General News
UAE Calls Boko Haram, Others “Terrorists”
United Arab Emirates (UAE) has formally designated scores of groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood, Boko Haram and scores of others as “terrorist groups”.
The list, which includes about 80 groups, was approved by the cabinet and published on Saturday on the official WAM news agency.
Aljazeera reported that Al-Qaeda, al-Nusra Front, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and al-Islah were among other groups on the list.
The announcement echoes a similar move by Saudi Arabia in March and appears to underscore concern in the US-allied oil producer about religiously-affiliated groups.
According to Aljazeera, Al-Islah, a UAE-based group, is banned in the country for its alleged links to Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood.
UAE authorities have cracked down on members of al-Islah and jailed scores of its members convicted of forming an illegal branch of the Brotherhood. Al-Islah denies any such link, but says it shares some of the Brotherhood’s ideology.
In an unprecedented public move, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE recalled their ambassadors to Qatar in March, accusing Doha of failing to abide by an agreement not to interfere in one another’s internal affairs.
The three states fell out in part over Qatar’s alleged support of the Muslim Brotherhood. Qatar says it backs all Arabs, not just Brotherhood members.
Saudi Arabia has banned the Brotherhood, accusing it of seeking to overthrow the Gulf monarchies.
The UAE has been taking part in US-led air strikes against the ISIL group in Syria, along with fellow Arab states Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Disparate list
Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Nigeria’s Boko Haram and Afghanistan’s Taliban are among the groups listed by the UAE.
Jim Walsh, an expert in international security, described the list as “very odd”, noting that some of the groups listed were merely cultural and civic organisations.
Several organisations listed are based in the US and Europe. The list includes the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe, as well as several other Muslim groups – for example Islamic Relief, a UK-registred charity that is working with the British government.
“You have people from across the spectrum, some completely devoted to violence and some who don’t seem to be involved in violence at all,” Walsh, a Research Associate at MIT’s Security Studies Program in Boston, told Al Jazeera.
He said that with some groups, like al-Qaeda, ISIL and al-Nusra Front, UAE had taken a long time to act, but “now they’ve sort of switched and gone over to the other side, listing all kinds of groups they think are terrorists”.
In Washington, the Muslim American Society said it was “shocked” by news reports that it was on the list.
“The Muslim American Society is a religious community service organisation that serves people in the United States. We have no dealings with the United Arab Emirates, and hence are perplexed by this news,” the group said in a statement.
The Muslim Association of Sweden was also on the list. Its chairman, Omar Mustafa, called it “frightening that a small regime known for human rights abuses defines European civil society organisations as terror groups”.
In August, the UAE toughened anti-terrorism laws in a bid to stamp out terror financing, hostage-taking, human trafficking and money laundering.
FirstBank, a leading financial institution and provider of financial inclusion services in West Africa, announces the achievement of ₦1 trillion in cumulative instant digital loan disbursements.
This accomplishment further consolidates the Bank’s reputation for innovation, leadership in financial inclusion, and commitment to customer empowerment within.
Since its inaugural digital loan in August 2019, FirstBank has developed an unconventional and robust digital lending ecosystem designed with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, to improve access to finance, especially to the high-risk customer segment.
The Bank created a multi- channel loan disbursement service that requires no collaterals, zero documentation and is void of human interactions. Through its FirstAdvance, FirstCredit and AgentCredit products, 1.5 million unique borrowers enjoyed instant and secure access to credit.
This is irrespective of whether they are salary earners, non-salary earners, or micro business owners. They also have the convenient options of accessing these loans through platforms such as *894# (FirstBank’s USSD service), FirstMobile, LitApp and the FirstMonie Agent App.
Regarding this milestone, Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, e-Business & Retail Products at FirstBank, stated: “This success underscores our ongoing commitment to innovation and a customer-focused approach, which are central to FirstBank’s core values. Beyond achieving substantial figures, we remain dedicated to fostering opportunities for financial independence across Nigeria in particular, and in Africa at large.’’
He added, “We value the trust our customers place in us to support their financial aspirations. Our efforts to advance digital lending will persist, especially to the excluded and underserved customer segments, while effectively managing risks in the process.”
FirstBank currently disburses about N1 Billion daily in digital loans, demonstrating its commitment to fostering an inclusive, technology-driven future for Nigerians. By consistently investing in advanced technologies and developing customised financial solutions, the Bank seeks to improve the financial well-being of individuals and businesses across the nation.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has successfully concluded his visit to Lagos, Nigeria, aimed at strengthening the UK-Nigeria economic relationship and celebrating the deep cultural ties, shared vibrancy, and global influence of two dynamic cities – London and Lagos.
This visit marked the growing importance of Nigeria as a key partner in the UK’s global trade and investment strategy, particularly in sectors such as fintech, innovation, and the creative economy.
Alongside the visit, the Mayor of London led a trade delegation of 27 London-based companies in fintech, enterprise technology, and sustainability, supported by the Mayor’s growth agency, London & Partners. Under the leadership of Howard Dawber OBE, Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth, the agency facilitated a series of high-level engagements in Nigeria.
The delegation connected with Nigerian policymakers, investors, and creatives through curated events aimed at fostering collaboration and unlocking new business opportunities across Africa.
This visit marked the first official trip by a sitting Mayor of London to sub-Saharan Africa, underscoring London’s commitment to building long-term, cross-sector partnerships that support inclusive growth, digital transformation, and cultural exchange.
Mayor Khan’s engagements in Lagos commenced with participation in a panel discussion at the “Bridging Borders: How London and Lagos Can Shape the Future of Global Tech” tech event where he highlighted how London and Lagos can jointly shape the future of global innovation and encouraged Nigerian tech businesses to invest in London.
The Mayor of London also attended the Lagos Canvas Reception, a celebration of Nigeria’s flourishing creative sector which he co-hosted with Mo Abudu at the Ebony Life place.
The reception celebrated the status of Lagos and London as cultural and creative industry powerhouses and looked to encourage even greater ties between the creative industry ecosystems in both cities.
From the arts to fashion, music and film – central to the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) – which is expanding trade and unlocking new opportunities in the creative economy.
Wrapping up his visit to Lagos, Nigeria, the Mayor of London will continue his historic trade mission with stops in Accra, Johannesburg and Cape Town to bang the drum for the capital as a place for investment, innovation, and cultural exchange – strengthening ties with countries across the African continent for economic growth.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am delighted to be visiting Nigeria and Africa this week – the first visit of its kind by a Mayor of London – to bang the drum for the capital and further develop the strong ties between our countries.
“Africa has the world’s fastest growing populations and is seeing major economic growth across many of its economies. Over the next decade there are huge opportunities to deepen partnerships with London. I will be working tirelessly throughout this visit to drive trade and investment across critical sectors including finance, education, health, tech creative and sustainability.
“Londoners of African heritage have played, and continue to play, a huge role in making London the greatest city in the world, and this trip is an opportunity to celebrate our shared heritage, history and culture with the African continent – as we build a better and fairer city for everyone.”
British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter, said: “The Mayor of London’s visit underscores the UK Government’s commitment to strengthening economic and cultural ties with Nigeria. From trade to fintech and fashion, our collaboration is driving innovation and growth.
“Through the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership, we’re committed to unlocking new opportunities that benefit both our economies, and this visit is a powerful step forward in that journey of inclusive growth.”
UK Minister for Africa, Lord Collins of Highbury, said: “Sir Sadiq’s visit marks an exciting moment for the UK’s relationship with countries across Africa and is a strong demonstration of our commitment to deepening our ties with the continent.
“Strengthening our trade, investment, and cultural ties is not only vital for shared economic growth, but also for fostering long-term partnerships that are rooted in respect and open up opportunities for all.”
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced the rollout of a fully digital application system for the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC).
The new online portal, https://cerpac.immigration.gov.ng, will become the exclusive platform for submitting CERPAC applications from August 1, 2025.
According to NIS, the digital migration is part of the Federal Government’s broader initiative to reform the immigration system by promoting transparency, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing the overall user experience for expatriates and organizations interacting with the Service.
In a press statement signed by A.S Akinlabi, Service Public Relations Officer, the NIS disclosed that manual or physical CERPAC forms will be completely phased out by July 31, 2025.
It noted that after this date, all applications must be submitted exclusively through the online portal.
The Service has advised applicants who have paid for physical forms but are yet to complete the submission process to do so on or before July 31, 2025, warning that any unsubmitted applications after the deadline will be deemed invalid, and associated payments may be forfeited.
Companies and individuals assuming Immigration Responsibility (IR) for expatriates have also been urged to ensure that all outstanding applications are finalized within the stipulated timeframe, to avoid potential delays or administrative setbacks.
“This digital transition marks a critical milestone in our effort to simplify processes and serve the public better,” the statement reads.
The NIS urged members of the public to direct all inquiries and correspondence regarding the new digital process to the office of the Public Relations Officer at the Service Headquarters in Abuja.
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