🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
US considers increasing refugee quota from current historic low
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
The United States is considering an increase to its annual refugee quota, currently set at a historic low of 7,500 people, according to a State Department official. This comes after US President Donald Trump significantly reduced the number from 125,000 in the previous fiscal year. Most recently admitted refugees have been white farmers from South Africa, whose applications were approved based on claims of risk and discrimination, a claim refuted by Pretoria. Andrew Veprek, assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, stated that while the ultimate decision rests with the President, they are evaluating the pace of resettlement and considering changes for the next fiscal year and potentially sooner. Veprek did not confirm if any expansion would include other nationalities or ethnic groups. He also noted that the Department of Health and Human Services took over responsibility for refugee resettlement in January. Immigration control is a key issue for President Trump, with crackdowns on illegal immigrants and restrictions on legal entry for migrants and skilled workers. Many of these restrictions are being challenged in court, including those concerning asylum seekers at the Mexican border and the Temporary Protected Status program for Haitians and Syrians. Veprek confirmed that current policies remain in place and negotiations are ongoing with other countries for the readmission of expelled nationals.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadThe Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission announced that the review of Nigeria’s revenue allocation formula is in an advanced stage, with a nationwide data verification exercise now underway. According to Maryam Yusuf, Head of Information and Public Relations Unit, this exercise aims to update the indices used for revenue sharing across the federation. Commission Chairman Mohammed Shehu stated that accurate data is crucial for fairness, equity, and national cohesion, emphasizing the goal of building a transparent and responsive revenue distribution system. The verification will review factors and proxies used in revenue sharing among states and local governments to align allocations with current socio-economic conditions, strengthening fiscal federalism and national development planning. The exercise involves collecting, validating, and reconciling socio-economic and infrastructural data across all states and the Federal Capital Territory, focusing on indicators like education, healthcare, internally generated revenue, and infrastructure development. Stakeholder engagement sessions will be held in each state to promote transparency and collaboration. Shehu noted that Nigeria's revenue allocation framework relies on indices such as population, landmass, infrastructure, and socio-economic indicators, which require periodic review due to significant transformations like population growth, infrastructure expansion, and urbanization. The data verification is critic
Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, announced that President Bola Tinubu will decide the percentage of debt relief for airlines, not a full write-off. This initiative aims to mitigate the impact of increasing aviation fuel costs on operators and passengers. Airline operators had previously expressed concerns over a 300% surge in aviation fuel prices, threatening to cease operations if no action was taken. While some airline officials stated they do not owe the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria or the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, they are seeking government intervention to alleviate fuel price effects and requesting the removal of a five percent ticket surcharge collected by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. Keyamo also disclosed that President Tinubu is considering broader reforms to reduce multiple taxes and charges on domestic air travel, with a proposal for a committee to address this issue. The President plans to meet directly with airline operators to discuss wider industry challenges, including access to capital. However, Capt Samuel Caulcrick, a former Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, described the proposed intervention as inadequate, suggesting it offers only temporary relief and does not address fundamental issues like access to affordable financing, which he believes is crucial for the industry's long-term sustainability.
Nigerian electricity distribution companies installed 130,209 meters under the Meter Acquisition Fund framework, with the Federal Government investing N49 billion in the scheme between 2024 and 2025. This initiative by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission aims to help DisCos secure financing for meter deployment by establishing a reliable revenue stream. The funds are managed by a designated fund manager. In 2024, NERC approved N21 billion for meter installations, followed by N28 billion in 2025 under the second tranche. While 2024 saw 5,068 installations, 2025 experienced a significant increase, with 36,903 in Q1, 65,315 in Q2, 175 in Q3, and 22,748 in Q4. Ikeja DisCo led with 31,331 meters installed since 2024, followed by Enugu DisCo 14,822, Eko DisCo 14,501, Ibadan DisCo 12,556, Port Harcourt DisCo 11,445, and Abuja DisCo 11,375. NERC Chairman Musiliu Oseni clarified that meters provided under government-funded initiatives are free at the point of installation, and customers who paid upfront for meters under approved arrangements are entitled to refunds. The MAF framework, alongside the Presidential Metering Initiative, seeks to close Nigeria's metering gap. Despite these efforts, many Band A customers were still on estimated billing in Q1 2026 due to importation challenges and a shortage of installers. As of December 2025, 6,966,584 out of 12,163,412 active registered electricity customers were metered, leaving approximately 5.2 million customers without meters
Nigeria's Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission FCCPC and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency LASCOPA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen consumer protection in Lagos. The agreement aims to improve coordination on enforcement, complaint resolution, and market monitoring against unsafe products, market abuses, and unfair trade practices. Signed by FCCPC Chief Executive Tunji Bello and LASCOPA General Manager Afolabi Solebo, the partnership will facilitate joint enforcement actions, consumer and business education, capacity building, and information sharing, particularly in Lagos, described as Nigeria's most densely populated commercial hub. A Joint Task Force will oversee the implementation of this framework. Bello emphasized Lagos's central role in Nigeria's consumer economy and the need for deeper collaboration to improve complaint handling and market intelligence. Solebo highlighted the progress made by LASCOPA but stressed the need for stronger institutional collaboration, stating, "We cannot work in silos; we need federal might." This initiative reflects FCCPC's broader strategy to strengthen consumer protection nationwide through alignment between federal and state regulators, addressing rising complaints over product safety, service quality, and misleading commercial practices.