Nigeria News (Standard)
Lagos Residents Seek Work Visas in Five Countries Offering Permanent Residency Pathways for 2026
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Portugal open opportunities as skilled Nigerians target legal migration routes
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Portugal open opportunities as skilled Nigerians target legal migration routes
Thousands of professionals in Lagos and other major Nigerian cities are turning to new work visa programmes in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Portugal, aiming for permanent residency status by 2026. The surge comes as these countries expand legal migration pathways to address critical labour shortages in sectors such as healthcare, technology and engineering.
According to official guidelines released this week, each of the five countries has outlined steps for skilled migrants—including Nigerians—to obtain work permits that can be converted into permanent residency after a period of employment. For Canada, applicants must check if their occupation is in demand, secure a job offer where required, obtain a work permit and then apply for permanent residency through Express Entry or provincial programmes after gaining Canadian experience.
In Australia, professionals are required to confirm their occupation on the national skilled list, complete a skills assessment and submit an Expression of Interest before applying for various skilled visas. The country has continued to prioritise sectors like education, construction and IT. New Zealand’s Accredited Employer Work Visa now allows qualified candidates who secure jobs with government-approved employers to transition to residency status if they meet experience requirements in Green List occupations.
Germany has introduced reforms making it easier for foreign workers—especially engineers and health professionals—to migrate under the EU Blue Card or Opportunity Card schemes. Successful applicants can obtain permanent settlement once they fulfil job tenure and language conditions. Meanwhile, Portugal remains attractive due to its lower cost of living and simplified process: workers can apply for residence permits after securing local employment, with a pathway to permanent status after several years.
Immigration consultants in Lagos have advised applicants to avoid unauthorised agents and rely solely on official government channels. “Many of these countries now have clear online portals for Nigerians interested in legal migration,” said one expert during a seminar in Ikeja. Authorities warn that visa scams remain rampant as interest grows. With rising youth unemployment at home—NBS data put the national rate at over 33 percent—demand for credible migration options is expected to remain high through 2026.
Nigeria News (Standard)
Fubara Submits 2026–2028 Fiscal Framework as Rivers Assembly Reconvenes After Months
Lawmakers resume plenary in Port Harcourt, receiving multi-year budget proposal amid ongoing political tension in Rivers State
Lawmakers resume plenary in Port Harcourt, receiving multi-year budget proposal amid ongoing political tension in Rivers State
Governor Siminalayi Fubara has presented the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework to the Rivers State House of Assembly, marking the first plenary session held by the lawmakers in several months. The assembly reconvened on Thursday in Port Harcourt, South-South Nigeria, where members received the fiscal strategy document from the executive arm.
The development comes after a prolonged period of inactivity in the state legislature, which had been dogged by political disagreements and leadership disputes. At Thursday’s sitting, Speaker and other principal officers were present as the assembly formally acknowledged receipt of Governor Fubara’s proposed spending plan for the next three financial years.
The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework is a statutory requirement that outlines projected government revenue and expenditure, providing a basis for annual budgets. Its submission signals preparations for next year’s appropriation bill and is seen as a step towards restoring normal legislative business in Rivers State, following recent tensions between factions aligned to different political interests.
While details of Fubara’s spending priorities were not immediately disclosed at plenary, observers say the resumption of legislative activities may help douse anxieties among stakeholders about governance stability in the oil-rich state. Attempts to reach opposition lawmakers for comment were not successful as at press time.
The assembly is expected to deliberate on the framework in coming weeks before its adoption, paving way for formal budget presentation later this year. Political analysts note that sustained engagement between the executive and legislature will be key to unlocking delayed development projects and addressing constituents’ concerns across Rivers State.
Nigeria News (Standard)
Expert Warns SME Growth in Nigeria Needs More Than Capital Injection
Stakeholders urged to address infrastructure, policy bottlenecks as financial support alone fails to drive sustained expansion
Stakeholders urged to address infrastructure, policy bottlenecks as financial support alone fails to drive sustained expansion
Efforts to boost small and medium enterprise (SME) growth in Nigeria must go beyond simply providing capital, a leading industry expert has advised. Speaking in Lagos on Thursday, George Ogbonnaya stressed that entrepreneurs continue to face major hurdles despite increased funding opportunities, pointing to issues such as poor infrastructure, inconsistent policy and limited access to markets.
Ogbonnaya highlighted that while government and private sector interventions have made more funds available for SMEs in recent years, many businesses still struggle to survive or scale up. “The reality is that capital alone cannot solve the challenges facing Nigerian SMEs,” he said during a stakeholder meeting. “We must also address electricity supply, transportation, and regulatory barriers if we want real growth in this sector.”
SMEs account for an estimated 48 percent of Nigeria’s GDP and employ over 80 percent of the country’s workforce, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). However, the sector continues to face persistent challenges ranging from unreliable power supply and high logistics costs to frequent policy changes. These factors often undermine the effectiveness of loan schemes and other financial initiatives aimed at supporting business owners.
Ogbonnaya called for a coordinated approach involving federal and state governments, development agencies and private investors. He urged policymakers to streamline regulations and invest in infrastructure projects that would lower operational costs for SMEs. “If we focus only on giving money without fixing these underlying problems, we will keep seeing high failure rates,” he cautioned.
He also encouraged SME owners to seek out training and mentorship opportunities while leveraging digital tools to expand their reach. The expert’s remarks come amid renewed calls for economic diversification as Nigeria seeks new engines of growth beyond oil revenue.
Nigeria News (Standard)
Nigerian Social Worker in Washington Jailed for Diverting ₦25m Meant for Orphaned Autistic Child
US court orders Akeatha Akintola to repay stolen funds after fleeing to Togo with false passport
US court orders Akeatha Akintola to repay stolen funds after fleeing to Togo with false passport
A Nigerian woman, Akeatha Diane Akintola, who worked as a social worker in Washington State, United States, has been sentenced to five months in jail for stealing over $17,000 (about ₦25 million) in Social Security benefits meant for an orphaned autistic child under her care. The sentencing took place before Magistrate Judge Kate Vaughan at a US federal court on June 18, following Akintola’s guilty plea and immediate remand.
According to records from the US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, Akintola began working with the Snoqualmie Tribe in January 2023. In September that year, she applied by phone to become the Social Security representative payee for a minor with intellectual disabilities who was under tribal care—a role that tribal policy specifically barred social workers from holding over children assigned to them. Prosecutors revealed that Akintola used the child’s Social Security number alongside her own details to fraudulently secure the appointment, then redirected benefits into a bank account she controlled. The funds were subsequently spent on personal expenses instead of the child’s welfare.
The theft came to light in July 2024 when Akintola and her supervisor approached the Social Security Administration to inquire about missing benefits. Officials disclosed that Akintola was listed as the representative payee; she denied this allegation but resigned from her position the next day. She later missed a scheduled court appearance on May 22, 2026. Investigations showed she had left the US two days earlier, travelling to Togo using a passport issued under another surname.
At sentencing, Judge Vaughan noted that Akintola’s actions targeted a highly vulnerable victim. A representative of the Snoqualmie Tribe told the court that Akintola had abused her position and exploited a grieving child for financial gain, saying: “In our profession, a social worker is meant to be a safekeeper… Ms Akintola did not just fail in that duty; she weaponised her position of power to systematically steal from a grieving, autistic child.”
Akintola was ordered by the court to pay $17,638 (about ₦25 million) in restitution to the Social Security Administration and has been permanently barred from serving as a representative payee again. The case has drawn attention among Nigerians abroad regarding professional ethics and trust issues within diaspora communities.
Fubara Submits 2026–2028 Fiscal Framework as Rivers Assembly Reconvenes After Months
Expert Warns SME Growth in Nigeria Needs More Than Capital Injection
Nigerian Social Worker in Washington Jailed for Diverting ₦25m Meant for Orphaned Autistic Child
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