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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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Boko Haram Demands $300,000 Ransom For Abducted Borno Ex-LG Chair, Another Victim

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A new video has emerged showing two men reportedly kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State, pleading for assistance to secure their release.

 

One of the captives, former Biu Local Government Area Chairman Hassan Biu Miringa, revealed that their abductors are demanding a $300,000 ransom.

 

Miringa said he and another individual were taken in December 2025 and have remained in the custody of the militants.

 

In the video shared by Zagazola Makama, Miringa introduced himself, saying: “I am Hassan Biu Miringa, former Chairman of Biu Local Government from 2020 to 2022. Four years after my tenure, we were kidnapped by the soldiers of Khilafa about two weeks ago. Alhamdulillah, we are still alive, but we urgently need help to save our lives.”

 

He added that negotiations with the kidnappers had been underway, with some preliminary agreements reportedly reached.

 

“We have engaged them on four separate occasions and reached an understanding. We appeal to our leaders, especially Borno State Deputy Governor Alhaji Usman Umar Kadafur, the National Assembly representative for Biu, Kwaya, and Shani Hon. Betera Aliyu, as well as our community leaders, to temper justice with mercy and assist us. We are their children and have been working together,” Miringa said.

 

He confirmed the ransom demand, explaining that each captive is expected to pay $150,000, totaling $300,000 for their freedom, and pleaded for urgent intervention to reunite with their families.

 

The video highlights ongoing concerns over kidnappings and insecurity in southern Borno State, which have persisted despite government efforts to curb insurgent activity in the region.

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How Rivers Women Spread Wrappers For Wike’s Motorcade During Port Harcourt Visit

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday visited Port Harcourt City Local Government as part of his “thank you” visit across Rivers State.

 

Upon his arrival, a group of women displayed a symbolic gesture of loyalty by spreading their wrappers on the ground for his motorcade.

 

The women and supporters of the Minister were in a jubilant mode as Wike drove on the wrappers.

 

Wike has been going around local governments in the state to appreciate them for their support while reeling out moves ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

In the course of his visits, the Minister had fired several salvos at political actors in the state, warning that their sudden support for President Bola Tinubu won’t secure them any ticket in 2027.

 

Wike also renewed rivalry with Governor Sim Fubara over the leadership control of the political space in the state.

 

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Impeachment Proceedings Against Fubara, Deputy Still Active – Rivers Assembly

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The Rivers State House of Assembly has officially reaffirmed that the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, are ongoing and have not been suspended.

 

The Assembly said the process is still ongoing and is being conducted strictly in line with constitutional provisions.

 

This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Hon. Enemi George.

 

According to the statement, the impeachment process, which began on Thursday, January 8, 2026, remains on course in line with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

 

The lawmakers disclosed that separate notices of allegations bordering on gross misconduct have been served on both the governor and his deputy in line with Section 188 of the Constitution.

 

“The notices of allegations of gross misconduct against the Governor and the Deputy Governor have been duly forwarded to them by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, and the House is awaiting their responses,” the statement said.

 

The Assembly maintained that it is constitutionally obligated to act in the interest of the rule of law and ensure that no public office holder acts outside legal boundaries.

 

Reacting to reports suggesting that the impeachment move had been halted, the House accused some individuals and media outlets of deliberately spreading misinformation to mislead the public and stir tension between the legislature and Rivers residents.

 

The lawmakers described such reports as false and insisted they would not succumb to intimidation, threats, or blackmail.

 

“We are aware of renewed attempts by certain persons and media platforms to misinform the public by claiming that the impeachment process has been discontinued. The public should disregard such falsehoods, as the process remains active,” the statement added.

 

The Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to democratic principles and constitutional responsibilities, stressing that it would not be distracted by what it termed “cheap propaganda.”

 

It also appreciated the people of Rivers State for their support and prayers amid the ongoing political developments and extended goodwill to Nigerians committed to the nation’s democratic journey.

 

JomogNews reports that during Thursday’s plenary session, presided over by the Speaker, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally read the notice of allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara on the floor of the House.

 

 

 

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