Travel News
FULL LIST: 27 European countries Nigerians can visit in 2025 with one visa - THE NATION
by Samuel Oamen
In a big win for Nigerian travellers, a valid Schengen visa opens the doors to 27 European countries, making it easier and more affordable to explore Europe.
Whether for tourism, business, education, or visiting family, Nigerians can enjoy visa-free travel within the Schengen zone once granted a visa by any of the member states.
The Schengen visa allows holders to travel freely across borders without internal checks, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
As of January 1, 2025, Romania and Bulgaria have become full Schengen members, meaning Nigerians can now travel to these countries with an existing Schengen visa, including by land, air, or sea.
Note that countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Cyprus are not part of the Schengen Area. You’ll need separate visas to visit those destinations.
Here are 27 countries Nigerians can visit in 2025 using a single Schengen visa: 1. Austria
2. Belgium
3. Croatia
4. Czech Republic
5. Denmark
6. Estonia
7. Finland
8. France
9. Germany
10. Greece
11. Hungary
12. Iceland
13. Italy
14. Latvia
15. Liechtenstein
16. Lithuania
17. Luxembourg
18. Malta
19. Netherlands
20. Norway
21. Poland
22. Portugal
23. Slovakia
24. Slovenia
25. Spain
26. Sweden
27. Switzerland
FG rescue 78 trafficked victims in Cote D Ivoire - PUNCH
No fewer than 78 Nigerians rescued from human traffickers in Cote D’Ivoire have arrived in Lagos.
The victims, comprising 73 females, two males, and three babies, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, around 11:00 pm on Saturday.
Binta Bello, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, received them at the airport.
Bello, in her speech, said that the return of the victims reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to the fight against human trafficking.
“This is a momentous occasion a day that marks not only the safe return of our beloved daughters but also a reaffirmation of our unwavering commitment to the fight against human trafficking.
“To the young women and girls who have just returned, we say welcome home.
“You were taken far from the safety and dignity you deserve, but today, you are back on Nigerian soil, and you are not alone. You are home, and this country stands with you.
“Your courage, your survival, and your return symbolise hope for thousands of others who may still be in the shadows.
“And to those who have perpetuated this evil, let today be a reminder that Nigeria will never relent in pursuing justice,” she said.
The NAPTIP boss said that some of those responsible for the heinous trade had been apprehended and would face the full force of the law.
According to her, the agency will profile and chat with the survivors for necessary measures in line with its mandate, which included counseling and skill acquisition training.
“We thank the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for its constant support and political will in the fight against trafficking in persons, the support has been instrumental in enabling NAPTIP to carry out this noble mandate.
“We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Air Peace Airlines for their generous and patriotic assistance in facilitating the safe return of these victims free of charge.
“Your partnership is a shining example of how the private sector can contribute meaningfully to national efforts.
“To all our local and international partners, thank you. Your collaboration continues to empower us, and today’s success is one we share with all of you,” she said.
Bello urged the public to raise awareness, report suspicious activities, and stand together against the grave violation of human dignity.
Narrating her ordeal, a 24-year-old pregnant victim said that a friend lured her into prostitution.
“One of my friends told me that she is running a supermarket, that she would love me to come and work and earn like N300,000 a month.
“She said that I should not worry about the transport that she is going to pay for me, which she did.
The victim said that the moment she got there, she discovered that there was no supermarket.
“She said that she paid N3 million for my transport and that I must sleep with men for me to pay her back.
“I told her I cannot, but she threatened to either kill or cut my hair and take it to a herbalist to make me run mad.
“For fear of the unknown, I started sleeping with different men,” she said.
According to her, she is four months pregnant and needs help to take care of herself and her unborn baby.
“When I discovered I was pregnant, she asked me to abort, I told her I cannot because the baby is already big.
“She started mistreating me, hitting me with sticks on my tummy. Sometimes, she sends some men to kick me in my stomach in order to lose the pregnancy.
“When I could no longer bear the torture, I went to report to the police,” she said.
In the same vein, another victim, a 17-year-old said that she met a lady who compelled her into a commercial sex act.
“A lady approached me, she said she would like to take me to Cote d’Ivoire to work in a restaurant and I will be paid 1.5million cfa monthly.
“I and six other girls accepted, she told us not to tell our parents.
“When we got there, she and her gang dumped us in a forest where men came to pick us up for sex,” she said.
The victim said that after undergoing a series of abortions, the lady did a five-year family planning for her.
According to her, some of her colleagues died in the process.
“Some of my colleagues who were picked up for sex never returned. Some were killed and dumped on the road,” she said.
UK plans to end 'failed free market experiment' in immigration - REUTERS
BY Andrew MacAskill
LONDON (Reuters) -The British government outlined plans on Sunday to end what it called the "failed free market experiment" in mass immigration by restricting skilled worker visas to graduate-level jobs and forcing businesses to increase training for local workers.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under pressure to cut net migration after the success of Nigel Farage's right-wing, anti-immigration Reform UK party in local elections this month.
Under the government's new plans, skilled visas will only be granted to people in graduate jobs, while visas for lower-skilled roles will only be issued in areas critical to the nation's industrial strategy, and in return businesses must increase training of British workers.
Companies in the care sector will no longer be able to seek visas for workers recruited abroad.
The Labour government said the changes will be part of a policy document, known as a white paper, to be published on Monday setting out how ministers plan to reduce immigration.
High levels of legal migration were one of the major drivers behind the vote to leave the European Union in 2016 with voters unhappy about the free movement of workers across the bloc.
After Britain eventually left the EU in 2020, the then Conservative government reduced the threshold to allow workers in categories such as yoga teachers, dog walkers and DJs to be eligible for skilled worker visas.
"We inherited a failed immigration system where the previous government replaced free movement with a free market experiment," Yvette Cooper, the British interior minister, said in a statement. "We are taking decisive action to restore control and order to the immigration system."
While post-Brexit changes to visas saw a sharp drop in the number of European Union migrants to Britain, new work visa rules and people arriving from Ukraine and Hong Kong under special visa schemes led to a surge in immigration.
Net migration, or the number of people coming to Britain minus the number leaving, rose to a record 906,000 people in the year to June 2023, up from the 184,000 people who arrived in the same period during 2019, when Britain was still in the EU.
Cooper said the combination of the changes to the rules for low-skilled visas and the closure of visas for care workers recruited overseas would probably reduce the number of low-skilled worker visas by up to 50,000 this year.
British employers have expressed concern about the government's plans to tighten the rules on foreign workers, saying they are needed to fill shortages in the jobs market.
Asked about the government's latest announcement, a spokesperson for the Confederation of British Industry pointed to comments by CBI Director General Rain Newton-Smith to The Times published on Friday in which she backed the push for more training of British workers.
"But there's no doubt that at times businesses will face acute skill shortages," Newton-Smith said. "And of course, they'll look for domestic routes to fill those, but there will be times when immigration is an important way."
(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; additional reporting by William Schomberg; editing by Suban Abdulla, Louise Heavens and Ros Russell)
Foreigners have flocked to 'welcoming' Portugal. Why is it expelling migrants now? - CBC
With its warm climate, comparatively affordable living and rich culture, Portugal has long appealed to visitors, whether it's for a vacation or a more permanent move.
The southwestern European country was atop destination for migrants, thanks to its formerly liberal immigration policies and what was considered a topmodel for integration. It was consistently ranked in the Top 10 destination countries by the Migrant Integration Policy Institute's ranking system, which noted the benefits of Portugal's labour market and citizenship model, among other inviting qualities.
And people of all economic backgrounds have flocked to Portugal — from migrants seeking work and digital nomads taking advantage of an affordable location, to thesunset migration of retirees. Last year, the European Commission's department of migration and home affairs reported that more than one million foreign citizens lived in Portugal — the highest ever recorded in the country — accounting for about 10 per cent of the population.
So, the news last Saturday that Portugal's caretaker governmentplans to expel some 18,000 undocumented foreigners living in the country without authorization may seem like a sudden shift, with Prime Minister Luis Montenegro accused by critics oftaking a page from U.S. President Donald Trump's playbook.
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Montenegro didn't give a specific reason for the decision, but last year, when he toughened the country's migration laws, he said Portugal can't "have wide-open doors" and was prioritizing entry to qualified professionals, students, those from Portuguese-speaking countries and people seeking family reunion.
Portugal has been "sliding on a slippery slope for the past two years," driven in part by a rise in housing costs, where migration has become politicized and polarized by the far right, explained Anna Triandafyllidou, the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration at Toronto Metropolitan University.
"Portugal, unlike other southern European countries, was very welcoming in terms of ethnic and racial density. Suddenly these people were targeted because they were visible," Triandafyllidou told CBC News.
Still, she added, the government's plans to expel foreigners is "sort of unheard of for Portugal."
"This kind of rounding up and deporting people — it's very extreme."
A 'silent' migration
Portugal is distinct from other southern European countries by maintaining its post-colonial ties, resulting in a migrant population that's racially mixed but with language and cultural commonalities, explained Triandafyllidou.
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Most migration to Portugal has traditionally flowed from Portuguese-speaking countries, such as Brazil, Cape Verde and Angola, according to the Integral Human Development website.
In addition to that, there has been a "silent" migration of undocumented workers from South Asian countries, lured by the chance to obtain legal status in the EU, publications such asForeign Policy magazine andAgence France Press have reported.
Under the previous Socialist government, Portugal had some of Europe's most open immigration policies.
Until 2024, when Portugal's centre-right government toughened some immigration rules, a widely used mechanism called "manifestation of interest" allowed non-EU migrants without an employment contract to move to Portugal and request residency after paying social security for a year.
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Triandafyllidou noted that she's observed more of a South Asian presence in Lisbon, the country's capital city, particularly working in restaurants and food delivery services.Foreign Policy writes that in Lisbon: "Nepalis staff restaurant kitchens and Bangladeshis run many of the city's fruit shops."
And AFP says that, even in the most traditional fishing villages near Porto, "half of the crews are made up of Indonesians."
In a 2023 report, the Migration Observatory said some sectors would collapse without foreign workers. Still, according to theEuropean Commission's most recent immigration barometer, 68 per cent of Portuguese citizens consider immigration policy in Portugal to be too permissive.
'Affordable living' ... for some
Meanwhile, Portugal has had a number of deliberate policies aimed at attracting wealthy foreign investment. These include the "golden visa" program that for years had linked residency rights to property investments, tax breaks offered by the state and the digital nomad visa for remote workers.
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Last month, International Living magazine's Annual Global Retirement Index named Portugal No. 2 on its 2025 list of top countries to retire in, just behind Panama. The index cited Portugal's "affordable living" repeatedly, noting that "a couple can live comfortably" on $3,480 to $4,200 Cdn a month.
Property sales in the Algarve, the popular beach-lined southern tip of the country, are soaring. Even theAga Khan, considered one of the richest men in the world, moved to Lisbon in 2015, where he lived until his death in February.
But this arrival of wealthy foreigners also aggravated a housing crisis rooted in a chronic shortage of affordable housing. Rents in Lisbon have soared 94 per cent since 2015 and house prices have risen 186 per cent, as reported by Reuters.
This prices out both locals and, especially, migrants from non-EU countries. Migration Observatory data showed 19 per cent of people who originated from outside the European Union in Portugal live in overcrowded accommodation compared to around eight per cent of Portuguese, citing that people from countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh are particularly affected.
Portugal remains one of western Europe's poorest nations with the region's lowest average wages.
"There are two extremes: migrants who are so-called poor ... and a 'rich' migration of investors, pensioners and highly qualified professionals," housing researcher Simone Tulumello toldReuters last year.
Migration politicized
The streets in Lisbon are often filled with marches and rallies — for affordable housing, for migrant rights and to protest against more people crossing borders. Last month, Portuguese riot police detained several ultra-right protesters after groups had called a rally, which city authorities banned, to protest against growing numbers of immigrants.
And on May 18, the country will have an early general election. Montenegro called the snap ballot in March after his minority government lost a confidence vote in parliament and stood down.
In last year's election, the far-right Chega party surged into third place.
In his new campaign platform, Chega leader André Ventura has decried what he calls "a total lack of control at our borders," writing in Portuguese that "it is urgent to restore normality to the flow of foreigners entering Portugal."
Among its immigration priorities, Chega wants nationality granted only to those who "have an effective relationship with the Portuguese state, speak the language, know the history and embrace the culture." And those who do enter illegally should be returned to their country of origin, Ventura adds.
"I think what we're seeing in Portugal is very much cheap politicization in view of an election," said Triandafyllidou.
"In Europe, the fear of the far right is pushing these conservative governments toward sort of extreme solutions to try to win the votes back — which doesn't happen."
'Expulsion is not a solution!'
After Montenegro's government announced itsexpulsion plan last Saturday, the leader of the Opposition accused him of trying to get closer to the Chega party. He called the move a "Trumpization" of Montenegro's campaign, a reference to U.S. President Donald Trump's border crackdowns.
In January, Ventura — who travelled to Washington for Trump's inauguration — said he agreed with Trump's announcement that he planned to deport millions of illegal immigrants, adding that "safe countries have strong borders," reported ThePortugal News.
Montenegro, for his part, has denied that the expulsion order was being accelerated by the upcoming May 18 election and said it was part of the process that began in June last year. He also refuted the allusion to Trump, according to thePortugal Pulse news site.
But as the expulsion orders have started going out, with some 4,500 people already notified they have 20 days until they have to leave, according to media reports, some immigrant associations have urged people to "fight" and "resist."
"Expulsion is not a solution!" wrote the Solidariedade Imigrante (Immigrant Solidarity) non-profit on its Facebook page last week.
"We will always fight! Strength, friends! Always resist!"
Five things to know about Portugal - AFP
Portugal, a popular tourist destination and a European green energy champion, holds an early general election on May 18, 50 years on from the 1974 Carnation Revolution that toppled a decades-long right-wing dictatorship.
Here are five things to know about the country:
- Influx of tourists -
With 300 days of sunshine per year, Portugal keeps setting new records for the amount of foreign tourist arrivals it draws.
The sector accounts for around 15 percent of the country's economic output, generating record revenues of 27.7 billion euros ($31 billion) last year.
Dubbed the "Florida of Europe", the country is also home to many well-off foreigners -- retirees, investors or digital nomads -- seduced by its gentle lifestyle and attractive tax policies.
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- And immigrants -
Portugal has quadrupled its foreign-born population since 2017 to 1.5 million currently -- around 15 percent of the total.
Brazilians, with their long historical links to the country, are by far the largest contingent. There are also sizable communities from other former Portuguese colonies Angola and Cape Verde.
Recent years have seen the arrival of many workers from south Asia -- Bangladesh, India and Nepal -- who have joined Europeans from countries such as Britain, France and Italy.
- Surf XXL -
With more than 800 kilometres (500 miles) of Atlantic coastline and countless breaks of all shapes and sizes, the country attracts surfers from around the world.
The best-known spot is off the coast of the central town of Nazare, where an underwater canyon some five kilometres deep near the shoreline of the former fishing village helps generate what are arguably the biggest rideable waves in the world.
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Germany's Sebastian Steudtner set a world record there in 2020 for the biggest wave ever surfed at 86 feet (26.2 metres).
- Cork champion -
Portugal is the world's largest cork producer, accounting for nearly half of the world's supply, according to the Portuguese Cork Association.
Cork is made from the bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber), which covers around 720,000 hectares (1,780,000 acres) of land in Portugal -- more than any other country.
Portuguese cork producers have sought to diversify its use beyond wine bottle stoppers, with the material increasingly used as building insulation as well as in footwear, furniture and even the aerospace industry.
The value of Portugal's cork exports last year surpassed one billion euros -- a record.
In 2020 the Lisbon metro replaced the fabric lining on all seats of its train fleet with cork, an easier to maintain material.
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- Renewables champion -
Renewable power sources, mainly hydropower and wind, supplied 87.5 percent of Portugal's electricity in 2024.
Within the 27-nation European Union, only Denmark had a higher ratio, according to Eurostat figures.
British Airways owner unveils big Boeing, Airbus order - AFP
BY Alexandra BACON
IAG, owner of British Airways and Spanish carrier Iberia, announced Friday a multi-billion dollar order for Boeing and Airbus planes, as it maintained its outlook despite economic uncertainty.
Demand for air travel remains strong, IAG said, as US President Donald Trump's tariffs assault threatens to hamper global growth and knock business confidence.
The announcement comes one day after Britain and United States struck a trade deal to ease tariffs, during which US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick teased that Britain would announce $10 billion in new orders for Boeing planes.
"We continue to see resilient demand for air travel across all our markets, particularly in the premium cabins and despite the macroeconomic uncertainty," chief executive Luis Gallego said in an earnings statement.
IAG announced new orders for 32 planes from Boeing and 21 from Airbusfor delivery from 2028 to 2033.
At list prices, the Boeing jets cost a combined $12.7 billion and the Airbus planes a total of $7.8 billion.
But as is customary with sizeable orders, IAG said it had negotiated a "substantial discount".
The orders are in addition to those exercised in March for 12 Airbus and six Boeing planes, bringing the total number announced Friday to 71.
"These new aircraft will enable IAG's airlines to grow and replace their long-haul fleets," the company said.
Most of the new aircraft are replacements, with one third for growth of the company.
- 'No signs of slowing' -
The orders followed a turnaround in IAG's first quarter performance, which beat analysts' expectations.
Net profit came in at 176 million euros ($198 million) in the first three months of 2025, up from a four-million-euro loss after tax one year earlier.
Revenue increased almost 10 percent in the first quarter.
Shares in IAG rose more than two percent in reaction on London's top-tier FTSE 100 index, which was up slightly overall in morning trade.
The fresh batch of orders highlights "the group's confidence in the longer-term picture for the travel industry", said Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.
"IAG shows no signs of slowing, and demand for its routes remains strong despite the current pressure on consumers' incomes," he added.
In 2024, the company's full-year net profit increased three percent to 2.7 billion euros, compared with a year earlier.
The latest orders provide some good news for Boeing, a top US exporter and which has recently been targeted by China in retaliation to Trump's tariffs.
China blamed the tariffs for a decision to stop accepting new Boeing aircraft, saying the levies had "disrupted the international air transport market".
It follows a turbulent year for the US aircraft maker, with production and quality control problems, lawsuits, corporate upheaval, increased regulatory oversight and a labour strike at a major factory.
Boeing could also be hit by EU tariffs if US trade negotiations with the European Union fail.
Nigeria’s airports below global standards, FG to upgrade MMIA — Keyamo - PUNCH
BY Samuel Omotere
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed on Sunday that Nigeria’s airports are below international standards, while hinting at the expansion of Old Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Keyamo admitted while quoting a commendation tweet by a Nigerian in diaspora, Dipo Awojide with the username @ogbenidipo, who hailed the improved passenger experience and recent improvements at the MMIA in Lagos.
The UK-based Nigerian tweeted that his recent experience at the airport is the easiest it has been for him in 15 years, while acknowledging the visible improvement.
“Aircraft to welcome area looks cleaner and the security area is well designed. My bag came out in 10 minutes.
“Exit to parking area is way better. I say this as someone who has been travelling for over 15 years.
“This is the easiest it has been for me in Lagos,” the tweet partly reads.
Awojide highlighted that there are some cultural issues to tackle, but acknowledged the significant improvement by the federal government,” the tweet reads.
Reacting to the extolling post, the minister appreciated the X user for his impressive feedback but stressed that airports in the country are below global standards.
“Thank you, @OgbeniDipo for your compliments. But our airports are still far away from global standards, I must admit. We are just making the best of the situation as we found it,” he said.
Keyamo noted that the situation is being managed, but barely, and revealed that the old MMIA terminal, built in 1977 for 200,000 passengers annually, now handles three million passengers at the airport and 15 million nationwide each year, putting immense strain on the facilities.
He reassured Nigerians that major upgrades are forthcoming under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The minister specified that a total rebuilding of the Old MMIA in Lagos will be facilitated to meet modern standards and accommodate approximately 20 million passengers annually.
“Hence, over the years, the facilities almost collapsed! But thanks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, @officialABAT, we are about to embark on a total rebuilding of the old MMI Airport in Lagos to meet modern standards, with a projection of about 20 million passengers per annum.
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