Mai Mala Buni, governor of Yobe, says he has no plans to join the opposition coalition being promoted by  some opposition leaders, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Buni’s stance is contained in a statement issued by Mamman Mohammed, the director-general of press and media affairs in the office of the Yobe state governor.

According to NAN, a viral message had claimed that Buni and four other All Progressives Congress (APC) governors were finalising plans to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the 2027 elections. 

This follows growing coalition talks among opposition politicians seeking to wrest power from the ruling APC ahead of the next general election.

The former vice-president has been at the forefront of strategic meetings and talks around the proposed coalition against the APC.

However, Buni’s spokesperson dismissed the claim of Buni joining the coalition, describing it as “baseless fabrications, unwarranted imagination, and assumptions that did not cross paths with reality in any way, shape, and form”.

He said the author of the message had never been close enough to Buni to predict the governor’s political movement.

“Buni is no ordinary member of APC; he is not just an APC governor. He is APC in all ramifications, with APC flowing in his veins,” the statement reads.

“His contributions to building APC as a two-term National Secretary and National Chairman who chaired the party’s convention committee make him unique, and whose imagination of leaving the party cannot be speculated.”

Mohammed said the author and his paymasters must have been interested in Buni’s political sagacity and only wished they would have the likes of the governor.

“It must be wishful thinking,” he added.

Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun state, and Edward Oluwasanmi, a pastor, have pleaded guilty to swindling the United States government of $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.

Citing court records, a Punch report said Oluwasanmi reportedly used his companies – Dayspring Transportation Limited, Dayspring Holding Incorporated, and Dayspring Property Incorporated – to obtain millions of dollars, which he later diverted for personal expenses in violation of US federal laws.

The two men were charged to court on 13 counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions with criminally derived property.

On April 10, Oluwasanmi, represented by Henry Hilow, a counsel, pleaded guilty to counts one, 11, and 12 of the indictment.

The counts accused him of using fraud proceeds to purchase commercial property at 422 South Green Road, South Euclid, Ohio, through wire transfer, and transferring money into a Dayspring transportation brokerage account.

According to the report, Oloyede submitted his guilty plea on Monday.

With a sentencing set for July 2, both men face potential prison terms.

Oloyede was crowned as the monarch of Ipetumodu in 2019 but frequently travelled between Nigeria and the US for “royal and personal engagements”.

Indigenes began raising concerns after his throne was vacant for nearly a year.

Oloyede and Oluwasanmi were arrested on April 5, 2024, according to a statement issued by the US department of transportation earlier this month, revealing the monarch’s whereabouts.

A dramatic scene played out in one of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) centers as a female candidate refused to attempt any questions, opting instead to wait for miraculous intervention.

According to JAMB Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, the candidate was complying with the instruction of her grandfather to do nothing during the examination.

Benjamin, in a statement on Saturday, said candidates must prepare and hard work to achieve success rather than relying on miracles.

Meanwhile, JAMB has offered a financial reward to anyone who can provide authentic proof of a candidate being posted to an examination center outside their chosen town.

JAMB clarified that candidates have the right to select their preferred examination town during registration, and the board assigns them to a center within that chosen town.

The board described claims that candidates are placed in towns different from their selections as “erroneous, malicious, and aimed solely at tarnishing the Board’s reputation.”

The Board also challenged the public to provide proof of such cases within 96 hours, which should be sent to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) WhatsApp number, 08056003030.

JAMB also explained that candidates are required to arrive at the examination centers 90 minutes before the commencement of the examination for preliminary verification, which includes processes that take time.

“Similarly, anyone who finds no fault in airlines requesting air-travellers to arrive at the airport 2 hours before the departure time should find no fault in encouraging candidates to arrive at the CBT centres, 90 minutes before commencement of examination for preliminary verification.

“Many parents who expect candidates to spend not more than 2 hours for the 2 hours examination are apparently oblivious of the required preliminary processes,” the statement said.

The board assured the public that it is committed to public good and exists to serve the public interest in the best possible manner.

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, and the minister of Finance and Coordinating minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, have declared that Nigeria has exited its most turbulent economic period and is now firmly on the path to growth and stability.

Speaking on Friday night at a joint press conference at the end of the 2025 International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank Spring meetings, the CBN governor asserted that the country’s monetary and financial framework has matured significantly, with the foreign exchange market now operating effectively based on market fundamentals.

Cardoso emphasised that the Central Bank’s primary duty remains safeguarding stability, not imposing rates arbitrarily. “We are custodians of stability. Our role is to ensure that people can plan without suffering the shocks of internal or external disruptions,” he said.

He cautioned against lingering cynicism, describing the current economic climate as one ripe with opportunities that Nigerians must seize. “This is not the time to be cynical. If we do not recognise and take advantage of our opportunities, others will. Capital moves to where the environment is enabled. So it’s not the time to be cynical. It’s the time for us to look to the future. With every confidence that we will get out of any problem that we are faced with.” Cardoso stated.

Noting that the progress recorded in the economy had been due to the difficult but necessary reforms undertaken by the monetary and fiscal authorities, he said, Nigeria’s resilience during recent external pressures has made it a reference point in the international community.

“It has taken a lot of coordination between the fiscal and the monetary, learn from mistakes, being bold enough to look at other at other means of doing certain things to get better results, and now we are here at a time where the international community are asking others to learn from what Nigeria has been able to accomplish.

On his part, the Finance minister and coordinating minister of the economy, Mr. Wale Edun, confirmed that key economic indicators are trending positively, a clear departure from the nation’s situation a few years ago.

Responding to question report that the country had slipped to the fourth largest economy in Africa, he said: “I have not seen the report but Nigeria is economically, financially, in a very much better place than it was just a couple of years ago. Inflation is coming down, the exchange rate is stabilizing, food prices are easing, and the fundamentals are much stronger.”

According to Edun, the resilience of Nigeria’s external sector during recent challenges, where investors eventually restored confidence, is proof of the underlying strength of the economy.

Looking ahead, he outlined an ambitious target for economic growth. “We must now push to grow the Nigerian economy deliberately at no less than 7% per annum. Anything less will not move our people out of poverty fast enough,” he said.

“We have turned the corner. It is now time for every Nigerian to contribute towards building a stronger, more prosperous economy,” Edun stated.

The defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has heightened fears regarding the potential defection of other state governors from opposition parties. Long before Oborevwori left the PDP, signs that some opposition governors might follow suit had already emerged. From their utterances and body language, it was obvious that some of these governors were hobnobbing with the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC). Findings by Sunday Vanguard showed that there is a growing uncertainty in some states, particularly among party faithful, regarding their future in the opposition. This anxiety exists despite the denials by party officials who claim that there are no plans for defections.

The wave of defections from the PDP to the APC has raised significant concerns within opposition states. While some states exhibit signs of potential shifts, others maintain a firm stance against such moves. The varying responses underscore the complex and localised nature of Nigerian politics, where individual relationships, party dynamics, and regional considerations play pivotal roles in shaping political allegiances. Enugu: On Shaky Grounds Enugu State has been a stronghold of the PDP since the beginning of the Fourth Republic. However, there are now speculations that overtures have been made to Governor Peter Mbah to leave the PDP. It is well-known that the governor is a close ally of President Bola Tinubu, and Sunday Vanguard gathered that the presidency has been consistently wooing Mbah to join the APC.

As a result, the APC in Enugu State, which is the opposition, has continually praised the governor for his developmental strides in the state. However, the APC Chairman in the state, Ugo Agballa, is opposed to such a move. Sources suggest that Agballa and the party leadership have vowed to ensure that any alleged plan for Mbah to defect does not materialize. While the APC is making efforts to gain influence in the state, the opposition within Enugu State’s PDP remains strong, making it unclear whether the governor will take the plunge and abandon his current political affiliation.

Anambra: ‘APC Lacks Foundation’

In Anambra State, despite Governor Charles Soludo’s closeness to President Bola Tinubu, there is little concern over the possibility of defection. Soludo, who was elected under the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), has not shown any inclination toward defecting to the APC. Since coming to office in 2021, Soludo has maintained a positive relationship with the APGA leadership in the state. In fact, the governor recently dismissed the APC as a party without any significant foundation in Anambra, stating that it has never managed to secure even a single councillor in previous elections. According to Soludo, the APC has failed to make any significant impact in the state, citing their lack of electoral traction in both general and local government elections.

“Now, wind down to Anambra. In Anambra, APC doesn’t even have a councillor. Not even one. In all previous elections, they’ve never been able to get traction. Look at the last several elections— general elections and local government elections—not even 3–4% of the votes. You can’t put something on nothing, so to speak,” Soludo stated. Most stakeholders in the state do not believe the governor, who is seeking a second term, would defect. “There is no reason for that. APGA is not a party, but a movement that Ndigbo subscribe to. We are connected to the party in every reasonable way. Our governor is a principled person, who has paid his dues in respected fields. He should not be ranked alongside those defecting,” said Emma Udemezue, an APGA chieftain, when speaking with Sunday Vanguard.

Abia:

Defections Have No Impact The recent defections in Delta State seem unlikely to have any significant effect on the PDP in Abia State, for several reasons. Abia is not currently controlled by either the PDP or the APC, and the defections in Delta have little to no bearing on the political dynamics in Abia. For Governor Alex Otti, defection is far from being a priority. A PDP chieftain and aspirant for the party’s chairmanship in 2024, Chief Olugh Kalu, told Sunday Vanguard: “Every politics is local. Their defection happened in Delta and cannot have any effect in Abia because Abia is not Delta State.” Since the Labour Party (LP) took control of Abia in the 2023 elections, local residents have not shown much interest in the affairs of either the PDP or APC. Many former PDP stakeholders have already defected to the APC, and more are expected to follow before the 2027 elections. The people of Abia, for the most part, are more focused on the performance of Otti’s LP-led administration than on the shifting alliances of the traditional political parties. Despite internal leadership struggles within LP, which have persisted for several months, the governor’s governance is seen as a more pressing concern.

Osun:

Party Faithful Disturbed Long before the defection of Delta Governor Oborevwori, there had been speculations that Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State might leave the PDP for the APC. Party faithful in Osun are particularly concerned about the defections in Delta and the recent resignation of the lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Mr. Oluwole Oke. Oke, a fifth-term lawmaker, had been at odds with the PDP leadership in Osun, leading to factionalism in his constituency. In a letter dated April 16, addressed to the Ward 7 Chairman of the party in Obokun Local Government Area, Oke stated that his decision to resign was made after consulting with his constituents. Although Oke did not explicitly state whether he would join another party, the speculation that he might join the ruling APC has further fueled the belief that Adeleke could be considering the same move.

However, some party leaders have dismissed the significance of Oke’s resignation, arguing that it should not be seen as a harbinger of Adeleke’s defection. “We have heard that several PDP governors, including Ademola Adeleke, were planning to defect to the APC. This defection of the Delta State Governor and Mr. Oluwole Oke further strengthened the talk in town that Adeleke may join the ruling party,” a local resident said. Diran Odeyemi, a former Deputy Publicity Secretary of the PDP, dismissed the idea

Demands action on escalating attacks in Kaduna, Plateau

The leadership of Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, has condemned the rising cases of violence, banditry, and kidnappings in Kaduna and Plateau states, urging the Federal Government to take urgent action.

General Secretary of ECWA, Rev. Ayuba Asheshe, at a press conference in Jos, said the Church had already spent over N300 million in ransom payments, adding that over 50 of their members remain in captivity.

His words: “ECWA expresses its profound grief and deep concern over a surge of violent incidents impacting its members and communities in Kaduna and Plateau states. These interconnected crises, marked by banditry, kidnappings, and brutal militia attacks, demand immediate and decisive intervention from government and all stakeholders.

“In Kaduna State, the Kwassam DCC of the Kauru Local Government Area has been ravaged by relentless banditry and kidnappings in recent weeks. Over 20 lives have been lost, and over 100 individuals, including Church members and community residents, have been abducted.

“The Church has already spent over 300 million Naira in ransom payments, yet over 50 individuals remain in captivity, placing an unbearable financial strain on the Church and affected families, many of whom have lost their livelihoods. The targeting of predominantly farming communities in the region further exacerbates the crisis, posing a significant threat to food security in the affected areas and neighboring communities due to the disruption of agricultural activities.”

The Kano State government said it has uncovered an anomaly in the March salary payroll system and leading to the recovery of over N28m paid to 247 dead or retired workers. 

The government, through a committee, a pay parade committee established in the state, uncovered the anomaly following a validation exercise on the March salary payroll system.

In a statement by the Press Secretary to the Secretary to the Kano State Government (SSG), Musa Tanko Muhammad, said the disturbing irregularity was uncovered within the payroll system of Local Government Councils which the findings revealed that 247 individuals have either retired from service or dead, yet have been appearing in the payroll and their salaries running.

The Government, however, assured of its commitment to purging the payroll system of irregularities, while the individuals found to be involved in the fraudulent activity will be identified and held fully accountable in accordance with the law.

According to the statement, “In a decisive move towards cleansing the State Payroll, the Kano State Government, under the leadership of Governor Abba Yusuf, has recorded a major milestone in its ongoing efforts to reform the salary administration system within the State civil service.

“As part of the reform process, a Pay Parade Committee has been established and will commence its operations shortly. In preparation for the full implementation of its mandate, the Committee deemed it necessary to involve all stakeholders. Consequently, the Committee printed the March 2025 payroll vouchers and requested all Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) and Local Government Councils to study the Payrolls and make necessary observations as a prelude to a comprehensive Pay Parade scheduled to be flagged off on Monday the 28th of April. Arising from the validation exercise, a disturbing irregularity was uncovered within the payroll system of Local Government Councils. The findings revealed that 247 individuals have either retired from service or dead yet, yet have been appearing in the payroll and their salaries are running. These fraudulent salary payments amount to the sum of ₦27,824,395.40 for March 2025 alone.

“In a prompt and effective response, and while further due diligence is being conducted to determine the extent of this apparent fraud and the perpetrators, the amount has been recovered and returned to the Local Government Treasury.

“This significant recovery underscores the administration’s unwavering dedication to entrenching governance, transparency, and responsible management of public resources,” the statement however, reads.

Interview

Last week’s defections of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, predecessor in office, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and their supporters from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, increased concerns that Nigeria is headed for a one-party state. One of the founding fathers of the party, Senator Chris Ekpenyong, identifies where PDP got it wrong. Ekpenyong, who served as Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State under the Attah administration from 1999 to 2007, says the party may find it difficult to rise again,

As a founding father of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, what can you say about the defections of Delta State governor, among others, to the APC?

It means Tinubu has killed the PDP. I’m sure Akwa Ibom may follow soon. Everybody wanted former VP Atiku to clearly state that he wasn’t going to contest, but his persistence has forced people to make their own decisions. This is dividing the North and the South. What do we do now? The party has been destroyed. I honestly don’t know how they can rebuild it to challenge the APC in the future.

Does this mean the elders of the party didn’t do enough to prevent these high-profile defections that are about making Nigeria a one-party state?

Who do I talk to? The people we could talk to are no longer interested. The first mistake PDP made was handing over the party to the governors. That was the mistake founding fathers like Obasanjo made. Obasanjo seized the party. The only ones who stood up to him were the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi and former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, who actually founded the PDP. We joined Ekwueme when the party evolved from G34 to PDP. My boss, former Governor Victor Attah, benefited from that transformation. Chief Don Etiebet, who brought PDP to Akwa Ibom, left as far back as 2001 because of how he was treated after Attah took power. PDP ruled Nigeria for 16 years. Some people once said PDP would rule for 60 years. But where are they now? The party was left in the hands of governors, who now control everything. They know why they’re defecting, it’s mostly to protect themselves from the EFCC. We’ll wait and see what happens when Tinubu finishes his two terms. Will the North use APC for their own turn? We are heading for a one-party state. It’s left to them. I no longer have the locus standi to fight back. Those who looted the nation’s wealth have done their worst.

Was there ever a time you foresaw the decline of the once-powerful PDP?

Of course, yes. The moment the party was handed over to governors, it was clear. During the Second Republic, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) wasn’t controlled by governors. If it had been, I wouldn’t have become a member of the House of Assembly at such a young age, even while serving as a Youth Corps member. I had no money. I considered joining the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), where things might have been easier, but I chose NPN because my people were conservatives—and I even defeated an incumbent. Back then, the party was run by the people, who contributed to its funding. Now, the governors run everything.

It was learnt that more PDP governors, especially those seeking second term, might also defect…

My state governor, Eno, has already declared support for Tinubu. He’s also backing the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. What next? I called Fubara (suspended Rivers governor), he didn’t answer. But I sent him a message. I told him that since Tinubu was in France, he should visit him because this whole battle is about delivering Rivers State votes to Tinubu. The young man is being humiliated by Wike, and the President has done nothing. Instead, he installed an administrator in the state. This is clearly about votes. Fubara has to survive politically, if not, he’ll be rubbished.

The current set of PDP governors seem to be capitulating. Does this show a lack of spine?

They are weak. All they care about is power and their own survival. A few governors from the North might jump ship too. Atiku is the problem. He should have focused on rebuilding the party instead of always aiming for the presidency. What can he do now? My governor wasn’t even nominated to attend the NEC meeting in Kano in August. I don’t see any hope for the opposition. Tinubu has already neutralized them. As things stand, only a movement from the people can bring real opposition. What’s happening now is the requiem for the PDP. I spoke to Okwesilieze Nwodo, a former governor and party National Chairman. We had a long discussion.

He said he was hopeful the issues would be addressed at the Convention—but what’s likely to come out of it now? Many people who benefited from PDP don’t even care anymore. Those who could have helped revive the party in the North are dormant. It’s over. Tinubu already controls the South, and the North has no choice but to give him votes. PDP made a huge mistake after late President Yar’Adua’s death. They should have let someone from the North continue. But they insisted it was the South’s turn. That disrupted the balance. I don’t see PDP coming back. Maybe after Tinubu’s tenure, people will decide to create a new party.

But the Constitution doesn’t provide room for independent candidates…

If you choose to contest as an independent and they eliminate you at the last minute, what can you do?

In Lagos, the most populous city in West Africa, nothing is a waste in the hands of those who can see value in it.

Despite inherent risks, particularly those that have to do with human safety and public health, when the opportunity to make cash or profit presents itself, the love of money is prioritised above all.

While the city generates an estimated 5.46 million tonnes of waste annually, some of these wastes often find their way back to the market.

Among these arrays of wastes that find their way back to market include used wigs which have been disposed of by residents across the state, investigations by PUNCH Healthwise revealed.

Our correspondent who visited three dumpsites in Lagos, including Olusosun in Ojota, Dumping in Ikorodu and Solous in Igando, saw how the scavengers sorted the used wigs and repackaged them for onward transfer out of the dump.

It was gathered that while the market for secondhand wigs, particularly those picked from the dumps, is not thriving in Lagos, it is a booming venture in the far northern part of the country.

But despite the opportunities, senior health experts warned that the unseen health risks associated with the practice far outweigh whatever economic value such endeavours would create.

Underhand trades

In the heart of Ikorodu’s dumpsite in Ewu-Elepe, popularly known as Dumping, where the air is thick with decay and the ground littered with waste, lies the booming market for different items picked from the facility.

The scavengers and businessmen nestled in the several makeshift erected on the dumpsite have created an enterprise in what others have thrown away.

These include scraps of metal, tattered clothes, and broken appliances. But a rather unusual sight caught the attention of our correspondent – used wigs, tangled and matted, which were being sorted by a young man.

When approached by our correspondent, the man who refused to disclose his name, told our correspondent that the used wig market is booming in the north.

He explained that while the used wigs are underpriced in Lagos, they move well in the north and have commercial value.

“It is being packed for onward transportation to the north. We will send it to the north and it will be sold out in no distant time.

“Unlike in Lagos where it is underpriced and doesn’t move well, it is well loved in the north and that is why we prefer transporting to the north to sell,” he said.

When our correspondent asked what the wigs are used for in the north, he looked bewildered, wondering why I had to ask him such.

“Na woman dey use am nah. They buy and wear it,” he said in pidgin English.

Scavenged beauty

PUNCH Healthwise gathered that for a fraction of the price of new hair, customers often claim their secondhand beauty, unknown to them the unseen dangers lurking in each strand.

Unaware of the wigs’ origins, shoppers run their fingers through the strands, often wowed by their texture when they are displayed on roadside markets in the evening and at night.

The wigs, which must have been reborn by a bit of oil and straightener, are reintroduced back to society and the buyers adorn their heads with the lush hair picked from waste.

Beneath the scavenged wigs lie unseen germs and parasites that pose a threat to the skin and health of the new owner.

When our correspondent posed as a customer and approached a food vendor on the dumpsite on why the scavengers were trading in used wigs and clothes, she said it was happening because there was a ready market for it.

Popularly known as Iya Tinubu in the dump for being an unapologetic supporter of President Bola Tinubu, the food vendor explained that some of the scavenged items are being resold in some roadside markets in Ikorodu.

According to her, many retailers come to the dump to buy clothes and wigs and other things picked by the scavengers across markets in Ikorodu.

“Don’t be surprised about what you are seeing. Many people selling okrika (local name for used clothes) come here to pick them.

“They come here and buy it in bulk, they wash it and resize it sometimes before they go back to selling it to people.

“Look at that woman (pointing our correspondent to a woman selecting clothes from dealers in the dump) she will sell what she’s picking right now in the evening in the Sabo area of Ikorodu,” the food vendor said. 

Probing further, our correspondent asked about the wigs, she explained that if people can buy the clothes picked from the dump, wigs are not an exception.

“Why are you sounding this surprised? Is this your first time here? There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s a business and people patronise it well and you can still see the woman I showed you shopping there.

“Though mostly, the wigs are transported to the north. I heard it is taken to an area in Niger State where it is well regarded and has commercial value,” Iya Tinubu told our correspondent.

Not satisfied, our correspondent approached the retailer that the food vendor had pointed to him, posing as someone who just wanted to start the business.

The woman, who appeared to be in her late 30s, advised our correspondent to ensure he picks the best from the bales, adding that customers also look for the best among clothes on display when they get to the market.

 “The prices also vary. Women’s clothes are not as expensive as men’s. From N200 to N500 you’d see good ones for women while men’s own ranges from N700 to N1000 upward.

“You know everything is now expensive. The prices used to be lower than these before but the recent economic reality has also affected this business,” she said while sifting through the bales of dirty clothes with her bare hands.

However, when our correspondent approached some of the northerners selling used clothes to the retailers, they declined to comment.

Used wigs users risk fungal, bacterial infections — Dermatologists

Meanwhile, skin health experts have warned that people who buy and wear wigs picked from the dumpsites are at risk of several health complications, including fungal and bacterial infections.

The dermatologists, who spoke separately with PUNCH Healthwise, explained that there were several side effects to wearing things picked on the dump, adding that such items would predispose individuals to health risks which can greatly impact their skin’s health.

A Consultant Physician and Dermatologist, Dr Roli Madubuko, explained that using wigs scavenged from dumpsites is associated with several dermatological consequences.

Madubuko, who is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Benin, Edo State, listed the health risks to include infections, infestations, and allergic reactions.

She said, “One of the primary health risks is infection, which could be either fungal or bacterial. These wigs may harbour fungi and bacteria that can lead to conditions like ringworm. In dermatology, we call this Tinea capitis, but most people know it as ringworm. In some parts of South-South Nigeria, it is locally referred to as Lapalapa. This is a fungal infection that affects the scalp.

“Bacterial infections can also occur, leading to scalp boils, a condition known as folliculitis. These appear as painful, inflamed lumps on the scalp. If these boils become severely infected, they can develop into abscesses. Another bacterial infection that may arise is impetigo, which presents as fluid-filled blisters on the scalp.”

According to her, the wigs may also harbour head lice and mites and these parasites can survive without human contact for up to three weeks, making it possible for them to remain on discarded wigs.

“When someone wears an infested wig, they may experience persistent itching, redness, and irritation of the scalp,” she said.

The consultant dermatologists explained that many wigs contain chemicals used for dyeing, treatment, or cleaning, adding that they can predispose users to some health risks.

“Some of these chemicals can cause skin irritation, leading to a condition known as contact dermatitis. This is a form of skin reaction triggered by allergens in the wig material.

“Wigs picked from dumpsites may have been designed for specific head sizes. If they don’t fit properly, they may cause friction, leading to irritation, redness, and in some cases, hair loss. Additionally, tight wigs can obstruct blood flow to the scalp, affecting hair growth and causing long-term scalp damage,” Madubuko added.

Also, a Consultant Dermatologist at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Dr Nkiruka Onodugo, said the side effects of such practices are enormous, warning that women should be careful of the wigs they purchase.

“You’re going to predispose yourself to infections, fungal infections, bacterial infections, even parasitic infections because some of these parasites will live in these wigs,” Onodugo said.

According to her, even the substances used to disinfect these wigs (for those who even try to disinfect them) may actually be a source of irritation for the users.

“This means that every wig you see in the market now is a suspect because sometimes, you don’t even know which one was scavenged and which one was not scavenged. So, it’s really a very bad situation.

“I think every woman should be very careful. We should be much more careful about what we put on our heads. Don’t just go and buy anything from anywhere, all in the name of fashion, put it on your head, and expose yourself to all sorts of risks, all in the name of keeping up with the trend. It doesn’t make sense. You’ll be better off with your natural hair,” the consultant dermatologist advised.

A study by Nigerian researchers, Dike Ijere, J. N. Okereke and E. U. Ezeji titled ‘Potential hazards associated with wearing of synthetic hairs in Nigeria’ in 2022 and published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Public Health found that there are contaminants hiding in synthetic hairs.

“We found that the synthetic hair samples were contaminated with 11 chemical compounds which are pesticides. The levels of these chemicals found in the hair exceeded permissible limits, making them dangerous to health

“Exposure to the toxic chemicals that we found in synthetic hair can have serious health consequences. Apart from damage to vital organs, they can cause infertility, birth defects, asthma, bronchitis and cancers. They also lead to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, endocrine system disruption and respiratory diseases, among others.

“People who wear synthetic hair should consider these risks, especially as chemical substances and heavy metals can be harmful even at low levels,” the researchers said.

However, efforts to get a reaction from the Ministry of Health proved abortive.

Calls to a Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Segun Agboye, were not picked and messages sent to him on WhatsApp were yet to be responded to as of time of filing this report.

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement has expelled 902 Nigerians since the start of fiscal year 2019, according to data from the agency’s 2024 Annual Report​.

This is as 3,690 more remain in limbo with removal orders hanging over them.

Although removals fell from 286 Nigerians in 2019 to 138 in 2024, reflecting a 51.7 per cent decline over the six years, ICE’s country-by-country deportation ledger showed Nigerians removals spiked during Donald Trump’s first two full years in office, 2018 and 2019, and may spike in 2025 under renewed crackdown.

Senegal was in second place with 716 removals, with 410 of those in 2024 alone.

Ghana sits third with 582 removals, followed closely by Mauritania with 491 removals.

Removals to Mauritania rose from 58 in 2023 to 353 in 2024.

The report attributed the spike to the Electronic Nationality Verification expansion programme, which shortened the paperwork cycle by allowing consular officers to clear identity checks electronically rather than in person​. Officials say the ENV cut manifest-approval times from weeks to days and allowed weekend-chartered flights to countries such as Mauritania, Senegal and Ghana.

Other African countries on the list were Egypt (467), Somalia (406), Democratic Republic of Congo (395), Liberia (379), Kenya (335), and Guinea (294). The rest were scattered among Angolans (293), Cameroonians (288), The Gambia (22), Sierra Leone (165), Morocco (161) and Ethiopia (141), amongst others with smaller caseloads.

Outside Africa, the highest removals are to America’s near neighbours.

Mexico topped the deportation chart with 434,827 removals between fiscal 2019 and 2024, more than double that of any other nationality on the agency’s books.

Analysts say enforcement activity remained high in the Northern Triangle, with Guatemala recording 185,713 expulsions and Honduras 142,349, while El Salvador logged 65,268 during the same period.

Colombia accounted for 30,724 returns and Ecuador 26,847 due to a surge in charter flights in 2023. Peru followed with 11,554​. Caribbean and Bolivarian states recorded smaller but still significant totals: the Dominican Republic saw 13,904 deportations, Nicaragua 13,350 and Venezuela 4,962 over the six-year period. ICE reports attributed this to a mix of travel-document diplomacy and a surge in border encounters.

Together, the 10 countries accounted for almost three-quarters of the 271,484 people ICE says it deported in 2024, the agency’s busiest year since before COVID-19 .

According to ICE, legal authority for such removals rests on the Immigration and Nationality Act.

It said foreign nationals might be expelled for unlawful entry, overstaying visas, fraud, certain criminal convictions or national-security grounds.

In January 2017, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13768, which broadened ICE’s enforcement to include anyone without lawful status.

ICE arrest numbers jumped 30 per cent that year as Nigerian removals rose accordingly.

In 2019, ICE carried out 267,258 removals, the highest yearly total in nearly a decade​.

That year, Nigerian removal numbers rose to 286. This was part of a long list of 3,690 Nigerians whom ICE had identified and placed on its non-detained docket by late 2020, as revealed in January 2025.

Nigeria had the second-highest number of nationals facing deportation in Africa then, after Somalia’s 4,090 cases​.

In 2021, President Joe Biden directed ICE to prioritise the most serious criminals and recent entrants for removal, leading to a sharp drop in deportation numbers.

ICE removals fell to about 59,000 in 2021, the lowest in decades, and Nigerian removals dropped to 78 that year​.

The following year, even fewer Nigerians (49) were sent home amid pandemic-related travel restrictions and continued cautious enforcement. But a Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 allowed the Department of Homeland Security to fully reinstate those guidelines, prioritising public safety and national security cases.

ICE defines “removal” as the confirmed compulsory movement of a non-citizen out of the United States following an order of removal​. This often follows a final removal order by an immigration judge or administratively via mechanisms like expedited removal at the border.

ICE says the journey from arrest to repatriation typically runs through a patchwork of local jails, immigration courts and consular clearances.

Once an order of removal is final, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division must secure travel documents, field medical clearances and book a commercial seat or, more commonly for West-African returns, a dedicated charter flight.

The agency says electronic verification has shaved days off that timeline, which is one reason the 2024 total dwarfs the previous two pandemic-ridden years.

In carrying out Trump’s recent deportation order, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have raided several establishments suspected of harbouring illegal immigrants and made arrests.

At a meeting with US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., in February, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, called on the United States to ensure a humane deportation process for Nigerians.

“We are asking as a country whether they will be given ample time to handle their assets or will they just be bundled into planes and repatriated?” she queried, highlighting concerns over the emotional and financial impact on deportees and their families.

She argued that deportations, particularly for persons with no history of violent crime, should not be traumatic or abrupt.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission had earlier said it was ready to welcome Nigerians deported from the US.

“The Federal Government has set up an inter-agency committee, comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Office of the National Security Adviser, should there be mass deportation of Nigerians from the US,” NiDCOM’s Director of Media and Corporate Affairs, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said in an interview.