Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Federal Government Approves Bill To Establish National Cocoa Management Board. The Federal Executive Council (FEC), led by President Bola Tinubu, has approved a proposed legislation to create the National Cocoa Management Board (NCMB). The board will oversee the regulation of the cocoa industry, with the aim of fostering economic growth and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global cocoa market. Boosting Cocoa Production The NCMB will be responsible for restoring and enhancing cocoa plantations, approving and regulating market regulations, and offering low-interest loans to cocoa farmers. The board’s establishment is expected to boost the livelihoods of cocoa farmers, encourage strong…

Cross River Government To Review Safety Measures At Obudu Ranch Resort. The Cross River State Government has announced plans to review safety measures at the Obudu Ranch Resort following a fatal crash near the Ikwette community bottom hill. The accident, which occurred on Saturday, claimed four lives and left nine injured. A vehicle carrying 13 passengers, including seminarians from the Enugu Catholic Diocese, was involved in the tragic incident, with preliminary reports suggesting brake failure may have contributed to the crash. Government’s Response Governor Bassey Otu confirmed the plan to review safety measures in a statement on Sunday, expressing…

Tinubu Unveils “Nigeria First Policy” To Boost Local Industry. In a bold move to bolster Nigeria’s economy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the “Nigeria First Policy,” a sweeping initiative aimed at prioritising local industries in all government procurement activities. The policy, revealed on Sunday, seeks to curb reliance on foreign goods and services, promote homegrown solutions, and enhance domestic manufacturing capacity. Under the new directive, Nigerian industries will take precedence in procurement processes across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). President Tinubu emphasised that contractors will no longer act as intermediaries for foreign products while local factories remain…

Civil Society Groups Demand Resignation Of Senate President Akpabio Over Electoral Fraud Ruling. A coalition of 56 prominent Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria has called for the immediate resignation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio following a Court of Appeal ruling that upheld the conviction of Professor Peter Ogban for electoral fraud in the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial election. The appellate court in Calabar last Wednesday affirmed a three-year prison sentence for Professor Ogban, the returning officer who was found guilty of falsifying election results to secure victory for Akpabio, then a candidate for the All-Progressives Congress (APC).…

Kano NLC Endorses Governor Yusuf For Second Term, Hails Worker-Friendly Reforms. The Kano State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its weight behind Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for a second term, lauding his administration’s “unprecedented commitment” to the welfare of workers and pensioners. The endorsement was announced by NLC State Chairman, Comrade Kabiru Inuwa, during the 2025 International Workers’ Day celebrations at Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano. Addressing a vibrant crowd, Comrade Inuwa praised Governor Yusuf as a trailblazer, noting that he was the first Nigerian governor to implement the new N71,000 minimum wage. “This bold…

Presidency Challenges AfDB President’s Claims On Nigeria’s Economic Decline. The Nigerian Presidency has strongly refuted remarks by African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina, who claimed that Nigerians are economically worse off today than in 1960. The rebuttal, delivered by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, branded Adesina’s statements as “substantive lies” unsupported by verified data. Speaking at the 20th anniversary dinner of investment firm Chapel Hill Denham in Lagos last week, Adesina suggested Nigeria’s GDP per capita had plummeted from $1,847 in 1960 to $824 today, implying a significant decline in living standards.…

Kano Governor Approves £10m To Clear Unpaid Gratuities, Bolstering Inclusive Governance. In a landmark move underscoring his commitment to fairness and inclusive governance, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved N15.67 billion (£10 million) to settle outstanding severance allowances and gratuities owed to former local councillors. The debts, inherited from the previous All Progressives Congress (APC) administration under Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, had remained unpaid despite the availability of bailout funds during Ganduje’s tenure. The former councillors, who served for eight years under the APC government, had been awaiting their entitlements for years. Political analysts suggest that the failure to address…

JAMB Releases 2025 UTME Results: Over 1.5 Million Candidates Score Below 200. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the results of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), revealing a mixed performance among the 1,955,069 candidates who participated. According to the data released on Monday, more than 1.5 million candidates scored below 200 out of the possible 400 marks, while 420,415 candidates achieved scores above this threshold. In a detailed statistical breakdown, JAMB highlighted that 4,756 candidates scored above 320, and 7,658 scored between 300 and 319, making up the top-performing 12,414 candidates who scored 300…

Trent Alexander-Arnold To Leave Liverpool After 20 Years. In a heartfelt announcement, Trent Alexander-Arnold has confirmed he will depart Liverpool FC this summer when his contract expires on 30 June 2025, bringing an end to his two-decade association with the club. The 26-year-old, who joined the Reds’ Academy at the age of six, described the decision as one of the toughest of his career. “It’s not an easy decision, and there’s a lot of thought and feeling that has gone into it,” Alexander-Arnold said. “I’ve been here 20 years now, loved every single minute of it, achieved all my…

Social Media Influencer VeryDarkMan Arrested In Nigeria Over Cyberstalking Allegations. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the arrest of Nigerian social media influencer Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, following multiple petitions accusing him of cyberstalking. The anti-graft agency disclosed the development to BBC News Pidgin on Monday through its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale. According to Oyewale, VeryDarkMan was taken into custody to address a series of complaints lodged by various petitioners. “We arrested him to respond to allegations raised against him,” Oyewale stated. He emphasised that the EFCC is committed to upholding the law and will…

Pakistan’s Army Chief Warns India Of “Swift And Resolute” Response. Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Syed Asim Munir, has issued a stern warning to India, stating that any military action would be met with a “swift, resolute and notch-up response”. The comments come amid heightened tensions between the two nations following a deadly terrorist attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir, which killed over two dozen Hindu tourists near the town of Pahalgam. General Munir’s remarks were made during a military exercise, where he addressed troops standing atop a tank. The army chief’s comments are seen as a reflection of his hardline stance…

Lagos Cracks Down On Unscrupulous Estate Agents Amid Rising Rent Complaints. The Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) is intensifying efforts to curb unprofessional practices in the real estate sector, as residents protest exorbitant fees and arbitrary rent hikes by rogue estate agents. Despite LASRERA’s success in registering practitioners and enforcing compliance, eliminating touts and unethical conduct remains a challenge. In a joint statement, Lagos State Commissioner for Housing Moruf Akinderu-Fatai and Special Adviser on Housing Barakat Odunuga-Bakare urged professional bodies, including the Association of Estate Agents in Nigeria (AEAN) and the Estate, Rent & Commission Agents Association…