The issue of accommodation provision for individuals seeking asylum within a country has recently been a topic heavily discussed in the field of immigration studies. In contribution to this, a new report by British Red Cross has highlighted how the UK asylum system is deeply flawed, and has caused increasingly negative impacts on the mental health of individuals seeking asylum. …

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has announced that Nigerians living abroad who have difficulties renewing their expired passport and want to travel home could do so with the document. Aregbesola said government was conscious of the difficulties Nigerians were experiencing with passport renewal due to the Covid-19 pandemic and it was committed to alleviating the situation. “It is …

Nigerians in the diaspora have an opportunity to own houses in the country and also participate actively in money and capital markets, thanks to several investment packages rolled out by Ecobank. Mrs. Olukorede Demola-Adeniyi, Head of Ecobank’s Consumer Banking, has said that the bank is offering mortgage loans to Nigerians living abroad to finance property ownership in the country. She …

An alliance of humanitarian and rights organisations are calling for the abrogation of the legal obligation to report people without residency status who seek medical care —– Almost 50 organisations and associations are demanding the abolition of the legal obligation to report people without regular residence status who seek medical care. Going to the doctor without fear is not possible …

As from Sunday, the Corona restrictions for fully vaccinated and recovered people will be relaxed. After the Bundestag, the Bundesrat has also approved the new regulation. Here’s an overview of the new regulation. ——— The Bundesrat, the upper house of the federal parliament, on Friday approved a new regulation of the Federal Government that contains relaxations of protective measures against …

AstraZeneca jabs will soon be available to all adults, after German officials lifted restrictions banning under 60-year-olds from getting the vaccine. AstraZeneca jabs will no longer be limited to people aged 60 and older, German federal and state officials agreed on Thursday. The move comes as Germany moves to quickly vaccinate its population following a sluggish vaccine rollout that has …

Ayoba is enjoying a busy 2021, with many upgrades and additions planned to its extensive list of features. The African Messaging App celebrates second birthday with 5.5m users and launches voice and video calling as well as web access CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 4, 2021/ — Ayoba (www.ayoba.me), the African messaging app, has announced the launch of a new …

By Prof Wim Naudé* Until COVID-19 hit, the quality of life of youth (age 15-24) in sub-Saharan Africa had been steadily improving. According to the World Bank, by 2019 the youth literacy rate stood at 73%. Gross secondary school enrolment rates increased from 13 % in 1971 to 43 % by 2018. Youth unemployment rates have remained fairly stable, at around …

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced an extension of its ‘Naira 4 Dollar’ incentive to encourage diaspora remittances until further notice. Under the scheme, the Bank pays out a reward of N5 for every $1 of fund remitted to Nigeria through money transfer companies. The apex bank announced the extension on Wednesday (5 May) through a memo by …

About 17 million Nigerians are believed to live in the diaspora and they are constitutionally excluded from participation in their homeland’s electoral process from outside the country. Voters who are resident outside Nigeria can only vote during elections if they travel back to Nigeria to register as voters in Nigeria and to vote during elections in Nigeria. As the country …

A new book, written by the German-Nigerian gospel singer and which dwells on how to overcome difficult phases of life, will be launched on 16 May. Here’s what you should know about the book —– Trapped in the Dark is a real life story book written by the German-Nigerian gospel song writer, recording and performing artist, Joyce Ejiogu-Schmeer. She has …

Titilayo Adewumi, Regional Sales Director: West Africa at SAP, writes on what role technology should play as West Africa starts vaccine rollout NAIROBI, Kenya, 5 May, 2021 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- After more than a year of lockdowns and disruption caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, African countries are preparing for the most ambitious vaccine rollout in human history. All eyes …

President Samia Hussein Suluhu has moved quickly to consolidate her power with the demise of the former president John Pombe Magufuli. Key in her agenda, is her effort to repair the frosty relations between Nairobi and Dodoma on the economic, diplomatic and political realms, writes Prof David Monda* as he analyses the Tanzanian leader’s maiden visit to Kenya. —– Kenya …

The Federal Government has extended the ongoing National Identification Number (NIN) and Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) integration exercise till June 30. Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, gave the directive according to a statement jointly signed by Ikechukwu Adinde, director of public affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Kayode Adegoke, head of corporate communications at …

Since the start of the pandemic, there’s been plenty of talk about how we can make sure our immune system is working at its best – which has led people to try everything from taking vitamin supplements to exercising regularly. Here’s why a healthy lifestyle may be key to fighting off bacteria and viruses. —– How Does The Immune System …

Testing of a sample of community water systems by a group of international researchers has revealed that: 80% of public taps and boreholes with handpumps had at least one part that exceeded international guidance on lead9% of drinking water samples exceeded World Health Organisation guidelines on leadNo-known safe exposure level to lead The scientists are warning that drinking water supplies …

Finally, the verdict on the police killing of Afro-American George Floyd has been issued and was handed down on 20 April 2021, in the court of Minneapolis. The white former police officer Derek Chauvin officer was found guilty by the jury on three counts, including second-degree murder. For the first time in US history, the established jurisprudence acknowledges and acts …

Easier child access to German citizenship has been floated by integration ministers of Germany’s 16 states. But the idea is likely to face opposition from federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer. Children born to foreigners living in Germany should be granted faster access by law to German citizenship, integration ministers from Germany’s 16 states have urged in a majority appeal Meeting …

The recently released Knight Frank Africa Horizons Report 2021/22, ranked Nairobi as the top city in Africa for innovation, followed by Cape Town in second, Kampala third, with Cairo and Johannesburg at fourth and fifth place respectively. The report notes that the ability of African cities to emerge resilient from the pandemic will depend on their ability to innovate, providing long-term social …

Like at the beginning of every month, new legal changes enter into effect in May 2021. Among these are a one-time supplement to the child benefit, more protection for minors online, increased wages for painters, new labelling rules for tyres and new terms and conditions for WhatsApp users. Femi Awoniyi reports ——— 150-euro extra child bonus The disruptions of normal …