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FG Will No Longer Tolerate Harassment Of Nigerians In Ghana- Lai Mohammed

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says the Federal government will no longer tolerate the harassment of Nigerians in Ghana.

Lai Mohammed made this remark while reacting to recent attacks meted on Nigerians residing in Ghana. Recall that two weeks ago, some Nigerian traders in Ghana raised alarm over the closure of their shops after they were asked to pay N1 million. In June this year, a part of the building owned by the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, was demolished by Ghanaian authorities.

In a statement released today Friday, August 28, Mohammed said over one million Ghanaians are resident in Nigeria and they are not being maltreated. He stressed that the Nigerian government will no longer tolerate the harassment of Nigerians. He added that the Federal government is already considering a number of measures to take to address the situation.

The statement reads

”THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT IS DEEPLY CONCERNED BY THE INCESSANT HARASSMENT OF ITS CITIZENS IN GHANA AND THE PROGRESSIVE ACTS OF HOSTILITY TOWARDS THE COUNTRY BY GHANAIAN AUTHORITIES, AND WILL NO LONGER TOLERATE SUCH.

IN THIS REGARD, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS URGENTLY CONSIDERING A NUMBER OF OPTIONS AIMED AT AMELIORATING THE SITUATION.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTING THE ACTS OF HOSTILITY TOWARDS NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS BY THE GHANAIAN AUTHORITIES. THESE INCLUDE:
– SEIZURE OF THE NIGERIAN MISSION’S PROPERTY LOCATED AT NO. 10, BARNES ROAD, ACCRA, WHICH THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT HAS USED AS DIPLOMATIC PREMISES FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS. THIS ACTION IS A SERIOUS BREACH OF THE VIENNA CONVENTION.
– DEMOLITION OF THE NIGERIAN MISSION’S PROPERTY LOCATED AT NO. 19/21 JULIUS NYERERE STREET, EAST RIDGE, ACCRA, ANOTHER SERIOUS BREACH OF
THE VIENNA CONVENTION.
– AGGRESSIVE AND INCESSANT DEPORTATION OF NIGERIANS FROM GHANA. BETWEEN JAN. 2018 AND FEB. 2019, 825 NIGERIANS WERE DEPORTED FROM
GHANA.

– CLOSURE OF SHOPS BELONGING TO NIGERIANS. OVER 300 NIGERIANS SHOPS WERE LOCKED FOR FOUR MONTHS IN KUMASI IN 2018; OVER 600 NIGERIAN SHOPS WERE LOCKED IN 2019 AND, CURRENTLY, OVER 250 NIGERIANS SHOPS HAVE BEEN LOCKED.

– RESIDENCY PERMIT REQUIREMENTS, FOR WHICH THE GHANA IMMIGRATION SERVICE HAS PLACED HUGE FEES, FAR HIGHER THAN THE FEES CHARGED BY
THE NIGERIAN IMMIGRATION SERVICE. THESE INCLUDE THE COMPULSORY NON-CITIZEN ID CARD (US$120, AND US$60 FOR YEARLY RENEWAL); MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS, INCLUDING FOR COVID-19 WHICH IS NEWLY-INTRODUCED (ABOUT
US$120), AND PAYMENT FOR RESIDENCY PERMIT (US$400 COMPARED TO THE N7,000 BEING PAID BY GHANAIANS FOR RESIDENCY CARD IN NIGERIA)

– OUTRAGEOUS STIPULATIONS IN THE GHANA INVESTMENT PROMOTION CENTRE
ACT. WHEN THE ACT WAS INITIALLY PROMULGATED IN 1994, A FOREIGNER IS REQUIRED TO INVEST AT LEAST US$300,000 BY WAY OF EQUITY CAPITAL AND
ALSO EMPLOY 10 GHANAIANS. THIS ACT HAS NOW BEEN AMENDED TWICE, WITH THE 2018 GIPC ACT RAISING THE MINIMUM CAPITAL BASE FOR FOREIGN-OWNED BUSINESSES TO US$1M. THOUGH TARGETED AT FOREIGNERS, IT SEEMS GIPC’S
DEFINITION OF FOREIGNERS IS NIGERIANS. THE GIPC ACT ALSO NEGATES THE ECOWAS PROTOCOL.

– MEDIA WAR AGAINST NIGERIANS IN GHANA. THE NEGATIVE REPORTAGE OF
ISSUES CONCERNING NIGERIANS RESIDENT IN GHANA BY THE GHANAIAN MEDIA IS FUELLING AN EMERGING XENOPHOBIC ATTITUDE TOWARDS NIGERIAN TRADERS AND NIGERIANS IN GENERAL. THE IMMEDIATE FALLOUT IS THE INCESSANT HARASSMENT AND ARREST OF NIGERIAN TRADERS AND CLOSURE OF THEIR SHOPS.

– HARSH AND OPENLY-BIASED JUDICIAL TRIAL AND PRONOUNCEMENT OF INDISCRIMINATELY-LONG JAIL TERMS FOR CONVICTED NIGERIANS. THERE ARE
CURRENTLY OVER 200 NIGERIANS IN THE NSAWAM MAXIMUM PRISON IN GHANA
ALONE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL LIKE TO PUT ON RECORD THE FACT THAT EVEN THOUGH OVER 1 MILLION GHANAIANS ARE RESIDENT IN NIGERIA, THEY ARE NOT
BEING SUBJECTED TO THE KIND OF HOSTILITY BEING METED OUT TO NIGERIANS IN GHANA.

ALSO, EVEN THOUGH THE MAIN REASON GIVEN FOR THE SEIZURE OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AT NO. 10, BARNES ROAD IN ACCRA IS THE NON-RENEWAL OF LEASE AFTER EXPIRATION, THE GHANAIAN AUTHORITIES DID NOT GIVE NIGERIA THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL OR THE NOTICE TO RENEW THE LEASE.
BY CONTRAST, THE LEASE ON SOME OF THE PROPERTIES OCCUPIED BY THE GHANAIAN MISSION IN NIGERIA HAS LONG EXPIRED, YET SUCH PROPERTIES HAVE NOT BEEN SEIZED.

NIGERIA HAS TIME AFTER TIME DEMONSTRATED ITS FIDELITY TO THE LONG CORDIAL RELATIONS WITH GHANA. BUT INDICATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN RECENT TIMES, ARE THAT NIGERIA’S STANCE IS NOW BEING TAKEN FOR GRANTED AND ITS CITIZENS BEING MADE TARGETS OF HARASSMENT AND OBJECTS OF RIDICULE.

THIS WILL NO LONGER BE TOLERATED UNDER ANY GUISE.”

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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race

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The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”

He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”

Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.

He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.

“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”

The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.

He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”

“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”

Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.

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Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency

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The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.

In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.

Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote

Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.

The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.

‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.

President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded

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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience

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Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.

The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.

In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.

He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”

The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.

Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.

“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”

Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.

“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”

The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.

By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.

The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.

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