The Schengen visa is a document that allows non-European Union (EU) citizens to enter, travel within, and leave the Schengen Area, which comprises 26 European countries that have abolished passport and other types of border control at their mutual borders.

These countries have agreed to common visa policies and procedures, allowing travelers to move freely within the area without needing separate visas for each country.

The Schengen visa is issued by one of the Schengen Area member states and grants entry to all member countries for a specified period, typically up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

However obtaining a Schengen visa can be tiring and frustrating especially if it keeps getting rejected after meeting several criteria.

Here are six common reasons why you Schengen visa application might be rejected.

1. Incomplete or incorrect documentation

If any required documents are missing or filled out incorrectly, it can lead to a rejection.

Also, providing false information or withholding important details on the application form can lead to a rejection and may also result in a ban from future applications.

2. Lack of travel insurance

Failure to provide proof of travel insurance covering medical emergencies and repatriation can result in a visa rejection.

This is because travel insurance is a compulsory requirement needed while applying for a Schengen visa.

3. Unconvincing travel itinerary

If the purpose of the trip or the itinerary provided by the applicant seems unclear or not well-planned, the visa may be denied.

Therefore it is important to clearly state the purpose of your visit whether for vacation, tourism, family visit or study.

4. Insufficient funds

If the applicant cannot prove they have enough money to cover their expenses during their stay in the Schengen area, the visa may be rejected.

5. Previous immigration or visa violations

If the applicant has a history of overstaying visas or other immigration violations, it can greatly reduce the chances of getting a Schengen visa.

6. Lack of strong ties to home country

If the applicant cannot demonstrate strong ties to their home country, such as stable employment, property ownership, or family relationships, it may cast doubt on their intention to return after their trip.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, has identified the government’s bulk purchases of foodstuffs for palliative distribution as a key factor exacerbating the food inflation crisis in Nigeria.

Speaking during the March Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, Cardoso expressed concerns about the inflationary impact of these purchases, with the details published on the CBN’s official website.

Naija News recalls that the MPC increased the benchmark interest rate to 24.75% from 22.75% in an effort to combat rising inflation.

Despite these measures, the national inflation rate soared to 33.2% in March, with food inflation particularly severe at 40.01%, a significant increase from the previous year’s rate of 24.45%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The spike in food prices comes in the wake of the Federal Government’s decision to eliminate fuel subsidies, prompting an allocation of ₦5 billion to each state and the Federal Capital Territory for food purchases intended for the economically vulnerable. This move, however, has contributed to inflationary pressures.

“Despite notable stability in the foreign exchange market resulting from decisions taken at that 293rd MPC meeting, inflationary pressure remains unabated,” Cardoso stated.

He highlighted that the government’s interventions in the food market have introduced new inflationary dimensions, exacerbated by seasonal fluctuations during religious and festive periods.

Emphasizing the structural nature of the current inflation, Cardoso argued for a combined fiscal and monetary strategy to address the issue effectively.

“This could be considered as evidence of the impact of decisions reached at the 293rd MPC meeting,” he noted, pointing out that primary drivers of inflation now include hikes in food and energy prices due to structural factors.

MPC member Bala Bello also commented on the inflationary trend, noting its impact on the economy.

He said, “Inflation is currently unacceptably high and requires decisive and coordinated efforts to curb it, given its adverse impact on citizens’ purchasing power, investment decisions, and broad output performance.”

Bello acknowledged the government’s initiatives to mitigate food insecurity, such as distributing seeds and supporting dry-season farming, as critical, though insufficient to counter the broader inflationary trends.

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed Basirat Damilola Marshall, daughter of Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, a.k.a KWAM1, as his Senior Special Assistant on Tourism.

This was according to a viral video of her father thanking the governor, and congratulatory messages sighted by PUNCH Online on her Instagram page, @damimarshall_ on Thursday.

In the viral video, her father, KWAM1, while performing on stage at the coronation and birthday reception of Oba Sikirullah Apena on Thursday, thanked Sanwo-Olu for appointing his daughter into his cabinet.

The fuji singer noted that it was his daughter, Damilola, who asked him to publicly thank the governor for her appointment.

Congratulating her on the appointment, a Nigerian, Olanrewaju-Smart Wasiu wrote, “Congratulations Barr. @damimarshall_ on your appointment as the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism. This is a deserving recognition for your hard work and contributions to our party”, to which she responded by saying “Thank you, sir.”

Another person, Balogun Basia wrote, “Please, join me in congratulating my friend K1 and the entire family on the appointment of my daughter Barrister Basirat Damilola Marshall as the SSA to the governor of Lagos State on Tourism. Damilola, this shall be the beginning of many good things that will come your way and that of your siblings Insha Allah, Alaumoh Amin.”

Until her appointment, Damilola was a principal partner at a law firm, Damilola Ayinde Marshal and Co.

As of the time of this report, efforts to reach the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Lagos State Governor, Gboyega Akosile, for confirmation proved abortive, as messages sent to his WhatsApp line were not responded to.

Any possible merger of political parties aimed at ousting the ruling All Progressives Congress at the centre during the 2027 general elections will not see the light of the day unless the masterminds drop their personal interests.

The former Chairman of APC in Enugu State, Dr Ben Nwoye, stated this in Enugu on Thursday during a programme. He however said it would be in the interest of democracy if there was a strong opposition, but played down anything concrete coming from the merger of Alh Atiku Abubakar, Mr Peter Obi and Engr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Atiku was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Obi was that of the Labour Party while Kwankwaso was the standard-bearer of the New Nigerian Peoples Party during the 2023 elections. It was won by APC’s Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

There have been reports of a possible merger of the trio. Nwoye said because it was unlikely for any of them to cede their presidential ambitions, the talk was dead on arrival.

According to him, “The so-called merger ahead of 2027 polls will be a welcome development. For democracy to thrive, there should be competition. But if the merger is self-serving, it will fail. It will be a case of strange bed fellows.

“Remember that Atiku, Obi and Kwankwaso are originally of PDP. In fact, people forget that Obi was Atiku’s running mate during the 2019 presidential election. So, their coming together again can’t be called a merger.”

Nwoye, however, admitted that if Atiku, Obi and Kwankwaso had jettisoned their selfish interests, the outcome of the 2023 elections would have been different.

He said, “If they had stayed together and ceded their ambitions to one of them, PDP should have defeated APC going by the ratio of votes cast. But the problem with our politics is that Nigerian politicians are simply after their personal interests. So, it has been a case of self-serving.”

On alleged crisis in APC, Nwoye said, “There is no implosion in APC. APC has been solid. The truth is that after party primaries, there must be crises. This is because Nigerians hardly accept defeat. Every contestant will claim they won. That creates tension and litigations. It is not perculiar to APC.”