The report underscores the significance of cost of living for expatriates when choosing relocation destinations, affecting their quality of life and financial stability.

The affordability of Abuja and Lagos is attributed to currency depreciations, significantly reducing living costs for international assignees.

Among the least expensive cities globally, Islamabad, Lagos, and Abuja stand out for expatriates.

This ranking provides insights into economic trends, helping individuals and organizations make informed decisions on global mobility.

In Africa, Bangui rose 12 places to rank 14th globally, followed by Djibouti and N’Djamena at 18th and 21st, respectively. Conversely, Blantyre, Lagos, and Abuja are among the least expensive African cities, ranking 221st, 225th, and 226th globally.

Top 10 Cheapest Cities to Live in Africa (Global Rank)

1. Abuja, Nigeria
   • Global rank: 226
2. Lagos, Nigeria
   • Global rank: 225
3. Blantyre, Malawi
   • Global rank: 221
4. Durban, South Africa
   • Global rank: 219
5. Windhoek, Namibia
   • Global rank: 218
6. Gaborone, Botswana
   • Global rank: 215
7. Lusaka, Zambia
   • Global rank: 213
8. Tunis, Tunisia
   • Global rank: 210
9. Cape Town, South Africa
   • Global rank: 209
10. Johannesburg, South Africa
    • Global rank: 206

Johannesburg and Cape Town, despite being prominent South African cities, offer relatively low living costs for expats, particularly in housing and utilities. Tunis, Lusaka, Gaborone, and Windhoek are notable for their affordability in housing and daily essentials, making them attractive for cost-conscious expatriates.

Kolapo was an active follower of the blog and was once a beneficiary of the blog’s scholarship scheme in 2022.

He was reportedly arrested by policemen, alongside a co-follower of the blog, Nnedum Dollar, after they were deceived by yet-to-be-identified clients to host an event for them at the Agbala Itura area in Ibadan, on December 3, 2023.

The content creator’s father, Amidu Kolapo, said his son was nabbed because he was a fan of Gistloverblog alleging that the arrest was unlawful because he did not commit any crime.

He said, “My son lives with me, so he told me they invited him to a party at Agbala Itura in Ibadan as an MC. In the evening, he called me on the phone that he had been arrested by policemen and said it was because of Gistloverblog.

“He was taken to the Iyaganku Police Station in Ibadan. So, I went to see my son but was told he was not in the station. A police officer suggested I should check the Eleyele Police Station.

“The next day, I went to the Eleyele Police Station and was told he was not there either. So, I was advised to go back to the Iyaganku Police Station again. When I got there, I saw his car on their premises, but I was told the same story.

“When a police officer noticed I was worried, he revealed that my son had been taken to Abuja, and suggested I should get a lawyer. I asked him about his offence, but he said it was unknown, and that the arrest was made by some police officers from Abuja who used their station that day and took him along with them that same day.

He claimed that his son had been in the custody of the police in Abuja since that day and, that he had not been able to reach him because the fare from Abuja to Ibadan was expensive.

Kolapo said he heard that the brain behind the gossip blog had got a lawyer for his son and had started processing how to get him out of detention, but the police officers were frustrating the action.

He said, “The lawyer said they asked for surety from a Level 14 officer, then, they made a U-turn, and requested a surety from a Level 16 officer after all documents meant for his release had been signed. The reason for his arrest remains unknown. He was just detained, I want Nigerians to help me”, he concluded.

A man, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, added that their arrest was unlawful, but noted that it was a result of their active engagements on the gossip blog page on Instagram.

“Adebukola and Nnedum are in detention without committing any offense. They arrested them because of their active engagements on the blog. They thought arresting them would help in detecting the brain behind the blog. I am not safe because I am an active follower too”, he said.

Efforts made to contact the Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, were not successful as he did not respond to calls and texts from our correspondent at the time of filing this report.

Although no injury or fatality was recorded, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, an agency of the Federal Government, confirmed that the aircraft got involved in a “serious accident” around 10.47 am when it arrived at the NAIA from Lagos.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NSIB, James Odaudu, confirmed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, adding that investigations into the accident.

“The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has been notified and has commenced an investigation into a serious incident involving a Boeing 737 with nationality and registration marks 5N-BYQ belonging to Aero Contractors Airlines, which occurred around 10:47am (local time) on November 12, 2023.

The aircraft upon landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from Lagos and in a bid to exit the runway via A4 had its nose wheel stuck in the grass verge with its fuselage on the runway.

“Consequently, the runway was closed pending the towing of the aircraft from the runway. There was no injury or fatality,” the statement read.

The attempt by protesters to enter the airport was halted at the checkpoint by the military, leading to heightened tensions.

Expressing their dissatisfaction, the protesters took action by obstructing the airport’s entry and exit, causing significant traffic congestion on both sides.

Travellers were compelled to navigate their way into the airport on foot, facing inconvenience due to the protest.

This protest is part of the nationwide strike declared by the NLC and TUC in response to the recent brutalization of NLC President Joe Ajaero in Imo State.

As a result of the NLC’s directive, aviation unions, including the National Union Of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots And Engineers (NAAPE), had previously ordered the withdrawal of all flights to Owerri from airports across the country.

The unrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport underscores the widespread impact of the labor unions’ strike, disrupting both air travel and vehicular movement in the area.

The situation remains tense as the unions continue to push for their demands and protest against the reported brutality towards their leaders.

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has exposed a network of 189 fraudulent companies involved in securing land allocations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The revelation was made by Hussaini Magaji, the Registrar General of the Commission, during a press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The discovery came about in response to a request from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to verify the status of a purported company seeking land allocation. Upon delving deeper into the matter, Magaji and his team unveiled a web of deceit involving numerous fictitious companies.

Furthermore, CAC’s investigation has resulted in the apprehension of two suspects, one of whom is a lawyer. The scheme appears to be a sophisticated operation that involves collusion among staff of the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS), lawyers, and CAC personnel.

He said, “Let me use this opportunity to inform the public that one of the major milestones achieved so far since I assumed office is our ability to burst a cartel or a link of individuals that are creating havoc for the Commission.

“This cartel creates companies through collaboration with some lawyers claiming to be accredited agents of the Commission and staff of Abuja Geographical Information System to secure land allocations in the FCT and we only knew this crime after a complaint from the Federal Capital Territory Administration asking us to verify some applications made by some entities, which turned out to be non-existent on our system.”

Speaking on the resolutions of the meeting, Wike said; “We have been able to resolve amicably with the community, and contractors will now move to site. As part of the incentives to the community, 12 immediate employment from the Ministry of Aviation and its agencies as the case maybe, and 10 from the Federal Capital Territory Administration for the Jiwa community. We are going to construct Tunga Madaki Bridge, which we will put in the 2024 budget, with a 5km road. We are going to provide a modern healthcare facility for the community.

“The Permanent Secretaries from the Ministry of Aviation and that of the FCTA, His Royal Highness (the Sarkin Jiwa), AMAC Chairman, and the Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission (FCT) will sign the agreement reached between government and Jiwa Community, and if that is done today, by tomorrow or next, the moment the money gets to them, the contractors will no longer delay, as they have to move to the site immediately and commence work. So, the second runway has come to stay.

“I know how you are feeling. I am from a community where the government has taken virtually all our land for development. So, if there is anything that should be done to make you happy, I will carry it on my head. But the truth remains that what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. If the Aviation ministry them had concerned themselves with the runway project alone, we wouldn’t have found ourselves here but they came to usurp the job of the FCTA.

“We have only one runway. How would you feel if something happens to that runway tomorrow? It means there will be no flights. In a city as big and cosmopolitan as Abuja?”, He queried.

Earlier, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN said the ministry erred in the past by dabbling into issues outside its remit.

Keyamo said; “The timeline to commission the second runway was sometime in June or July 2023 and we have not even mobilized to the site by now.

“It is not the business of Aviation to assess compensation in matters of land in the FCT. So, I want to appeal to the community whatever you discussed with Aviation before was totally outside the powers of Aviation. It is within the powers of the FCTA to do that. There is a certain legal schedule by which compensation is paid. We know the implications of not following the provisions of the law. When they say rule of law, it does not apply to the government alone. It applies to all.

“We will perhaps think outside the box about maybe in the area of social responsibility to see how we can get other things for the people alongside what the law stipulates as compensation.”

The Executive Secretary of FCDA, Shehu Hadi had earlier clarified that the FCTA has no business offering compensation to occupants of land, having issued the land to a third party.

According to him, it is the duty of anyone who is offered land to compensate the occupants of that land.

“I want to clarify one of the issues raised which is payment of compensation. That is where the FCT perspective on this issue has to be made clear. It is the responsibility of the MDAs to make arrangements for the payment of compensation after we have allocated lands to them.

“The Department of Resettlement and Compensation in the FCT assists in the enumeration of economic trees, structures etc. for compensation”, he stated.

The traditional ruler of the area, the Sarkin Jiwa, Idris Musa urged the Aviation ministry and the FCTA to scale up the amount of compensation from less than N700,000 so that the people could acquire other lands while explaining the frustration of his people, adding that he had for months had sleepless nights because of the back and forth in respect of compensation.

He said, “We sat with the Aviation and FCT Administration. Aviation has a consultant in respect of the compensation but it was the consultant who sat with us and the FCTA was an observer. In certain terms, we have agreed with the consultant that they will pay N2.5m per hectare.

“So, at last, the administration said the Aviation had no right to do that, that it is the FCTA that should do it. Then each hectare came to less than N700,000. The community wrote to the FCT Public Complaints Commission and up till yesterday, we were holding meetings in my palace to see that this issue is resolved in the overriding public interest”.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, shared a video of the plane’s movement on his verified Twitter account on Friday.

In his tweet, Sirika expressed gratitude to Almighty God for the accomplishment, acknowledging the arduous and challenging journey it had been.

He extended his thanks to everyone who supported the project and expressed hope that the airline would bring benefits to Nigeria and future generations.

Sirika concluded by praying to Allah for the success and positive impact of the venture on the country and humanity.

NBC’s Director General, Balarabe Shehu Illelah, issued a statement in response to Justice James Omotosho’s decision on Wednesday.

In his decision on a lawsuit brought by Incorporated Media Rights Agenda, Omotosho stated that NBC was not a court and lacked the authority to penalise broadcast stations.

He held that the NBC code, which gives the commission the power to impose a sanction, was in conflict with section 6 of the constitution which vested judicial powers in the court of law.

He added that the NBC, not being Nigeria police, had no power to conduct a criminal investigation that would lead to criminal trial and imposition of sanctions.

But the NBC, in the statement on Friday in Abuja, said it had applied for a Certified Copy of the judgment.

“The commission will appeal the judgment when found to be in conflict with previous judgments which empowers NBC to regulate broadcasting in Nigeria,” the statement said.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reports that 2,002 Nigerians, including men, women, children, and pregnant women, have been evacuated from Sudan so far since the conflict there began, despite the fact that this is the 11th plane to do so.

The remaining evacuation trips were carried out by the Air Force Charlie 130, Nigerian airlines Air Peace, Max Air, and Azman Air, and Tarco Aviation, which has already performed seven trips.

This occurs just a few hours after 126 nationals who took a flight from Port Sudan International Airport and used Tarco Air to arrive at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Tuesday night.

The Federal Government has so far made a total of 1,856 evacuees, according to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).

A Nigerian life has not yet been lost, the agency continued.

When the returnees arrived, officials processed them by having them fill out registration forms for returnees that had been given to them by government representatives.

The Nigeria Immigration Service, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NIDCOM, NEMA, and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development all sent representatives to welcome them.

The military, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and members of the Nigeria Police Force were also present at the welcome ceremony.