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Trump: Why we reject US threat on Nigeria — China

Published

14 hours ago

November 5, 2025

China yesterday rejected the United States’ threat to take military action against Nigeria, saying it is firmly opposed to any external interference in the country’s internal affairs.

Recall that US President Donald Trump had last weekend, threatened to take military action against Nigeria, following allegations of genocide against Christians in the country.

The Chinese government’s stance came on a day the Federal Government said religious extremists are behind the narrative alleging genocide against Christians, warning that their goal is to divide the nation.

This is even as the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said yesterday that because of the need to take a co-ordinated national response to Trump’s threat, the Senate will take the matter to the executive arm of government, especially as the issue in question bordered on foreign policy and diplomatic relations.

Meanwhile, stakeholders, including the northern states chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, and the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, continued in their call on Nigerians to unite against the US threat.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, who stated his country’s position in a statement published on the ministry’s website yesterday, said China, as a comprehensive strategic partner of Nigeria, is in support of the Nigerian government’s right to pursue a development path that aligns with its national realities.

He said: “As a comprehensive strategic partner of Nigeria, China firmly supports the Nigerian government in leading its people on a development path that fits Nigeria’s national realities.

“We oppose any country’s interference in other countries’ internal affairs under the pretext of religion and human rights. We oppose the wanton threat of sanctions and the use of force.”

Mao’s comments is coming in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” citing alleged persecution of Christian communities.

Trump warned that the U.S. could suspend assistance to Nigeria or take military action if the Nigerian government “continues to condone the killing of Christians.”

US lawmakers blast Trump, says threatening military action against Nigeria irresponsible, reckless
Also, two members of the United States parliament, Gregory W. Meeks and Sara Jacobs, have condemned President Donald Trump’s recent threat to cut off aid and launch military action against Nigeria.

Meeks, a ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Ms Jacobs, ranking member of the Africa Subcommittee, described the comments as “irresponsible and reckless.”

In a joint statement on Monday, the lawmakers also rejected the Nigerian designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the Trump administration.

“The Trump administration’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern ignores the complex reality of violence there.

“Clashes between farmers are many but not all of whom are Christian—and herders are driven by resource scarcity and land competition, not religion alone,” the lawmakers said.

They noted that terrorist groups had killed both Christians and Muslims across the country, particularly in the predominantly Muslim North, which continues to face violent attacks by criminal gangs, commonly referred to as bandits.

“All Nigerians deserve protection, and we know President Tinubu recognises the importance of inter-faith harmony and is working to address this challenge,” the statement added.

The lawmakers further criticised Mr Trump’s remarks threatening to “defend Christians” through possible military intervention, calling it a “reckless response to distorted facts”.

They said: “It is incredibly irresponsible of President Trump to threaten military action. Providing security support is one thing; threatening military intervention is another matter entirely. Such rhetoric risks embroiling the United States in another needless war.’’

On the threat of aid cut to Nigeria, the lawmakers argued that doing so would undermine critical humanitarian and development programmes in Nigeria.

“Trump’s aid cuts have blocked much-needed emergency nutrition and livelihoods training, the very types of programmes essential to stopping the spread of insurgency,” they added.

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Germany hails Nigeria’s war on terrorism

Published

6 minutes ago

November 5, 2025

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Government of Germany has commended Nigeria’s war on terrorism.

The government also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria in the area of security.

The German Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, disclosed this during a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, in Berlin, as both nations marked 65 years of diplomatic relations.

According to a statement by Alkasim Abdulkadir, Senior Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy to Tuggar, Nigeria and Germany renewed their commitment to deepening cooperation under the framework of the Nigeria–Germany Bi-National Commission.

He said Germany praised Nigeria’s ongoing efforts in combating terrorism, describing the country as a valued and reliable partner for the European Union in the fight against radical Islamist extremism.

The Minister highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Lake Chad Basin and its continued cooperation with regional and international partners to counter violent extremism.

“Germany reaffirms its commitment to supporting Nigeria through capacity building, intelligence sharing, and humanitarian assistance aimed at restoring peace and development in affected regions,” the statement added.

(NAN)

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NIS to introduce emergency passport for Nigerians abroad

Published

11 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Nigeria Immigration Service has announced plans to introduce a Single Travel Emergency Passport, a new biometric travel document designed to help Nigerians abroad whose passports are expired, lost, or stolen return home securely and verifiably.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, disclosed this during the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat, and Niamey Processes held in Abuja, which Nigeria co-hosted with the Government of France.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Service Public Relations Officer, ACI Akinsola Akinlabi, on Wednesday.

According to Nandap, the STEP will replace the current Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) as part of NIS’s ongoing reforms “aimed at strengthening Identity Management and Border Governance frameworks in line with global best practices.”

The CGI explained that “the STEP will serve as a temporary travel document for Nigerians abroad whose passports are expired, lost, or stolen, enabling them to return home in a secure and verifiable manner.”

She noted that “the travel document will be issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates abroad and valid only for single entry, reinforcing the Service’s commitment to efficient service delivery and robust identity protection.”

The meeting brought together key stakeholders in migration management, including the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, NAPTIP, ECOWAS, AU, EU, and representatives of African and European countries.

The high-level forum focused on strengthening collaboration to combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking, emphasising prevention, protection, and prosecution across regional migration routes.

In her keynote address, titled “Insights on Prevention and Protection as Strategic Pillars to Effective Law Enforcement and Prosecution Responses,” Nandap outlined the Service’s broader reform agenda aimed at enhancing migration management systems, international cooperation, and capacity building.

“The Comptroller-General reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional and global migration dialogues, emphasising that the Nigeria Immigration Service will continue to align its policies and operations with international standards to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration across borders,” the statement added.

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Rivers achieves 95% HIV testing among pregnant women — Institute

Published

11 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria reports significant progress in Rivers State’s Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, achieving more than 95 per cent HIV testing acceptance among pregnant women between 2020 and 2023.

Project Director of the Rivers ASPIRE Project at IHVN, Dr Stanley Idakwo, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday, noting that the achievement reflected years of strategic community engagement and consistent peer mentorship efforts.

Idakwo said data from the District Health Information System indicated that “HIV testing among pregnant women had remained between 95 and 100 per cent since 2020,” following intensive counselling and mentorship.

“This achievement is largely driven by effective counselling, strong peer support, and the mentor mother model that encourages adherence and emotional support.

“About 98.6 per cent of clients also expressed satisfaction with PMTCT services,” he said.

However, Idakwo acknowledged that challenges remained.

“Around 31.7 per cent of women cite distance to facilities as a barrier, 20.1 per cent mention transportation costs, and 16.5 per cent report long waiting times,” he noted.

He explained that those challenges were being mitigated through task-sharing among healthcare workers, improved case management, and integration of PMTCT with broader maternal and child health services across the state.

“Improved staff attitude and shorter waiting times have encouraged more women to seek antenatal care, ensuring better access to HIV testing and follow-up treatment for both mothers and their babies,” Idakwo added.

He emphasised that although maternal and infant ARV prophylaxis had reduced HIV transmission, uptake of follow-up services like facility-based deliveries and antiretroviral use during labour still needed improvement.

“To address this, we’re strengthening health workers’ capacity, improving drug supply chains, and ensuring mentor mothers and midwives jointly monitor pregnant women through delivery and the postnatal period.

“IHVN is also collaborating with the Rivers State Ministry of Health to expand PMTCT services closer to communities and improve access for women in hard-to-reach rural and riverine areas.

“With PEPFAR-CDC and Global Fund support, we’ve trained more than 400 Traditional Birth Attendants across 319 wards, linking them to 115 facilities under a hub-and-spoke service delivery model,” he said.

Idakwo said continuous training for counsellors, expansion of PMTCT coverage to more primary healthcare centres, and enhanced safety for healthcare workers were key strategies for sustaining the recorded progress.

“Our ultimate goal is to ensure no child in Rivers State is born with HIV. Every pregnant woman deserves quality, stigma-free healthcare regardless of her location or social status,” he affirmed.

He added that the IHVN Rivers ASPIRE Project would continue strengthening community partnerships and supporting Nigeria’s goal of eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission through sustained innovation and collaboration.

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