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SEE FULL LIST: Nigeria drops to 90th in latest global passport ranking

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Nigeria has slipped to 90th position on the latest Henley Passport Index, with holders of the Nigerian passport able to access 44 destinations without obtaining a visa in advance.

The July 2026 global ranking, released by Henley & Partners on Tuesday, ranked the Nigerian passport 90th out of 199 passports assessed worldwide, with a visa-free score of 44.

The new ranking marks a one-place drop from the 89th position Nigeria occupied in the April 2026 edition of the index, while the country’s visa-free score remained unchanged at 44 destinations.

In a statement on its website on Tuesday, Henley & Partners said the index, released on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without obtaining a prior visa.

It added that the ranking covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations using data from the International Air Transport Association.

Among African countries, South Africa retained the continent’s strongest passport, ranking 49th globally with visa-free access to 101 destinations.

Botswana followed in 61st place with access to 81 destinations, while Ghana ranked 70th with a visa-free score of 67. Morocco placed 67th with 71 destinations, while Kenya shared the 68th position with 70 destinations.

Nigeria ranked alongside the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Turkmenistan, each with visa-free access to 44 destinations.

Globally, Singapore retained the world’s most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to 192 destinations.

Japan ranked second with access to 188 destinations, while South Korea and the United Arab Emirates shared third place with 187 destinations.

The United States of America sits disappointingly at 10th position with 180 destinations.

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At the bottom of the ranking, Afghanistan remained the world’s weakest passport, with visa-free access to just 22 destinations.

Syria ranked 103rd with access to 25 destinations, while Iraq placed 102nd with 28 destinations.

The latest ranking comes months after Nigeria climbed six places on the Henley Passport Index between January 2024 and April 2026, rising from 95th to 89th despite its visa-free access falling from 45 to 44 destinations.

According to Henley’s April 2026 report, Nigeria lost visa-free access to countries including Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe and Somalia over recent years, although it gained access to several Pacific island destinations.

FULL LIST: 2026 Henley Passport Index rankings

Rank Country/Passport Visa-free score
1 Singapore 192
2 Japan 188
3 South Korea 187
3 United Arab Emirates 187
3 Sweden 187
4 Belgium 186
4 Denmark 186
4 Finland 186
4 France 186
4 Germany 186
4 Ireland 186
4 Italy 186
4 Luxembourg 186
4 Netherlands 186
4 Norway 186
4 Spain 186
5 Austria 185
5 Greece 185
5 Malta 185
5 Portugal 185
5 Switzerland 185
6 Hungary 184
6 Poland 184
6 United Kingdom 184
7 Australia 183
7 Canada 183
7 Czechia 183
7 Latvia 183
7 Malaysia 183
7 New Zealand 183
7 Slovakia 183
7 Slovenia 183
8 Croatia 182
8 Estonia 182
9 Liechtenstein 181
9 Lithuania 181
10 Iceland 180
10 United States 180
11 Bulgaria 178
11 Romania 178
12 Monaco 177
13 Cyprus 175
14 Chile 174
14 Hong Kong (SAR China) 174
15 Andorra 170
16 Argentina 169
16 Brazil 169
17 San Marino 167
18 Israel 166
19 Barbados 163
19 Brunei 163
20 The Bahamas 158
21 St. Kitts and Nevis 157
21 St. Vincent and the Grenadines 157
22 Mexico 156
22 Uruguay 156
23 Seychelles 155
24 Antigua and Barbuda 154
25 Vatican City 152
26 Costa Rica 148
26 Grenada 148
26 Mauritius 148
27 Panama 147
28 Paraguay 145
29 Dominica 144
29 Trinidad and Tobago 144
30 St. Lucia 143
31 Macao (SAR China) 142
31 Ukraine 142
32 Peru 141
33 Serbia 135
34 Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) 134
35 Solomon Islands 133
36 Guatemala 132
37 El Salvador 131
38 Colombia 130
39 Honduras 129
40 Marshall Islands 128
40 Samoa 128
41 Montenegro 127
41 North Macedonia 127
41 Tonga 127
42 Nicaragua 124
42 Tuvalu 124
43 Albania 122
43 Bosnia and Herzegovina 122
44 Georgia 121
44 Kiribati 121
44 Micronesia 121
45 Moldova 120
45 Palau Islands 120
46 Venezuela 116
47 Russian Federation 114
48 Qatar 112
48 Türkiye 112
49 South Africa 101
50 Belize 100
51 Kuwait 97
52 Maldives 93
52 Timor-Leste 93
53 Ecuador 92
54 Saudi Arabia 91
55 Bahrain 88
55 Guyana 88
56 Fiji 87
57 Vanuatu 86
58 Oman 85
59 Jamaica 84
59 Nauru 84
59 Papua New Guinea 84
60 China 83
60 Kosovo 83
61 Botswana 81
62 Belarus 78
63 Bolivia 77
63 Kazakhstan 77
63 Thailand 77
64 Suriname 75
65 Namibia 74
66 Lesotho 73
67 Morocco 71
67 Eswatini 71
68 Dominican Republic 70
68 Indonesia 70
68 Kenya 70
68 Malawi 70
69 Rwanda 68
69 Tanzania 68
69 The Gambia 68
70 Azerbaijan 67
70 Ghana 67
71 Tunisia 66
72 Benin 65
72 Philippines 65
72 Uganda 65
73 Armenia 64
73 Cape Verde Islands 64
73 Mongolia 64
73 Zambia 64
74 Sierra Leone 63
75 Zimbabwe 61
76 Mozambique 60
77 Kyrgyzstan 59
77 São Tomé and Príncipe 59
78 Uzbekistan 58
79 Burkina Faso 57
79 Cuba 57
79 Togo 57
80 Côte d’Ivoire 56
80 Gabon 56
80 Madagascar 56
80 Senegal 56
81 Algeria 55
81 India 55
81 Mauritania 55
82 Equatorial Guinea 54
82 Niger 54
83 Guinea 53
83 Mali 53
84 Tajikistan 52
85 Chad 51
85 Comoro Islands 51
85 Guinea-Bissau 51
86 Angola 49
86 Egypt 49
86 Jordan 49
86 Liberia 49
87 Burundi 48
87 Cameroon 48
87 Central African Republic 48
87 Haiti 48
87 Vietnam 48
88 Bhutan 47
88 Cambodia 47
88 Republic of the Congo 47
89 Djibouti 45
89 Laos 45
90 Democratic Republic of the Congo 44
90 Nigeria 44
90 Turkmenistan 44
91 Myanmar 43
92 Ethiopia 42
93 Lebanon 41
93 South Sudan 41
93 Sudan 41
94 Libya 39
94 Sri Lanka 39
95 Eritrea 38
96 Iran 37
96 Palestinian Territory 37
97 Bangladesh 35
97 North Korea 35
98 Nepal 34
99 Somalia 32
100 Yemen 30
101 Pakistan 29
102 Iraq 28
103 Syria 25
104 Afghanistan 22
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NDA releases admission list for 78 regular combatant course

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The Nigerian Defence Academy has released the list of successful and reserve candidates for admission into the 78 Regular Combatant Course (78RC).

The Armed Forces Selection Board exercise for the 78 Regular Course was conducted from July 4 to August 19, 2026, with successful candidates offered admission into the Academy.

According to the NDA in a statement signed by the Academy Registrar, Brigadier General OA Ogunleye on its X handle on Wednesday, successful candidates are expected to report to the NDA Ribadu Campus (Old Site), Kaduna, on Saturday, September 12, 2026.

The Academy warned that any candidate who fails to report by Monday, September 14, 2026, “will forfeit his or her place.”

It added that only selected candidates are expected to report to the Academy, where they will be received at the Drill Shed, NDA Old Site, Ribadu Cantonment.

The NDA said candidates on the reserve list “may be called as the need arises through their registered e-mails and phone numbers.”

Successful candidates have also been directed to present the original copies of their credentials, including their First School Leaving Certificate, Primary School Testimonial, WAEC/NECO results, Senior Secondary School Testimonial, Birth Certificate or Declaration of Age, and Letter of State of Origin.

The Academy stressed that candidates must also present the “original copy of duly endorsed Parent/Guardian Consent Form,” warning that photocopies would not be accepted.

“Any candidate who fails to present originals of the stated documents will not be accepted into the Academy,” the notice stated.

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In addition to their credentials, successful candidates are required to come with specified clothing, footwear, sportswear, bedding and personal items, including black and white trousers, a dark-coloured lounge suit, national dress, black cover shoes, white and brown canvas shoes, football boots, a hockey stick, white shirts, socks, bed sheets and a pressing iron.

Female candidates are also required to bring black low-heel cover shoes, dark-coloured lounge skirts, black or blue short tights and trouser suits.

The NDA further directed all selected candidates to upload their O’Level results on the JAMB portal before reporting to the Academy.

Candidates who were not offered their preferred academic department are required to log into the JAMB portal to effect the necessary change.

The Academy also instructed all selected candidates to accept their admission through the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) before reporting.

The NDA warned that selected candidates would not be allowed to receive visitors or leave the Academy during the first three months of training.

“Selected candidates and their parents are to please note the above for strict compliance,” the notice stated.

Source: punchng.com

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Police reveals how 15 NYSC members, others were rescued from kidnappers in Kogi

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The Kogi State Police Command has revealed how security forces rescued 15 National Youth Service Corps members and six other abducted persons from kidnappers in Egume Forest, Ofu Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, Naziru Kankarofi, disclosed this on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday.

Kankarofi said security forces launched a search-and-rescue operation immediately after receiving the alert, with military, police, Department of State Services operatives, local vigilantes and hunters involved in the operation.

He said the involvement of local hunters and vigilantes was crucial because of their familiarity with the terrain.

“As soon as we were alerted, we put all necessary measures in place to ensure they were rescued and returned to their families. An emergency meeting was convened by all the service commanders: the Brigade Commander, the Commissioner of Police, and the Director of DSS,” Kankarofi said.

He explained that the security commanders subsequently designed a search-and-rescue operation which began immediately and was intensified after the location of the abductors was narrowed down.

“We fashioned out a search-and-rescue operation, which commenced immediately. As the situation unfolded, we narrowed down to a particular spot and sought the support of local vigilantes and hunters who know the terrain very well.”

According to the commissioner, the operation culminated in a gun battle at the kidnappers’ camp on Monday afternoon, during which the victims were rescued.

“The operation commenced in earnest on Sunday. To God be the glory, around 4:00 p.m. yesterday, we arrived at the camp of the kidnappers. There was a serious gun battle; they were eventually overpowered, and all the corps members were rescued.”

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Kankarofi said two of the rescued persons sustained gunshot injuries during the exchange of fire.

“Unfortunately, two people suffered gunshot injuries to their right legs: one corps member and one civilian who was abducted from the second vehicle.”

The police commissioner said the corps members were travelling from Bayelsa when they were attacked after entering Kogi State along the Itobe-Ajaokuta Highway.

“When they entered Kogi along the Itobe–Ajaokuta Highway around 5:00 p.m., they were attacked and abducted into the bush alongside passengers from another vehicle coming from the opposite direction.”

He said four suspected kidnappers were killed during the gun battle, while several others escaped with bullet wounds.

“Four of the kidnappers were killed during the exchange of fire, and several escaped with bullet wounds. A search-and-rescue operation has been going on since yesterday to mop up the area and arrest the fleeing suspects.”

Kankarofi added that security forces remained in the area to track the fleeing suspects, while the Kogi Command had also contacted its counterpart in Enugu State to block possible escape routes.

“As I am talking to you now, all our officers—military, police, DSS operatives, and hunters—are still at the operational theatre, and we are awaiting outcomes.”

“This morning, I also linked up with the neighbouring command in Enugu State because that area leads into Enugu, and arrangements have been made to ensure their forces block their end of the region.”

The rescue followed the abduction of the 15 corps members and six other persons in Egume Forest, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

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The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, had earlier said the victims were rescued following a coordinated operation involving security agencies.

Meanwhile, Kankarofi urged residents and travellers to remain calm, describing the incident as an isolated case.

“These are just isolated cases.”

He said Kogi remained generally peaceful, adding that security agencies were responding promptly to security threats across the state.

“Kogi State has been generally peaceful and calm. The security forces here are very effective and respond promptly; that’s why when such situations happen, you get to know about them.”

The commissioner also encouraged travellers to continue using roads in the state, assuring them of the presence of security personnel.

“But generally, the state is calm. You can feel free to travel through Kogi State with nothing to worry about.”

Source: punchng.com

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Ogun issues fresh flood alert ahead of September rains

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The Ogun State Government has issued a fresh flood alert ahead of the second phase of the 2026 rainy season, advising residents in vulnerable communities to remain vigilant and relocate to safer locations where necessary.

The warning, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, followed a forecast by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency identifying Ogun among the states expected to experience heavy rainfall during the year.

Oresanya said the first phase of the rainy season, which ran from mid-March to July, witnessed intense rainfall and isolated flash floods in some parts of the state, but with comparatively minimal impact.

He was quoted as attributing the modest flash flood impact to the proactive measures adopted by the government, including sustained public awareness and education, regular maintenance of rivers, streams and drainage channels, as well as improvements in waste management services.

He said that “particular attention had been given to major river channels and waterways, including Sokori River and its tributaries, Opa-Aro, Adiyan, Eruwuru, Yemule, Gbogidi Canal and Ijamido rivers and streams, among others”.

Oresanya added that NiMet’s Seasonal Climate Prediction indicated that the second phase of the 2026 rainy season was expected to commence in September, with the state projected to experience intense rainfall averaging about 360mm during the month.

He stated further that rainfall in inland parts of the state was expected to decline from October into early November.

The Commissioner, however, warned that “the period could bring river and coastal flooding to some parts of the state due to prolonged rainfall, controlled overflow from Oyan Dam and tidal fluctuations, which could impede the flow velocity of the Ogun River”.

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He explained that “the combined effect could result in temporary oversaturation of wetlands and floodplains, increasing the risk of flooding in vulnerable communities.

“We therefore advised residents in Isheri, Arepo, Mawere, Magboro, Akute and Warewa, as well as parts of Abeokuta, to remain vigilant and relocate to safer locations where necessary.

“This advisory also covers coastal communities including Makun-Omi, Iwopin, Oni, Ifaara and Igele in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area; Ebute-Imobi in Ijebu East Local Government Area; Tungeji Island and Agosasa in Ipokia Local Government Area; and communities located along the floodplains of the Ilo and Iju Rivers”

The Commissioner also urged fish farmers operating within floodplains and river corridors to harvest their stocks promptly to minimise potential losses arising from flooding.

He specifically advised fish farmers in Eriwe, Yemule, Ilase and Ayegbami, as well as those in other vulnerable communities, to heed the warning without delay.

Oresanya called on relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Local Government Authorities, emergency response organisations, community leaders and other stakeholders to intensify flood-response activities, maintain regular monitoring of vulnerable locations and ensure that drainage channels remain free of obstructions.

He also urged community leaders to strengthen public awareness campaigns in their respective communities, noting that timely information and early action remained critical to minimising the impact of potential flooding.

The Commissioner said the state government would continue to monitor weather forecasts and hydrological conditions in collaboration with NiMet, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority and other relevant stakeholders.

He assured residents that the government would sustain its efforts to minimise the adverse impact of flooding across the state, while appreciating residents for their cooperation in the measures that had contributed to the relatively low impact recorded during the first phase of the rainy season.

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He urged residents to take the advisory seriously and remain responsive to further updates from the government and relevant emergency agencies.

Source: punchng.com

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