Abia State government has assured members of the Abia State Tricycle Operators Union, ASTOPU,  that the  electric buses being introduced in the State will not drive them away from jobs, but will complement transport services in the State.

Commissioner for Transport,  Chimezie Ukaegbu disclosed this on Tuesday, at Aba Town Hall during the 2025 ASTOPU reward and empowerment ceremony.

He assured that under the watch of Governor Alex Otti, tricycle operators would continue to do their operations, considering their contributions to the state’s revenue.

Ukaegbu also said that  tricycle operators in Abia state, especially  those in Aba, have shown great support to the state government and advised them to prioritise their security and safety by  avoiding alcoholism.

He promised that his Ministry, in partnership with the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation, would continue to protect them and urged ASTOPU executives to maintain visionary leadership.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation,  Obioma Nwaogbe said that Tricycle operators are benefitting from the State government’s infrastructure.

Earlier in his  address, the Chairman of ASTOPU,  Victor Azubuike said the executive arm of the union organized the event to reward 164 tricycle operators who  returned forgotten items to their office for their original owners to reclaim, and to encourage good conduct among the  transporters.

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night held a meeting with the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as part of last-minute efforts to stop plans by the Labour union to embark on a strike action over the growing insecurity across the country.

Last week, the congress declared a nationwide protest for December 17 over the “degenerating security situation” across the country.

The meeting, which was held at the State House, Abuja, started at about 11:27pm and had Joe Ajaero, NLC president, Imo state governor Hope Uzodimma, Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi state, Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo state and the Minister of Labour and EMployment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha in attendance.

The NLC had on Tuesday evening raised the alarm over an alleged plot by “unscrupulous agencies and desperate political hirelings” to infiltrate and violently disrupt its planned nationwide protest.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, the NLC president said the labour union would reconsider its protest plans after reviewing President Tinubu’s input.
He said the congress team would regroup following a dedicated session with governors to evaluate next moves.

Ajaero described the presidential encounter as consultative only, noting that the labour union would deliberate internally before announcing outcomes on Wednesday, December 17.

The NLC president did not say whether the planned protest has been suspended or cancelled but noted that the union would meet and take a decision after the consultation with the president.

“We came for consultation with the president, and we have finished, so we have to go back to our meeting and then continue tomorrow. By tomorrow you will get the outcome. Whether I am insisting on or not insisting on the protest, I will communicate to you; it is not an organisation that one person rules. Let’s go back; after a meeting of labour and the governor’s forum, we go back to the drawing board and digest all that Mr President said to us and move forward from there’’ he said

President Donald Trump on Tuesday, December 16, signed a proclamation further restricting entry into the United States for nationals of countries identified as high risk due to what the White House described as persistent and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting and information sharing that threaten national security and public safety.

Among the 15 additional countries placed under partial entry restrictions is Nigeria. The decision was announced in a fact sheet published on the White House website on December 16, 2025, titled “President Donald J. Trump Further Restricts and Limits the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States”.

The White House said the move was aimed at strengthening national security through what it called common sense restrictions based on data.

The proclamation maintains full entry restrictions on nationals from the original 12 countries previously listed under Proclamation 10949. These countries are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

It also introduces full restrictions on five additional countries, namely Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria, as well as individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. Laos and Sierra Leone, which were previously under partial restrictions, have now been placed under full restrictions.

Nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Togo and Venezuela remain subject to partial restrictions.

In addition, the proclamation imposes partial entry restrictions on 15 more countries. These include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The fact sheet states that exemptions remain in place for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories such as athletes and diplomats, and individuals whose entry is deemed to serve United States national interests.