Dele Farotimi, a prominent Nigerian human rights advocate, was arrested by the Ekiti State Police on Tuesday at his office in Lagos, sparking a wave of protests from legal experts, politicians, and civil society organizations. Farotimi is facing charges of defamation and cyberbullying linked to a petition filed by prominent lawyer Afe Babalola, after comments made by Farotimi in a book published in Lagos.

According to Ekiti State police spokesperson Sunday Abutu, the Ekiti police obtained an arrest warrant for Farotimi over allegations of libel. Farotimi was subsequently transported to Ekiti State, where he was arraigned in court on Wednesday, facing 16 counts of defamation. The activist, however, pleaded not guilty.

Farotimi had previously expressed concerns over the manner of his arrest, claiming that police officers from the Ekiti command were attempting to abduct him. He also emphasized that he had previously cooperated with the Zone 2 Police Headquarters in Lagos, where he was questioned about similar allegations. His comments about Afe Babalola were made in a book published in Lagos, not in Ekiti, raising questions about the jurisdiction of the charges.

The arrest has provoked widespread condemnation. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for Farotimi's immediate release, arguing that defamation is no longer a criminal offense under Lagos State law. In a statement, NBA President Afam Osigwe pointed out that the Criminal Law of Lagos State, as amended in 2011, decriminalized defamation, affirming that the charges against Farotimi are baseless under the state’s legal framework.

"This troubling breach of the rule of law and the sanctity of the legal profession must not stand," Osigwe said, urging the authorities to investigate the police's actions and hold those responsible accountable.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the arrest, describing it as a “grim reminder of the dark days of military dictatorship.” He argued that the use of police power to address civil disputes, like defamation, was an overreach that undermined free speech and democracy. Atiku added that citizens should seek redress for defamation in court, not through the state’s security apparatus.

Femi Falana, a renowned lawyer and human rights activist, echoed similar concerns, stating that Lagos State had long decriminalized defamation, a position affirmed by the Supreme Court in 2021. He demanded Farotimi's unconditional release, calling the arrest an abuse of power and a violation of citizens’ rights.

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, also condemned the arrest, describing it as a misuse of police powers and an assault on democratic liberties. Obi emphasized that the right to free speech is constitutionally protected, and such actions are a worrying sign for the future of democracy in Nigeria.

The non-governmental organization Electoral College Nigeria (ECN) also weighed in, calling the arrest and detention a clear misuse of state power to intimidate and silence voices of dissent. ECN executive director Kunle Lawal expressed concern that such actions are undermining democratic values and eroding the rule of law.

As the controversy continues to unfold, many Nigerians are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Dele Farotimi, stressing that his case is not just about one individual, but about safeguarding the broader principles of democracy and justice in the country.

Several travelers were killed on Wednesday in a tragic explosion along the Dansadau-Gusau road in Zamfara State, when bandits reportedly planted explosives on the road. The incident left lifeless bodies scattered by the roadside, sending shockwaves through the local community. The explosion occurred around 8 a.m. when a commercial driver, transporting passengers to Dansadau, accidentally detonated the device.

This deadly attack follows a similar incident just two days earlier. On Sunday, another explosive planted by bandits blew up a bridge in the Maru Local Government Area, claiming the life of one person. Residents believe the explosion was part of an attack by terrorists targeting Unguwar Galadima, a village in the area.

The Zamfara State Police Command has identified the newly emerging terrorist group, Lakurawa, as responsible for the explosions. Police Commissioner Muhammad Dalijan stated that the group had been under heavy pressure from Nigerian security forces and was attempting to flee to the Birnin-Gwari forest area. He said the Lakurawa group, suspected to be remnants of previous terrorist cells, has been planting explosives as part of their operations in the area.

“This is the second time within a week that explosives have been planted along the Dansadau road,” Dalijan said. He assured that security forces were intensifying efforts to track down and neutralize the terrorists. “We are confident that we will get them, and we urge the public to provide any useful information on their movements,” he added.

A local resident from Yar Tasha village reported that the bandits took advantage of recent community work on the road, planting the explosives at a spot where potholes had been filled. The residents, shocked and horrified by the rising violence, have called on the government to take decisive action to prevent further attacks and ensure the safety of road travelers.

Security forces, including police and soldiers, have been deployed to the area in response to the attacks. However, the fear of further explosions has made road travel increasingly perilous in the area.

Lebanon's Hezbollah aims to rebuild longer term despite Israeli blows, US intel says

Lebanon's Hezbollah has been significantly degraded militarily by Israel, but the Iran-backed group will likely try to rebuild its stockpiles and forces and pose a longterm threat to the U.S. and its regional allies, four sources briefed on updated U.S. intelligence told Reuters.

U.S. intelligence agencies assessed in recent weeks that Hezbollah, even amid Israel's military campaign, had begun to recruit new fighters and was trying to find ways to rearm through domestic production and by smuggling materials through Syria, said a senior U.S. official, an Israeli official and two U.S. lawmakers briefed on the intelligence, speaking on condition of anonymity.

It's unclear to what extent those efforts have slowed since last week when Hezbollah and Israel reached a shaky ceasefire, two of the sources said. The deal specifically prohibits Hezbollah from procuring weapons or weapons parts.

In recent days, Israel has tried to undercut Hezbollah's ability to rebuild its military forces, striking several Hezbollah rocket launchers in Lebanon, bombing border crossings with Syria, and blocking an Iranian aircraft suspected of ferrying weapons for the group.

U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Hezbollah is operating with limited firepower. It has lost more than half its weapons stockpiles and thousands of fighters during the conflict with Israel, reducing Tehran's overall military capacity to its lowest point in decades, according to the intelligence.

But Hezbollah has not been destroyed. It still maintains thousands of short-range rockets in Lebanon and it will try to rebuild using weapons factories in neighboring countries with available transport routes, the sources said.

One of the lawmakers said Hezbollah has been "knocked back" in the short term and had its ability to conduct command and control reduced. But the lawmaker added: "This organization is designed to be disrupted."

U.S. officials are concerned about Hezbollah's access to Syria, where Syrian rebels recently launched an offensive to retake government strongholds in Aleppo and Hama. Hezbollah has long used Syria as a safe haven and transport hub, taking military equipment and weapons from Iraq, through Syria and into Lebanon through the rugged border crossings.

Washington is trying to pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to limit Hezbollah's operations, enlisting other countries in the region to help, a senior U.S. official said. Reuters reported on Monday that the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates have discussed possibly lifting sanctions on Assad if he peels himself away from Iran and cuts off weapons routes to Hezbollah.

Hezbollah officials have said the group will continue to function as a "resistance" against Israel, but its secretary general Naim Qassem has not brought up the group's weapons in recent speeches, including after the ceasefire was reached. Sources in Lebanon say Hezbollah's priority is rebuilding homes for its constituency after Israeli strikes destroyed swaths of Lebanon's south and the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The U.S. National Security Council and the Office of the Director for National Intelligence declined to comment on the updated U.S. intelligence.

TRAINING CHALLENGES

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said last week that Hezbollah had not been weakened by Israel's killing of many of its leaders since January and by its ground assault against the group since early October. He said Hezbollah had been able to reorganize and fight back effectively.

However, U.S. intelligence indicates that Israel has taken out thousands of Hezbollah's missiles in Lebanon, pushing cadres of its fighters back from the border with Israel, the sources told Reuters.

While tracking the exact number of Hezbollah fighters remains a challenge, the intelligence notes that the group will likely face significant training challenges for years to come, the sources said.

U.S. officials say Hezbollah's breakdown points to a growing gap in Iran's military capacity and raises doubts about its ability to use its proxies to attack Israel and its other adversaries in the short term. Iran also backs Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip and the Houthi group in Yemen.

In the past, had Israel considered bombing Iran, it faced the prospect of Hezbollah in Lebanon reciprocating, said a second U.S. official, but with Hezbollah weakened, Israel can attack Iran directly without the same threat to its north.

In Gaza, U.S. intelligence indicates Hamas can only sustain small, guerrilla-style tactics after having lost at least half of its fighters. The Houthis continue to launch missiles and drones from Yemen, but the U.S. has been able to intercept most.

The updated U.S. intelligence - briefed to senior officials and lawmakers in recent weeks - emerges ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration. The U.S. charged an Iranian man last month in connection with an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump. Iran has rejected the accusation.

During his first term in office, Trump embraced a "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, imposing harsh sanctions on Tehran, its military complex and its most lucrative economic sectors. Trump in 2018 pulled the U.S. out of a 2015 international agreement meant to deny Tehran the ability to build nuclear weapons. In 2020 Trump was responsible for a strike in Iraq that killed top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.

Reuters

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

US House speaker rules out more Ukraine aid

The US House of Representatives will not consider President Joe Biden’s request to include $24 billion in additional aid to Ukraine in a government funding bill, Speaker Mike Johnson has said.

In the absence of a formal budget, the US government has been funded through “continuing resolutions” periodically approved by Congress. The White House has requested the $24 billion as part of its latest proposed legislation, which the House would need to adopt before adjourning for Christmas holidays.

“I’m not planning to do that,” Johnson said on Wednesday, at a press conference on Capitol Hill. “It is not the place of Joe Biden to make that decision now.”

The Louisiana Republican reminded reporters that he had predicted Donald Trump’s election would change the dynamics of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and make further US funding unnecessary, adding that this is precisely what’s been happening in recent weeks.

“We have a newly-elected president and we’re going to wait and take the new commander-in-chief’s direction on all of that,” Johnson said. “So I don’t expect any Ukraine funding to come up now.”

Since February 2022, the US Congress has approved more than $174 billion to prop up Ukraine in its ongoing military conflict with Russia. The latest batch of funding, amounting to $61 billion, was held up for several months amid a battle between Johnson and the White House.

The previous speaker, Kevin McCarthy, was ousted last October because a group of Republicans was outraged he had secretly negotiated with Democrats to get the Ukraine funding approved. The funding ended up stuck in Congress for almost six months, before it was approved in both the Senate and the House in April, with no concessions to the GOP.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine gives absconding soldiers second chance as forces dwindle

As Ukraine's military struggles to find enough troops, particularly infantry, to hold off Russia's much larger army, some units are giving a second chance to those who have absconded from service.

Data from the prosecutor's office shows nearly 95,000 criminal cases have been opened since 2022 against soldiers going "absent without leave" (AWOL) and for the more serious crime of battlefield desertion.

The number of cases has risen steeply with each year of the war: almost two-thirds of the total are from 2024. With many tens of thousands of troops killed or wounded, it is a depletion that Ukraine can ill afford.

Now, some units are replenishing their ranks by accepting soldiers previously declared AWOL.

One of them is Ukraine's elite 47th Brigade, which published a social media post last month inviting soldiers who had absconded to join.

"Our aim is to give every soldier the opportunity to come back into the fold and realise his potential," the post announced. In the first two days, the brigade said, over a hundred applications came in.

"There was a tsunami of applications; so many that we still aren't able to process them all before new ones come in," Viacheslav Smirnov, the 47th's head of recruitment, said two weeks after the announcement.

Two military units Reuters spoke to said they were only recruiting soldiers who had gone AWOL from their bases, rather than those who had deserted from combat.

The former is seen within the Ukrainian military as a lesser offence. A bill recently signed into law has in effect decriminalised a soldier's first disappearance, allowing them to return to service.

THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS REJOIN AFTER ABSCONDING

Colonel Oleksandr Hrynchuk, deputy head of Ukraine's military police, told reporters on Tuesday that 6,000 AWOL soldiers had returned to service in the last month, including 3,000 in the 72 hours since the law was signed.

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Mykhailo Perets, an officer from the K-2 battalion of Ukraine's 54th Brigade, said his battalion had already hired over 30 men who had gone AWOL from other units.

"The reasons [for absconding] are very different: for some people it was too tough a transition straight from civilian life, others served for a year or two as qualified [drone] pilots but were then sent to the front line because there wasn't enough infantry."

Perets said those who had applied also included men who had become exhausted and run away after being at war for seven or eight years, having fought Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine before 2022.

Gil Barndollar, a non-resident fellow at the U.S.-based Defense Priorities think tank, said the increase in unauthorised absences was most likely driven by exhaustion.

Ukrainian service personnel have previously said how the lack of replacements for lost soldiers puts an unbearable strain on those remaining, exhausting them physically and mentally.

Barndollar also highlighted their average age as an additional strain.

"An army of men, often in poor health, in their 40s, all else being equal, is going to get exhausted sooner and is going to have morale problems faster than a reasonably fit army of 20- or 25-year-olds."

Zelenskiy has responded to questions about the manpower problem by arguing that Ukraine lacks weapons rather than people, and pushed back against U.S. pressure to lower the minimum draft age to 18 from 25.

He said in an interview with Sky News last week that Kyiv's allies had been able to provide the necessary equipment for only a quarter of the 10 new brigades Ukraine had formed over the past year.

RT/Reuters

After many years of guarding oil pipeline installations, the Nigerian Army finally made its first high-profile arrest. It turned out to be a journalist! Investigative journalist and founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Fisayo Soyombo became the face of the Army’s eventual success in apprehending oil thieves. Of course, they regularly announce arrests of some faceless and nameless people. Hardly anyone bothers to follow up on their prosecution. We have all been Nigerian long enough to know that some crimes persist in the country, not simply because the criminals are resilient but because the ring of perpetration is so institutionalised that it should be considered an extension of the civil service. That is essentially the story of oil bunkering in Nigeria.

We were all here in 2019 when the then Rivers governor Nyesom Wike accused the Nigerian Army of running illegal bunkering in Rivers State. He did not insinuate; Wike specifically accused the general officer commanding the Army’s 6 Division in Port Harcourt, Jamil Sarham, of using soldiers to steal and sell petroleum products in the region. In a country that takes itself seriously, that sort of accusation would neither be flippantly made nor lightly received. However, this is Nigeria. The only thing guaranteed to happen is nothing.

Wike did not say anything anyone did not already know. By the time you reach the end of organised crime in Nigeria, you will discover it is an appendage of the administrative state. Oil theft is run by legitimate state actors. When the government says it is looking for oil thieves, what they are searching for are the unemployed youths who carve out their own spaces outside of the massive extra-legal operations that the government has created for itself.

When finally released from detention, Soyombo granted an interview on AriseTV where he noted that the sensitive information he shared with the officers somehow ended up with the oil thieves. By leaking details of the information he gave them, they ensured they jeopardised the rest of his investigations. Still, congratulations! Even with that outcome, one can argue that the investigation succeeded in a way that would not have been so well-illustrated if you had published it in the most poetic language a poet could have mustered. If anyone was ever in doubt that the state and the so-called oil thieves are in cahoots, here is irrefutable proof.

But if there is something Soyombo’s series of explosive investigations has repeatedly proven, it is also that Nigeria does not take itself too seriously. Those serious enough about Nigeria and even demonstrating it by putting their lives on the line end up appearing to be doing too much. For instance, during his AriseTV interview, Soyombo mentioned his earlier investigation that revealed a child trafficking ring in the country and how the same state officials who should act have stonewalled him. I remember reading the publication open-mouthed, genuinely shocked that the process of giving a child out to adopters in the country was that lax. In a society where the earth has eyes, the jaw-dropping revelations should have led to reforms in the child adoption industry. Nigeria slacks in many areas, but you would be forgiven if you took it for granted that we would at least protect the most vulnerable among us. For nothing to happen, you realise that Nigeria cares for none of its children.

Then, in 2019, he investigated the corruption of the Nigerian Prison Service. He also put himself on the line for that fact-finding mission. One would think that the Nigerian government would at least meet him halfway, but for where? What eventually woke them up to the sordid reality of the NPS was Bobrisky. Yes, Bobrisky did that for us. Before you knew it, the interior minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had announced an investigation. The National Assembly set up a fact-finding panel and even invited a social media rabble-rouser to testify before them. Then you wonder why the sudden seriousness. The knowledge they needed to act was available in the public sphere all along, but they were only aroused to their duties when the matter had to do with sex.

Come to think of it, maybe that is how the outcome of investigative journalism should be published in Nigeria. Perhaps that was what was missing all along! Attach sex to reports of investigation in any form, and the relevant agencies will be tempted to pay attention. Who knows, sex might finally motivate state officials to take decisive action over the rotten state of another bureaucracy where Soyombo has conducted a series of investigations: the Nigerian Customs Service. He has investigated the agency and published a series of reports, but the silence from the same administration that was awakened during the Bobrisky saga can wake even the dead.

The good book says we will know the truth, and the truth will free us, but Nigeria defies that hope. We know the truth, and even the truth knows us back, but we are not yet free. We have been compromised on every front by leaders who cannot bring themselves to even feign any interest in social progress. Under their watch, virtually every decadent institution is allowed to progressively decay. The lesser their structural integrity, the more pliable—and better readied—they are for the machinations of these tyrannical leaders. Their disinterest in arresting the rot means it keeps spreading, eating into every organ, every nerve, every cell, every bit of the society.

What is eating up our society from the inside is gnawing at the brains now, God help us! In several directions you look, nothing seems to be taken seriously. Here is a recent and unfunny example: The Nigerian Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative employed the services of some comedians and singers (one, the musician Innocent Idibia, popularly called TuFace; two, Waris Olayinka Akinwande, the social media jokester popularly called Ola of Lagos; three, musician Dauda Kahutu Rarara, and comedian Bright Okpocha, whom everyone knows as Basket Mouth) on a fact-finding trip to India to learn about Compressed Natural Gas and convince Nigerians at home that it was safe for use. One wonders, if the FG is serious about swaying people towards CNG, why hire comedians and singers? Whatever happened to actual experts?

Imagine that you are an engineer with years of training in this area. You have been honing your skills (maybe even up to PhD level), waiting for the day you will be called to serve society with the knowledge. Then you wake up one day and learn that those called to the serious assignment are the amusers. Imagine the betrayal you will feel when you realise that you wasted time taking Nigeria too seriously. Please note that this is not an argument against entertainers as people who can also positively influence their society. There are countless examples of comedians playing the role of a society’s intellectuals, but expertise is expertise. If we have sincere questions about what CNG would mean for the life expectancy of vehicles that would need to be retrofitted, are comedians the right people to ask?

When it eventually dawns on you that Nigeria is not a serious country, it hits so hard that being struck by thunder would have been gentler. You realise that you have been investing your passion in a country that is not passionate enough about itself; you embarked on a redemption quest for a country that is just not ready. When the rage that seizes you finally subsides, you experience a calm within. That is the moment you come to full Nigerian maturity. And you know that because when they start another round of noise over one thing, one thing in the Nigerian streets, you just enter your own house and close the door.

The Cable

Nigeria’s public discourse is once again ignited by an incident that underscores the pervasive abuses of power within the nation’s institutions. Human rights activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi was arrested on December 3rd by officers of the Ekiti State Police Command. He was reportedly taken from Lagos, where the alleged defamation offence occurred, and transported to Ekiti State in what can only be described as a Gestapo-style operation. By December 4th, he was denied bail, sparking widespread outrage on social media and across the country.

Many Nigerians have raised important concerns. Some argue that defamation, the alleged offence in this case, is a bailable one, making the denial of bail particularly egregious. Others have condemned the Ekiti State judiciary for their apparent high-handedness, questioning their motivations in handling the case. Amid this uproar, there has also been criticism of Afe Babalola, a respected legal luminary, whose name is linked to the complaint. Observers are questioning how these events align with the image he has worked hard to cultivate over decades. 

While these issues deserve attention, they are secondary to a more alarming reality: Farotimi’s arrest appears to have been a flagrant violation of the rule of law. Reports suggest that the Ekiti State police command acted unilaterally, bypassing the Lagos State police in whose jurisdiction the alleged offence occurred. Farotimi was abducted in a manner that, to many, mirrors the modus operandi of criminal kidnappers. Nigerians should not simply move past this incident. This is the real conversation stopper, and it must be addressed before we even begin to examine the other dimensions of this case. 

If the alleged offence occurred in Lagos, does the Ekiti State Police Command have the legal right to arrest and transport the accused without coordinating with their Lagos counterparts? Furthermore, can officers from one state summarily move a citizen across state lines without adhering to proper legal protocols? 

I spoke to two lawyers for their perspectives. One categorically stated that the actions of the Ekiti police were without legal basis. According to this view, the alleged offence fell under the jurisdiction of Lagos State, and the Ekiti police should have worked in tandem with Lagos authorities if they had any reason to pursue the case. The second lawyer took a more cautious stance, arguing that the Nigerian Police Force operates as a single entity, granting any officer the authority to make arrests across state lines. However, even this lawyer struggled to justify the legality of transferring an accused individual to Ekiti for a crime allegedly committed in Lagos. Both agreed that Farotimi’s prior cooperation with Lagos State police—he had already been interviewed twice—made the actions of the Ekiti officers particularly unjustifiable. 

Equally troubling is the manner of Farotimi’s arrest. Reports indicate that the police used violent intimidation, assaulted bystanders, and confiscated mobile devices from individuals who had no connection to the case. If such conduct can be deployed against a public figure like Farotimi, one must ask: What happens to ordinary Nigerians who lack the protection of visibility and influence? 

This incident highlights a growing fear among Nigerians: that the line between state-sanctioned authority and outright lawlessness is becoming dangerously blurred. Criminal kidnappings have long plagued the country, leaving countless citizens traumatised and bereft. Now, it seems that agents of the state are replicating these tactics under the guise of law enforcement. If such behaviour is allowed to stand, it will mark a new low in the erosion of civil liberties and constitutional protections. 

This is why we must not simply move past this incident. The implications are too grave to ignore. A precedent like this, if left unchallenged, opens the door for more egregious abuses of power, eroding the trust that citizens should have in their law enforcement agencies. 

The optics of this case also deserve scrutiny, particularly for Babalola, whose reputation as a stalwart of Nigeria’s legal profession is now under question, since his petition was the catalyst for the case against Farotimi. However, the manner in which the case has unfolded risks undermining the very values Babalola has spent decades espousing. 

Why, for instance, was the case filed in Ekiti rather than Lagos, where the alleged offence occurred? Does Babalola condone the illegal actions of the police, including the assault and harassment of innocent bystanders? While he is not legally obligated to comment on police conduct, these questions speak directly to his public image. Silence in this context may be perceived as tacit approval of the police’s actions, which is a precarious position for someone of his stature. 

This debacle also serves to validate Farotimi’s criticisms of Nigeria’s judiciary and law enforcement agencies. In his book that is now the subject of interest, Farotimi decried the corruption and abuse of power that plague these institutions. The actions of the Ekiti police and judiciary in this case have inadvertently provided concrete evidence to support his claims. 

This is not just about Farotimi, though; it is about the broader implications for Nigerian society. The rule of law is a cornerstone of any functioning democracy. When state institutions themselves flout the law, it undermines the very fabric of governance and justice. 

The damage to public trust is immense, but it is not irreparable. The first step in mitigating this crisis is the immediate release of Farotimi. Beyond this, there must be a thorough investigation into the actions of the Ekiti State Police Command and the judiciary’s handling of this case. Nigerians must remain vigilant and hold their institutions accountable. 

This is a moment of reckoning. It is not just about one man or one incident; it is about the kind of society we want to live in. Do we want a society where power is wielded arbitrarily, or one where the rule of law is upheld for all citizens? This is the question that should guide our response. Let us not simply walk past this.

Gili Malinsky

When you’re doing a job interview, whether virtual or in person, you’ll want to follow the appropriate etiquette.

“You want to make sure that you’re making good eye contact,” says Emily Levine, executive vice president at recruitment firm Career Group Companies, “that you’re reading the room in terms of when it’s appropriate to speak, when it’s appropriate and time to ask questions.”

Levine has interviewed “thousands and thousands of people” in her career, she says, often for A-list celebrities looking for personal assistants or chiefs of staff.

Here are Levine’s best tips for avoiding her top red flags in a job interview.

Don’t show up too early

To begin with, you’ll want to make sure you arrive at an appropriate time, especially if you’re there in person.

Arrive too late, and you risk missing part of your interview, wasting your interviewers’ time and making a bad impression. But “if you show up too early, it’s also too eager and might make the interviewer feel rushed,” says Levine. Ten minutes early is the “perfect” time to walk into your interviewer’s office.

“I recommend making sure that you are parked 15 to 20 minutes early in the building” as a precaution, says Levine. That will ensure you have enough time to find the suite or office number but that you’re not there long before the interview starts.

Present yourself as professionally as possible

Presentation is also key.

If you’re online or in person, “don’t chew gum, don’t have your sunglasses on your head” during the interview, says Levine. These are too casual and unprofessional.

If you’re in person only, make sure you don’t come in “smelling like cigarette smoke or wearing too much perfume,” she says. A lot of people are sensitive to smell and you want to make sure it’s not uncomfortable for them to be in the same room.

You want to leave “an impression based on your experience, not the way that you’re dressed or you smell,” she says.

Don’t divulge confidential information

Finally, regardless of your professional past, be strategic about how you talk about it.  

Avoid bad-mouthing previous employers, for example, or “divulging too much information that’s proprietary or confidential,” says Levine. Especially in her line of work, some of her clients make their employees sign non-disclosure agreements. When candidates tell her they’ve signed an NDA but still proceed to divulge confidential information about a previous employer, it’s a red flag.

Regardless of how private your employer was, spilling secrets gives the impression that if your interviewer hired you and shared proprietary information, in the future, you “would most likely do the same” with them, says Levine.

CNBC

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has provided designated contacts for bank customers to report difficulties experienced with withdrawing cash over the counter or at automated teller machines (ATMs).

On November 29, Olayemi Cardoso, governor of CBN urged bank customers to report any withdrawal challenges via designated numbers.

Prior to the directive, the financial regulator had asked banks to prioritise cash disbursement through ATMs or face penalties.

In a circular on Tuesday, jointly signed by Solaja Olayemi, its acting director of currency operations, and Isa-Olatinwo Aisha, its acting director of branch operations, CBN provided designated lines to help address customers’ challenges.

“Please refer to the various engagements and interventions from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the above subject aimed at addressing efficient and optimal currency circulation in the economy,” CBN said.

“As part of these ongoing efforts, we would like to draw your attention to the following directives and Guidelines:

“Deposit Money Banks (DMBs): DMBs are directed to ensure efficient cash disbursement to customers Over-the-Counter (OTC) and through ATMs as the CBN will intensify its oversight roles to enforce this directive and ensure compliance.

“General Public Reporting: Members of the public who are unable to obtain cash Over-the-Counter or through ATMs at DMBs, are encouraged to report these instances using the designated reporting channels and format provided below.

“This will assist CBN in addressing issues hindering the availability of cash and further improve currency circulation.”

HOW TO MAKE A REPORT

To make a report of a bank branch or ATM not dispensing cash, the CBN said affected customers are to provide the relevant details which include, “account name/name of the DMB/amount /time and date of Incident(s) amongst others via the following dedicated channels”.

“Phone Call: Designated phone number(s) of the CBN branch in the state where the incident(s) occurred,” the apex bank said.

“Email: or send an email of the incident to the designated email address for the state in which the incident(s) occurred.”

Below is the list of designated numbers and emails for customers to use:

The Cable

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a significant relaxation of visa regulations for Nigerian citizens, allowing tourists to apply for a visa without the need to submit their passports. Ramaphosa made the announcement on Tuesday during the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town, an event attended by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.

The change, aimed at facilitating easier travel for Nigerian tourists and businesspeople, includes provisions such as the introduction of five-year multiple-entry visas for eligible Nigerian business owners. Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s spokesperson, shared the details of the announcement in a statement.

Ramaphosa highlighted that the simplified visa process is part of broader efforts to enhance economic cooperation and ease travel between the two countries. "We are committed to creating a favorable environment for business people and tourists from Nigeria to visit South Africa,” he said. “This includes offering multiple-entry visas for qualifying Nigerian business people, valid for up to five years."

The South African president also emphasized the need for removing barriers to greater investment and addressing challenges faced by businesses in both nations. Reflecting on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Africa and Nigeria, Ramaphosa expressed optimism about the future of the partnership. “Our strong friendship lays a solid foundation for deeper economic collaboration,” he said.

He also noted that Nigeria hosts many South African companies, and South Africa remains open to Nigerian business, as demonstrated by the investments and operations established in the country. However, he acknowledged that more work remains to be done to address existing obstacles and improve the business environment further.

Ramaphosa commended the Nigerian government’s reforms aimed at strengthening the business climate, ensuring investor confidence, including for South African businesses. "We are continuously working to improve the ease of doing business in South Africa, creating opportunities for investors across various sectors," he stated.

Looking ahead, Ramaphosa emphasized that Africa’s development and the concerns of Global South countries will be a focal point at the upcoming G20 summit. “This will be the first time the G20 Leaders’ Summit is hosted on African soil. We aim to garner support for the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and champion an inclusive global agenda,” he said. "In shaping global discourse, we must ensure that no one is left behind."

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of Namibia's ruling SWAPO party has been elected president and will be the country's first female leader, results released by the country's electoral commission showed on Tuesday.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, is the current vice president. Her victory will extend SWAPO's 34 years in power since it led Namibia to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.

She received roughly 57% of valid votes in the presidential race, according to a breakdown given by the Electoral Commission of Namibia.

Nandi-Ndaitwah needed to secure more than 50% of the votes to win.

"The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability," Nandi-Ndaitwah said after being declared president-elect.

She joined SWAPO in the 1960s when it was fighting for independence and has served in numerous senior roles including foreign minister in the democratic era.

Her main challenger in this election was Panduleni Itula from the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) party, who came second with roughly 26% of votes.

Namibians voted separately for the National Assembly. SWAPO won a majority there, securing 51 of the 96 elected seats. The IPC won 20 seats and will be the official opposition.

The IPC has said it will challenge the results in court, calling the electoral process "deeply flawed".

The Nov. 27 vote was marred by technical difficulties and ballot paper shortages, leading to a delay in results as voting was extended in some places.

Political analysts had said a SWAPO victory was uncertain due to growing frustration with high levels of unemployment and inequality, but that the party retained strong roots in rural areas and loyalty among older voters due to the national liberation struggle.

Analyst Rakkel Andreas said Nandi-Ndaitwah had managed to unite different factions within SWAPO and that her reputation had not been tarnished by corruption allegations, unlike other party members.

"She is a stateswoman. She has been in some form of leadership since we gained independence," Andreas said. "She understands the system."

Reuters