Yokohama, Japan — President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians living abroad to play a more active role in driving national development by contributing their expertise, investments, and global networks.

Speaking during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian community in Japan on the sidelines of the ongoing Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), Tinubu said that building a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria requires the collective effort of citizens both at home and in the diaspora.

The meeting brought together Nigerian professionals and entrepreneurs across various sectors, offering Tinubu an opportunity to highlight his administration’s achievements and reaffirm his commitment to economic growth and reforms.

“It is not the responsibility of the government alone. National development is a shared task that requires your contributions as well,” Tinubu told the gathering, which he described as a “vibrant representation of Nigeria’s diversity.”

The President also invited senior government officials, including Senator John Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, and Khalil Suleiman Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, to brief participants on key government programmes and initiatives.

Tinubu encouraged Nigerians abroad to continue serving as ambassadors of the country by projecting a positive image globally.

In response, Emeka Ebogota, President of the Nigerian Union in Japan, thanked Tinubu for engaging with the diaspora community and pledged support for the administration’s efforts to reposition Nigeria.

Pakistan is reeling from one of its deadliest monsoon disasters in recent years, as raging floods and relentless rains have claimed more than 300 lives.

The National Disaster Management Authority confirmed the death toll on Saturday, warning that the numbers may rise as scores remain missing. Entire communities have been swept away in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where most of the casualties occurred.

Many victims were trapped in collapsing houses or swept off by sudden flash floods. At least 21 others have been injured, while families continue to search desperately for missing loved ones.

“This is devastation beyond words,” officials said, as the country’s meteorological department issued fresh warnings of more heavy rains in the north-west, urging residents to take precautionary measures.

The monsoon season, which usually runs from June to September, brings life-sustaining rains—but this year it has turned deadly. Experts warn that climate change is fueling more frequent and more intense downpours, leaving vulnerable communities in constant peril.

Across the border, parts of India and Nepal are also counting their losses from widespread flooding and landslides.

Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, said civilian and military rescue teams are battling against the odds to reach stranded families and deliver urgent relief.

Air Canada on Friday cancelled more than 100,000 passenger bookings as its flight attendants prepared to go on strike, raising the prospect of a shutdown of the airline’s services.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 10,000 flight attendants, was legally inableo strike from 12:01 a.m. (0401 GMT) on Saturday, following a 72-hour strike notice issued on Wednesday. The puoadcaster CBC reported that the walkout could begin at about 1:00 a.m. if no last-minute deal is reached.

Air Canada, which carries about 130,000 passengers daily, said it had begun winding down operations ahead of the potential strike. By 8:00 p.m. Friday, the airline had cancelled 623 flights, affecting more than 100,000 passengers.

The union is demanding wage increases and compensation for ground duties, including boarding, which currently go unpaid. CUPE has described Air Canada’s latest offer—projected to raise a senior flight attendant’s average pay to CAN$87,000 ($65,000) by 2027—as “below inflation and below market value.”

Both the federal government and Air Canada have called for independent arbitration, but the union has rejected the proposal.

Rafael Gomez, director of the University of Toronto’s Centre for Industrial Relations, said the union had effectively highlighted the unpaid boarding issue, which resonated with the public.

“An average passenger could think, ‘I’m waiting to board the plane and there’s a flight attendant helping me, but they’re technically not being paid a flight attendant is helping issue to highlight,” he noted.

Gomez added that if a strike goes ahead, it is unlikely to last long.

“This is peak season. The airline does not want to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue… They’re almost playing chicken with the flight attendants,” he said.