He said, “Nigerian parents cannot engage this government by themselves. Is it a country that cannot issue its people passport speedily? Or a country that has no credibility to engage foreign government that would say, please expedite the way you grant visas to Nigerians so that they can school abroad? Won’t that be self-mockery? The truth is, the entire visa application process is based on their policy. It is based on the number of people they can take. If the anger is that they are not telling us the truth on the possibility of granting visas to the applicants, then the parents should engage the minister of foreign affairs so that they can wade in, and then from government to government basis, there can be a diplomatic discussion around this problem and then a solution can be found.”
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Nigerian applicants to US varsities groan over visa appointment hurdles
Nigerian students, who have got admission into American universities for August to September intakes, have expressed fears that they may not be able to fulfil their ambition of studying abroad over failure to successfully book visa interview appointments at the United States embassy and consulate in the country.
The applicants, in a chat with our correspondent, said they had applied for admission for graduate and post-graduate studies into various institutions in the US earlier this year, after which they were given admission for the spring and fall admission windows. They were thereafter provided with I-20 forms, which enabled them to book an interview appointment.
However, securing interview dates after paying the necessary fee required by the US consulate has been a serious hurdle.
While the respective institutions they applied to are expected to resume lectures between the month of August and September, the applicants are yet to secure dates for their visa interviews. The lucky ones were given interview dates that exceeded their resumption dates.
The distraught applicants who spoke to The PUNCH expressed their displeasure over the development, as they claimed to have spent a lot of money before getting to the interview stage.
An applicant who gave his name simply as Francis, said, “I started the process earlier this year with the hope that it should be concluded in the next three to four months but, to my surprise, the embassy did not provide a date for interview. They usually make emergency provisions for students who need to resume before our resumption dates, but now the embassy is doing nothing to resolve the issues, which means that there are no emergency dates for us to go for appointments to be interviewed. This I-20 I am holding expires after the school resumes and it costs so much to get another I-20, which is another admission letter after deferring this current one. I think the US embassy needs to do something about this considering the money I have spent on this process.”
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Another applicant, one Tunde, noted that his visa interview date was slated for December but he’s supposed to resume studies at his American school in August. He described the situation as an automatic cancellation of his admission.
He said, “My resumption date is August 15 and they decided to schedule my interview for November. That is like an automatic cancellation when they already told my agent not to book 60 days before resumption. We are not saying that you should give everybody a visa, but try to release the appointment dates. It is a conspiracy against us because they feel the Academic Staff Union of Universities (in Nigeria) is on strike and every student wants to leave the country. I have spent close to N1 million. My parents are disappointed but hopeful that everything will be sorted because it is for my betterment that they decided that I should go abroad.”
Our correspondent learnt that the embassy on May 22 initiated a policy, instructing prospective visa applicants to book appointments 60 days prior to the resumption date of school admitted into. The period allows students to book an emergency appointment.
Stephen, who is also an applicant, said, “The laws for appointment as of last year stated that you can book an emergency appointment 120 days before the actual resumption date. But this year, the US embassy came up with a policy that you can only book the emergency appointment two months before, which is 60 days before your resumption. And to our greatest surprise, most of us are expected to resume in August, which means two months starts in June. We booked the appointment and the date given to us is between October and November. This means I have to defer admission and have to seek another I-20. So all we are asking for is a nearer date before our school resumption. Giving me a date after my resumption is no longer an emergency appointment, and the same embassy will not accept an expired I-20. An emergency appointment does not take more than two weeks before, but now it takes more than four months.”
An educational consultant, Ayeni Oluyemi, who assists applicants to process applications to US universities, complained that the development has left the applicants stranded.
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He said, “The students have spent a lot and most of these documents have expiry dates. The visa fee expires in one year. The sevis fee expires in two years, while the i-20 expires the day the school resumes. So what is the fate of those that have already been given admission? Most of these students are postgraduate students and they seek to have an experience different from their first degree.”
Emergency appointments
Another consultant, Mr Tobi Ajibade, said, “This has not happened before; a situation whereby a student applied for emergency (visa appointment) and he or she is being denied. They should tell us what is happening. Is it a case of diplomacy or what? I have been in this business for 15 years and I have never applied for appointment for any student and they are denied.”
Ajibade, however, disclosed that the consulate often releases names under emergency conditions.
He said, “There are cases whereby they release names for emergency appointments on Saturdays and Sundays. They do this when there are problems of this kind. But it is always very chaotic. They can interview like 500 students in one day.”
Also speaking to our correspondent, Mr Felix, an educational consultant who claims to have processed the application for close to 60 people, said his clients are beginning to lose trust in him.
“I have been doing this job for over 15 years and I have also got referrals from it. But what is happening now has begun to discredit my efforts. The people I registered have started grumbling. Some already concluded that I have scammed them. If not for my track record, it would have been worse. I also wonder why the embassy still collects money from the students. As I speak to you, students are still going to the bank to pay for application and sevis fee. They should advise them to stop paying; no appointment this year again. An average applicant spent up to N600,000 before getting to this stage. To pay sevis fee is N200,000, while visa fee is N68,000 yet there is no hope.”
Reacting, a Lagos-based lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, said the problem of students seeking to study abroad in the first place is a problem fundamentally rooted in the nation’s chaotic educational system. added that the government has lost its credibility to provide solutions in the education sector.
He said, “The leprosy of our problem is our chaotic educational system. Students and parents who seek a way out of our chaotic education system may not see it the way I am seeing it now, because they just want how they can better their own lot academically because our education system is in a state of perpetual crisis. So, they are seeking a way out. They want to school abroad. So if they are having problems at the embassy, they have to look for a way out by all means.”
The legal practitioner said though the Nigerian government has lost credibility to intervene for its citizens, it remains the only resort for the applicants to find a solution to the problem.
News
Oshiomhole Accuses Umahi of Bias in Road Projects, Demands Repairs Before New Construction
Oshiomhole Accuses Umahi of Bias in Road Projects, Demands Repairs Before New Construction
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has accused the Minister of Works, David Umahi, of alleged bias in the allocation of funds for federal road projects, insisting that the government should prioritise the rehabilitation of deteriorating highways before embarking on new construction.
Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North Senatorial District, made the allegations during a podcast interview shared on social media, revisiting his disagreement with Umahi over the management of federal road infrastructure and budgetary priorities.
The former Edo State governor said his criticism of the minister during a Senate budget-defence session was part of his responsibility to scrutinise government spending and ensure that public funds address the most pressing infrastructure needs.
According to Oshiomhole, several existing federal roads across the country have deteriorated to the point where motorists and commuters struggle to use them, yet the Ministry of Works continues to pursue new projects.
He argued that the government should concentrate available resources on rehabilitating roads that have become severely damaged instead of expanding the project portfolio while critical routes remain in poor condition.
“As a manager, you do not keep on building new houses when you cannot maintain the houses you already have. It is common sense,” Oshiomhole said.
The senator maintained that his intervention was not politically motivated, despite both men belonging to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He also criticised what he described as Umahi’s tendency to invoke President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s name when responding to questions about the ministry’s decisions.
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Oshiomhole argued that the responsibility for identifying road maintenance priorities, assessing infrastructure conditions and proposing appropriate budgetary allocations rests with the minister rather than the President having to intervene in individual projects.
“Ministers should not drop his name to cover up their own mess,” he said.
The lawmaker further questioned the proposal to submit additional road projects to the Federal Executive Council when existing highways still require urgent attention. He called for greater coordination between the Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), which is responsible for maintaining federal roads.
Oshiomhole urged the minister to use reports from federal directors of works across the country’s geopolitical zones to identify the most urgent rehabilitation needs and guide spending decisions.
The senator’s latest comments follow his July 2026 criticism of the minister over the condition of major highways linking Edo and Delta states.
During a Senate plenary session, Oshiomhole complained about the condition of routes connecting Benin City with Warri, Asaba, Auchi and Okene, arguing that motorists continued to face serious difficulties despite the approval of new road projects elsewhere.
He alleged that critical sections of roads in the two states had been left out of federal budgetary allocations over several years and urged the Senate leadership to press the minister for a more balanced approach to infrastructure development.
Oshiomhole also said presidential intervention through tax credits had helped address parts of the affected road network.
The disagreement between the two APC figures had previously surfaced during a Senate budget-defence session in February 2026, when lawmakers questioned Umahi about the funding and implementation of major federal highway projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
During that exchange, Oshiomhole raised concerns about transparency in road funding and delays in releasing money for projects. Umahi, in turn, complained about the manner in which the senator questioned him, leading to a heated exchange before the session continued.
Umahi has also faced criticism over claims that federal road projects are concentrated in the South-East. In September, however, the minister rejected allegations of regional favouritism, insisting that projects were being implemented across the country in line with approvals granted by President Tinubu.
At an October 7 press conference, the Ministry of Works outlined progress on major federal highway projects and other road interventions, including work on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway corridor.
The ministry has also acknowledged challenges involving funding, contractors and project delivery. In June, Umahi warned contractors handling federal road projects against delays and said funding constraints had forced adjustments to the scope of some highway works.
Oshiomhole’s criticism has renewed debate over how the Federal Government should balance the construction of new highways with the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing roads.
While the senator is calling for greater attention to deteriorating routes, the minister’s position is that the government’s infrastructure programme covers strategic projects across multiple regions.
The key questions remain how road projects are prioritised, how available funds are distributed and how the government can ensure that existing highways receive timely repairs while major new infrastructure investments continue.
Oshiomhole has called on the Senate to strengthen its oversight of the Ministry of Works and ensure that road spending reflects the needs of communities and motorists across the country.
Oshiomhole Accuses Umahi of Bias in Road Projects, Demands Repairs Before New Construction
News
OASIS Muslim Care Foundation Holds Webinar on Healthy Lifestyles, NCD Prevention
OASIS Muslim Care Foundation Holds Webinar on Healthy Lifestyles, NCD Prevention
The OASIS Muslim Care Foundation is set to host its fourth public health webinar on Sunday, October 11, 2026, focusing on the promotion of healthy lifestyles as a strategy for preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The webinar, titled “Promoting Healthy Lifestyles for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs),” is expected to educate participants on the importance of adopting healthier habits to reduce the risk of diseases that pose significant public health challenges.
The session will be delivered by Dr. Ibraheem AbdulRauf, a Consultant Family Physician at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
Dr. AbdulRauf holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), a Master of Public Health (MPH) and fellowship qualifications in family medicine (FMCFM).
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According to the event announcement, the webinar is part of the foundation’s public health engagement efforts aimed at promoting awareness and encouraging individuals to take practical steps towards improving their health and well-being.
Non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases, are major health concerns worldwide. Many of these conditions are associated with risk factors such as unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful alcohol consumption.
Health education and the adoption of healthy lifestyle practices are important measures for reducing the risk of such diseases and improving the quality of life.
The online event is scheduled to commence at 4:30 p.m. West Africa Time (WAT) and will be held via Zoom.
Interested participants can join the webinar using the following details:
Meeting ID: 876 1750 3784
Passcode: 060021
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87617503784?pwd=Xf2f6XuCfunLuNYjnbqjVfz92EFAt9.1
The foundation has invited members of the public to participate in the session and share the announcement with others to widen awareness of healthy living and the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.
The webinar is open to everyone interested in learning more about practical approaches to maintaining good health and preventing lifestyle-related illnesses.
OASIS Muslim Care Foundation Holds Webinar on Healthy Lifestyles, NCD Prevention
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₦60 Fuel Discount: Ondo ADC Slams Tinubu, Says Atiku Deserves Credit for Subsidy Restoration
₦60 Fuel Discount: Ondo ADC Slams Tinubu, Says Atiku Deserves Credit for Subsidy Restoration
The party describes the discount as inadequate relief for Nigerians battling rising petrol prices, transportation costs and the high cost of living ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Ondo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over its reported ₦60-per-litre petrol discount, describing the measure as inadequate to address the economic hardship confronting millions of Nigerians.
The party also commended former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for advocating the restoration of fuel subsidy, arguing that government policies should prioritise citizens’ welfare and provide meaningful relief from the rising cost of living.
The ADC’s position was contained in a press statement signed by its Ondo State Publicity Secretary, Hon. Remi Ofakunrin, in which the party accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of offering Nigerians insufficient relief amid soaring fuel prices and declining purchasing power.
According to the statement, the reported ₦60 discount falls far short of what households, businesses, transport operators, students and workers need to cope with the prevailing economic challenges.
The party argued that Nigerians require sustainable measures to reduce the cost of living rather than temporary interventions that have limited reach and impact.
“At a time when Nigerians are struggling to survive the crushing cost of living, with petrol prices reportedly hovering around ₦1,400 per litre, the government’s decision to offer a mere ₦60 discount is not the relief citizens deserve,” the statement said.
The opposition party maintained that the discount was insignificant compared with the financial pressure experienced by ordinary Nigerians, particularly those whose livelihoods depend on transportation and fuel-powered businesses.
It accused the Tinubu administration of expecting public approval for what it described as a token concession after implementing policies that have significantly affected household budgets and business operating costs.
ADC questions petrol prices despite Nigeria’s crude oil resources
The ADC also questioned why petrol prices remained so high in Nigeria, an oil-producing country, despite the availability of abundant crude oil resources.
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It asked why citizens should continue to struggle with the cost of fuel and other essential commodities while bearing the consequences of government economic policies.
The party further argued that the discount underscored the need for government intervention to cushion the effects of high fuel prices on the wider economy.
According to the ADC, the measure demonstrated that the consequences of petrol pricing remained a major concern requiring a broader policy response.
However, the party said a temporary discount at selected Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) filling stations could not provide lasting relief from the rising costs of food, transportation, production and other necessities.
It called on the Federal Government to adopt a more comprehensive and transparent approach to addressing fuel costs and their impact on Nigerians.
The ADC also urged the government to explain how the country’s oil resources could be better managed to improve citizens’ living conditions and promote national prosperity.
Atiku deserves credit for subsidy restoration advocacy — ADC
The Ondo ADC chapter used the statement to commend Atiku Abubakar for advocating the restoration of fuel subsidy as part of a broader strategy to ease economic hardship and improve the welfare of Nigerians.
The party said Atiku’s position deserved consideration, insisting that the debate should focus on how economic policies could protect citizens’ purchasing power and ensure that the benefits of the country’s natural resources reached ordinary people.
According to the ADC, the reported fuel discount reinforces the argument that government intervention may be necessary to cushion the effects of high petrol prices, although it maintained that the current measure was inadequate.
The party called for a more sustainable framework capable of delivering meaningful relief rather than temporary concessions.
It said Atiku and the ADC were committed to an economic direction that would enable workers to earn a living wage, businesses to operate sustainably and families to afford food, transportation, education and healthcare.
Beyond fuel subsidy, the party said its proposed policy direction included economic recovery, improved purchasing power, affordable education, local government autonomy, the fight against insecurity and corruption, and responsible management of national resources.
The statement presented these priorities as part of the party’s broader vision for addressing the country’s economic and governance challenges.
ADC urges Nigerians to vote for change in 2027
With the 2027 general election approaching, the Ondo ADC urged Nigerians to assess the performance of the current administration and consider alternative leadership.
The party cautioned citizens against being swayed by temporary concessions that, in its view, failed to address the underlying causes of economic hardship.
It called on voters to support Atiku Abubakar and other ADC candidates, arguing that a change in leadership and policy direction could provide an opportunity to improve living standards and restore public confidence in government.
The party said Nigeria needed leadership capable of addressing economic difficulties, insecurity and declining purchasing power while promoting national unity and development.
It also expressed confidence that the country could harness its human and natural resources to create prosperity and improve the welfare of present and future generations.
“A ₦60 discount cannot erase years of blanket display of mercilessness and economic hardship, but a change in leadership and policy direction can begin the process of national recovery,” the statement said.
The ADC consequently called on Nigerians to demand economic reforms that would produce measurable improvements in their daily lives and support the party in the 2027 elections.
Fuel pricing remains a major political issue
The statement highlights the continuing political debate over petrol pricing, the removal of fuel subsidy and the government’s responsibility to cushion the effects of economic reforms.
While the Tinubu administration has defended its economic policy direction as part of efforts to reform the economy, opposition parties have continued to raise concerns about the effects of higher fuel costs on transportation, food prices, businesses and household incomes.
The Ondo ADC’s latest position places fuel subsidy and the affordability of petrol at the centre of its campaign message ahead of the next general election.
However, the party’s claims about the adequacy of the discount and the benefits of subsidy restoration reflect its political position. The actual impact of any fuel discount depends on its implementation, duration, eligibility conditions and the extent to which the savings are passed on to consumers.
The statement was signed by Hon. Remi Ofakunrin, Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress in Ondo State.
The party concluded by insisting that Nigerians deserved meaningful economic relief and urging voters to support what it described as an alternative path to national recovery.
₦60 Fuel Discount: Ondo ADC Slams Tinubu, Says Atiku Deserves Credit for Subsidy Restoration
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