tool to curb rising insecurity.

CRADI responded by convening a Policy Lab under its Co-Creation and Innovation Lab (CCIL), bringing together security practitioners, conflict analysts, governance experts, humanitarian actors, and community stakeholders.

The Lab drew lessons from Nigeria’s COVID-19 lockdown, which, despite its economic costs, succeeded in reducing certain forms of crime and giving security forces a clearer view of population movements. Participants agreed that lockdowns can be effective, but only if targeted, intelligence-driven, and sensitive to humanitarian needs.

Targeted, Not Blanket Lockdowns

The memorandum strongly cautioned against a nationwide shutdown, arguing it would cripple livelihoods without delivering sustainable security. Instead, CRADI recommended zonal lockdowns tailored to local dynamics.

Northeast: Seal borders with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon; enforce curfews around the Lake Chad Basin and Mandara Mountains.

Northwest: Impose lockdowns in forest belts such as Rugu, Kamuku, and Birnin Gwari; ban illegal mining; restrict rural mobility.

North Central: Enforce lockdowns in conflict flashpoints; secure farmlands with patrols; regulate grazing routes to reduce clashes.

Southeast: Introduce night curfews; restrict unauthorized assemblies; secure major highways against attacks.

South-South: Implement surveillance lockdowns along pipeline corridors and waterways to combat oil theft and cult-related violence.

Southwest: Apply tactical restrictions in forest reserves, especially the Ondo–Ogun axis, which has become a haven for kidnappers.

Security and Humanitarian Balance

The memorandum stressed that any lockdown must prioritize civilians’ welfare. Relief distribution, medical services, and humanitarian corridors must be integral parts of the plan.

“Lockdowns cannot succeed if they punish communities more than they hurt terrorists,” the Policy Lab concluded.

Civil society groups, traditional rulers, and religious leaders were identified as key partners in sensitization and community buy-in. International partners such as the United Nations, African Union, and ECOWAS were also highlighted as potential providers of technical and logistical support.

Oversight and Rule of Law

The memorandum insisted that the rule of law and accountability are essential if the strategy is to maintain legitimacy.

It proposed the creation of a Joint Oversight Mechanism comprising parliamentary committees, the National Human Rights Commission, and civil society actors to monitor enforcement, prevent abuse, and provide citizens with grievance platforms.

Security personnel would be required to operate under clear rules of engagement that respect constitutional rights while allowing decisive action against armed groups.

Implementation Plan

The strategy would unfold in phases:

First 3 months: Map security hotspots, enact legal frameworks, and sensitize communities.

Next 3–6 months: Enforce lockdowns, deploy security forces, and provide humanitarian relief.

After 6 months: Evaluate effectiveness, with adjustments made as needed. Successful areas would transition into community policing and peacebuilding efforts, while unresolved hotspots could see extended lockdowns.

Lockdowns would be strictly time-bound, lasting three to six months in any area, with extensions subject to National Assembly approval.

Measuring Success

Quarterly reports would be submitted to the Presidency anthe d National Assembly. Progress indicators would include:

Reduction in attacks and kidnappings.

Arrest or neutralization of high-value targets.

Destruction of terrorist and bandit camps.

Safe return of displaced persons.

Restoration of farming, trade, and socio-economic activities.

Restoring Authority and Stability

In its conclusion, the memorandum framed the proposal as an opportunity for the Federal Government to regain the initiative in its security strategy.

“General Buratai’s call for a strategic lockdown is an urgent reminder that Nigeria must rethink its approach to insecurity,” Mohammed wrote.

“If implemented with strong oversight, humanitarian sensitivity, and clear timelines, strategic lockdowns can help restore state authority, protect vulnerable communities, and lay the foundation for peacebuilding and long-term stability.”