Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

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…

‘Critical To Our Survival’: Defence Chief Calls For Border Fencing To Curb Insecurity. Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has made a compelling case for the construction of fences along the nation’s borders to address the escalating insecurity plaguing the country. Speaking at a security conference in Abuja on Tuesday, General Musa described border management as “critical to our survival and sovereignty,” urging the Federal Government to take decisive action to secure Nigeria’s frontiers. General Musa highlighted the prolonged security challenges facing Nigeria, including a 16-year insurgency in the northeast led by the Islamist militant group Boko…

Federal Government To Crack Down On Unapproved Satellite Campuses. The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a robust plan to tackle the proliferation of unapproved satellite campuses operated by universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country. In a stern warning, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, declared that strict sanctions will be imposed on any federal institution found establishing such campuses without prior approval from the appropriate regulatory bodies. In a memo issued on Wednesday, 30 May 2025, and addressed to the Executive Secretaries of the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education…

Former Governor Amaechi Claims APC Victory In 2015 Hinged On INEC Leadership. Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State who served from 2007 to 2015, has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not have secured victory in the 2015 Nigerian elections had the current chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, been in charge at the time. Speaking as a guest on Arise News’ Prime Time programme, Amaechi praised the former INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega, whilst drawing sharp comparisons between Yakubu and another past chairman, Maurice Iwu. “The current chairman of INEC, if…

Nigeria Partners with Gates Foundation For $7.5M AI Innovation Hub, Honours Bill Gates With CFR. Nigeria has forged a landmark $7.5 million partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to launch the Nigerian Artificial Intelligence (AI) Scaling Hub, a transformative initiative aimed at harnessing AI to bolster critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and education. The agreement was sealed during a high-level meeting in Abuja, attended by Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and representatives from the Gates Foundation. Dr. Tijani hailed the collaboration as a pivotal moment for…

Orji Kalu Accuses Politicians Of Fuelling Boko Haram To Undermine Tinubu’s Government. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North and a former governor of Abia State, has made a shocking allegation, claiming that elements within Nigeria’s political class are sponsoring Boko Haram insurgents in a bid to destabilise President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The explosive accusation was made during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday, 3 June 2025. Kalu asserted that the resurgence of Boko Haram activities is not merely a security issue but a politically motivated campaign orchestrated by power-hungry individuals. “The political class is…

FG Commences Payment Of N44,000 Minimum Wage Arrears To Ex-Corps Members The Federal Government of Nigeria has begun disbursing N44,000 in minimum wage arrears to former members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), fulfilling a pledge tied to the recent increase in corps members’ monthly allowance. The adjustment, which saw the stipend rise from N33,000 to N77,000, was implemented earlier this year, and the arrears cover those who completed their mandatory one-year service before the new rate took effect. The payments, confirmed by multiple sources, mark a significant step in addressing the financial expectations of ex-corps members following…

Shake-Up In Ondo State Assembly As Deputy Speaker And Majority Leader Resign. The Ondo State House of Assembly witnessed a significant leadership shake-up on Tuesday, 3 June 2025, as Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Abayomi Akinruntan and Majority Leader Emmanuel Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi tendered their resignations from their respective positions. The unexpected moves have sparked widespread speculation about the underlying political dynamics in the state. Akinruntan, who represents Ilaje Constituency 1 and is the son of the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan, cited political power-sharing arrangements within Ondo State as the primary reason for his resignation. In his…

FG Assures Rural Communities’ Inclusion In WAEC, NECO CBT Rollout. The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that rural communities are not left behind in the transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations. The pledge came from the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, during a monitoring exercise of the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in selected schools across Abuja on Tuesday, 3 June 2025. Speaking to the press, Ahmad emphasised that the full shift to CBT, slated for completion…