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With no official campaigning or list of candidates and the election process shrouded in secrecy, speculation about who will succeed Pope Francis after the conclave beginning this week remains just that — speculation.
But here are 15 cardinals who are among the potential favourites to succeed Pope Francis — so-called “papabili” — divided by region.
EUROPE
Pietro Parolin (Italy), 70, Francis’s number two at the Vatican
Parolin was secretary of state — the Vatican’s effective number two — for almost Francis’s entire pontificate, and its most visible exponent on the world stage.
Known for his calm and subtle sense of humour, the polyglot also has a fine grasp of the intricacies of the Roman Curia, the Holy See’s central government, and was part of a group of cardinal advisers to Francis.
He is currently considered the frontrunner to become the next pope.
He played a key role in a landmark — and controversial — 2018 Vatican agreement with China on naming bishops.
Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Italy), 60, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
Pizzaballa is the top Catholic in the Middle East with an archdiocese encompassing Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan and Cyprus.
He was made a cardinal in September 2023, shortly before the war broke out between Israel and Hamas.
The Franciscan has appealed for peace from both sides, and at Christmas in 2024 led mass in both Gaza and Jerusalem.
Matteo Maria Zuppi (Italy), 69, Archbishop of Bologna
A member of the Roman community of Sant’Egidio, Zuppi has for more than three decades acted as a discreet diplomat for the Vatican including serving as Pope Francis’s special peace envoy for Ukraine.
Known for riding his bicycle around Bologna, Zuppi is a popular figure for his decades of work on behalf of the needy. He also advocates for welcoming migrants and gay Catholics into the Church.
He has been president of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) since 2022.
Claudio Gugerotti (Italy), 69
An academic and multi-lingual diplomat from the Italian city of Verona, Gugerotti is an expert on the Eastern Churches.
He has served as nuncio — or ambassador of the Holy See — in several countries, including from 2002 in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, later in Belarus, and then from 2015 to 2020 in Ukraine.
The author of several books, Gugerotti largely avoids commenting on controversial issues. He was named Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches in 2022, and was made a cardinal in 2023.
Jean-Marc Aveline (France), 66, Archbishop of Marseille
Born in Algeria, Aveline has spent most of his life in the French port city of Marseille.
Like his close friend Pope Francis, he has been a voice for welcoming migrants and promoting interreligious dialogue.
Appreciated for his discretion, intellectual abilities and people skills, Aveline has carved out a reputation as a cardinal to watch since his elevation in 2022.
Anders Arborelius (Sweden), 75, Bishop of Stockholm
Appointed in 2017 as Sweden’s first cardinal, Arborelius is a convert to Catholicism in the overwhelmingly Protestant Scandinavian country, home to one of the world’s most secularised societies.
He is the first Swedish Catholic bishop since the Protestant Reformation and a staunch defender of Church doctrine, notably opposed to allowing women to be deacons or blessing same-sex couples.
Like Pope Francis, Arborelius advocates welcoming migrants to Europe, including Christians, Catholics and potential converts.
Mario Grech (Malta), 68, Bishop emeritus of Gozo
Born into a small village on the tiny Mediterranean archipelago of Malta, Grech is a peace broker and potential compromise candidate for the papacy.
He was secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, a body that gathers information from local churches on crucial issues for the Church — such as the place of women or remarried divorcees – and passes it onto the pope.
He had to perform a delicate balancing act, following Pope Francis’s lead on creating an open, attentive Church while acknowledging the concerns of conservatives.
Peter Erdo (Hungary), 72, Metropolitan Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest
An intellectual and respected expert in canon law, Erdo speaks seven languages, has published more than 25 books and is recognised for his openness to other religions.
But he has faced criticism for his ties with the government of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose harsh views on migration clashed with those of the late Argentine pope.
Known for his enthusiasm for evangelism, Erdo — who grew up under Communism — is a conservative on such issues as gay marriage and divorcees who remarry.
Jean-Claude Hollerich, 66, Archbishop of Luxembourg
A Jesuit like Pope Francis, Hollerich spent more than 20 years in Japan, and is a specialist in European-Asian cultural relations as well as German literature.
Firm on dogma, the theologian is still open to the need for the Church to adapt to societal changes, much like the Argentine pope he was close to and for whom he served as an adviser on the Council of Cardinals.
Hollerich has advocated for the environment and has pushed for laypeople, especially young people, to have more involvement in the Church.
ASIA
Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines), 67, Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Manila
Tagle, Asia’s frontrunner for the papacy, is a charismatic moderate who has not been afraid to criticise the Church for its shortcomings, including over the sexual abuse of minors.
Fluent in English and active on social media, he is an eloquent speaker with self-deprecating humour and, like Francis, is a leading advocate for the poor, migrants and marginalised people.
Nicknamed “Chito”, he was made a cardinal by Benedict XVI in 2012 and had already been considered a candidate for pope in the 2013 conclave in which Francis was elected.
Charles Maung Bo (Myanmar), 76, Archbishop of Yangon
Myanmar-born Bo became the Buddhist-majority country’s first and only cardinal in 2015, appointed by Pope Francis.
Bo has called for dialogue and reconciliation in conflict-ridden Myanmar, and after the military coup of 2021 appealed to opposition protesters to remain non-violent.
He has defended the mainly Muslim Rohingya, calling them victims of “ethnic cleansing”, and spoken out against human trafficking uprooting the lives of many young Burmese.
He was head of the Federation of Asians Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) between 2019 and 2024.
AFRICA
Peter Turkson (Ghana), 76, Archbishop emeritus of Cape Coast
One of the Church’s most influential cardinals from Africa, Turkson has for years been mentioned as a possible first black pope.
Made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2003, the multi-lingual Turkson has been a papal envoy and mediator, including in South Sudan.
He also served between 2016 and 2021 as head of a top Vatican department, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, which deals with human rights and migration among other issues.
Born into a humble family of 10 children, Turkson has criticised anti-gay legislation in Uganda, but defends Catholic sexual morality and has denied that homosexuality is a human rights issue.
Robert Sarah (Guinea), 79, former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Had Pope Francis lived a few more months, conservative prelate Robert Sarah — who turns 80 on June 16 — would have been too old to join the conclave or to succeed him.
As it is, though, he has found himself championed by conservative Catholics in the French-speaking world as a candidate to turn the clock back on progressive reforms.
An ardent opponent of what he in 2015 called “Western ideologies on homosexuality and abortion and Islamic fanaticism”, he denounced a 2024 text that paved the way for the blessing of same-sex couples.
Experts believe his views make him too conservative to win a two-thirds majority at the conclave, but even a possible candidacy has boosted his profile.
Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Democratic Republic of Congo), 65, Archbishop of Kinshasa
Ambongo was the only cardinal from Africa on Pope Francis’s advisory council of cardinals, and is the leader of the association of African bishops, SECAM.
Born in 1960, the year of DRC’s independence from Belgium, he has been a strong voice for peace in his conflict-ridden country — and is outspoken in his conservative views.
He notably signed a letter in January 2024 voicing opposition to the Vatican’s declaration allowing priests to carry out non-liturgical blessings of same-sex unions.
In a 2023 interview, Ambongo — who some believe could be his continent’s first pope — proclaimed that “Africa is the future of the Church, it’s obvious”.
AMERICAS
Robert Francis Prevost (United States), 69, Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo
A native of Chicago, Prevost was in 2023 appointed prefect of the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which is charged with advising the pope on appointments of new bishops.
He spent years as a missionary in Peru and is the Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo in that South American country.
Made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023, he is also the president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Timothy Dolan (United States), 75, Archbishop of New York
A jovial, ruddy-faced extrovert with Irish-American roots, Dolan is a theological conservative, fiercely opposed to abortion.
The former archbishop of Milwaukee, he oversaw the fallout from a major sexual abuse scandal in the diocese.
In New York, amid shrinking Church membership, Dolan has reached out to embrace the growing Hispanic population, which is predominantly Catholic.
A former Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu in the Office of the Vice President, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has called on former presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, to step aside in the 2027 presidential race.
Naija News reports that Baba-Ahmed suggested that both men, alongside President Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, should make way for younger politicians to take over the reins of leadership.
In an interview with Trust TV, Baba-Ahmed expressed his belief that the older generation, including Obi and Kwankwaso, has exhausted its potential to bring meaningful change to Nigeria.
He argued that these politicians, along with the country’s current leadership, had already made their contributions and should now allow the younger generation to step up.
“Peter Obi, Kwankwaso should also step aside for the younger generation, alongside President Tinubu and Atiku.
“This particular generation has played itself out; they really have nothing to offer this country,” Baba-Ahmed said.
Baba-Ahmed emphasised his frustration with the recurring cycle of politics in Nigeria, where power struggles continue to dominate the political scene.
He criticized the “winner-takes-all” mentality that often prevails in elections, where personal ambitions overshadow national interest. Baba-Ahmed noted that despite their long tenure in politics, the older generation of politicians lacks the energy and drive needed to address the country’s current challenges.
“We are going through the same politics again, where there is bitterness and the winner takes it all. It has to be me at all costs. And when you get to power, you don’t have the energy and the strength to tackle the country,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed went on to argue that Nigeria needed fresh leadership, not dominated by “tired and elderly politicians” who have spent the last few decades merely managing power.
He stressed that the nation’s future could not be bright under such leadership, calling for a new direction with younger, more energetic leaders.
“The nation needs a new lease of life. “I don’t see Nigeria with a bright future under these tired and elderly politicians who have spent the last 20 to 30 years just simply managing power,” Baba-Ahmed declared.
Baba-Ahmed also criticised the tradition of Nigerian presidents serving for eight years.
He added, “One of the distracting things is this nonsense that once you are president, you must serve for two terms. Who said that? When the NEF realized that Buhari was bad news for this country, he wasn’t performing and not willing to fix this country, we rallied other groups in the country.
“We met here in Abuja and told the nation that don’t trust Buhari with another four years, and we were right. Ohanaeze, NEF, Afenifere, and I think about four or five groups met in Abuja and said Buhari should not be given a second term.
“But now you hear things like he must do his eight years, what about the South? We have taken to a very crude politics and put it on the constitution where everyone is saying the South must have its eights years because Buhari did.
“Where is this thing coming from? These are some of the rubbish that is poisoning the politics. Even if you can’t perform, what if you have health or age issues, must you remain president for eight years simply because you come from one part of the country? This is the kind of thinking that keeps us declining permanently.”
SOME former People’s Democratic Party, PDP, members in Delta State who moved with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, have, for unclear reasons, refused to resign their membership and yet, want to register as APC members.
Sources said the ongoing registration commenced on a shaky note as the APC ward leaders in parts of the state declined to register the PDP defectors, demanding evidence of their resignation from their former party.
This came as PDP members at the various wards and local government chapters of the state who rebuffed Oborevwori and Okowa’s movement to the APC, converged weekend, vowing to rebuild the PDP.
The refusal to register the new members for not presenting their resignation letters triggered some glitches in the ongoing registration process.
The development compelled the state APC, led by Elder Omeni Sobotie, to quickly intervene, instructing the ward and local government leaders to overlook the non-presentation of resignation letters.
Meanwhile, Elder Emmanuel Ogidi, the Chairman of the Zonal Caretaker of the PDP in the South-South, who is midwifing the rebirth process, told Vanguard that the state’s caretaker executive would be available in one month.
Vanguard understood that some defectors were undecided on the exercise because of the rivalry and frosty relationship between the PDP and APC members before the defection.
“This coming together is not smooth yet. The old members are afraid of the new members, while the new members are just watching,” a source revealed.
However, Mr. Valentine Onojeghuo, the APC state publicity secretary, has directed the local government and ward chairmen to register the newly defected members without any preconditions or demands, including letters of resignation from the PDP.
He said in a statement: “All party functionaries at the grassroots, local government chairmen and ward chairmen, are hereby instructed to eliminate any bureaucratic hurdles, red tape or procedural bottlenecks that may hinder the seamless registration and integration of these new members.”
Speaking to Vanguard, chairman of the APC in Ughelli North local government area, Mr. Obakpororo Onoabedje, said: “Currently, we have issued cards to ward chairmen to go and register PDP members willing to register.
“From skeletal reports, they are not forthcoming; they are foot-dragging. From what we are seeing and experiencing, the exercise is very clumsy.”
But a source said: “They only just left PDP, but registration is low-key for now. There is no stipulated time they should come and register. The registration, like Permanent Voter Card, run from morning till evening.
“They will move when the time comes; most people want to be sure. It is a gradual process. The process is slow because the people are sitting back to watch what is going to come next.
“Many don’t know what will happen, so they are sceptical. There are uncertainties, so some are reluctant.’’
The chairman of the PDP, South-South, Emma Ogidi, said he was encouraged by the rejection of the defection by many PDP members coming to express willingness to remain in the PDP.
He said he had given the party’s supporters guidelines on forming the caretaker committee, adding “I have told them to open the doors till one month before we close it.
‘’Like I told you much earlier, in one month, the caretaker committee of the PDP in the state will be ready.”
Recall that Governor Oborevwori and former Governor Okowa defected to the ruling party with the entire structure of the PDP last week, with the governor describing the development not just as defection but a movement.
The governor had said at the official declaration in Asaba, the state capital, last week: “What you have seen here today is a movement, it’ is not a defection; it’s a movement. We have done consultations with our National Assembly members, with leadership, with stakeholders at the state level, at the senatorial level, at the local government level, at the ward level and we all decided that we must all join.
“This is Delta State; we cannot carry last. When we stand for something, we remain committed to it; we have been in opposition for almost 10 years.
“Do we need that? Mr. President has supported us; he has shown us love. We cannot face him in 2027 to work against him. That love that he has shown to us in Delta State, we need to reciprocate it.
“We cannot do it in our own party. We have to be inside to do it, and to do it well. When you consult widely you see everybody will come with you and you can see that the love is organic: you can see my relationship with governors; you see all the governors here.
“You see the large number of governors: yesterday nine came and slept over. Today, see all of them here. I want to bless all of you; I want to thank all of you.
“This is a movement, this is not a defection; we have agreed we will move together and when we move together, what is at the national we will be able to grab it.
“Our members in the National Assembly are the next; they have agreed they will all defect on the floor of the house, and we have justification to move.
“All of us want to be in the Renewed Hope Agenda, which is in line with my M.O.R.E Agenda. For us in Delta State, it’s a statement and I believe other governors will join because it’s a movement and when you have a movement, you don’t fail.”
No lawsuit filed against Delta defectors yet
Although the PDP threatened to go to court to challenge the defection of its members in Delta State, Vanguard learned yesterday that it was yet to do so.
A member of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, who was present at the meeting last Tuesday when the decision was taken, told Vanguard weekend in Abuja, said the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, was making preparations to pursue the case in court.
“We’re focused on reclaiming our mandate. We intend to seek court declarations for the seats of the defectors to be declared vacant, in line with constitutional provisions,” the NWC member stated.
He clarified that, for the time being, the party’s legal efforts would be focused solely on Delta State, with no immediate plans to take similar action in other states.
Although the decision to proceed with legal action was reached on Tuesday, the public holiday on Thursday, coupled with the lack of a follow-up meeting by Friday, may have delayed the formal filing of court papers.
“The decision was taken only on Tuesday. Thursday was a public holiday and we didn’t reconvene on Friday. We expect further briefings at the next meeting,” the source said
Chinedu Obigwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), says Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra state, is not funding Nicholas Ukachukwu.
Nkachukwu is the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra.
He polled 1,455 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Valentine Ozigbo, who came second with 67 votes in the gubernatorial primary election which was held on April 5.
Ozigbo has since challenged the outcome of the primary election, alleging that it was fraught with irregularities.
Last week, Ozigbo claimed Soludo is funding Ukachukwu to destabilise the APC.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Obigwe, who is the national coordinator of Media Warriors Forum of APGA, described Ozigbo’s comment as “laughable”.
He claimed that the APC has no strong presence in the Anambra and could be likened to being nonexistent in the state.
“We laughed uncontrollably when we watched Valentine Ozigbo’s latest Channels TV interview. In the interview, he falsely accused Governor Soludo of funding Ukachukwu to weaken APC,” the statement reads.
“The truth is that there is nothing to weaken in Anambra APC because the party does not exist in our state.
“So a party that is not in existence in Anambra cannot disturb Governor Soludo’s sleep to warrant him sponsoring Ukachukwu that has nothing to offer to weaken the non-existent party.
“Ozigbo should be bold enough to say this and stop living a fake and pretentious lifestyle.
“Governor Soludo has nothing to do with the APC candidate and cannot be funding him. The both of them are not on the same level and can never be.”
The Anambra governorship election is scheduled to take place on November 6, 2025.
[TheCable]
Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), a unit of the Lagos State Police Command, have arrested two individuals for impersonating officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) and exploiting accident victims.
The suspects, identified as Nuche Joseph, 34, and Lawal Rofiat, 29, were apprehended on April 29, while posing as LASAMBUS personnel.
According to RRS in a statement on Sunday, the duo were operating under the name of BrainGrace Ambulance Service, deceiving members of the public and demanding payments for emergency medical services that are supposed to be free.
Their illegal operation came to light after the relatives of an accident victim took to social media to express outrage over being charged N150,000 for pre-hospital care.
Tragically, the victim died before reaching the hospital. The relatives initially believed they were dealing with genuine LASAMBUS officials and accused the Lagos State Government of exploitation.
LASAMBUS is an agency of the state government that provides emergency medical services free of charge to accident victims across Lagos.
“The suspects, working with BrainGrace Ambulance service, have been impersonating Lagos Ambulance Service and fleecing accident victims of various sums of money for pre – hospital care which is rendered free of charge to accident victims in the state.
“The fraudulent activity of the suspects was exposed on social media by relatives of an accident victim who BrainGrace Ambulance forced to cough up N150,000:00 for pre-hospital care but the victim died before getting to the hospital.
“The relatives of the deceased, realizing the service was designed by Lagos State Government to be rendered free of charge, felt exploited. They took to social media to expose BrainGrace Ambulance erroneously claiming that they were defrauded by Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) officials,” the statement read.
The RRS confirmed that both suspects have confessed to the crime and have been charged to court.
“The two suspects have made confessional statements to the police and have been charged to court,” the statement added.
President Donald Trump announced Sunday he will impose a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the United States, describing foreign production incentives as a “National Security threat” that is causing the American film industry to die a “very fast death.”
“This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda,” Trump declared on his Truth Social platform, concluding with: “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”
The President said he has authorised relevant government agencies, including the Department of Commerce, to “immediately begin the process” of implementing the tariffs. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick responded on X with a brief message: “We’re on it.”
However, neither Trump nor Lutnick provided specific details about how the tariffs would be implemented. According to Reuters, industry insiders are questioning whether the tariffs would apply to streaming services as well as theatrical releases, and how they would be calculated, whether based on production costs or box office revenue.
This move follows Trump’s January appointment of Hollywood veterans Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone, and Mel Gibson to lead efforts to bring Hollywood back “bigger, better and stronger than ever before.”
Film and television production has been steadily leaving Hollywood for years, attracted by tax incentives in other locations. According to research firm ProdPro, about half of the spending on movie and TV projects with budgets exceeding $40 million went outside the U.S. in 2023. Los Angeles has experienced a nearly 40% drop in production over the past decade, according to FilmLA.
All major media companies, including Walt Disney, Netflix, and Universal Pictures, currently film in countries like Canada and Britain, taking advantage of credits and cash rebates offered by foreign governments. A recent ProdPro survey ranked California as only the sixth most preferred filming location for the next two years, behind Toronto, Britain, Vancouver, Central Europe, and Australia.
The Afenifere Diaspora USA has distanced itself from a press statement attributed to one Chief Omololu Abagun, claiming the group has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Prof. Sikiru Fadairo and Secretary, Comrade David Adenekan, the group described the claim as false and laughable, saying no such decision has been taken by the organisation.
“Is it not a figment of imagination for one Chief Omololu Abagun to sit at one place in the corner of his room to issue a false statement that claimed Afenifere has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a re-election in 2027?
“Is this not laughable? To say the obvious fact, in Afenifere, any decision of such magnitude of national interest is always taken after a rigorous brainstorming to evaluate or weigh the pros and cons of such a decision, having taken into great cognisance the overall interest of the whole country. No such decision of great national interest will be taken without adequate consultations with every organ of the organisation,” the statement said.
The group noted that any decision of such magnitude would be taken after rigorous brainstorming and consultations with every organ of the organisation.
Afenifere Diaspora USA also questioned the basis of Abagun’s claim, asking where the communique was and who signed it.
The group further debunked Abagun’s statement that Tinubu is not a Yoruba president, saying that while the statement may be true in the sense that Tinubu is not representing the goodwill of Yoruba people, the president’s appointments have been lopsided in favour of Yorubas.
“We probe into PBAT’S appointments is suggestive of lopsided appointments in favour of people of Yoruba tribe, including Kogi and Kwara states to the detriment of others in the other four geo-political zones.
“We stand by the true meaning of Afenifere, ‘love thy neighbours as you love yourself.’
“We are also determined to continue to embrace the philosophy of the founding fathers of Afenifere to always uphold the principles of justice, fairness and equity; and to corroborate the fact of the statement based on empirical evidence that PBAT’S appointments are lopsided to favor Yorubas that are his great disciples. This cannot be overemphasised.
“Prejudice apart and without mincing words, the popular slogan among many of PBAT’S acolytes who are benefitting from his plum appointments and they quick to play to the gallery by singing and echoing, ‘Bola on your mandate we shall stand’ is not for the interest of Yoruba as a people,” the group said.
The group affirmed its commitment to upholding the principles of justice, fairness, and equity, and warned the public that Chief Omololu Abagun and his co-travelers are unknown to the organisation’s structure and leadership representation.
“In the interest of unity of purpose and strong synergy, the general public must note that, Chief Omololu Abagun and his co-travelers are unknown to the organization structure and leadership representation of Afenifere, a disclaimer indeed,” the group said.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has demanded the removal of Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts of tertiary institutions found guilty of mismanaging the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme.
Speaking during a media parley in Abuja over the weekend, the newly elected NANS President, Comrade Olushola Ladoja, stated that any institution head involved in dubious dealings, such as withholding students’ loans or conspiring with banks for personal gain, would face nationwide student-led resistance.
“I’m telling you categorically, as NANS President, that any Vice Chancellor, Rector or Provost, found withholding students’ loans or having any dubious dealings in this students’ loan administration, we will agitate for their going.
“They must be removed from office, because while Federal Government is trying to do things that will help Nigerians, some people are there sabotaging it. And NANS will not accept that. We will fight whosoever is found wanting of such character,” he said.
Ladoja revealed that NANS had met with Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr to address concerns over alleged fraudulent practices.
He added that both officials assured them that necessary action would be taken to address the irregularities.
He disclosed that a meeting has been scheduled for Thursday in Abuja, where all Student Union Government (SUG) Presidents from Nigerian tertiary institutions will converge with NANS executives and NELFUND officials to discuss the issues and chart a way forward.
NANS praised the student loan initiative for increasing access to education but warned that mismanagement could compromise the scheme’s credibility.
The association pledged to monitor the situation and ensure transparency and accountability.
There is no let to the crisis in the Labour Party.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has written to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking the termination of recognition for the Julius Abure-led leadership.
It also plans a surprise takeover of the party secretariats in the states.
They are currently being controlled by officials loyal to Julius Abure.
In another dimension to the crisis, a prominent member in Anambra State and a campaign manager for Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, Oseloka Obaze, has dumped the party.
NLC President Joe Ajaero, who spoke in Abuja, said the Congress has written to INEC over the protracted chairmanship tussle in the party.
He said plans to takeover the party would be unfolded during the National Executive Committee of the NLC.
The umbrella union has been at loggerheads with the Julius Abure – led National Working Committee (NWC) after the party’s convention in Nnewi, Anambra State last year.
The Congress refused to recognise the convention, insisting that the Abure’s tenure as national chairman had expired.
It urged Abure and other NWC members to vacate their positions in line with an agreement it had with the party leaders.
According to the Congress, INEC was privy to the agreement.
Ajaero said there was no going back on the plan to take over LP offices across the federation.
He said: “I don’t know whether the press release told you the date we are doing that. So, if I update you on the mobilisation, the essence of surprise will not be there.
“Ordinarily, the day we issued the statement, we would have said we are taking it over tomorrow. But we asked every worker, if you check that statement, to be on standby. And we are working on it.
“I have even written to INEC and on the day of our NEC meeting, every other thing will be decided there. And we’re going to do that, you know, because that’s the way it is. Labour Party is an institutional party, either in Nigeria or anywhere, owned by the trade unions, anywhere in the world.”
Ajaero added: “So, for anybody to come, for any charlatan to come, to say he’s now the owner of Labour Party, he is a joker. Of course, you know that person, it won’t work.
“You know, you can’t be calling Labour Party without the trade unions; you are talking of empty shelves. Labour Party is all about the trade union movement. The issue of taking over is not maybe, one off. We will decide where we will operate.
“The certificate of the Labour Party is in this office. And those threatening that they have gone to swear an affidavit, if we get them, that would amount to deliberate plagiarism.”
Obi’s former campaign chief dumps LP
Obaze explained that he resigned from LP due to the inability of the party to resolve its leadership crisis.
In a letter of April 6, 2025 to the LP Chairman in Ochuche Ward 406, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, Obaze also protested against the outcome of the April 5 governorship primary.
It reads: “The processes, conduct and outcome of the Labour Party governorship primary held on April 5, 2025 in Awka, were fraught with outright irregularities, bothering on fraud and criminality.
“It was not in tandem with either the party’s Constitution and espoused core values or true tenets of democracy.
“As such, I hereby disassociate myself henceforth from the Labour Party.”
Nigerian passport holders seeking long-term access to foreign countries for business, tourism, or family visits can now benefit from more liberal visa policies offered by several nations.
Some countries grant Nigerians a five-year multiple entry visa, allowing holders to enter and exit the destination several times without applying for a new visa for each trip.
These long-duration visas significantly ease the burden of frequent travel, reduce costs, and enhance convenience, especially for business professionals and diaspora families.
Frequent travelers, business professionals, and individuals with consistent international travel history are generally more likely to qualify for long-term visas.
Here is a list of countries that offer Nigerians a five-year multiple entry visa.
1. United States of America (USA)
The U.S. offers a B1/B2 visa, which covers business and tourism, with a validity of five years for eligible Nigerians. It allows multiple entries, and applicants must apply through the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. An in-person interview is usually required, and approval depends on the travel history, financial status, and purpose of travel.
2. United Kingdom
The UK offers a Standard Visitor Visa with long-term options of two, five, or ten years. Nigerians can apply for the five-year version, which allows multiple entries but limits each stay to six months. Applications are submitted online through the UK government portal, and approval requires evidence of a genuine travel purpose, financial means, and intent to return to Nigeria.
3. Schengen Countries (Europe)
Several Schengen countries, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain, grant Nigerians five-year multiple entry visas under the Schengen Visa Code. These are C-Type short-stay visas that allow stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the Schengen zone. While not automatically granted, applicants with previous Schengen visas, clean travel records, and valid reasons for frequent visits may be approved for the five-year validity.
4. South Africa
South Africa offers multiple entry visas valid for up to five years for Nigerians who frequently travel for business or official duties. Applicants must apply through the South African High Commission and provide documentation such as invitation letters, proof of business activities, or travel history to justify the long-term access.
5. India
India provides up to five-year visas for tourism or business purposes to eligible Nigerians. The visa permits multiple entries and is issued based on a solid travel record, financial capability, and a clearly stated reason for travel. Applications are submitted online through the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC).
6. Kenya
While Kenya’s standard eVisa is short-term, it issues long-term multiple-entry visas, including five-year options, upon request and proper justification. These are often given to frequent travelers, business people, or those with family or project commitments in the country. Applications can be made through the Kenyan eVisa portal or directly through immigration services.
7. United Arab Emirates (UAE)
The UAE offers a five-year tourist visa to Nigerians who meet specific requirements. This visa allows multiple entries and stays of up to 90 days each, extendable to 180 days per year. Applicants must show proof of financial means, previous travel history, and a valid reason for seeking long-term access. Applications are typically handled online or through approved agents.
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Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has said that the interest of the Southeast is better protected under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.
He urged party leaders in the region to embark on membership drive by explaining to the people the gains of the Tinubu administration.
Uzodimma spoke at the meeting of Southeast APC leaders in Enugu, headquarter of the region, where they vowed to make the party more dominant ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to them, involvement in the mainstream politics would attract more dividends of democracy to the zone.
At the meeting were Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifru; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Chief Benjamin Kalu; former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim; Senator Orji Uzor Kalu; the Minister for Innovation, Sciences and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, Dozie Ikedife Jnr and members of the Zonal Executive Committee
Uzodimma, who spoke with reporters after the meeting, said that the leaders resolved to work towards making the APC a dominant party in the region.
He said Southeast would be closer to the corridors of power if they joined the ruling party.
Uzodimma, who is the chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) added: “You must have seen how sitting governors in the other geo-political zones are now joining the APC.
“It is by joining the APC which is in-charge of the government at the center in Nigeria and other sub-national governments that the Southeast will be very close to the corridors of power.”
Uzodimma said it a thing of joy that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Governors of Imo and Ebonyi States, members of the National Assembly, ministers and other senior functionaries of the Federal Government from the region are under the platform of the APC.
He said: “We have decided to see Southeast as a family, tolerate each other’s shortcomings, work as formidable team, to achieve the desired results.”
Two Lagos women identified as Folake Adeoti and Modupe Adewuyi have been sentenced to one year imprisonment each after they pleaded guilty to separate one-count charge, bordering on illegal hawking of Naira notes filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Adeoti and Adewuyi were intercepted on March 21, 2025 along Jobi Fele Way, Ikeja, Lagos, while hawking Naira notes to the tune of N3,850,000.00 and N1,600,000, respectively.
They were arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of EFCC before Justice Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 2, Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency said in a statement.
The charge against Adeoti reads: “That you, Folake Adeoti, on the 21st day of March, 2025, opposite Regency Hall, Jobi Felé Way, Ikeja, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, hawked the sum of N3,850,000.00 (Three Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(4)) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”
That of Adewuyi reads: “That you, Modupe Adewuyi, on the 21st day of March, 2025, at Jobi Fele Street, opposite Regency Event Center, Alausa Ikeja, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, engaged in hawking the total sum of N1,600,000 (One Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) of N500 and N1000 denominations, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 21(4) and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2007.”
They pleaded “guilty” to their charges, following which prosecution counsel, Z.B. Atiku tendered their confessional statement as well as the money recovered from them in evidence and urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. The prosecution counsel further informed the court that Adeoti was an ex-convict, having been prosecuted before Justice Ibrahim Kala and convicted on the same matter of Naira abuse.
Justice Bogoro sentenced Adeoti to one year imprisonment without an option of fine.
In addition, her POS machine as well as the money recovered from her were forfeited to the federal government.
Adewuyi also bagged one year imprisonment or to pay N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, her POS machine and money recovered from her were also forfeited to the federal government.
A traveler identified as Agudosi Christopher Okechukwu who was caught with undeclared £8020 and $704 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment.
Okechukwu was arrested in December 2024 at Lagos Airport by operatives of Nigerian Customs Service and handed over to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, or further investigations.
Consequently, he was before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 2, 2025, on a two-count charge, bordering on money laundering.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Agudosi Christopher Okechukwu, on the 10th day of December, 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of £8,020 (Eight Thousand and Twenty Pounds Sterling) to the Nigerian Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
He pleaded “guilty” to the charges following which prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie called on Abubakar Magaji, an EFCC operative to review the facts of the case.
Magaji informed the court that Okechukwu had a total sum of £15,020 and $704 (Fifteen Thousand and Twenty British Pounds) and $704 (Seven Hundred and Four Dollars) and that while he declared £7000 (Seven Thousand British Pounds) he kept back £8020 (Eight Thousand and Twenty Pounds Sterling) and $704 (Seven Hundred and Four Dollars), claiming that he lost his brother and was going to use the undeclared sums to fly his corpse back to the country.
At Friday’ sitting, Justice Bogoro convicted and sentenced him to six months imprisonment on both counts or to pay N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) on each. In addition, he forfeited the sums of £8,020 and $704 to the federal government.
….Presidency says Adesina wrong, spoke like a politician on Nigeria’s GDP per capital figures
The Nigerian Presidency has faulted claim of the President of African Development Bank, AfDB, Akinwumi Adesina on the current Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP per capita figures versus the level it was in 1960 when Nigeria attained independence.
The outgoing AfDB President had in a recent viral statement claimed that Nigerians are worse off today than in 1960 when Nigeria’s GDP per capita was $1847..
The AfDB President claimed that in contrast to the level of the GDP per capita at Nigeria independence, the country’s current GDP stands at $824 today, a reflection of the current rampant poverty and low human development in the country.
But in a rebuttal of the claim, the presidency, in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the spokesperson to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu accused the AfDB President of failure to carry out proper research and speaking like a politician in his assertions.
“Adesina spoke like a politician, in the mould of Peter Obi and did not do due diligence before making his unverifiable statement,” the presidency said while faulting the claim of the AfDB President
While countering the claim of Adesina, the presidency noted in the statement that available data indicated that Nigeria’s GDP was $4.2 billion in 1960, and per capita income for a population of 44.9 million was $93, not even one hundred dollars.
“Our country’s GDP did not rise remarkably until the 1970s, when crude earnings ballooned. In 1970, our GDP rose to $12.55 billion. In 1975, it was $27.7 billion, $64.2 billion in 1980, and $164 billion in 1981. Up until 1980, per capita income did not exceed $880. It rose to $2187 in 1981 and dropped to $1844 in 1982. In 2014, after rebasing, it reached an all-time high of $3,200.
“These facts raise questions about the source of Dr Adesina’s figures,” Onanuga said.
However, the presidency also faulted the AfDB President, a former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture of making inferences on the state of poverty or human development in Nigeria solely based on the GPD per capita numbers. .
“Dr Adesina should know that GDP per capita is not the only criterion used to determine whether people live better lives now than in the past. Indeed, it is a poor tool for assessing living standards.
“Its primary usefulness is in giving us the metrics to compare economic output in a country or between countries.
“GDP masks many activities in a country’s economy. It neither discloses wealth distribution or income inequality nor accounts for the informal economy, which experts have said is enormous. It does not account for subsistence farming or income transfer from one family member to another,” the presidency said.
The Presidency also noted that GDP per capita is not reflective of the fact that Nigerians in 2025 have better access to healthcare, education, and transportation, such as rail and air transport, than in 1960.
“This premise alone suggests why Dr Adesina should not have arrived at his conclusion.
“Compared with 1960, Nigeria today has more primary, secondary, and tertiary schools.
“We have more road networks and more medical facilities, private and public. We have phenomenal access to telephones.
“At Independence, we had 18,724 operational phone lines for a population of about 45 million. Over 200 million Nigerians now enjoy near-universal access to mobile phones and digital services, indicating we are better off today than 65 years ago.”
Furthermore, the presidency noted that Nigerian policymakers know that whatever GDP figure NBS publishes may not capture our economy’s full depth and breadth as it usually excludes the greater part of the informal economy, which some pundits have said may even be more significant than the formal economy.
“This underscores why Dr. Adesina should have considered all aspects of our economy before concluding.”
“When Vodacom, a telecommunications company, considered entering the Nigerian market in 1999 or 2000, its consultants, using the available GDP metrics, advised against it.
“They believed that Nigerians were too poor to afford GSM services. However, MTN and other companies that entered the market later proved them wrong, demonstrating that GDP figures alone do not provide a complete picture of a country’s economic potential or the living standards of its people.
“MTN and other adventurers came later, and they laughed all the way to the bank. More than 20 years later, they are still laughing despite some setbacks in 2023 and 2024. In its first-quarter results this year, MTN declared revenue of N1 trillion and an increase of 8.2 percent in subscriptions, which took the number of its voice and data users to 84 million. Does this MTN experience correlate with a country worse off than in 1960, when we had analogue telephones and the number of lines was fewer than 20,000?
“No objective observer can claim that Nigeria has not made progress since 1960. Today, as we await the NBS’s recalibration of our GDP, we can comfortably say without contradiction that it is at least 50 times, if not 100 times, more than it was at Independence.”