NEWS
‘There Were Fears’ — Energy Expert On African Immigrants’ Concerns Over Trump’s Return
Renowned energy policy analyst, Yemi Adeoye has voiced concerns about the potential impact of the 45th U.S. President, Donald Trump’s return to the White House, on African immigrants, especially Nigerians, residing in the United States.
Biztellers reports that Trump who bore the flag of the Republican Party beat Vice President Kamala Harris, who flew the flag of the Democrats in the November 5, 2024 US elections, in the race for the White House and is set to become the 47th POTUS.
In an interview on TVC News on Monday, monitored by our correspondent, Adeoye expressed concerns within immigrant communities, particularly among Nigerians in the United States, regarding Trump’s immigration policies and rhetoric.
READ MORE: Sporting Lisbon Appoints João Pereira To Succeed Ruben Amorim
He said, “There were fears, and the fears were simply based along the issues in discourse. The American election is all about the economy—it was a decision made by the economy, and second to that will be immigration.
“For Nigerians, Africans, we were hopeful for the Democratic Party because some of the policies were a little bit friendly to Africans in the United States.”
Adeoye noted that while “the incoming president (Donald Trump) is a gentleman in his own right,” his communication style can be interpreted as “rash depending on who is analyzing it,” and this can sometimes lead to misunderstandings that impact immigrant communities negatively.
“A lot of people take this communication and push it in a very negative direction,” he explained, adding that it “has adverse effects on immigrants, including Africans, and that is a concern of a lot of Nigerians.”
Adeoye emphasized that even legal immigrants, many of whom felt that previous policies added stress to their lives, are particularly concerned about the effects of any renewed immigration crackdown.
“Even if you are in the U.S. and doing well, your children, your relatives will go to school and they are bullying in schools, so that is a concern for immigrant families, especially legal immigrant families,” Adeoye said.
“A lot of people might not understand why Nigerians were a little bit skeptical about the conservative Party policies. It is simply because at the end of the day, it is not all about grass and groceries, it is about being able to have a sense of dignity in the society where you operate and that was not 100% in the last time when Mr. Trump was the president.”
He further noted that, during Trump’s previous administration, some legal immigrants “faced backlash” from policies aimed at curbing illegal immigration. “Some legal immigrants will be pulled over unnecessarily just to do all of those things they were not used to. It was a little bit heated at that time, and that was the concern,” he recalled.
Adeoye went on to say that “under the Democratic administration, a lot of that has been cooled off, that has totally disappeared, especially as it concerns legal immigrants. Because Africans come to the United States legally.”
Nonetheless, he expressed cautious optimism, adding, “We are hopeful that the new administration of Mr. Trump would be beneficial to legal immigrants because he mentioned that during the campaign that his concerns were illegal immigrants. So some persons in the United States were like, ‘Okay, if he comes in this time, it will be favorable to immigrants.’”
Adeoye’s remarks come as the U.S. immigration debate remains a core issue, with many African immigrant communities closely watching how future policies may shape their lives and opportunities in America.
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
SEE MORE: Spain, Portugal Plunge Into Darkness Amid Widespread Power Outage
“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
Fuel Price Shock: Nigerians May Soon Pay ₦1,500 Per Litre – Marketers Warn
Political Earthquake in Zamfara as Gov Lawal Dumps PDP for APC
Court Pushes Malami, Son’s Terrorism Financing Trial to April 15
African Club Football Gets Major Financial Boost as CAF Hikes Prize Money
Abramovich Clashes with UK Gov’t Over £2.35bn Chelsea Sale Funds
Global Crisis: Attacks on Schools Skyrocket 166% – UN Sounds Alarm on Children’s Safety
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Things To Know About Threads, Zuckerberg’s Twitter-like App
