Author: David Great

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company, also known as Eko DisCo, has announced a planned 25-day blackout across parts of Lagos State. In a statement shared via its official X account on Friday, the power distribution company disclosed that the blackout would begin on Monday, July 28, and run through Thursday, August 21, 2025, with outages expected daily between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. According to the notice, the scheduled outage is necessary to enable the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, to conduct maintenance on the Omotosho–Ikeja West 330 kV line. “EKEDC has announced a daily planned power outage from Monday,…

Osarodion Ogie, the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has denied reports suggesting he has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a statement released on Friday through his aide, Blessing Agbo, Ogie dismissed the online claims as false and malicious. He stressed that he never held any meeting or discussion with APC stakeholders and reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP. Ogie, a former Secretary to the Edo State Government, described the rumour as a calculated attempt by political mischief-makers, whom he accused of colluding with INEC and the judiciary…

The Social Democratic Party, SDP, has officially distanced itself from former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, stating emphatically that he is not a member of the party and has no authority to represent it in any capacity. This declaration was made on Friday in Kaduna by Inuwa Idris, the party’s Zonal Secretary for the North-West, during a press briefing. According to Idris, “It has come to our attention that Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i has taken it upon himself to appear in various fora, including policy dialogues, stakeholder engagements, and even private strategy meetings purporting to speak on behalf of the Social…

Liverpool are poised to make a British record bid for Newcastle and Sweden striker Alexander Isak, 25. (Mail+ – subscription required) But Saudi side Al-Hilal are also currently preparing a bid, understood to be more than £130m, for Isak after he was omitted from Newcastle’s squad for their pre-season tour of Singapore. (Talksport) Chelsea and Manchester United have ruled out a move for Isak, with the latter having already spent big on Brazil forward Matheus Cunha, 26, and Cameroon international Bryan Mbeumo, 25. (Mail) Bayern Munich are set to bid again for Liverpool and Colombia winger Luis Diaz. The Merseyside…

Nigeria’s passport has climbed to the 88th position in the latest Henley Passport Index, released on July 18, 2025 — its highest placement in five years. The country now ranks 88th out of 199 globally, marking a steady rise from 91st in January 2025 and 92nd in July 2024. Despite the upward trajectory, Nigerian passport holders continue to experience limited travel access, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to only 45 destinations. Nigeria now shares the 88th spot with Ethiopia, Myanmar — an improvement from 97th last year, when it trailed countries like Cameroon, Liberia, Burundi. According to the Henley Passport…

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration following the United States government’s decision to issue a Level 3 travel advisory for Nigeria, urging its citizens to “Reconsider Travel” due to escalating insecurity and a deteriorating healthcare system. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the development as a “national humiliation” and a clear indication of the government’s failure to ensure citizens’ safety and uphold Nigeria’s international image. The party further condemned the prolonged absence of Nigerian ambassadors in strategic global capitals, notably Washington D.C., accusing the Ministry of…

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Dr. Olufemi Martins Thomas, and a Bureau De Change operator, Kabiru Sidi, for fraud amounting to $2,198,900. Justice Ayokunle Faji delivered the judgment on Thursday, July 24, 2025, finding the duo guilty of offences bordering on money laundering and false statements to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Thomas, who was arraigned on a seven-count amended charge by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC, faced six counts related to money laundering and illegal cash transfers. Sidi…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a formal disclaimer concerning an audio recording circulating on social media. The audio recording falsely claims the agency shut down the Tummy Tummy noodles manufacturing facility in Anambra State. In a statement released on Wednesday, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, clarified that the viral recording was not only misleading but also a recycled falsehood. According to her, the same audio first appeared in Oct. 2023 and was thoroughly investigated at the time. “The claims made in the recording are entirely false. Trader sues NAFDAC, demands…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has unanimously elected Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda as its new National Chairman, following the resignation of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje. The decision was reached during the party’s National Executive Committee meeting held on Thursday. Here are 10 key things to know about the new APC helmsman: He Replaces Ganduje as APC Chairman Yilwatda takes over the reins from Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, who resigned his position to attend to what the party described as “crucial private matters.” He’s Nigeria’s Current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Before his new role as APC Chairman, Yilwatda served as the Minister of…

The House of Representatives has approved a $347 million loan request from President Bola Tinubu to support ongoing national infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. The approval was granted during Wednesday’s plenary session after Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read the President’s correspondence to lawmakers in the Green Chamber. According to President Tinubu, the additional loan is necessary due to a $47 million increase in the total cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, which has risen from $700 million to $747 million. “It is, therefore, necessary to increase the value of the financing for the project by $47m to ensure…