Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Presidency Moves To Clear #2 Trillion Legacy Debt Owed To GenCos In Power Sector Overhaul. The Nigerian Presidency has taken a significant step towards stabilising the nation’s beleaguered power sector, with internal approvals underway to resolve a #2 trillion legacy debt owed to electricity generation companies (GenCos). The announcement came from Eriye Onagoruwa, representing Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to the President on Energy, during the second Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) Stakeholders Meeting of 2025, hosted by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja on Monday, 2 June 2025. Speaking to stakeholders, Ms Onagoruwa acknowledged the severe strain…

Nigerian Troops Seize Truck Carrying 164,650 Live Cartridges In Anambra. Security forces in Anambra State have dealt a significant blow to illegal arms trafficking, intercepting a truck laden with 164,650 live cartridges on 29 May 2025. The operation, conducted by troops of Sector 5 of Operation UDO KA, alongside operatives from the 63 Brigade and the Department of State Services (DSS), took place along the Asaba–Onitsha expressway, a key route in Nigeria’s southeast. Acting on credible intelligence, the joint team halted the vehicle and apprehended a suspected arms courier, Mr Emeka Omenife, believed to be part of a transnational…

Niger State Governor Grants Pardon To 11 Death Row Inmates In Reconciliation Move. Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has granted an unconditional pardon to 11 inmates previously sentenced to death, offering them a new lease on life. The announcement, made on Tuesday, 3 June 2025, by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Nasiru Mu’azu, during a press briefing in Minna, marks a significant step towards peace and reconciliation in the region. The pardoned individuals—Mohammed Mohammed, Nana Sheshi, Isah Nmadu, Mohammed Mohammed Ndabida, Abubakar Salihu, Baba Shaba, Adamu Babaminin, Haruna Mohammed, Isah Mohammed Alhaji Inuwa, Ibrahim Mohammed,…

Plateau State Pilgrim Passes Away In Makkah Due To Diabetic Complications. A tragic loss has struck the Plateau State contingent during the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage, as Hajiya Jamila Muhammad has sadly passed away in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The news was confirmed by Mr Daiyabu Dauda, the Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, in a statement released to journalists in Jos on Tuesday, 3 June 2025. According to the statement, Hajiya Jamila Muhammad succumbed to complications arising from diabetes on Monday, 2 June, whilst receiving treatment at King Abdul’aziz Hospital in Makkah. “From God we are,…

Genk President Demands Hefty Fee For Arokodare Amid Growing Transfer Interest. KRC Genk president Peter Croonen has taken a firm stance on the future of star striker Tolu Arokodare, insisting that the Belgian club will only part with the Nigerian forward for a substantial transfer fee. The declaration, made on Wednesday, 4 June 2025, comes as speculation mounts over the 24-year-old’s potential departure, with top European clubs circling following his stellar 2024/25 season. Arokodare, who joined Genk from Amiens SC in January 2023 for €5 million, has enjoyed a remarkable campaign, netting 21 goals to clinch the Belgian Pro…

Two Suspected Rebels Killed In Foiled Bomb Attack Near Kampala Shrine Uganda. A suspected bomb plot was thwarted in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, on Tuesday, 3 June 2025, resulting in the deaths of two individuals believed to be armed terrorists. The incident unfolded in Munyonyo, an upscale suburb, near a Roman Catholic shrine, as the nation observed a holiday commemorating Christian martyrs killed between 1885 and 1887. Uganda’s military authorities confirmed in a statement that security forces “intercepted and neutralised two armed terrorists” on a passenger motorcycle. The pair, a man and a woman, were being tracked by a counter-terrorism…

ABCON Reaffirms CBN’s Recapitalisation Deadline After Key Meeting. The Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has confirmed that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) deadline for the recapitalisation of Bureau De Change (BDC) operators remains firmly in place. The announcement, made on Tuesday, 3 June 2025, follows a crucial stakeholders’ meeting with the CBN in Lagos, where discussions centred on the future of the BDC sector amid ongoing reforms. Dr Aminu Gwadabe, ABCON President, clarified the position in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after the meeting. “The deadline for the existing…

Jadon Sancho Set For Manchester United Return As Chelsea Trigger £5m Penalty Clause. Jadon Sancho is poised to return to Manchester United this summer after Chelsea opted against making his loan move permanent, incurring a £5 million penalty fee. The 25-year-old winger, who joined the Blues on a season-long loan from Old Trafford last August, will head back to his parent club at the end of June 2025, following the expiration of his temporary deal. Chelsea’s loan agreement, struck in the summer of 2024, included an obligation to buy Sancho for a fee of approximately £25 million, contingent on…

Nigerian Copyright Commission Issues Stern Warning To DJs Over Unlicensed Music Performances. The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has issued a stern warning to disc jockeys (DJs) across the country, cautioning them against performing other people’s music in public without proper licences or the authorisation of copyright owners. The announcement, made on Wednesday, 4 June 2025, underscores the commission’s commitment to enforcing the Copyright Act 2022 and tackling widespread copyright infringement in Nigeria’s vibrant music scene. Dr John Asein, Director-General of the NCC, delivered the advisory in a statement from Abuja, highlighting that the commission had observed a troubling trend…

Niger State Governor Bago Cancels Sallah Festivities To Mourn Mokwa Flood Victims. Niger State Governor Umaru Bago has ordered the cancellation of all Eid-el-Kabir activities across the state to honour the victims of a devastating flood in Mokwa Local Government Area. The announcement, made on Wednesday, 4 June 2025, reflects the gravity of the tragedy that has claimed numerous lives and left communities in distress. The catastrophic flood, which struck Mokwa on the night of 28 May 2025, has been described as one of the worst in decades. Torrential rains submerged the market town, particularly affecting the Tiffin Maza…

EFCC Declares Two Wanted In Connection With CBEX Multi-Million Naira Fraud. In a significant development in the fight against financial crime, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared two individuals wanted in connection with an alleged multi-million naira fraud involving the Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX), a digital trading platform. The suspects, identified as Folashade Odelana and Bamidele Ayodele Abiodun, are accused of orchestrating fraudulent activities that have left numerous Nigerian investors reeling from substantial financial losses. The EFCC announced the move on Wednesday, 4 June 2025, through a public notice shared across its official social media platforms.…

TotalEnergies Sells Bonga Oilfield Stake To Shell For $510 Million In Strategic Shift. French energy giant TotalEnergies has announced the sale of its 12.5% non-operated stake in Nigeria’s Bonga oilfield to Shell for $510 million (£400 million). The deal, revealed on Thursday, 29 May 2025, marks a strategic pivot for TotalEnergies as it refocuses its portfolio on lower-cost, lower-emission assets, while Shell bolsters its deep-water presence in Nigeria. The transaction involves TotalEnergies’ subsidiary, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria (TEPNG), divesting its interest in the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 118 Production Sharing Contract (PSC), which encompasses the Bonga field, located 120 kilometres…