United States has introduced further restrictions on potential asylum seekers by requiring US visa applicants to confirm they do not fear persecution in their home countries.

Donald Trump administration’s goal is to prevent individuals from using non-immigrant visas as a means to claim asylum once they reach US soil.

According to a diplomatic notice sent to all embassies and consulates this week, applicants for non-immigrant visas, including tourists, students, and temporary workers, must now affirm their safety at home to be eligible for entry.

This move is part of a broader shift in policies designed to tighten US immigration controls.

New screening procedures

Consular officers have been instructed to ask two specific questions during the application process:

“Have you experienced harm or mistreatment in your country of nationality or last habitual residence?”

“Do you fear harm or mistreatment in returning to your country of nationality or permanent residence?”

“Visa applicants must respond verbally with a ‘no’ to both questions for the consular officer to continue with visa issuance.”

The statement notes, “Consular officers must prevent abuse of the immigration system by visa applicants who misrepresent their purpose of travel, including those who attempt to obtain nonimmigrant visas for the purpose of claiming asylum upon arrival in the United States.”

A State Department spokesperson defended the measure, stating: “Consular officers are the first line of defence for US national security.

The department uses all available tools and resources to determine whether each visa applicant qualifies under US law”.

To qualify for asylum under current law, an individual must be physically present in the US and be fleeing persecution based on race, religion, or political affiliation.

However, immigration experts warn that these new requirements may force vulnerable individuals into dangerous situations.

Camille Mackler, an immigration policy consultant, told CNN that the directive “is going to put people in really bad, terrible positions of having to make choices that ultimately affect their and their family’s safety.”

She added: “I also think this pushes people to unsafer pathways and unsafer routes, because if you need to leave, you leave, and you do whatever you need to do to do that.”

The rule follows other recent measures, including increased vetting for student visas and a temporary suspension of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries earlier this year.

The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) has elected Fiona Ahmed Ahimie, Managing Director, First Securities Brokers Limited, a subsidiary of FirstHoldCo Plc., as its 14th President, making her the first woman to be elected President and Chairman of Council in the Institute’s history.

Her emergence is more than a leadership change it is a defining milestone that signals the rising influence of women at the highest levels of Nigeria’s financial services industry and underscores the evolving face of capital market leadership.

With close to two decades of distinguished experience spanning stockbroking, investment banking, private equity, real estate, wealth management and business development, Fiona brings deep market insight, global exposure and a proven track record of delivering growth and market impact.

She began her career at one of Nigeria’s prominent Stockbroking firms, where she built a solid foundation in capital market operations and foreign investor deal flows. She later joined FBN Capital (now FirstCap) as Head of Sales Trading, playing a pivotal role in managing both international and domestic institutional deal flows.

In 2015, she was appointed Managing Director of African Alliance Securities Nigeria, where she drove significant expansion in market share, client base, and cross-border transactions.

Since joining First Securities Brokers Limited in 2016, she has led a remarkable transformational growth, positioning the firm among Nigeria’s top-tier brokerage houses by 2018 through enhanced execution capabilities and increased global investor participation.

Beyond executive management, Fiona has held several board and board committee roles and currently serves on the boards of First Funds (the private equity arm of FirstHoldCo Group), NGX Real Estate Limited (a subsidiary of NGX Group), Japtini Logistics, and Awabaah (a micro- pensions business). She is also a member of the Statutory Audit Committee of the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS).

An advocate of continuous learning and thought leadership, Fiona has received executive education from MIT Sloan School of Management (USA), IESE Business School (Spain), and INSEAD (France). She is a Doctorate candidate at Afe Babalola University Business School.

Her professional affiliations include being a Chartered Stockbroker, Chartered Accountant, and Chartered Director, she is also an Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, she also serves on the Curriculum Review Committee of Lagos Business School and has been a mentor on the WIMBIZ Women on Boards Programme for four consecutive years.

Beyond corporate leadership, Fiona is deeply committed to philanthropy, supporting multiple institutions and sponsoring the education of young people reflecting her passion for inclusive growth and generational impact.

Her leadership philosophy is guided by enduring principles, excellence in execution, a refusal to settle for mediocrity, and an unwavering commitment to integrity and fairness.

Fiona’s presidency comes at a pivotal time for Nigeria’s capital market, as it navigates increased global integration, regulatory evolution, and rapid digital innovation. As President, she is poised to advance strategic priorities including deepening the market, strengthening professional standards, enhancing investor confidence, and nurturing the next generation of capital market professionals.

Fiona will assume office on April 30, 2026, with her formal investiture scheduled for June 25, 2026, where key stakeholders across Nigeria’s financial ecosystem are expected to gather to mark this historic leadership transition.

 National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has revealed that it recorded over 1,500 cyberattack attempts within a short period, exposing critical gaps in Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem.

The National Commissioner of NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a data protection training programme in Lagos.

Olatunji said the surge in cyberattacks forced the commission to temporarily shut down its network as a security measure to prevent hackers from breaching its systems.

“This temporary shutdown was a preventive move to stop the attackers from succeeding; it underscores how serious the threats have become,” he said.

Olatunji said cyber threats had become persistent and increasingly sophisticated, requiring organisations to adopt proactive and continuous security measures.

“Cyberattacks are no longer occasional; they are constant. Organisations must monitor their systems round the clock and remain up to date with security protocols,” Olatunji said.

He stressed that entities handling personal and sensitive data must implement robust cybersecurity frameworks, regular audits and incident‑response plans to reduce exposure.

The NDPC commissioner highlighted the acute shortage of qualified Data Protection Officers (DPOs) as a major challenge in Nigeria’s data protection landscape.

He said the Nigeria Data Protection Act mandates organisations to appoint DPOs, creating a surge in demand for certified professionals that the current workforce cannot meet.

“There is a significant gap between demand and supply of skilled personnel. This training is designed to prepare participants not just for certification, but to fill that gap effectively,” he said.

Olatunji said Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem had recorded notable growth under a Public‑Private Partnership (PPP) model, generating over 10 million dollars in value.

He also revealed that the framework had generated more than seven billion naira in government revenue through registration fees and fines.

“Beyond revenue, it has strengthened Nigeria’s global reputation and boosted investor confidence in how data is managed and protected,” he said.

On ransomware attacks, Olatunji warned organisations against paying ransoms, stressing that payment emboldened cybercriminals and encouraged further targeting.

“Once you pay, you empower attackers. The focus should be on strengthening systems to prevent breaches, having backup plans, and responding swiftly when incidents occur,” he said.

He urged both public and private institutions to prioritise resilience over quick fixes when dealing with cyber extortion.

Facilitator Dr. Taiwo Oyeleye said the ongoing training programme was designed to equip participants with both theoretical and practical knowledge of data protection and privacy.

“They will gain a clear understanding of data protection principles, organisational frameworks and technical safeguards required to secure sensitive information,” he said.

Oyeleye expressed confidence that participants would help bridge existing awareness and capacity gaps across sectors such as finance, health, telecommunications and government services.

Another facilitator, Mr. Wole Jacobs, advocated for stronger collaboration between the NDPC and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to confront emerging cyber threats.

Jacobs said the training would enhance participants’ capacity to protect data, promote awareness and contribute to Nigeria’s digital‑transformation agenda.

He emphasised the need for continuous learning and adherence to global best practices in cybersecurity and data‑privacy standards.