Ridoola's blog

US President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation imposing an annual $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications. This represents a significant increase from the current $1,500 administrative charge. The H1B programme allows American companies to hire foreign workers in specialised fields such as medicine, technology and engineering. These visas are valid for three to six years. At a White House event on Friday, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that all the major companies had been briefed. “ A hundred thousand dollars a year for H1B visas, and all of the big companies are on board. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs,” he said. The new policy is expected to hit Nigerian professionals, especially doctors and tech workers who often rely on the H1B route to secure jobs in the US. ALSO READ: FULL LIST: Trump hits Nigeria, 66 others with 15% tariff as global trade war brews The American tech industry relies heavily on the programme. Government data sho...

The recent clarification by the National Charcoal Producers, Dealers, and Exporters Association of Nigeria (NACPDEAN) confirms what many have misunderstood: charcoal exports are legal, provided exporters meet the regulatory requirements. Yet confusion persists among stakeholders and the public. This reflects a larger national problem: policies that exist on paper but are poorly communicated and weakly enforced. Instead of fueling growth, such ambiguity stifles opportunity. Contrast this with Namibia, a country with a fraction of Nigeria’s economy. By adopting clear regulations, transparent licensing, and robust monitoring, Namibia has transformed its charcoal sector into a structured and profitable industry. Producers there can plan long-term, investors trust the system, and the government reaps steady revenue. Nigeria, meanwhile, continues to stumble through a haze of unclear rules and missed opportunities. If there is no export ban and regulations supposedly exist, why then are w...

When torrential rains submerged homes in Lokoja and forced communities in Benue to flee the rising waters, the devastation mirrored a national crisis: Nigeria’s inability to mobilise enough money to protect its people from climate change. At a media discourse on climate finance in Nigeria organised by Connected Development (CODE) in Abuja, experts from civil society, governance, and the media laid bare the grim numbers and governance gaps hindering the country’s fight against climate change. Presenting findings from the State of Climate Finance in Nigeria Report, Hyeladzira Msheilia , Acting CEO of Connected Development (CODE), painted a stark picture of the country’s vulnerabilities. “Nigeria is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. Meeting our climate targets requires $177.7 billion every year, but between 2015 and 2021, we received only $4.93 billion in climate finance. That is less than one per cent of what we need,” she said. She warned that the current $7 bill...

When 23-year-old software student, Chidi, received dozens of unsolicited loan messages after registering for a government exam, he didn’t know his personal details had been leaked. His frustration mirrors the growing concerns in Nigeria, where young people, who form the largest users of digital platforms, are increasingly exposed to privacy violations despite a new law meant to protect them. This concern came to the fore in Abuja on Thursday, September 18, as Paradigm Initiative (PIN) presented its Londa 2024 Report , which ranked Nigeria moderately compliant with digital rights standards. The report showed that, despite the country's introduction of reforms such as the Data Protection Act, data leaks, high internet costs, and online clampdowns persist. ‘The Body Language Stinks’ — Experts Slam FG Speaking to Pulse Nigeria at the media briefing, PIN’s Executive Director, Gbenga Sesan, criticised government regulators for failing to practise what they preach. “The governmen...

The once-dominant South African supermarket chain, Shoprite, is quickly fading from Nigeria’s retail landscape. Four years after its former owners exited the market, the brand is battling to survive, with multiple outlets shut and others reduced to half-empty aisles. A Daily Trust investigation revealed that Shoprite stores in Ilorin and Ibadan are currently closed, while outlets in Lagos and Abuja are struggling to maintain a steady stock. The once-bustling Ikeja City Mall branch now has scanty shelves, minimal groceries, and barely any foot traffic, a stark contrast to its former reputation as Nigeria’s busiest retail hub. How Shoprite Lost Its Grip Since opening in Lagos in 2005, Shoprite quickly became Nigeria’s leading supermarket brand, expanding to more than 25 outlets and employing over 2,000 people. It boosted local farming supply chains and reshaped urban shopping culture. However, inflation, foreign exchange volatility, rising rents, and intense competition from loca...

No fewer than 500 lawyers, professionals, and civil rights activists on Wednesday, September 17, marched to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, demanding the prosecution of former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) boss, Mele Kyari, over an alleged $4 billion refinery scandal. The protesters, operating under the aegis of the Concerned Lawyers and Citizens Network (CLCN), described the failed refinery rehabilitation projects as “economic treason.” They accused Kyari of squandering funds meant to revive Nigeria’s refineries and betraying the nation’s economic future. “This is not merely a financial crime; it is an assault on human dignity and a subversion of national development,” said Barrister Theophilus Ojonugwa, spokesperson of the group. He linked the missing billions to “unbuilt schools, unequipped hospitals and lost jobs,” warning that Kyari’s alleged actions had worsened fuel scarcity and prolonged Nigeria’s ...

A Nigerian civil society organisation, the Concerned Citizens of Nigeria (CCN), has petitioned the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom to impose sanctions and a travel ban on Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, over what it described as his failure to tackle insecurity in the state. In a petition dated Tuesday, September 16, 2025, signed by CCN’s Executive Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Agabi , the group accused Lawal of negligence despite his claims of having detailed intelligence on the activities of terrorists and bandits in Zamfara. “If he has an iota of shame in him and he is truly powerless as he claims, then honour should have compelled him to resign,” Dr Agabi wrote. “Of what relevance is a leader whose performance is defined by absolute incompetence?” The group urged Washington and London to declare the governor persona non grata, freeze assets allegedly linked to him, and extend restrictions through collaboration with the European Union and the Commonwealth...