The Cross River State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Morrison Ogbonna, has been found dead in his hotel room in Calabar. Ogbonna was discovered lifeless in the early hours of Thursday, September 18, 2025, when his officers arrived at the hotel to pick him up for an official assignment. After knocking repeatedly without getting a response, they alerted hotel management, who forced the door open and found him unresponsive. The late commander had only recently been deployed to Cross River State in August 2025, replacing Rachel Umebuali. The Cross River State Police Command has confirmed the…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
US President Donald Trump has confirmed plans to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday to finalize a deal over the ownership of TikTok, the popular video-sharing platform. Trump has repeatedly postponed enforcing a ban on TikTok under legislation requiring the app’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest ownership for national security reasons. “We’re speaking to President Xi on Friday to see if we can finalise something on TikTok, because there is tremendous value,” Trump said during a press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on his state visit. According to Trump, the agreement would ensure TikTok is…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has appointed Maryamu Idris, Managing Director of NNPC Trading Limited, as Nigeria’s representative to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). In a statement released on Wednesday, NNPC said Idris will maintain her current role while also serving as the country’s principal technical liaison within OPEC. She will additionally hold a seat on OPEC’s Economic Commission Board (ECB), contributing to technical discussions and policy recommendations. Idris is expected to collaborate closely with Nigeria’s OPEC governor and other key stakeholders, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, to…
Kenya Airways has officially paid the sanction fee imposed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over violations of passenger rights, including the case involving Nigerian traveller Gloria Omisore. The NCAA confirmed the payment on Wednesday, noting that the fine was part of efforts to enforce consumer protection rules and ensure airlines respect the rights of passengers. Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, said, “The payment by Kenya Airways is a welcome step, but it is important to understand that these sanctions are not just punitive. They are meant to ensure airlines adhere to our regulations,…
Australia on Thursday announced a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70 percent from 2005 levels over the next decade a move that has drawn criticism from climate activists who argue the target falls short of what is needed. Under the Paris Agreement, countries are required to submit both a headline emissions reduction target and a detailed plan to the United Nations by 2035. So far, only around 40 nations have filed their climate strategies, despite UN calls for submissions ahead of COP30, the annual climate summit scheduled for November in Brazil. China is anticipated to reveal…
The Federal Government has completed a world-class Data Personalization Centre at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Headquarters in Abuja, a development described by Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as a “game-changer” in Nigeria’s passport production system. After inspecting the centre, the Minister said it would drastically reduce response times, allowing passports to be printed within 24 hours and delivered within a week. This marks the first time since the NIS was established in 1963 that Nigeria will operate a centralized passport personalization facility comparable to those in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, India, and…
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) has warned that Rivers Niger and Benue have reached their peak, posing a serious risk of flooding to surrounding communities. The alert was issued on Thursday by NiHSA Director General, Muhammad Umar, who urged residents in flood-prone areas to take proactive measures to protect lives and property. Umar explained that several tributaries, including Rima, Kaduna, and Gongola, are also at high levels, while major dams such as Kainji, Jebba, Goronyo, and Kiri are spilling excess water. The agency is working closely with dam authorities to reduce the impact on downstream communities. He further noted…
Senior lawyer Ebun Adegboruwa, SAN, has called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to provide Nigerians with a detailed report on the management of Rivers State resources during the six-month tenure of retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as state administrator. Adegboruwa emphasized that Rivers State, being one of Nigeria’s wealthiest states, possesses significant resources, and Nigerians have the right to know how these were handled under Ibas’s administration. He added, “Additionally, based on Section 305, those who exercised oversight functions during the emergency period, the President, the Federal Executive Council, and the National Assembly should render a report to…
Seplat Energy has confirmed ongoing talks with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over a potential sale of a 10% interest in their joint venture, Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited (SEPNU). If completed, the deal would leave Seplat with a 30% stake and NNPCL with 70%, while Seplat continues as the operator. The proposed transaction remains subject to both parties agreeing on terms and executing a formal agreement. Seplat CEO, Roger Brown, said, “Our focus remains on driving value creation and operational excellence across Nigeria’s energy sector.” This follows Seplat’s December 2024 acquisition of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (now…
The Federal Government has reinstated History as a compulsory subject in primary and secondary schools across Nigeria, ending a 13-year hiatus. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Education on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. According to the Ministry, “Reintroducing History as a compulsory subject is a priceless gift to the nation; it reconnects children with their cultural and historical roots.” Under the new curriculum, pupils from Primary 1 through Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3) will study Nigerian History continuously, while Senior Secondary School students (SSS1–3) will take a newly introduced subject called Civic and Heritage Studies, which integrates History…
The Federal Government has paid out ₦330 billion in cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households across Nigeria, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, has confirmed. According to Edun, about 8.5 million households have received at least one tranche of ₦25,000, with some households benefiting from up to three payments. The remaining seven million households are expected to receive their funds before the end of the year. Funded through an $800 million World Bank facility, the programme aims to cushion Nigerians from the economic impact of recent policy changes, including fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the naira. Payments…
The Federal Government, state governments, and local government councils (LGs) shared a total of N2.25 trillion from the federation account as revenue for August, according to the latest figures released by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). The meeting took place in Abuja on Wednesday. The N2.25 trillion distributable revenue consisted of N1.48 trillion statutory revenue, N672.90 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT), N32.34 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), and N41.28 billion from Exchange Difference. FAAC reported that the total gross revenue available in August was N3.64 trillion. From this amount, N124.84 billion was deducted for collection costs, while…