In what is akin to a giant step since its founding in 2000, the London-headquartered Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE), has opened a liaison office in the nation’s capital Abuja, signalling its intention to play a more robust role in national affairs. The brief ceremony, marking the event on Monday, was attended by among others Prof Nick Eze, CEO …

Muslims are celebrating Eid el-Kabir (known also as Eid al-Adha) as more than 2 million pilgrims carry out the final days of Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Muslims across the world are celebrating the festival of Eid el-Kabir, which coincides with the final rites of the Hajj in Saudi Arabia. While many will celebrate on Tuesday, millions of others, including in …

“For people wishing to study in Germany, it is not difficult to get a visa. It is easier than you think. It requires filing the details or you can just go to our website,” – Mr Bernhard Schlagheck, German Ambassador to Nigeria,  July 2017 ————————————————– One of the legal ways to migrate to Europe is to go there to study. …

The Swiss Federal Council has adopted new regulations that would require foreigners residing in Switzerland to meet certain criteria of good behaviour before their residence permits are renewed. The seven-member executive body adopted the new regulations on Wednesday (15 August) as part of the revision of the Act on Foreign Nationals. The new rules will enter into force in 2019. …

The series of consultation with civil society on irregular migration, organised by the Migration Enlightenment Project Nigeria (MEPN), kicked off in Abuja on Saturday [18 August]. The Stakeholders’ Roundtable Dialogue on Migration brought together youths, parents and multipliers, such as journalists, artists, educationists and religious leaders, among others, to exchange ideas and experiences on the issues deriving from irregular migration. …

The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres opened the floodgates of tribute for one of his predecessors, Kofi Annan, who died yesterday aged 80 after a short illness in Geneva, Switzerland. Guterres described Annan, who won the Nobel Peace prize in 2001, as a guiding force for good. Guterres in his tribute said: “it is with profound sadness that I learned …

Alarm Phone is an independent support hotline connecting migrant boats in distress with local coast guards to ensure quick and effective rescue operations. Michaela Cavanagh/InfoMigrants reports. Last week, the Sarost 5 docked in the port of Zarzis with 40 migrants aboard after spending weeks waiting off the coast for the green light from the Tunisian government. The Sarost 5 rescued the …

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila will not stand for re-election in December, a government spokesman has announced. Kabila’s ruling coalition nominated former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary as its presidential candidate, Lambert Mende, the government spokesman, said on Wednesday. The move put an end to years of speculation on whether Kabila would defy terms limits.  The government …

An increasing number of naturalized Germans are no longer required to renounce their original citizenship before receiving a German passport. Exceptions for EU citizens and refugees have led to more naturalized Germans holding two passports in recent years. Some nations prohibit or make it difficult for nationals to give up citizenship when becoming German. Chase Winter reports.    An increasing number …

Berlin and Madrid have reached a bilateral agreement to send migrants back to Spain in case they have filed for asylum in Spain prior to arriving in Germany. The deal would take effect on August 11, the German Interior Ministry said on Wednesday. The deal reached with Spain applies to asylum seekers who have applied for asylum in Spain with …