Author: Chukwu Godlove

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has criticised delays in passport processing and warned against illegal charges during an unannounced inspection of the Nigerian Immigration Service passport office in Gwagwalada, Abuja. He insisted that Nigerians must not pay a kobo beyond officially approved fees and that inefficiency in service delivery will no longer be tolerated. During the visit, the minister toured the VIP and Children section of the passport office and engaged immigration officers and passport applicants, questioning why only a few people had been attended to several hours after the office was expected to commence operations. Tunji-Ojo expressed concern that…

Cape Town is often at its loudest in summer: beaches dotted with umbrellas, queues snaking outside cafés, and traffic inching along coastal roads. But strip away the crowds and the city reveals a quieter, more intimate side, writes Zoë Erasmus Vlad Pavlov / Unsplash These are the Cape Town moments best enjoyed when fewer people are around. Watching the city wake from Signal Hill Olivier Brugger / Unsplash Sunrise on Signal Hill is a different experience altogether from its golden-hour counterpart. Without the chatter of tour groups and the rush for the best photo spot, the city feels hushed and…

Concerns are growing ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup following reports of expanded U.S. visa suspensions and stricter immigration controls that could affect supporters from several countries already qualified for the tournament. Although FIFA has received assurances that players, coaches, match officials and accredited team personnel will be granted entry into the United States through special exemptions, the wider impact on fans, journalists, and non-official delegations remains uncertain. With the United States set to host the majority of matches, visa accessibility is emerging as a major issue that could shape attendance, atmosphere and inclusivity at the tournament. Next Stay…

For many first-time travellers, Africa is still imagined through a narrow lens of big game safaris, iconic lodges and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife sightings. But the continent has long since outgrown the clichés. From marine safaris and culture-first journeys to remote wilderness areas and rising destinations, Africa is being reimagined by travellers who want more than a checklist experience. Sometimes, the most memorable first trip is not about seeing the most famous sights, but about finding a journey that feels personal, unexpected and immersive, writes Lee-Ann Steyn. A new way to think about a first African trip This is Africa for first-timers…

10% of all park tourism revenue is channelled back to neighbouring communities. Claude Hakorimana, 32, a former poacher from a community bordering Volcanoes National Park, says he was drawn into illegal hunting at a very young age because it was all he knew growing up. He recalls starting at just 14, watching his parents rely on poaching for food and income. “I grew up seeing my parents hunt for a living. To me, it felt normal,” Hakorimana said. “The meat fed the family, and whatever was left was sold for income. Poaching seemed like a reliable way to survive.” ALSO…

Mpumalanga’s tourism hotspots are welcoming visitors again after temporary closures caused by heavy rainfall. Lowveld National Botanical Garden/Werner Bayer/Wikimedia Commons The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) has confirmed that all attractions under its management are now fully operational following comprehensive safety inspections. The reopening follows a period of monitoring and assessment aimed at ensuring that infrastructure, access roads, and visitor areas meet safety standards. While most sites are easily accessible, travellers are advised to remain cautious, particularly when driving on gravel roads or travelling in remote areas. According to the agency, teams are stationed across major attractions to assist…

The chairman and chief executive officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has concluded his second pre-Hajj visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s preparations for the 2026 Hajj exercise. The visit, which took place from January 4 to January 19, 2026, was aimed at consolidating operational arrangements, strengthening coordination with Saudi authorities, and aligning Nigerian service providers and stakeholders with established Saudi timelines and standards for the forthcoming Hajj. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by Ahmad Muazu, Technical Assistant (Media), to the NAHCON…

Sometimes, the best journeys are not measured in kilometres but in centuries. From living trees that predate the city to roads carved by ox-wagons and vineyards older than the country itself, the Western Cape is layered with places where time still lingers, writes Lee-Ann Steyn. Where the Cape’s oldest buildings still stand The Castle of Good Hope/Bernard Gagnon/Wikimedia Commons The Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town Completed in 1679, the Castle of Good Hope is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa and one of the most recognisable symbols of the Cape’s layered past. Its thick stone walls have…

Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador B. Elias Shoniyin, has provided clarity on the recent suspension of U.S. immigrant visa processing for Liberians, describing it as an administrative pause rather than a travel ban, while emphasizing the need for Liberia to address economic challenges that drive migration. In a statement posted on his social media platform, Amb. Shoniyin said he has received “multiple requests from both local and international journalists and policymakers” seeking his perspective since the United States announced an indefinite pause affecting Liberia and 74 other countries. Clarifying the scope of the suspension, he stressed that the…

Agriculture specialist Bertus Kruger has called on the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, and Safety and Security to ensure foreign experts in food security projects receive renewed work visas promptly, warning that delays could disrupt vital initiatives. Kruger says the agricultural sector relies heavily on foreign advisers from Angola, Zimbabwe and the European Union, who are employed on a contract basis to carry out key functions on projects aimed at improving the well-being of locals. Kruger was speaking to The Namibian yesterday, following the home affairs ministry’s extension of the amnesty. “Even now we are working on an agriculture project…