Author: Opalim Lifted

President Bola Tinubu has said the removal of fuel subsidy by his administration helped prevent Nigeria from “imminent bankruptcy” and is supporting the country’s economic recovery, as he hosted state governors in Abuja for Sallah celebrations and his administration’s third anniversary. Tinubu made the remarks on Friday during a meeting with governors from across the country, including Lagos, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Taraba, Niger, Ekiti, Delta, Ondo, Edo, Adamawa, Benue, Enugu, Ogun and Kogi, alongside deputy governors from Borno and Kano. He said the long-standing subsidy regime had become financially unsustainable, arguing that it consumed national resources while limiting investment…

Rachael Alamu, the abducted principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle in Oriire LGA, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, to negotiate with the kidnappers. Alamu, alongside some staff members and students of the school, was abducted on May 15 when gunmen raided three schools in the Ahoro-Esiele/Yawota axis of Oriire in Ogbomoso. The gunmen, who rode motorcycles, abducted dozens of students and teachers from Community High School, L.A. Primary School, Esiele, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School. The assailants killed Adesiyan, an assistant headmaster at the community high school, and a commercial…

By Adeoye Adelekan Prof. Aminu Gusau, former Coordinating Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has called for a stronger culture of civic engagement in Nigeria, arguing that the quality of followership is a major factor in whether governments become accountable or drift toward poor governance. Speaking at a virtual roundtable organised by PANAFSTRAG and Empowered Newswire on Followership Studies themed: The Demand Side of Accountability, dedicated to the memory of Aminu Kano, the true Champion of Followership, Gusau said citizens who are informed, active and willing to question those in power can help shape better leadership outcomes in…

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aligned with Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has urged former President Goodluck Jonathan to distance himself from a planned convention in Abuja, describing it as illegitimate and misleading. The Kabiru Turaki-led group had scheduled Saturday, May 30, for a convention at A-Class Park and Event Centre in Abuja, where Jonathan was reportedly expected to be affirmed as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election. However, the Wike-aligned faction rejected the process, insisting it was not an official party activity. “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn…

Jose Mourinho is set for a sensational return to Real Madrid after agreeing a three-year deal to become the club’s new head coach. The Portuguese tactician will not be officially presented until after the club’s presidential election scheduled for June 7. Mourinho, 63, leaves Benfica after taking charge in September and guiding the club to a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga this season. The appointment marks Mourinho’s second spell at the Santiago Bernabeu, having previously managed the Spanish giants between 2010 and 2013. During that period, he won the La Liga title, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup.…

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has directed owners of hotels, event centres and other public facilities in Abuja to deal only with leaderships of political parties recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The administration also warned that any property used for gatherings of what it described as illegal organisations risks losing its title documents. The directive was contained in a statement issued on Friday by Lere Olayinka, senior special assistant on public communications and social media to Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). According to the statement, the measure forms part of efforts to…

The Association of Point of Sale (POS) Service Providers, a coalition of payment firms, has threatened to suspend the acceptance, acquisition, processing and switching of Verve card transactions over allegations of anti-competitive practices and regulatory breaches by Verve International and Interswitch Limited. In a letter addressed to the managing directors of both companies, the coalition accused Verve and Interswitch of engaging in activities that allegedly violate regulations issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018. The coalition, which comprises several CBN-licensed payment acceptors, acquirers, processors and switches, said…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down 16 sachet water factories in Rivers State over alleged violations of health, safety and regulatory standards. The agency said the affected facilities were discovered during an enforcement exercise conducted across several local government areas in the state as part of efforts to ensure compliance within the sachet water production sector. In a statement issued on Friday, Cyril Monye, NAFDAC’s South-South zonal spokesperson, said the operation covered Asari Toru, Akuku Toru, Degema and Ikwerre local government areas. According to him, the owners and operators of the affected…

President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria is gradually recovering from economic hardship, insisting that his administration’s reforms are attracting investment, improving infrastructure, creating jobs, and stabilising the economy after three years of difficult policy decisions. The President stated this on Friday in his third anniversary message to Nigerians. STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU (GCFR) ON THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ADMINISTRATION, MAY 29, 2026 My fellow compatriots, Three years ago, you entrusted me with the sacred responsibility of leading our beloved nation at a defining moment in our history. I accepted that responsibility fully aware of the magnitude of the…

The Federal Government is considering imposing restrictions on flights from countries affected by the Ebola virus as part of renewed efforts to prevent an outbreak in Nigeria. The development was disclosed on Thursday by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, after a high-level strategic meeting in Victoria Island, Lagos, focused on reviewing Nigeria’s Ebola preparedness and response framework. Gbajabiamila said the proposed measures could include restricting flights from countries with reported Ebola cases and isolating passengers displaying symptoms linked to the disease at Nigeria’s entry points. The meeting was attended by key government officials, including the Director-General…