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Signed Deals Locked Doors: Nigeria’s bilateral diplomacy must deliver visa access for Nigerians-ADSC, boss, Oluwafemi
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Founder, Africa Development Studies Centre (ADSC), Sir Victor Oluwafemi has said Nigeria’s renewed push in bilateral agreements, trade instruments, and aviation partnerships is a strategic step in the right direction.
Oluwafemi who is also Founder, Douglas Development Institute (DDI) disclosed this in a statement at the weekend declaring that: “Yet a hard truth must be stated plainly: trade without mobility is a half-win.
” Agreements that Nigerians cannot practically access appear impressive on paper but are weak in the real economy.
“Across multiple partner jurisdictions, Nigerians with legitimate reasons to travel for business, investment, conferences, education, and professional engagements continue to face slow, uncertain, and discretionary visa outcomes.
“When processing timelines are unpredictable, appointments are scarce, and decisions are inconsistent, it becomes difficult to convert trade promises into transactions and partnerships into measurable outcomes.
“This is not merely a consular concern. It is a competitiveness concern.
“A trade agreement only works when traders can travel to meet buyers, inspect goods, conclude contracts, and support delivery.
“An investment partnership only works when investors can deploy teams, undertake due diligence, and execute quickly.
“An airline arrangement only becomes commercially viable when passenger access is reliable and predictable. Without visa facilitation, Nigeria risks building corridors that look open but function as closed.
He explained that: “Nigeria must therefore adopt a clear national standard: every primary bilateral economic instrument must include a reciprocal visa facilitation and mobility protocol, designed for delivery, not ceremony.
“This can be structured realistically:
• Official Mobility Track: fast track visa handling for government delegations and priority public missions, with clear timelines.
• Verified Business Mobility Track: multi-entry visas and accelerated processing for verified exporters, investors, executives, and structured trade missions.
• Professional and Talent Mobility Track: sector-specific lanes for technical experts, creatives, academics, and service providers aligned with bilateral priorities.
“Nigeria is entitled to reciprocity. If Nigeria’s doors are open through cooperation frameworks, partner countries’ doors must also open to legitimate Nigerian travellers.
” Anything less creates an imbalance in which agreements benefit the movement of capital and counterparties but restrict the movement of Nigerian people who are required to deliver the outcomes.
“Silence on this issue is costly. It fuels public frustration, weakens confidence in economic diplomacy, and reinforces the perception that bilateral agreements are elite instruments rather than national opportunities.
“It also slows down the very Nigerians who convert policy into exports, jobs, tourism, and inflows of investment.
“I respectfully call on Mr President to treat mobility as a core pillar of economic statecraft and to mandate that visa facilitation clauses become a standard annexe to trade deals, aviation arrangements, and partnership frameworks.
“Nigeria should also publish measurable delivery indicators for each partner country, including processing timelines for verified applicants and the availability of multi-entry pathways.
“Nigeria has shown momentum in signing agreements. The next test is whether Nigerians can access, use, and monetise them.
Issued by:
Sir Victor Walsh Oluwafemi, KJW
Founder, Africa Development Studies Centre (ADSC)
Founder, Douglas Development Institute (DDI)
Isle of Man-based Development Consultant and International Capacity Building Executive
Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested 22 suspects and rescued two minors during an intelligence-led raid on suspected illicit drug dens and criminal hideouts in Ozoro and Abraka communities.
The operation, carried out on July 21, was part of the command’s ongoing campaign against illicit drug trafficking and related crimes across the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday, saying the operation was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Department of Operations.
Edafe said, “On 21st July 2026, at about 1500 hours, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, led operatives of the Command on a coordinated raid of identified illicit drug dens and criminal hideouts at Ofagbe Community, Ozoro, Ekrejeta, and the NUT Area, Abraka, following credible intelligence.
“The operation led to the arrest of 22 suspects, comprising 19 males and three females, for offences relating to the sale, possession, and distribution of illicit drugs.
“During the operation, operatives also rescued two minors who were found in a suspected drug den allegedly operated by their father.
“The children have been taken into protective custody. They will be handed over to the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs for appropriate care and safeguarding, while investigations into the activities of the suspects are ongoing.”
Reacting to the operation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, described the discovery of minors in a suspected drug environment as “deeply disturbing.”
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and protecting vulnerable persons.
The commissioner also urged parents, guardians and community leaders to continue supporting the police with useful information, assuring residents that “the Command will sustain intelligence-led operations to rid Delta State of illicit drug activities and other forms of criminality.”
On July 10, the Yobe State Police Command arrested 14 suspected drug dealers during a coordinated raid on criminal hideouts and drug joints in Jakusko Local Government Area of the state.
The officers also recovered over 300 sachets and packages of suspected illicit drugs, including Tramadol, Vega tablets, Indian hemp and other prohibited.
Abia State Police Command has began investigation to uncover the root cause of the death of five persons from a single family, who were discovered dead in their family house at Umuimo, Osisioma Ngwa local government area of the State on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Decomposing corpses of the five Umuimo residents were discovered by their neighbors and other community members, about three days after they had retired to bed.
It was gathered that the father of the House, late Mr. Kachi Nnabugwu, his wife, Mrs. Chinaza Nnabugwu and their three little children could not come out of their house since Sunday, a situation that made the neighbors to force their locked house open after repeated knocking, only for the five family members to be found dead.
Containers of left over food and a generator set were reportedly found in the building, after the house had been broken open.
The bodies of the victims were on Wednesday evacuated from the compound and taken to the mortuary, even as residents of the area demanded a government thorough investigation to determine the actual cause of their death.
Contacted on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO of Abia State Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka confirmed the incident, saying that investigation had commenced.
“Yes, the attention of the Osisioma Divisional Police Headquarters was drawn to the incident on 22/07/2026 by the brother of the deceased who reported that after being unable to reach Kachi Nnabugwu, they proceeded to his residence at Umuimo Village, Osisioma LGA.
“Upon arrival, repeated knocks yielded no response. They subsequently forced entry into the house, where they discovered the lifeless and decomposing bodies of their brother and his family.
“The crime scene has been visited. A preliminary visual inspection of the bodies was conducted, and photographs taken.
The corpses have been deposited at the morgue for preservation and autopsy,” DSP Chinaka said.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu(first right) decorating Dr. Hycinth Azuka Edozie with his new rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police. Mr. Chidi Dozie is helping the IGP in the task.
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