United States of America

By Anas Abbas

The United States has unveiled its list of countries eligible for the 2025 Visa Waiver Programme (VWP), notably excluding all African nations except the United Kingdom. 

While the UK retains eligibility under certain conditions, countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa are excluded from this visa-free travel initiative.

Among the updates, Romania has been welcomed as a new participant in the 2025 VWP, which largely maintains the existing roster of eligible nations. The US government has focused on enhanced security measures and prioritized countries that demonstrate strong diplomatic relationships and robust border security practices in its selection criteria.

The Visa Waiver Programme, as outlined by the US Bureau of Consular Affairs, allows citizens from participating countries to visit the United States for tourism or business purposes for stays of up to 90 days without needing a visa. 

However, travellers must first secure a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to their journey and meet all other stipulated requirements. Those who prefer to have a visitor visa can still apply for one.

The 2025 programme introduces several policy updates regarding eligibility, adjustments to the list of participating countries, and new travel regulations to streamline visa-free entry for millions of travellers globally.

The list of 40 countries whose citizens can travel to the US without a visa under the 2025 VWP includes: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Romania.

By Uzair Adam

In a ground-breaking advancement for diabetes diagnostics, Nigeria-born Dr Fahad Usman, an Assistant Professor of Optical Engineering Technology in the United States, has introduced a highly sensitive optical biosensor capable of non-invasive diabetes screening.

Dr Usman’s pioneering work focuses on a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor that detects exhaled breath acetone, a key biomarker for diabetes. This innovative approach offers an alternative to traditional blood glucose tests, which are invasive and often painful.

Dr Usman’s research, published in top journals like Results in Physics and Polymers Journal, presents a novel ternary composite material made from polyaniline, chitosan, and reduced graphene oxide. With enhanced electrical conductivity and thermal stability, this material underpins the SPR biosensor, allowing it to detect acetone concentrations as low as 0.88 parts per billion. 

This collaboration with researchers from Malaysia, France, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. addresses the global diabetes crisis. With over 537 million affected worldwide and projections of 783 million by 2045, this innovation promises a significant impact. According to the National Institutes of Health, over 37 million people in the U.S. are affected by diabetes. 

Due to its non-invasive nature, the optical sensor ensures greater accuracy, sensitivity, and reliability and enhances patient compliance. 

Dr Usman’s work represents a significant leap forward in healthcare innovation. It positions the U.S. at the forefront of global scientific advancements.

This technology offers potential beyond healthcare, with broader industrial applications in optical sensing and materials science.

By Abdurrazak Muktar Makarfi 

Regret is a universal human emotion, a lingering shadow often following negligence or poor decision-making. It can be personal, like not putting in enough effort to achieve a desired goal, or it can be monumental, affecting entire nations or history. From personal experiences to the grand scale of global events, regret reminds us of the consequences of our actions—or inactions.

I, too, am a living witness to this. I aimed for a higher degree classification during my undergraduate studies, hoping to graduate with a Second Class Upper or even a First Class. However, due to a lack of focus and dedication, I had a second-class lower. I realise now that my negligence led to this outcome, which reminds us that what we fail to do today can haunt us tomorrow. In this case, regret is the product of what I did not do rather than what I did.

However, personal regrets are not unique to every person. Even the most powerful, successful, and celebrated figures in history have experienced regret for their actions or oversights. These moments of reflection often come too late, after the damage has been done, and serve as cautionary tales for the rest of us.

Napoleon Bonaparte and the Russian Campaign

One of history’s most infamous military campaigns is Napoleon Bonaparte’s invasion of Russia in 1812. His quest for dominance over Europe led him to undertake an ill-fated military venture that ended in disaster. Over 400,000 of his troops perished due to a combination of Russian scorched-earth tactics and the brutal winter. While Napoleon was not one to publicly admit fault, accounts suggest he acknowledged the enormity of his mistake. His ambition, unchecked by the realities of war, led to the unravelling of his empire and his eventual exile. In this case, the regret came too late to save his soldiers or his reign.

Robert McNamara and the Vietnam War

In modern history, Robert McNamara’s role in the Vietnam War stands as a significant example of deep, public regret. As U.S. Secretary of Defense, McNamara was a key architect of the war, which led to the loss of tens of thousands of American lives and countless Vietnamese. Years later, in his memoir *In Retrospect* and in interviews, McNamara admitted that the war was a mistake, reflecting on the misguided policies and assumptions that drove U.S. involvement. His regret was genuine, a stark acknowledgement that decisions made without fully considering their consequences can lead to tragedy on an unimaginable scale.

Oskar Schindler: The Regret of Not Doing More

Oskar Schindler is remembered as a hero for saving more than 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust. However, Schindler sincerely regrets not saving more lives despite his extraordinary efforts. He famously broke down in tears after the war, lamenting that he could have sold more of his possessions to rescue more people from the horrors of the Nazi regime. His regret was both real and deeply personal, showing that even those who do good can be haunted by the thought that they could have done more.

Thomas Jefferson and the Paradox of Slavery

Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, is a figure whose legacy is intertwined with regret and contradiction. Although he wrote eloquently about the moral wrongs of slavery, he continued to own slaves throughout his life. In his later years, Jefferson expressed regret for the institution of slavery, calling it a “moral depravity” and a “hideous blot” on the American experiment. Yet, he never entirely acted on his convictions, and his words often rang hollow in light of his continued participation in the system he condemned. His regret was intellectual but lacked the moral courage to manifest in his actions.

J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb

Few regrets in history are as profound as J. Robert Oppenheimer’s remorse over the creation of the atomic bomb. As the lead scientist of the Manhattan Project, Oppenheimer’s work led to the development of the most destructive weapon ever used in warfare. After witnessing the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Oppenheimer famously quoted the Bhagavad Gita: “Now I become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” His regret was not just for the immediate destruction caused by the bomb but also for the moral implications of unleashing such power on humanity. He spent much of his later life advocating against further development of nuclear weapons, but the legacy of his creation haunted him until his death.

The Lessons of Regret

What can we learn from these stories? Whether in personal or historical contexts, regret often arises when we fail to align with our values or ignore the consequences of our decisions. Napoleon’s ambition, McNamara’s overconfidence, Schindler’s sense of responsibility, Jefferson’s moral paradox, and Oppenheimer’s scientific pursuit—all illustrate the different forms that regret can take.

In my own case, I can see that my negligence in my studies was not just a matter of missed marks but of missed opportunities to reach my full potential. The grades I received reflected not just academic performance but also personal responsibility. Regret teaches us to confront the results of our choices and, perhaps more importantly, to make better decisions going forward.

In the end, regret is not just about what we did but about what we failed to do when it mattered most. While it’s a heavy burden to carry, it also offers a powerful lesson: that attention, dedication, and foresight can often prevent us from looking back in sorrow.

Abdurrazak Muktar Makarfi wrote via prof4true1@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A US teenager died of cardiac arrest after participating in a social media challenge daring people to eat a single extremely hot tortilla chip, an autopsy revealed Thursday.

Harris Wolobah, a 14-year-old from Massachusetts, died in September after participating in the so-called “One Chip Challenge.” The challenge involved a single chip produced by Paqui dusted with Carolina Reaper and Naga Viper peppers.

The dare has evolved over the years, with different peppers used each time.

The local chief medical examiner determined that Harris died of cardiac arrest after ingesting food with a large amount of a chilli pepper extract called capsaicin, according to the autopsy report seen by AFP. 

The autopsy also concluded that the teen had an enlarged heart, which could have contributed to his death.

Days after his death, Paqui removed the product—packaged in a coffin-shaped box with a red skull and marked ‘extreme heat’—from store shelves.

In California, three youths were hospitalized after taking part in the dare, and seven got sick in Minnesota for the same reason, according to media reports.

By Bello Sagir

Today is World Speech Day (WSD), 2024! This year’s theme is “Speech for a Better World.” WSD is a day of celebration for all Nigerians and people around the world.

In 2015, Simon Gibson founded WSD at the Athens Democracy Forum to celebrate free speech, public speaking, and public speakers. In 2016, WSD was inaugurated and first celebrated in Athens and Singapore. By 2020, over one hundred countries celebrated WSD. As a result of this milestone, Facebookers and YouTubers began live-streaming the event.

World Speech Day is a celebration day for all Nigerians because, prior to 1960, when we officially became an independent nation from Britain, there were a series of speeches by Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, etc., in Britain, some African countries, and, above all, in Nigerian media and during processions and campaigns, all in a bid to free Nigeria from the shackles of the colonial masters.

Sheikh Uthman Danfodio reformed Islam in northern Nigeria, not because he was the most pious or educated person nor because he was the most fearless warrior, but largely, if not solely, because he was a very persuasive speaker.

The same is true of Malam Aminu Kano, who won the Kano East constituency in the federal legislature during the Second Republic. Similarly, in 1979, his party, the PRP, won the Kano and Kaduna gubernatorial seats in a landslide victory.

As we are Black and African, so is Barack Obama, whose father went to the United States from Kenya. Therefore, his political victory affects us. According to analysts, Obama became the first Black African American President because he could speak persuasively to the audience.

Teaching is a form of speech that falls under informative public speaking. That is to say, all educated people are educated because teachers have taught them. Imagine the world without teachers! Would there be medical doctors who take care of our health, engineers who design and make cars for us, pilots who fly us, military and other security personnel who secure us, bankers who keep and manage our money, or even journalists who hunt for news professionally and inform us? Would there be all these personalities and many more?

Regardless of the religion you follow, it reached you through public speakers who are God’s agents. They used largely informative and persuasive public speaking to extend the religion to people. Also, you learn how to worship God through public speakers who teach you at schools the performance of the religion, as prescribed by God and his messenger.

See how public speaking has been instrumental in Nigeria’s independence, the reformation of Islam in Northern Nigeria, educating Northerners (of that time), resisting bad governance, and a person of African descent becoming president of the powerful United States of America.

Additionally, considering how public speaking is responsible for the creature comforts and peace we enjoy, among other things, it is not amiss to conclude that World Speech Day is worth celebrating every year by all of us in our various capacities because, in a way, celebrating the day is celebrating all the public speakers responsible for the civilized world we are all proud of today.

Bello Sagir Imam

Public Speaking Coach

By Mohammad Qaddam Sidq Isa (Daddy)

Now that Nigeria has finally embarked on the total implementation of the Washington Consensus package of neoliberal economic policies, what becomes of the country’s economy, in the long run, remains to be seen. 

As a product of consensus among the Washington-based World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the United States Department of the Treasury, the package was purportedly designed to guide developing countries bedevilled by protracted economic crises to recovery and achieve sustainable economic development. 

Also, as a capitalist template with inherent and unmistakable lopsidedness in favour of the rich and those with access to public resources, the package encourages governments to literally but gradually wash their hands of the critical economic sectors in favour of profit-oriented local and foreign investors.

Under pressure from neoliberal international financial institutions, successive Nigerian governments have gone to various extents in selective and partial implementation of the package, triggering rounds of controversy. 

However, now with the country going fully and irreversibly capitalist, there is no more time to waste in criticising capitalism and romanticising some obsolete socialist and populist ideas that are no longer realistic. After all, the reform policies can still work out if the federal government pursues requisite measures, which include, among other things, total transparency in governance, governance cost-cutting and prioritisation of the strategic sectors of the economy that have a direct bearing on people’s lives. 

In other words, for the reform to be effective, governance at all levels must be too transparent to accommodate any act of corruption; and anti-corruption measures, including appropriate punishments, must be in force and deterrent enough to deter any would-be perpetrator. 

Likewise, appropriate governance cost-cutting measures must be implemented judiciously to save resources without prejudice to productivity and efficacy.   

Equally, public spending must strictly follow the public’s priorities that entail appropriate investments in strategic sectors with clear short, medium and long-term goals measured not by mere figures but by their real effect on people’s living conditions. 

With these and other requisite measures in place, the investment atmosphere in the country will be transparent and competitive enough to attract local and foreign investors with appropriate job-creating investments that would facilitate real and sustainable economic development. 

That way, and with time, the local and foreign rent-seeking opportunists and profiteers, who have dominated the business sphere in the country, making hugely disproportionate returns compared to their real investments, will have to follow suit to remain relevant or simply lose out. 

Unless the Tinubu administration pursues these measures with appropriate commitment, the reform will end up counterproductive, thus making life even more unbearable to most Nigerians. At the same time, a tiny politico-business clique continue to wallow in abundance.

Interestingly, there has been conspicuous silence on the part of our local West-admiring Washington Consensus apologists, who have advocated total capitalist reform as the only panacea to the country’s persistent underdevelopment. Ordinarily, having passionately advocated it, they should now feel morally obliged to show some understanding, or at least fake it, over the ensuing escalating hardship in the country. 

Besides, though supposedly experts in economics and other related fields, none have developed a viable alternative economic recovery package or even introduced viable inputs to the Washington Consensus package to make it relevant to our peculiar circumstances and other underlying challenges.

Mohammad Qaddam Sidq Isa (Daddy) wrote from Dubai, UAE. He can be reached via mohammadsidq@gmail.com.

By Bilyamin Abdulmumin

On Tuesday, at a meeting with the United States Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Energy Resources, Ambassador Geoffrey Praytt, at the State House, Abuja, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to honouring all its obligations to climate change and the quest for clean energy.

The president further called for stronger and better ties with the United States as Nigeria and the rest of the world move in the quest for renewable and other clean energy sources. This revelation made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made it imperative to bring to the front a related issue: Nigerian Biofuels Policy and Incentives.

To contribute to the global fight against climate change, Nigeria implemented the biofuel policy and incentive in 2007. This policy aims to encourage bioethanol and biodiesel production as supplementary to conventional transportation fuel, which is unfriendly to the climate.

It provides several incentives for potential investors, creating a conducive environment for biofuel production, and promises to establish a Biofuel Commission along with a dedicated Research Centre for the development of the sector. However, 16 years after, limited progress has been achieved, with only a few Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Nigerian states like Kebbi, Niger, Ondo, Kogi, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

The policy has considered one of the major challenges of the biofuel sector globally: the expensive cost of production compared to conventional fossil fuels. As such, a range of incentives was offered, such as tax holidays, withholding tax exemptions, waivers on import and customs duties, waivers on value-added tax, long-term preferential loans, insurance, and most importantly, creating market demand (a promising alternative that the policy overlooked however was the use of cheaper local technology, materials, and equipment). Despite these incentives, the success of biofuels in Nigeria hinges on the government’s political will.

According to the policy, the Federal Government is responsible for providing necessary infrastructure, amenities, and facilities to communities where biofuel companies operate. The State Governments are mandated by the policy to facilitate the procurement and utilisation of agricultural land by biofuel companies. Additionally, in collaboration with State Governments and biofuel companies, the Local Governments are expected to organise out-grower schemes and other cooperative initiatives.

The feedstock of biofuel is grains/sugar, and oils. So, this highlights the hope the biofuel industry holds for the Nigerian poor who rely on subsistence farming. Traditional farming practices in Nigeria have remained unchanged for centuries. But thanks to the policy, farming technology can be drastically improved by integrating agriculture with the energy sector by adopting biofuels, hence more wealth and prosperity. 

However, there is trouble in Paradise; biofuel feedstock brings about another major challenge: food vs energy conflict. But the policy did not keep a blind eye, as there were provisions for out-growers schemes for massive crop production. In Kebbi State, more than 5 000 hectares were procured for cassava cultivation.  Other measures put in place to counter food vs energy conflict include the development and adoption of transgenic varieties of the feedstock to be specifically customised for the efficient production of biofuels (a promising alternative to food that the policy didn’t capture is utilising second-generation feedstock, which is more abundant and cheaper, that is, waste lignocellulosic materials and underutilised agricultural and forestry).  

In effect, the biofuels mission holds dual benefits:  foster economic growth and inclusivity for farmers while addressing the pressing issue of climate change, which the president just reiterated. Dear FG, considering the immense potential of this policy, and against the backdrop of celebrated bold actions on critical issues you have been undertaking, please give this policy a second chance, summon new hope, and get it hit the ground running.

Bilyamin Abdulmumin wrote via bilal4riid13@gmail.com.

By Ayatullah Muhammad and Aminu Ismail Elyakub

In my History of the US Founding and Constitution class, I had the rare privilege of reliving the experience of the constitutionalist and founding patrons of the country. It elicited a feeling of foundational belonging despite each representative being entitled to their colonies or settlement. This led to a brief conversation during the semester where a colleague of mine in a friendly conversation uttered, “I love Aristocracy”. My radical response had to be heard, “I hate aristocrats because of their elitism and…” a list of things identifiable with modern oligarchs today.

I may have defeated my colleague but not for too long. He responded, “I see what you are saying, but my reasons are tied to the values….” That made no sense, even though I ended up writing an article on aristocratic values shaped and eschewed by leaders that ended up being transcendental. I was too hasty for a moment. The case of the Musa Yar’adua family presents a typical example of what virtuous aristocracy can bring to the building of the nation-state.

The 10th National Assembly commences with a renewed commitment and a rejuvenated pursuit toward Nigeria’s unhindered democratic succession. This comes with a mixture of veterans, the newly elected, and experienced former governors coming into the Senate. From the pool of “freshmen”’ comes Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, representing Katsina Central in Northwestern Nigeria.

The entry of Senator Yar’adua marks another moment for his constituents and enthusiasts of democracy globally as we spotlight family dynasties and their potential for impacting nation-building and making their distinct mark in public service. In this article, we highlight Senator Abdulaziz Yaradua, a distinguished member of the Yaradua family and arguably the first bi-cameral legislator of the dynasty’s siblings. This opens up possibilities for making parallels to the Kennedy family as examples of counterparts across the Atlantic with a serendipitous trajectory in destinies of similar dynasties.

The authors of “The Democratic Imperative: Exporting the American Model” have noted that dynasties are not an inherent aberration to democracy but an opportunity to enhance it with their experience and public service. Thus, the oldest democracy in the world has had five political dynasties across two centuries since its inception. This includes notables such as Adams, the Roosevelts, and, most recently, the Bush family.

The dynasty began with the late Patriarch of the Family and Mutawallen Katsina Musa Yar’adua, a parliamentarian who held two ministerial portfolios in the Tafawa Balewa Cabinet. However, the family name was shot into the limelight when an illustrious son, Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’adua, became the defacto “Second in Command” to General to the Head of State following the 1976 Coup. Since the late General SM Yar’adua’s passing, Shehu’s beacon of political light and values have arguably been responsible for shaping political decisions, contests, and prodigies since 1999, including the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s ascension to Presidency in 2007. Beneficiaries of such illustrious mentorship in the early 90s were two of the prominent aspirants of APC and PDP at the 2023 presidential elections.

As a significant member of the Yaradua dynasty today, Senator Abdulaziz Yaradua is continuing his family’s history and advancing Nigeria’s unity and prosperity. The senator’s career began as a disciplined and commissioned military officer of the Army’s Signal Corps, mirroring his elder brother’s path and earning him the moniker “Audu Soja”.

Despite being the penultimate child among his mother’s children, he heeded his father’s call for higher education. He joined the famous brothers in becoming the third university graduate from the men of a large family and a distinguished engineer in his own right. Senator Abdulaziz Yaradua has had a stint at being dependable on security issues, to Tinubu’s delight, while in the recent past also had a brief stint as an administrator of the country’s Rural Electrification agency under Buhari’s stewardship.

Like the Kennedy family in the United States, the Yar’aduas are not without their trials. Shehu Yar’adua could be paralleled to Robert F Kennedy, who died as a prominent political figure outside of an official capacity, compared to Umaru Yar’adua and John F Kennedy, who died in similar official capacities. Beyond the trials, however, were similar shared convictions, progressive ideals and activist mindsets championed by Shehu-RFK and Umaru-JFK positions and situations, respectively. They never missed their marks in setting stones and policies that etched them in the hearts, projects and legacies of admiration today.

Senator Abdulaziz Yaradua could learn from his late Senator Kennedy counterpart in history with hopefully a longer lifespan and influence etched in the Red Chamber of the NASS. While in a similar vein, expected to continue on their family’s tradition, he has his priorities and goals, including helping the Tinubu administration with bills to improve infrastructure and ensure long-term economic growth. His dedication to educational reforms and constituency empowerment projects sensitive to the needs of his community is further evidence of his intention to improve his people’s lot in life.

The tall and elegant leader with a built statute also best fits the “bridge builder” role. Tinubu could find a dependable “Senator Biden” in him capable of working across party lines to accomplish shared goals, a quality that is consistent with his family’s tradition.

Judging from the bios of the dynasty’s youngest politicians, it is clear that both men forged their unique paths while inheriting a powerful history. Senator Yar’adua did not have an easy way to political victory today as the family name was not enough to earn him a win in at least four contests he was involved in between 2011 and 2019. A devotion to democratic values, social equality, and inclusive governance has characterised the Yaradua dynasty. Senator Yaradua shares these values.

Expectations are high as Senator Abdulaziz Yaradua pursues his political career. He holds a good place in the Yaradua dynasty due to his unshakable commitment to the values supported by his family and his vision for a prosperous Nigeria. By taking a cue from his predecessor’s accomplishments, traditions, and values in pursuing a better future through their dedication to public service, social advancement, and economic prosperity. Like the late Senator Kennedy, Senator Yaradua represents the promise and hope of his people and constituents toward a better political system for his Katsina state and Nigeria’s evolving democracy.

Ayatullah Muhammad and Aminu Ismail Elyakub can be reached via ayatmatters@gmail.com.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 
 
All five passengers of a missing submersible near the Titanic catastrophes, according to sub operator OceanGate, have died.
 
It’s now suspected that Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood, and his son Suleman Dawood have tragically passed away, the company said in a sombre statement on Thursday.
 
The firm expressed condolences to every member of their families during this tragic time and described the men as true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans.
 
“We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew. This is an extremely sad time for our dedicated employees who are exhausted and grieving deeply over this loss.
 
“This is a very sad time for the entire explorer community, and for each of the family members of those lost at sea,” it says in a condolence message.
 

By Muhammadu Sabiu  

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has joined an American side, Inter Miami, after parting ways with the French club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). 

According to Fabrizio Romano, Messi will make an announcement about the new club he has joined in a few hours. 

Reporting on his official Facebook page today, Romano wrote, “Lionel Messi to Inter Miami, here we go! The decision has been made and it will be announced by Leo in the next hours. 

“Messi will play in MLS next season. No more chances for Barcelona despite trying to make it happen.” 

Recall that before this year’s Ligue 1 campaign came to an end, it was already announced that Messi would not continue at PSG. 

There were speculations that the 7-time Ballon d’Or winner would return to his former side, Barca, but the deal wasn’t sealed by the two parties.