Politics Archives - Page 3 of 87

Fans rally behind actress Regina Daniels over marital crisis

Fans of Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, have expressed concern over her well-being following a disturbing video that surfaced online on Friday, showing her in tears and alleging domestic violence in her marriage to billionaire politician, Ned Nwoko.

In the viral clips, the visibly distraught actress was seen sitting outside in the dark, sobbing as she lamented her alleged ordeal. Amid tears, she said, “In Ned Nwoko’s house, I am nothing. But in my house, I am a queen.”

Her young son could be heard trying to console her, but she replied emotionally, “Baby, what again? I cannot stand this violence. It’s too much.”

The tense scene appeared to escalate when some men, believed to be security aides, tried to pacify the actress and her siblings, but her brother, Sammy, confronted them.

Shortly after, Sammy took to Instagram to defend his actions, writing, “Makachi! E pain me say una wan finally laugh my sister. Let me repeat — anywhere wey man dey beat woman, whether na my sister or not, I go fight with my blood!”

The controversy deepened when fans resurfaced an old video of Nwoko jokingly saying, “She will tell me I’m not her father, and I’ll say, no, I’m your husband.” In the clip, Regina quickly knelt and replied, “You’re my everything,” in an attempt to diffuse the tension.

As the story gained traction, social media users began tagging actress, Angela Okorie, recalling her recent online spat with Daniels. Their feud began after Okorie made a controversial post about Mercy Johnson, which Daniels publicly condemned.

The disagreement quickly turned personal, with Okorie mocking Regina’s marriage to Nwoko, while Regina alleged that Okorie once showed interest in the billionaire.

Reacting to being dragged into the latest drama, Okorie wrote on Instagram, “Nigerians, na me dem beat for Ferrari and private jet house with 8 wives? Why una dey tag me kwanu? Oh chim, Angelaaaa.”

Meanwhile, several entertainers and fans have voiced support for Daniels.

Actor Stanley Ontop wrote, “Nothing should happen to my Gina ooo… make hand no touch her abeg.”

Fans also flooded social media with mixed reactions.

One user, @sawiitee, asked, “Hope say no be movie?”

Another fan, @yourmosttrustworthyattorney, lamented, “This is too sad. I was hoping it was a skit.”

User @vivibleez added, “Noooo, it’s for better or for worse. Who she wan leave am for?”

Another fan, @bigbillzbaby, criticised, “She chose this life forced on her by her mother, who doesn’t know any better.”

@victoriakelly wrote, “But why Ned go lay hand on her? Old man wey dem dey manage.”

Echoing similar sentiments, @callmeoche commented, “She really needs to stop talking. Why marry someone old enough to be your grandfather? He’ll always see you as a child. Honestly, this situation is partly her fault.”

As of press time, neither Regina Daniels nor Ned Nwoko has issued an official statement regarding the incident.

2027: Southwest APC LG chairmen back Tinubu’s second-term bid

The Forum of All Progressives Congress Local Government Party Chairmen of Nigeria, Southwest Zone, has declared its support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

During its Southwest quarterly meeting held on Saturday at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, the forum also vowed to embark on massive grassroots mobilisation, not only to ensure a landslide victory for Tinubu in 2027 but also to reclaim Oyo and Osun States, currently under the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The Southwest APC LG chairmen said there was no disputing the fact that Tinubu had taken several decisive and courageous steps to return the country to the path of economic prosperity and stability, stressing that he should be allowed to continue his strategic leadership and deliberate reforms until 2031.

Speaking at the event, the National Chairman of the Forum, who also doubles as the Chairman of APC LG Chairmen in Ogun State and the party chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government, Mr Henry Fagbenro, commended Tinubu and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for prioritising projects that accelerate economic growth and prosperity.

Fagbenro said, “The Southwest is the home base of our hardworking President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has done fantastically well in redefining good governance since his election over two years ago.

“The Southwest is saying that President Tinubu deserves another term till 2031, and we are going to do everything within our ability, as permitted by law, to work with other Nigerians to make this a reality.

“Already, we have four Southwest states — Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos and Ogun — under the APC. For the two remaining states, Oyo and Osun, we shall embark on massive grassroots mobilisation. We will go from door to door, house to house, community to community, and market to market to further strengthen the party in the Southwest and mobilise for its victory in both the presidential and governorship elections.”

Fagbenro also highlighted the remarkable progress recorded in Ogun State under Governor Abiodun and urged him to remain committed to improving the lives of residents.

In his address, the Southwest Coordinator of the group, Elder Rufus Awotidoye, said that returning President Tinubu for another four-year term in 2027 was “non-negotiable.”

He, however, called for unity within the party, stressing that all members must work together to achieve the shared vision.

“The 2027 Presidential Election is a defining moment for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and for our dear President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As the political home of Mr President, the Southwest carries a special responsibility to stand united, committed, and focused in ensuring that the APC continues to lead Nigeria on the path of renewed hope, progress, and prosperity,” Awotidoye said.

He further urged APC members in the Southwest to put aside their differences and work as a formidable team to deliver a landslide victory for the party in the 2026 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

The National Secretary of the Forum and Chairman of APC LG Chairmen in Delta State, Mr Norbert Sochukudinma, charged Southwest APC members to remain steadfast and work hard for President Tinubu’s re-election, noting that all eyes were on the zone as the President’s home region.

He said the Southwest’s performance would significantly influence the direction of other geopolitical zones in 2027.

The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Daisi Elemide, who chaired the occasion, called for the restoration of party supremacy to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and promote good governance. He also threw his weight behind President Tinubu’s second-term bid, adding that the President had demonstrated a genuine commitment to national progress.

The immediate past Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Ishola, also emphasised the need for unity and inclusivity within the party ahead of the 2027 elections, saying that only a united front could guarantee victory.

The guest speaker at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr Pius Akutah, who was represented by Atiso Mofiren, charged the APC LG chairmen to intensify efforts at the grassroots to promote the ideals of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Akutah explained that the Renewed Hope Agenda focuses on returning the country to the path of economic prosperity, food sufficiency, improved infrastructure, enhanced security, protection of the vulnerable, and expanded access to quality education through student loans, among others.

He added that “all these laudable initiatives of President Tinubu must be allowed to continue until 2031.”

PUNCH Online reports that in May 2025, the APC formally endorsed Tinubu as its sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election, signalling the party’s official support for his second term.

The Southwest zone of the APC, Tinubu’s home region, has repeatedly pledged to provide him support for the 2027 polls, emphasising massive grassroots mobilisation across the six states in the zone

Tinubu returns to Abuja after counterterrorism talks in Rome

President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after participating in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government-level Meeting held in Rome, Italy.

There, world leaders gathered to strengthen cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism.

Tinubu had departed Nigeria on October 12 for the meeting scheduled to start on the 14th.

According to a State House Press Release issued on Saturday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s trip to Rome reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional and global security partnerships.

“President Bola Tinubu returns to Abuja today after participating in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government-level Meeting in Rome, Italy,” the statement read.

The Aqaba Process, the release explained, is “a counter-terrorism initiative launched by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015” and “co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Government of Italy.”

The Rome edition of the meeting focused on “strengthening regional and international collaboration in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, with particular attention to West Africa.”

The high-level session took place on Wednesday, October 15, at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome, and drew participation from several global leaders including King Abdullah II of Jordan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the Presidents of Nigeria, Chad, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Other dignitaries in attendance included Azouz Nasri, President of Algeria’s Upper House, as well as delegations from Côte d’Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Senegal, and Uzbekistan, alongside special envoys and security experts.

“The meeting was held behind closed doors,” the statement noted, underscoring the sensitivity of the discussions focused on global counterterrorism coordination.

Bilateral Engagements

On the sidelines of the summit, Tinubu held bilateral meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, where security and economic cooperation reportedly topped discussions.

He also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, in a session that highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to religious tolerance and unity.

“President Tinubu also met with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to discuss religious harmony in Nigeria.

“The meeting addressed the widespread disinformation campaigns that falsely portray the country as intolerant of religious diversity,” the release stated.

Since its inception in 2015, the Aqaba Process has convened 33 meetings across multiple levels — from Heads of State summits to technical expert sessions — built on “three core pillars: prevention, coordination, and closing operational gaps in counterterrorism efforts.”

The President’s participation in the Rome meeting, according to the release, aligns with his administration’s broader security diplomacy agenda and Nigeria’s active role in international peace and counterterrorism collaborations.

Huge crowd as body of revered Kenya politician Odinga heads home

Vast crowds gathered in western Kenya on Saturday to see the body of a beloved politician, Raila Odinga, for the biggest day of mourning ceremonies that had already claimed at least five lives this week.

There were cries of “Baba” (father) and “We are orphans” from the tens of thousands of people packing the streets of Kisumu, the heartland of Odinga’s support, as his coffin arrived at the city stadium by helicopter.

Odinga, 80, died from a suspected heart attack in India on Wednesday, triggering a huge outpouring of grief across the country, but particularly in western Kenya where his Luo tribe are dominant.

Mourners barged through security barriers and clambered up the sides of the stadium and nearby structures to catch a glimpse of the coffin, AFP journalists saw.

“Without Baba, we are dead. We don’t have anywhere to go,” said Don Pelido, 20, a supporter pressed up against one barrier.

Emergency responders said they had taken more than 100 people out of the stadium, mostly due to fainting and dehydration.

But there was not the same chaos seen at earlier ceremonies in Nairobi, with authorities cancelling a planned procession in Kisumu to avoid the risk of stampedes.

On Thursday, security forces opened fire to disperse a surging crowd in a Nairobi stadium where Odinga was brought to lie in state, killing at least three people.

And on Friday, at the state funeral in another stadium, led by President William Ruto, a stampede of mourners killed at least two people and left dozens injured.

“It was much better than Nairobi. We were ready for it,” said Philip Nyaswa, a member of the emergency team in Kisumu.

– ‘Bad dream’ –

Arguably the most important political figure of his generation in Kenya, Odinga served as prime minister from 2008 to 2013 yet never succeeded in winning the presidency despite five attempts.

But he outlasted many rivals and is credited as a major player in returning Kenya to multi-party democracy in the 1990s and overseeing the widely praised constitution of 2010.

Odinga’s body was repatriated from India on Thursday.

After lying in state in Kisumu, the body was transferred to Bondo in nearby Siaya county, the family’s ancestral seat, for a private burial on Sunday.

Odinga’s death leaves a leadership vacuum in the opposition, with critics accusing him of failing to prepare a successor.

“We have not accepted that he is really gone. It is still a bad dream,” said shop owner Maureen Owesi, 39, in Kisumu.

Odinga’s pragmatic deals with rivals — including current president Ruto last year — cost him support among young voters who have staged mass protests in the last two years over poor governance and the economy.

It is unclear whether Odinga’s movement and the alliance with Ruto will survive his death, leaving Kenya on an uncertain path ahead of potentially volatile elections in 2027.

AFP

Tracking Tinubu’s five major economic pledges

As 2025 enters its final quarter, President Bola Tinubu’s administration faces mounting public expectations to deliver on major economic and social pledges that define its reform agenda.

From tackling inflation and boosting growth to driving infrastructure and food security, several commitments made over the past year have set clear benchmarks for performance.

Below are five of the most critical promises that Nigerians should be tracking closely in Q4 2025:

Reduce inflation to 15 per cent by the end of 2025

Tinubu first made this pledge on December 18, 2024, during the presentation of the ₦49.7 trillion 2025 Budget to the National Assembly.

He assured Nigerians that his administration would bring inflation down to around 15 per cent and stabilise the exchange rate.

The target, reaffirmed by the Finance Ministry in early 2025, aims to ease the cost-of-living crisis.

With inflation currently at 18 per cent, the administration has recorded modest progress, but the goal remains challenging. Tracking this promise requires close monitoring of monthly inflation figures from the National Bureau of Statistics and changes in the prices of essential goods such as food, transport, and fuel.

Achieve 7 per cent economic growth by 2027

On August 14, 2025, at a Federal Executive Meeting in Abuja, President Tinubu announced his administration’s goal of achieving at least 7 per cent annual economic growth by 2027. https://punchng.com/nigerias-economy-growing-consistently-due-to-tinubus-reforms-edun/ He said bold reforms, improved investment flows, and infrastructure expansion would drive the recovery.

The current GDP growth rate is 4.23 per cent. Tracking this will depend on quarterly GDP reports and foreign investment data over the next two years.

Boost local agricultural production for food security

The Federal Government declared a national emergency on food security on April 15, 2025, following renewed spikes in food prices.

According to the Federal Ministry of Information, there was a rollout of 2,000 tractors for mechanised farming, fertiliser distribution, and irrigation expansion in June. Tinubu said the move was aimed at reducing Nigeria’s heavy dependence on food imports and strengthening local production. The announcement followed an earlier declaration made in July 2023 when the administration first recognised food insecurity as a national crisis.

Accelerate major infrastructure projects nationwide

On June 6, 2025, President Bola Tinubu flagged off a series of major infrastructure projects across the country, including federal highways, bridges, and transport corridors. The initiative forms part of his administration’s broader plan to modernise Nigeria’s road network and enhance regional connectivity.

He reaffirmed this commitment on October 12, 2025, pledging equitable infrastructure development across all regions and promising that no part of the country would be left behind. According to The Guardian, the projects are aligned with the Federal Government’s drive to improve transportation links and stimulate economic growth.

Tracking this promise will involve monitoring the progress of key national projects such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road, and ongoing rail expansion programmes.

Implement Comprehensive Tax and Revenue Reforms

On June 26, 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed into law four major tax reform bills — the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2025, and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act 2025.

The reforms, earlier passed by the National Assembly between March and May 2025, are expected to raise Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio, enhance fiscal transparency, and curb revenue leakages.

The laws will take effect from January 1, 2026. Tracking progress will involve monitoring quarterly federal revenue reports, budget performance data, and improvements in tax collection efficiency.

These five promises, made between December 2024 and October 2025, define the Federal Government’s reform agenda heading into Q4. They cover inflation, growth, food production, infrastructure, and fiscal reforms. They are areas that directly impact Nigerians’ livelihoods and the overall economy.

As 2025 winds down, the delivery of these promises will shape public confidence in the Tinubu administration’s ability to translate policy goals into tangible progress.

Ivory Coast tightens protest ban ahead of presidential vote

Ivory Coast authorities have imposed a sweeping two-month ban on political rallies and demonstrations just a week before a presidential election, in a move further restricting opposition activity.

The ban, announced late Friday by the interior and defence ministries, applies to all political parties and groups except the five candidates officially approved to contest the October 25 vote.

It comes amid rising tensions following the exclusion of opposition heavyweights Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam from the race.

Hundreds of people rallied at protests in Abidjan last weekend, with security forces dispersing crowds. Sporadic unrest, including road and school blockades, has been reported in several regions.

Around 700 people have been arrested over the past week, according to public prosecutor Oumar Braman Kone, who said phone data revealed calls for attacks on public institutions which he described as “acts of terrorism”.

On Thursday, 26 protesters were sentenced to three years in prison for public order offences, and another 105 are due to stand trial next week.

The opposition coalition, which includes Gbagbo’s African Peoples’ Party — Ivory Coast (PPA-CI) and Thiam’s Democratic Party of Ivory Coast, has denounced President Alassane Ouattara’s bid for a fourth term.

Amnesty International urged authorities to stop “repressing” protests, but Justice Minister Sansan Kambile defended the crackdown, citing national security concerns.

Ouattara faces four challengers, including former minister Jean-Louis Billon and ex-first lady Simone Gbagbo.

AFP

Obi of Onitsha: Politicians have abandoned governance for 2027 politics

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, has expressed concern that political attention across the country has shifted towards the 2027 general elections while hunger, poverty, and insecurity continue to afflict millions of Nigerians.

Speaking during the 2025 Ofala Festival in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Friday, the monarch said the political class’ neglect of governance for early alliances ahead of the next elections was worsening the country’s economic and social challenges.

Achebe warned that abandoning governance in pursuit of political ambition could further deepen hardship and instability nationwide.

He lamented that ordinary Nigerians were bearing the brunt of the neglect as living costs continue to rise despite ongoing economic reforms.

The Igwe said, “The attention of the political class has become literally diverted to the 2027 general elections. New alliances are being forged as political fortunes rise and fall. There is a distinct impression that these efforts are largely for self-preservation and material benefit.

“Ordinary Nigerians are paying the price of neglect as hardship deepens nationwide despite ongoing economic reforms. Our poverty rate has risen from 40 per cent in 2018 to 46 per cent in 2023, translating to about 104 million Nigerians now classified as poor, according to the World Bank Development Report on Nigeria.

“The reality on the ground is dire. The unending violence in most parts of the country continues to affect the agricultural sector very seriously.”

While acknowledging that the Federal Government was implementing “laudable macroeconomic stabilisation measures,” Achebe urged authorities to ensure transparency and fairness in distributing palliatives to vulnerable citizens.

He advised that relief materials must reach the intended beneficiaries directly and not be derailed by corruption or bureaucracy.

Turning to the South-East, the monarch expressed concern over insecurity and its economic toll on the region, describing the recent conviction of Finland-based separatist agitator Simon Ekpa as a “potential turning point.”

Citing a report by SBM Intelligence titled Four Years of Disruption, Achebe said the South-East economy had lost about ₦7.6tn since 2021 due to insecurity and the sit-at-home disruptions.

“The scourge of violence and kidnapping in the South-East continues to mutate in different forms. We pray that the recent conviction in Finland of Simon Ekpa will contribute to a general reduction of violent crime in the region.

“This is the moment for deep reflection among Ndigbo. Nigeria and the world are leaving us behind due to the deliberate actions of a few purveyors of violence among us,” he added.

On the upcoming Anambra governorship election slated for November 8, Achebe called for peace, transparency, and voter participation, lamenting the low turnout in the ongoing voter registration exercise.

“In the first week of the INEC registration exercise, only 2,482 persons pre-registered online across four South-East states, excluding Anambra, compared to 848,359 in the South-West. This is alarming and demands urgent mobilisation by our leaders,” he said.

Despite the somber national mood, the 2025 Ofala Festival — the 24th edition — retained its cultural splendour, with dignitaries, traditional rulers, and visitors from within and outside the country in attendance.

Marking his 24th Ofala celebration since ascending the throne in 2002, Achebe urged Nigerians to remain resilient and united.

“Our theme last year was ‘Better. Stronger. Together.’ It was a call on our people to consolidate on our breakthroughs and galvanise for the challenges ahead. That message remains as relevant today as ever,” the monarch said.

Odinga’s coffin arrives at packed stadium in Kenya

The coffin of a much-beloved opposition leader, Raila Odinga, arrived by helicopter to a stadium in his heartland of western Kenya on Saturday, where tens of thousands were packed in to see him.

AFP journalists said there were already signs of chaos as a huge group of mourners breached a security gate to the stadium and clambered over walls.

JUST IN: Court refuses police bid to stop ‘Free Nnamdi KanuNow’ protest

The Federal High Court in Abuja has refused the Nigeria Police Force’s bid to stop the “Free Nnamdi KanuNow” protest, allowing it to proceed as scheduled on Monday, October 20, 2025.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had dispatched police lawyers to the court to move an ex parte motion against activist and protest organiser, Omoyele Sowore, in a bid to legally preempt the planned demonstration slated for the Aso Rock Villa.

However, Justice Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, declined to grant the motion, which would have immediately restrained the protest from taking place without hearing the opposing side.

The Judge instead instructed the police to formally serve notice of their application on Sowore and adjourned the case until Tuesday for a proper, contested hearing.

Reacting to the judicial decision, the protest convener, Omoyele Sowore, affirmed the court’s decision as a victory for civil liberties and doubled down on the scheduled protest.

In a statement issued on his X handle on Friday following the ruling, Sowore said, “IG of PoliceNG Kayode Egbetokun dispatched police lawyers to sue me, in an effort to halt the FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest scheduled for Aso Rock Villa on Monday.

“However, the judge, Justice Umar of Federal High Court in Abuja, refused to grant the ex parte motion, instead instructing him to serve me notice and adjourning the case until Tuesday for a proper hearing.”

The demonstration, organised under the hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, is intended to draw attention to the prolonged detention and legal fate of Kanu.

The police action was seen as an attempt to leverage the courts to prevent a potentially sensitive gathering near the seat of Nigerian power.

The adjournment to Tuesday ensures that the planned Monday protest is not currently constrained by a court order, setting the stage for a potential high-profile confrontation between protesters and security agencies around the Presidential Villa.

The outcome of the adjourned hearing on Tuesday will determine the next legal steps regarding the protest’s legality.

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Sowore announced October 20 as the date for a protest march to demand the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Sowore made this known on his X handle.

According to him, the protest would be a “historic” march to the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, while assuring that it would be conducted peacefully and legally to demand the release of the IPOB leader…”

US Embassy warns citizens ahead of #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja

The United States Embassy in Abuja has issued a security alert to Americans in anticipation of a planned protest scheduled for Monday in the Federal Capital Territory.

The protest, organised under the banner #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, is expected to draw crowds to Eagle Square and the Central Business District.

The planned protest was announced by activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, on his X (formerly Twitter) account on October 9.

Sowore stated that the protest would take place on October 20 and be directed toward the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, describing it as a “historic” and peaceful demonstration aimed at securing the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

The activist wrote, “We now have a date for the historic #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest march to the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. It is October 20 at 7 am.”

Kanu, who is currently facing terrorism charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja, has been in custody since June 2021 following his controversial extradition from Kenya.

In a statement published on its website on Friday, the Embassy cautioned that the protest could lead to disruptions and potential violence.

It advised US citizens to steer clear of the protest areas and limit their movement across the city.

“The US Embassy in Abuja informs US citizens that the Free Nnamdi Kanu Now protest has called for peaceful demonstrations on Monday, October 20th, 2025, in Abuja.

“There may be roadblocks, traffic congestion, and confrontations between police and protestors that could turn violent around Eagle Square and the Central Business District.

“The Embassy advises all U.S. citizens to avoid this area and to severely limit all movement throughout the city on Monday, October 20th,” the statement read in part.

With safety in mind, the Embassy recommended that children stay home from school and that domestic staff who commute from outside Abuja not report to work on that day.

“The Embassy recommends children in Abuja stay home from school and domestic staff who travel from outside of Abuja to stay home as well,” it added.

Americans in Nigeria are being urged to take heightened security precautions.

“Avoid areas where protests are taking place. Avoid crowds. Exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests,” the advisory continued.

The Embassy also reminded US citizens to monitor local news, keep a low profile, and be alert in public places such as shopping centres, movie theatres, and places of worship.

“Review your personal security plans and keep your cell phone charged in case of emergency,” the message advised.