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There’s No Free Ticket” – Canada Warns Nigerian Asylum Seekers Crossing From USA

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The Canadian government said it’s working with U.S. visa officials in Nigeria to mitigate the surge of migrants coming to the United States seeking a safe haven in neighboring Canada.

There’s a growing number of Nigerian asylum seekers who legally travel to the United States on a visa and stay for a brief time before attempting to cross the border into Canada, according to the Canadian government. In response, three Canadian officials have been stationed to work with U.S. visa officials in the Nigerian city of Lagos to “combat abuse of U.S. travel documents,” the government announced in a press release Monday.

“Coming across the border in a way that seeks to circumvent our procedures is no free ticket to Canada,” Canada’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale said in a statement. “We will continue to ensure an orderly managed border, including the compassionate treatment of those who genuinely need Canada’s protection. And we will continue to work with the United States to deter the misuse of travel documents that has helped drive the influx.”

Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Ahmed Hussen will also travel to the West African nation this month to meet with Nigerian officials about the issue.

“Our government’s priority first and foremost is to ensure that all laws are followed to protect the safety and security of Canadians,” Hussen said in a statement.

The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria did not respond to ABC News’ request for comment Wednesday.

More than 25,000 asylum seekers were apprehended by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, mostly in Quebec, as they crossed “irregularly” into Canada from the United States between the ports of entry from January 2017 through March of this year. The influx of irregular border-crossers appears to be on the rise, and there’s concern the number will soar as the weather warms up.

The number of asylum seekers apprehended by the national police force in the first three months of this year was more than double the amount in the same period last year. And last year, the number intercepted at the border more than tripled in July and August, according to figures from the Canadian government.

Many of the asylum seekers crossing into Canada last year were Haitians who feared they would lose their temporary protected status (TPS) in the United States, after President Donald Trump’s administration announced it will end the program for Haitian immigrants by July 2019.

So far this year, most of the asylum seekers crossing into Canada by land have been Nigerian citizens, the Canada Border Services Agency confirmed to ABC News.

“Nigerians do not want to settle in the U.S. but in Canada. It is much easier for a citizen of Nigeria to obtain a tourist visa for the U.S. than for Canada,” Stephane Handfield, an immigration lawyer in Montreal, told ABC News in French. “So they get a U.S. tourist visa, stay a few days in the U.S. and cross the Canadian border.”

Handfield said it’s also easier for asylum seekers to obtain refugee status in Canada than in the United States.

Nigerians are fleeing their home country for a number of reasons, such as poverty, persecution and violent conflict, including Boko Haram’s years-long insurgency. The Nigeria-based jihadist group, which seeks to establish an Islamic state, has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced some 2.3 million since 2009, according to the latest figures from the United Nations.

“When people are fleeing persecution, whether they’re in Nigeria or elsewhere, they will take whatever method and route is available to them,” John Cockell, spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Canada, told ABC News. “International humanitarian law recognizes this and that’s why asylum seekers are not penalized for entering a country using irregular means, as many choose to do in the case of Canada.”

“We feel [Canadian] authorities have actually done a very good job with managing the increased numbers,” Cockell added.

The Canadian government said it will build new facilities for short-term accommodations at a popular border crossing into the province of Quebec from New York state. Canadian officials will also fast-track work permits for asylum seekers, so they can financially support themselves and their families while they wait to see if their claim for protection is granted.

“While we adhere to international conventions and want to offer asylum to those fleeing persecution and war, the fact remains that there are very specific laws, rules and criteria to be respected in order to find refuge in our country,” Canada’s Minister of Transport Marc Garneau said in a statement.

ABC News

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Akwa Ibom: Navy Rescues Two Kidnap Victims, Recovers Stolen Outboard Engines

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The Nigerian Navy has rescued two kidnapped victims and recovered several stolen outboard engines during an operation against suspected sea robbers and kidnappers in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State.

The operation was carried out on September 30 by the Maritime Quick Response Team of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) JUBILEE in Ibeno, following intelligence reports about criminal activities targeting fishermen in the area.

The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed the development in a statement, explaining that the suspected criminals had been attacking fishermen, taking away their boats and stealing their outboard engines”

Suspects Flee as Navy Launches Pursuit

According to the Navy, its personnel encountered two boats believed to have been operated by the suspected criminals during the operation.

The occupants reportedly fled into nearby creeks after sighting the naval team, prompting the personnel to pursue them.

During the chase, the suspects abandoned one of their boats, which contained several stolen outboard engines and the two kidnapped victims.

The naval team subsequently rescued the victims and escorted them to safety, while the recovered engines were secured for verification and further necessary action.

Navy Intensifies Efforts to Track Suspects

The Navy said efforts were ongoing to locate and apprehend the fleeing suspects, adding that the operation reflected its commitment to protecting lives and securing legitimate maritime activities across the country’s waterways.

Folorunsho also emphasised the importance of intelligence sharing and cooperation with coastal communities in tackling maritime crimes.

He urged fishermen, residents of coastal communities and other maritime stakeholders to report suspicious activities and provide timely information that could help security agencies respond to threats.

The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustained patrols, search-and-rescue operations and intelligence-driven interventions to protect lives and property along Nigeria’s waterways.

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So Fast? Rafael Leão Handed Portugal’s No. 7 Shirt as a New Era Begins 🇵🇹🔥

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Barely hours after football legend; Cristiano Ronaldo announced his departure from the national team camp, his iconic number 7 shirt has officially been given to Rafael Leão in a move that has set social media alive.

The No. 7 is among the most closely watched shirts in world football, and the speed of the handover is what has fans talking. There was no long gap between one chapter ending and the next beginning, and Leão is now the face of that change.

Leão, a left winger who plays his club football in Europe, has been a regular in the national setup in recent years. Taking over the shirt places him at the centre of Portugal’s attacking plans and gives him one of the biggest responsibilities in the squad.
Supporters are already debating whether he can carry the weight of the number.

Reactions online are split between excitement and nostalgia. Some see the announcement as a bold statement that Portugal is ready to move forward with a new generation. Others say it will take time to accept anyone else in the shirt. Either way, all eyes will be on Leão the next time he steps onto the pitch wearing it. 👀
Neither the Portuguese football federation’s full statement nor any comment from Leão himself had been widely reported at the time of writing, and further details are expected.
Is Leão the right man to inherit the No. 7 shirt? Tell us in the comments.

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JAMB Extends Deadline for 2021–2025 Admission Offers to November 30

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the deadline for candidates with outstanding admission offers from the 2021 to 2025 admission exercises to accept or reject the offers.

The new deadline is November 30, 2026, giving affected candidates an additional two months to update their admission status on the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

JAMB had previously fixed September 30 as the deadline for candidates to take action on outstanding offers. The latest extension followed a temporary disruption of the CAPS platform, which was reportedly unavailable for about 96 hours.

JAMB Warns Candidates Against Missing New Deadline

The board described November 30 as the final deadline for candidates affected by the outstanding admission offers.

Candidates who wish to retain their previous admission offers are expected to log into their CAPS accounts and accept them. Those who no longer want the offers can reject them so that JAMB can update its records.

According to JAMB, candidates who accept their offers will be able to proceed with printing their admission letters.

The board also explained that candidates who are no longer studying at the institutions where they were previously offered admission, or who have changed programmes, may accept the outstanding admission and subsequently apply for the appropriate correction or deletion where necessary.

What Happens After November 30?

JAMB warned that candidates who fail to either accept or reject their outstanding offers by the new deadline will have the admissions reverted to “Not Admitted” on the board’s records.

Any subsequent request to update an admission record from the affected years will also attract the applicable penalty fee, according to the board.

JAMB further assured candidates who have already secured admission for the 2026 academic session that rejecting an outstanding admission offer from an earlier year will not affect their current admission.

The board urged all affected candidates to check their CAPS accounts and take the necessary action before the November 30 deadline.

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