People are learning why UK passports are blue – and what different colours mean

Passports around the world come in various hues, primarily settling on blue, red, green, or black. Each colour carries its own significance, and nations pick their passport colours for specific reasons.

So, why exactly are our British passports blue?

A fascinating Instagram post by @weroad unpacked the symbolism behind passport colours, revealing they convey two key messages. The first is about the emotions or concepts traditionally linked with the colour.

The second aspect is how much freedom the passport grants - in other words, the "mobility" it offers. Passports granting "high mobility" allow holders to travel to numerous countries without visas, while "low mobility" passports mean more red tape for travellers.

The post highlighted that blue passports like the ones now issued in Britain and also found in countries such as Canada, the USA, and Brazil, symbolise "freedom and stability". These passports typically offer high mobility, giving us Brits broader horizons for travel

UK passport warning for anyone who still has an old 'red' one

People using their old 'red' passports have been issued a warning that they could face heightened risk of being stopped at the border, potentially throwing a spanner in their holiday plans. Those with the red or burgundy passport are more likely to be caught out by new 'third-country nationals' rules for entering European Union countries

Passports dished out after 2018 are valid for 10 years and must be valid for at least three months beyond your intended return date. The HM Passport Office also suggests that your passport's expiry date should be at least three months after you plan to depart from the EU for most European destinations.

It's estimated that around 200 people are turned away from getting on aircraft daily in the UK due to not having enough time left on their passport - even if it hasn't expired yet. This rejection usually occurs at check-in or the departure gate.

The UK government ceased issuing burgundy passports before 31 December 2020 and because they're older anyone using them needs to double check even more carefully there's enough time left on the,

Many countries insist that your passport needs to be valid for another six months before you jet off for international travel. This is known as the 'six-month validity rule', and many folks still using old red passports from pre-Brexit times may find their documents don't have enough time left.

Top 10 African countries with the highest number of US Green card recipients

Below are the top 10 African countries with the highest number of US Green card recipients

RankGlobal RankCountryGreen Cards1 

17 🇳🇬 Nigeria 12,385
2 28 🇪🇬 Egypt 8,348
3 32 🇨🇲 Cameroon 5,879
4 33 🇪🇹 Ethiopia 5,720
5 35 🇬🇭 Ghana 5,451
6 37 🇰🇪 Kenya 5,014
7 40 🇲🇦 Morocco 4,756
8 41 🇨🇩 Congo 4,688
9 48 🇿🇦 South Africa 3,535
10 56 🇩🇿 Algeria 3,125

Nigeria ranks 17th globally and first in Africa. It remains a significant contributor to U.S. immigration, with 12,385 immigrants receiving the green card. Egypt followed in second position with Cameroon, Ethiopia and Ghana coming behind.

Shamed ex-London council chief executive sentenced for drink-drive crash

Shamed ex-London council chief executive sentenced for drink-drive crash

Bayo Dosunmu had slurred speech when he was pulled over by police

The former chief executive for Lambeth Council has been banned from driving after he crashed his car while almost three times the drink-drive limit.


Bayo Dosunmu, 46, was uninsured and he failed to stop after the crash near to Wandsworth Bridge, and he had slurred speech when he was eventually pulled over.

Dosunmu was disqualified from driving for the next two years as a result of his convictions.


The court heard Dosunmu was driving a white Jeep at just before 9am on 23 June when he was involved in a collision with a blue Toyota, while it was waiting at traffic lights at the junction of Wandsworth Bridge Road and Townmead Road in Fulham.


Dosunmu drove away instead of stopping after the crash, and the driver of the Toyota tailed him until he had to pull in front of the Jeep to get it to stop.


At the roadside, police said Dosunmu was slurring his words and was “struggling to follow directions”.


Prosecutor Thomas Murphy said Dosunmu had driven a “short distance” from the crash site, and “only stopped because the member of the public in the other vehicle followed and put his car in a position so the defendant could no longer drive away”.


Dosunmu, who was living in an apartment overlooking the Thames in Chelsea Harbour, failed a roadside breath test, and in a second test at a police station he had 100 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.


The legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath

His lawyer, Colin Aylott KC, said Dosunmu has a “history of public service”, and he had “some degree of pride” when he got the Lambeth job.


“To have lost his job and the ramifications that flow from that have taken a heavy toll on him”, he said, adding that Dosunmu is now living with his sister.

Everyone visiting UK will need permission and face charge from 2025 as travel visa scheme expands

Everyone visiting UK will need permission and face charge from 2025 as travel visa scheme expands

Rules requiring people visiting the UK without a visa to pay £10 will be expanded to include travellers from most countries from November

From November it will apply to all other nationals, except Europeans, and be required for entry from January 8 2025.


The programme will by extended to European nationals in March 2025, and be a travel requirement for them from April 2 2025.

UK Govt Increases Financial Requirements for Student Visas

UK Govt Increases Financial Requirements for Student Visas

The UK government has announced a significant hike in the financial savings requirements for international students, marking the first adjustment since 2020. This change, effective from January 2, 2025, affects students planning to study in the UK, with new savings thresholds that reflect updated cost-of-living expenses.

Updated Financial Requirements for Students

To secure a student visa, international students must now demonstrate they have sufficient funds to cover living expenses for each month of their course, up to nine months. This requirement applies differently based on whether the student will study in London or outside the capital:

Studying in London: Students need to show evidence of having £1,483 per month.

Studying Outside London: Students must prove they have £1,136 per month.

Previously, the required amounts were £1,334 per month for London and £1,023 for locations outside London.

UK warns Against Travelling To The Following

When planning a holiday, it’s wise to check these three things before you leave for the airport: your passport is in-date, travel insurance is still valid and you’re travelling to someplace safe according to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Political conflicts, natural disasters and safety concerns are among the reasons the UK Foreign Office will recommend British nationals steer clear of certain destinations.

Nigeria – Borno State, Yobe State, Adamawa State, Gombe State

FCDO advises against all travel to parts
Algeria – all travel to within 30km of Algeria’s borders with Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Tunisia
Armenia – within 5km of the full eastern border between Armenia and Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan – Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas
Benin – Northern border regions
Burundi – Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces
Cameroon – Bakassi Peninsula and within 40km of Central African Republic, Chad and Nigeria borders
Chad – Borkou, Ennedi Ouest, Ennedi Est and Tibesti provinces, Kanem Province, including Nokou, Lake Chad region and within 30km of all Chad’s other borders
Congo – Republic of Congo-Central African Republic border area in the Likouala Region, districts in the Pool Region and Mouyondzi District in the Bouenza Region
Côte d’Ivoire – borders with Burkina Faso and Mali and Côte d’Ivoire-Liberia border
Democratic Republic of the Congo – DRC-Central African Republic border, Eastern DRC, Kwamouth territory of Mai-Ndombe Province and areas in Kinshasa Province
Djibouti – Djibouti-Eritrea border
Egypt – Egypt-Libya border, North Sinai and Western Desert
Eritrea – within 25km of Eritrea’s land borders
Ethiopia – international border areas, Tigray region, Amhara region, Afar region, Gambella region, Oromia region, Somali Regional State and Benishangul-Gumuz region
Georgia – South Ossetia and Abkhazia
Indonesia –Mount Sinabung, North Sumatra, Mount Marapi, West Sumatra, Mount Semeru, East Java, Mount Ruang, Northern Sulawesi, Mount Ibu, North Maluku
Israel – Gaza, The West Bank and Northern Israel
Jordan – within 3km of the border with Syria
Mauritania – Eastern Mauritania, Mauritania-Western Sahara border, Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, Hodh el Gharbi, Assaba and Guidimaka provinces
Moldova –Transnistria
Mozambique – Cabo Delgado Province, Nampula Province
Myanmar (Burma) – Chin State, Kachin State, Kayah State, Kayin State, Mon State, Rakhine State, Sagaing and Magway regions, Tanintharyi Region, Shan State North, North Mandalay Region
Nigeria – Borno State, Yobe State, Adamawa State, Gombe State
Philippines – Western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago
Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia-Yemen border and Abha International Airport
Somalia – eastern Somaliland and Western Somaliland
The Occupied Palestinian Territories –Gaza, Areas near Gaza, The West Bank and Northern Israel
Togo – Togo-Burkina Faso border
Tunisia – Western Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Algeria border and Southern Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Libya border
Turkey – Turkey-Syria border, Sirnak city and Hakkari Province
Venezuela – within 80km of the Venezuela-Colombia border, within 40km of the Venezuela-Brazil border
Western Sahara – south and east of the Berm boundary line

#Madanwo - The Great Awori Hero

Late Baba Madanwo, An Unsong Awori Hero

As fetish and harmful alternative fiction, popularly known as ‘Juju’ may seem, they sure have their own positive impacts as well.


Growing up in Ota in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and the early 2000’s one would not have been in oblivion of a very powerful and mysterious man whose African magic was a rare, unparalleled and unmatched gift. A man whose fear of God, despite his expertise in traditional medicine was second to none. A well disciplined and no-nonsense Awori man. His mysterious powers back in the days made Voice of Awori crew to pay the immediate family a courtesy visit. Sit back and relax as we take you through the life of late chief Muritala Lawal Okeose, popularly known as, ‘BABA MADANWO’.


Late chief Muritala Lawal Okeose was born into the family of Ali Lawal several decades ago, say 1900 (exact date not known), somewhere in Iyesi-Igbesa, Ota in Ogun state.


He had four wives, his first wife was mama pupa, an indigene of Igbesa, Igbe compound who had eight still births for him and because of this challenge and the quest to have a child, he consulted an Osanyin deity at Abule ‘ADANSERE’ who gave him a masquerade known as ‘MADANWO’. Afterwards, he had two children viz: Lateef and Khadijat Lawal at the age of 60.



He was a very fierce hunter, a mat trader, an herbalist, a barber and owned the first canopy rental services in Ota way back.



Chief Ramoni Okeose Lawal, the baba isale Oje, Ota who is a nephew to late chief Madanwo and a heir to Baba’s shoes was on ground to fortify Voice of Awori with needed information.



Baba Madanwo came to limelight in Ota and across Awori land after he challenged and fought Epo masquerade owned by Pa Alimi Elegbede.



Epo masquerade comes out six days after the beginning of Egungun festival in Ota. In the constitution of Ota when Epo masquerade comes out for a show, no other masquerade is allowed to come out that particular day, palm oil sellers do not sell their wares too and he does not hear the cry of other masquerades. Baba Madanwo who was not satisfied with the autocratic rule of Pa Alimi Elegbede and his ‘Epo’ masquerade. He dared the Epo Masquerade by asking his little Masquerade (Madanwo) to go and display at Igbale (Egungun shrine). The Epo Masquerade heard the voice of Baba Madanwo’s little Masquerade and went to Igbale, getting there, he met the little Masquerade and they ended up in a very fierce traditional fight( like the one you have seen in Fadeyi vs Abija’s movie scenes). Madanwo conquered Epo Masquerade. The feud soon got to the hears of the late Oba Titi Dada, the then Olota of Ota. On getting to the oba’s palace, the Oba ruled that other masquerades can henceforth perform on the sixth day of the festival, and it also made the late monarch in conjunction with the former DPO of police in Sango Ota to give Baba Madanwo a certificate as a night guard, here comes the beginning of his prominence.




The profession in which he stood above equals, his disappearing and appearing skill was atypical. He could be in the comfort of his bed and challenge any suspicious person within his rubicon. Some people recounted their experience with the late veteran when they were mysteriously challenged by a voice suspected to be baba Madanwo’s at the wee hours of the night. Narrating, ‘back in the early 90’s when we used to go to vigil, enroute the Okede-Mefun axis, a voice would just be heard, asking us to stop right there. Where are you going? And we would answer, we are going to church ni o, then he would ask them to hold on while he remove the charms he used as road blocks, then they can pass. But if the suspect is presumed to be evil or has any hidden deeds, he would be apprehended by baba Madanwo’.




Late Baba Madanwo was the marshal in general of all night guards in Ota. He watched over several kilometers of road alone without calling for assistance, say for his African science and fictions.




Another witness recounts how well fortified with fruits and farm produce his farm was. As close as the farm is to Iganmode grammar school, Ota, no student dared go to his farm to pluck any of his fruits or farm produce without seeking enough permission from him. He was well disciplined to the core and he despised stealing of any guise.




A misunderstanding ensued between Baba and one of his customers who Baba used to watch over his car somewhere around Mefun in Ota, he challenged baba on the security fee that he do charge that the money was humongous and also questioned exactly what Baba was watching over? He replied him and said, ‘don’t worry, you said I am not watching over anything abi? No problem. It will interest you to know that the following day, the four tyres of the person’s car were stolen right there under the nose of baba and he did nothing to prevent the stealing. It then dawned on the fellow that baba’s night guarding services worth more than his charges.




At the twilight of his death, he had a premonition as narrated by the nephew, he told the him so many things, out of which is, ‘he must not practice traditional medicine unless his is 70 years old, the son is just two years from attaining this standard that baba laid. Baba Madanwo died sometimes in July, 2002.




Baba Madanwo had a dog called ‘Aboki’, the dog was his aide-de-camp, according to the narrator, he was full of mysteries just like baba Madanwo himself because he was fortified with the same African magic as baba’s. Without Baba Madanwo , Aboki would not have been in existence and without Aboki, there could have been no baba Madanwo. The dog also possessed metaphysical powers that could appear and disappear, he could watch over the community even when he is in his room.




The said dog used to run errands for late Madanwo and he had healing powers too, out of which, when a patient with a sore comes to baba for healing, the dog would lick the sore and it would disappear in distance time. The dog is also remembered for chasing and tracking down armed robbers even with their vehicles.




Another powerful weapon in the hand of the late siege was his Bees(Oyin) who he seldomly send out on very special missions. When touts begins to disorganize the Egungun display at Okede, baba Madanwo would unleash his Bees on the boys in order to scatter or caution them. He used to send out the Bees on other missions too.




Let me quickly recap a case of a young man who saw one of his ex-girlfriends in Baba Madanwo’s place, unknown to the man, the lady was Baba’s wife. The guy sat with the lady and they were having a tete-a-tete, on sighting the young man with his wife, Baba challenged him and when the man hinted that they were old friends, Baba got furious and was quoted as saying, ‘Omo te si iwo wa? Ko mi se pelu iyawo mi li ile mi niru asiko yi e’? (in Awori dialect). The guy took to his heels and baba got after him, it was a cat and rat chase, it took the intervention of eminent people in the vicinity to intervene and dissuaded Baba that the young man is one of his compound sons. Baba then had to forgive him. Fast forward to some years later, when a duo ensued between the young man and some people during Egungun festival and he was beaten with a charm, it took the intervention of Baba to heal the same guy who sat with Baba’s wife right in his house sometimes ago.




He was a nice man, generous, capable, able, proficient, adept, adroit, accomplished, skillful and gifted.




Despite his skills and experience in traditional/ alternative medicine and African magic, the late Baba Madanwo never joked with Jumat service on Fridays, infact, according to a close source, he never missed any Jumat service that he knows of. The Dog, ‘Aboki’ would always go with him to Jumat service on Fridays and stay somewhere while baba performs his religious obligations.




Below is his family eulogy….




Muritalabi Oli baba Lateefu




Baba Kadijah janganjangan




Tiran Ashoro roo bi oko Idi Ope




A nle bo leyin, o nle ara iwaju




Omo amubieyaa lawani




Omo agba ni je ori Adan




Omode ni je ori Eiye keye




Omo Igbesa malee oloye




Omo abi gun jebo, abi gun jebo ma ba rorun




Omo iwaju oloko tin sowo agedegede




Oloko tin su yebe yebe loju omi




Omo arugbo ode eyitin fi aya faa




  Omo agbo digbo okere

 Omo agbo dere ni Isheri mo de

 Omo oni yan kokoo to mu ju eta sulo.

Sources:Oyetoro Oluwaseyi(Voice Of Awori 🎤)

AIYEPE CENTRAL MOSQUE

That Aiyepe town is the best in Ogun state is definitely not being garrulous or loquacious but a statement of fact backed with discerning scientific parameters.


Aiyepe Ijebu is a very popular, unique, distinct, outstanding, illustrious, charitable, enterprising, distinctive, alluring, rich and peaceful town under Odogbolu local government in Ogun State, Nigeria. The town boasts of individuals, highly educated, illustrious, industrious, enterprising, aristocratic and upwardly mobile professionals worldwide. The town dons fantastic buildings of niche architectural designs and templates comparable to Buckingham Palace in Great Britain. The socialites are top class and the professionals are most sought after worldwide.


Aiyepe Ijebu is a Mecca for all and sundry during the annual Muslim festivals. It is seen as a taboo for all Aiyepe townsmen and women to miss the annual Ileya festival, even visitors look forward to the festival with relish, second to none ab-initio.


It is from the above perspective that we now dovetail to the great event that beckons, the grand commissioning of the New Aiyepe Central Mosque, scheduled for the 27th April 2014, of course at the site of the event.


The construction of Aiyepe Central Mosque started in 1987 and today, the mosque stands tall and towers like a colossus amongst its comparisons. Have a look at the pictures below, the programme of events and see you around at the the grand opening. Cheers


Ola Amzat Esq


Join Lamzat on BBM 2B81C033 @Lamzatblog @lamzat #lamzatblog

SNAPSHOP HISTORY OF AIYEPE TOWN IN OGUN STATE NIGERIA

AIYEPE TOWN (Odogbolu LG) IN FOCUSThere are so many great towns in Odogbolu Local Government . One of it is Aiyepe-Ijebu, a sleepy town very close to Ijebu-Ode. And one significant thing about that town is the fact that it is governed by 6 traditional rulers namely: Alakan, Obiri, Olowu, Alaye Aba, Akalako. All the rulers are rated second class, except one who is yet to be promoted to that grade. All are recognised by the Ogun State government. The five-2nd classes Obas are also members of the Ijebu Traditional Council under the Chairmanship of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba S.K. Adetona.

To ensure that rancour does not tear apart the Aiyepe Traditional Rulers Council to which all the Obas belong the chairmanship is not permanent. The council’s meeting is held periodically and chaired in rotation by the six Obas.

Aiyepe is located between Odogbolu and Ikenne and has an estimated population 25,000 people. The name Aiyepe was derived from an Ijebu dialect Soju Aiyepe which literally means “the world completely gather here.”

The amalgam of 6 Obas in just one town dated back about 2 centuries when Aiyepe was founded. Specifically, in 1800, six homesteads – Aba, Idobin, Odolowu, Ilakan, Afo and ldobusanwa held a meeting and agreed to live together in the same vicinity. Before then they lived at a distance of about 10 to 15 kilometres apart.

Odolowu and Idobusanwa horne-steads were near Ikenne remo. The Ilakan was very close to Shagamu, while Aba settled close to Odogbolu. Ako and Idobiri homesteads were also not far from Shagamu.

Basically, their decision to live together was informed by the internecine wars and the regular disappearance of their folks particularly women and children at the time. Around this period, there were incessant civil wars in Yorubaland and many homesteads were raided where people were killed or capture. To stop incursions into their territories, the six Obas met over how to ward off the enemies and find a lasting solutions.