Author: David Great

The Lagos State Government has disclosed that property worth N19.52 billion was lost to fire incidents across the state in 2024. This revelation came during a ministerial press briefing on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde. The briefing was part of events marking the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term. Oyerinde stated that 91 lives were lost to fire outbreaks during the period, while 450 individuals were rescued due to swift intervention by emergency responders. He added that despite the heavy losses, property worth N117.12 billion was salvaged through timely emergency…

In a major political development, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-presidential candidate of the Labour Party Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai have reportedly aligned to form a new opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Credible sources disclosed that the trio held a closed-door meeting on Tuesday night, where they resolved to use the ADC as the official platform for their collaboration ahead of the next political cycle. A source who was present at the meeting but asked not to be named confirmed the agreement. The source said: “They have adopted the African Democratic Party…

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has restated his allegiance to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring he has no plans to defect despite ongoing internal crises and a wave of defections affecting the party. Governor Makinde made the declaration on Wednesday at the official inauguration of the newly elected PDP South West zonal executive members, held at the party’s zonal secretariat, Soji Adagunodo House, Old Ife Road, Ibadan. Addressing party members and leaders at the event, Governor Makinde sought to allay concerns over the stability of the PDP in the wake of high-profile defections. “People have been asking us as…

Brennan Johnson’s bundled first-half goal helped Tottenham Hotspur win a scrappy Europa League final 1-0 against Manchester United on Wednesday as they cast aside their domestic woes to earn a berth in next year’s Champions League. It was Tottenham’s first silverware since the 2008 League Cup and their first European trophy since 1984, but the fourth time they had beaten United this season. Johnson scored in the 42nd minute when United’s defence crumbled as Pape Sarr swung in a cross while goalkeeper Andre Onana remained rooted to his line. Johnson and United defender Luke Shaw rushed in and the ball…

The United States Department of Defense has accepted a Boeing 747 aircraft donated by Qatar for use as Air Force One, a decision that has sparked intense constitutional and ethical debate. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the acceptance of the aircraft in a statement on Wednesday, noting that it complied with all federal regulations. “The Secretary of Defence has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations,” he said. Parnell added that the Department of Defense would ensure that all necessary security protocols and mission-specific functionalities are addressed, “The Department of Defence will work…

The Zamfara State Government has strongly refuted reports claiming that a young woman, Zainab Muhamadu, is facing a death sentence in a Sharia Court for converting to Christianity. In a press statement issued on May 20, 2025, by Sulaiman Bala Idris, spokesperson to the Zamfara State Governor, the government described the story as false, misleading, and fabricated by online platforms seeking to sow discord and gain traffic. “The attention of the Zamfara State Government has been drawn to mischievous fake news circulating about a 22-year-old Miss Zainab Muhamadu, who is facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity,” the statement…

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has threatened to leave the club if the management does not reduce the squad size after his side beat Bournemouth 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday. Recent signings Savinho, Abdukodir Khusanov and Claudio Echeverri were all unable to find a place in the squad on Tuesday as City beat Bournemouth 3-1 while England youngsters James McAtee and Rico Lewis also missed out. City have 28 players in the first team, not counting four who are out on loan, and have one of the most valuable squads in the world with some media reports valuing…

An overnight downpour on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, led to the escape of seven inmates from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, Osun State, following the collapse of an old perimeter wall. The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) attributed the breach to the structural failure of the facility’s wall, which gave way around 2:00 a.m. during the storm. In a statement issued by the NCoS spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, the service confirmed that a manhunt had been launched to locate and return the escaped inmates to custody. “The Nigerian Correctional Service has launched an expansive manhunt following the rainfall that breached…

Two lawmakers staged a walkout on Tuesday as the Oyo State House of Assembly backtracked on its earlier proposal regarding the leadership of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs, opting instead for a rotational chairmanship. The Assembly, which had come under fire for initially proposing a permanent chairmanship for the Alaafin of Oyo, passed a revised version of the bill during plenary. The amended version now provides for rotational leadership between the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, and the Soun of Ogbomosoland. According to the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that it will release the results of 379,000 candidates who sat for the rescheduled Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Wednesday. The rescheduled exams, held between Friday and Monday, followed public outcry over mass failures recorded during the initial UTME. JAMB acknowledged that technical and human errors—especially in Lagos and the South-East—significantly affected candidates’ performance. Out of the 1.9 million candidates who took part in the 2025 UTME, more than 1.5 million scored below 200 out of a possible 400, triggering concern among parents, students, and education stakeholders. After mounting pressure,…