American Woman, 64, Alleges Embassy Mocked 27-Year-Old Fiancé Before Visa Denial

A 64-year-old American woman has claimed that officials at the U.S. Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria mocked her relationship with her 27-year-old Nigerian fiancé before denying his K-1 fiancé visa, leaving her emotionally distressed. The woman, who identified herself as Deborah, shared her experience during a live call with U.S. immigration attorney Jim Hacking, highlighting the challenges and perceived bias in the visa process.

Deborah explained that her fiancé attended a formal interview at the embassy but was issued a 221(g) refusal form, a common administrative measure indicating that further processing or verification is required before a visa can be granted. The notice stated that the applicant “does not meet the qualifications for the visa class.” Hacking told Deborah that 221(g) refusals often occur when consular officers have unresolved questions about the authenticity of a relationship, especially in cases involving significant age differences or unusual circumstances.

According to Deborah, the interview proceeded normally until the consular officer asked about the couple’s age difference. When informed that she was 64 and her fiancé 27, she alleges the officer reacted with surprise, repeatedly referenced her age, and appeared to discuss the relationship with a colleague outside the room. She described seeing both officers laughing in the hallway before returning and issuing the visa refusal.

READ ALSO:

• CBN Policies, Foreign Inflows Drive Naira to Two-Year Peak
• Edo Governor Okpebholo Names Mercy Johnson-Okojie Special Adviser
• Many Feared Dead as Suspected Lakurawa Militants Attack Kebbi Communities

Deborah said her fiancé presented about 20 documents, including photographs and chat records, to prove the legitimacy of their nearly two-year-long relationship. However, she claimed the consular officer dismissed the evidence as unnecessary at that stage.

Hacking advised Deborah that under such circumstances, the couple might consider marrying first and applying for a spousal visa, rather than a fiancé visa. He explained that even then, the process could take up to two years, a timeline that left Deborah visibly distressed during the live call.

Visa denials under Section 221(g) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act are not uncommon and typically signal the need for additional documentation or administrative review rather than permanent ineligibility. Recent U.S. visa policies for Nigerians have tightened, including additional social-media disclosure requirements, reflecting broader efforts to combat fraud and ensure compliance with immigration rules.

Deborah described the denial as a “devastating blow” to a relationship she and her fiancé have nurtured for years. Despite prior visits to Nigeria, she said she had been hoping to spend more time with her fiancé in the U.S., a plan now complicated by procedural delays and bureaucratic hurdles.

American Woman, 64, Alleges Embassy Mocked 27-Year-Old Fiancé Before Visa Denial

FG Seals Plateau Mine After 37 Killed in Toxic Gas Tragedy

The Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of a mining site in Zuraq, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, following the death of 37 miners in a suspected toxic gas exposure.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, directed that the site be sealed to prevent further casualties and pave the way for a comprehensive investigation into the tragedy.

According to local authorities, the victims were exposed to poisonous gaseous emissions in the early hours of Tuesday while working in an underground pit. At least 25 other miners are currently receiving treatment in hospital.

In a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, the minister disclosed that the affected site falls under Mining Licence 11810, operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited and owned by Abdullahi Dan-China.

READ ALSO:

• Troops Kill Five Kidnappers, Rescue Abducted Woman in Plateau
• Sowore Condemns Electoral Act 2026 as Threat to Nigeria’s Democracy
• DSS Takes El-Rufai into Custody After Two Nights at EFCC Headquarters

Alake said a high-level investigative team led by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Yusuf Yabo, has been deployed to the area to determine both the immediate and remote causes of the disaster and recommend appropriate sanctions. The team comprises mining engineers, environmental compliance officers and experts in artisanal mining operations.

Preliminary findings indicate that the licensed operator allegedly ceded the pit to members of the host community following agitation for economic empowerment. The area, reportedly an abandoned lead site, contained stored minerals capable of emitting sulphuric oxide — a hazardous substance.

Unaware of the danger, villagers engaged in mining activities and were exposed to the toxic fumes.

The minister described the incident as a tragic loss of innocent Nigerians striving to make a living and extended condolences to Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and families of the victims.

He assured that further updates would be provided as investigations progress, stressing the government’s commitment to enforcing safety and environmental standards in the mining sector.

FG Seals Plateau Mine After 37 Killed in Toxic Gas Tragedy

Tinubu Ends NNPCL Oil Revenue Deductions, Orders Full FAAC Remittance

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed a sweeping executive order mandating the direct remittance of all oil and gas revenues into the Federation Account Allocation Committee (Federation Account Allocation Committee), in what is regarded as one of the most significant fiscal reforms since the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The directive, announced by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, requires that all proceeds from royalty oil, tax oil, profit oil, and profit gas be paid in full into the federation account without deductions, before statutory distribution to the federal, state, and local governments.

A central element of the order strips Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of its long-standing 30 per cent management fee on profit oil and profit gas, a deduction that has repeatedly drawn criticism for significantly reducing funds available for sharing among the three tiers of government. The presidency said the practice undermined constitutional revenue entitlements and weakened public finances.

In addition, the president directed that the 30 per cent Frontier Exploration Fund created under the PIA will no longer be retained or managed by NNPCL. Instead, all funds previously set aside under the arrangement will now flow directly into the federation account for FAAC distribution, altering the financing structure for frontier basin exploration activities.

READ ALSO:

• Lagos DSVA Confirms Mirabel Assault Happened in Ogun, Transfers Case
• Arsenal Blow Two-Goal Lead as Bottom Club Wolves Hold Gunners to 2–2 Draw
• Two Killed, Five Injured as Violence Erupts at APC Ward Congress in Ondo

The executive order also affects the handling of gas flare penalties. Payments into the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund have been suspended, with all proceeds from gas flaring penalties now to be paid directly into the federation account. Officials said existing environmental remediation frameworks already cover such obligations, making the additional fund unnecessary.

According to the presidency, the reforms are aimed at blocking overlapping deductions, including management fees and profit retentions, which collectively divert more than two-thirds of potential oil and gas revenues before they reach FAAC. President Tinubu warned that shrinking net oil revenues pose serious risks to national budgeting, debt sustainability, and overall economic stability.

The president emphasised that the new framework will reposition NNPCL strictly as a commercially driven national oil company, removing quasi-fiscal responsibilities while strengthening transparency, accountability, and oversight in Nigeria’s oil and gas revenue management.

To ensure effective implementation, Tinubu approved the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee comprising senior officials from the economic management team, justice sector, and relevant regulatory agencies. The committee is expected to coordinate legal, financial, and operational steps required for immediate compliance.

The president also signalled plans for a broader review of the Petroleum Industry Act, indicating that further amendments may be pursued to address structural and fiscal concerns raised by stakeholders, particularly state governments.

With oil and gas revenues remaining central to Nigeria’s fiscal health, the executive order represents a decisive move to tighten revenue flows, strengthen FAAC allocations, and reinforce fiscal federalism across the country.

Tinubu Ends NNPCL Oil Revenue Deductions, Orders Full FAAC Remittance