Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

NSDC And Chinese Conglomerate SINOMACH Sign $1 Billion Sugar Production Deal. The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has entered into a landmark agreement with Chinese industrial giant SINOMACH for the development of a large-scale sugarcane cultivation and processing project in Nigeria. The memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed in Abuja, aims to bolster Nigeria’s sugar industry with the potential to generate up to one million metric tonnes of locally produced sugar. The agreement marks an early success of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, a major initiative under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The collaboration is expected to attract investments of up to…

Pope Francis Thanks Medical Staff Following Recovery From Life-Threatening Illness. Pope Francis has expressed heartfelt gratitude to the medical teams who cared for him during a recent serious illness, meeting with dozens of doctors, nurses, and hospital workers at the Vatican on Wednesday. The 88-year-old pontiff personally thanked the staff for their efforts in saving his life following a battle with bronchial infections and double pneumonia. “Thank you, thank you for everything you have done,” said the Pope in a hoarse but sincere voice. “I pray for you, I hope you do the same for me.” Despite gradually resuming…

“You’re Either Male Or Female Enough Of Gender Madness” Says Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has intensified his controversial cultural agenda with a fresh constitutional amendment that legally defines citizens strictly as male or female. The move, passed by Parliament on Monday, is seen as a further step in Orban’s long-standing campaign against what he calls “gender madness”. Backed by a comfortable parliamentary majority, Orban’s Fidesz party successfully endorsed the amendment, which includes a clause stating that the Hungarian state shall protect children’s “physical, mental and moral development”. The government claims the changes are necessary…

Speaker Abbas Decries Underfunding Of National Assembly, Launches New Digital Legislative Platforms. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has described the National Assembly as the most underfunded arm of the Nigerian government, countering widespread public perceptions of excessive legislative spending. Abbas made the assertion on Wednesday during the launch of three innovative digital platforms at the Lagos/Osun Hall of the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. The platforms – the Bill Tracking Website, the Legislative Tracker, and the Legislative Resources Repository – were unveiled by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) to enhance transparency, accountability, and accessibility within…

Dangote Refinery Reduces Petrol Price By ₦30, Refines Over 3.5 Billion Litres In Seven Months. In a major boost for Nigeria’s petroleum sector, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a reduction in the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from ₦865 to ₦835 per litre. The move marks the second price cut in under a week, reflecting a significant effort to provide Nigerians with more affordable fuel options. The price reduction coincides with a remarkable milestone for the refinery, which has refined approximately 3.5 billion litres of petrol between September 2024 and April 2025. This accounts for about…

Obi Urges Tinubu To Return From France As Afenifere Decries Insecurity And Governance Failings. Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend his ongoing visit to France and urgently return to Nigeria to address the escalating wave of insecurity gripping the nation. Obi’s appeal, made via his official X account on Tuesday, comes amid growing concern over increasing killings and unrest in various parts of the country, including Plateau and Zamfara states. According to Obi, over 150 Nigerians have been killed during the President’s two-week absence, a situation he…

Arsenal Stun Real Madrid To Reach Champions League Semi-Finals. Arsenal have secured their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals with a sensational 5-1 aggregate victory over defending champions Real Madrid, capped by a 2-1 win in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. Goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the night, combined with a rock-solid defensive display, ensured the Gunners ousted the 15-time European champions in what has been hailed as a historic triumph. The Emirates Stadium faithful were still buzzing from Arsenal’s commanding 3-0 first-leg win, driven by Declan Rice’s two stunning free-kicks and a…

UK Government Backs Court Ruling On Protection Of Biological Sex In Major Blow To LGBTQ Spaces. The UK Labour government has welcomed a recent court ruling that reaffirms the legal basis for protecting single-sex spaces based on biological sex, describing it as a moment of “clarity and confidence” for women and service providers such as hospitals, refuges, and sports clubs. In a statement issued following the judgement, a government spokesperson said, “We have always supported the protection of single-sex spaces based on biological sex.” The ruling marks a significant victory for campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS), which…

Gabon Football Star Aaron Boupendza Dies Tragically In China At 28. The football world is in mourning following the tragic death of Aaron Boupendza, the 28-year-old Gabon international striker, who passed away after falling from the 11th floor of a building in China. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has left fans, teammates, and the global football community in shock as investigations continue to uncover the circumstances surrounding his untimely demise. Boupendza, who was playing for Zhejiang FC in the Chinese Super League, was a prominent figure in Gabonese football, having earned 35 caps and scored eight goals for his…

Court Nullifies Obasa’s Removal As Lagos Assembly Speaker, Declares Impeachment Illegal. The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has nullified the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, declaring the action unconstitutional, illegal, and void. Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, Justice Yetunde Adesanya also set aside all proceedings and resolutions passed by the Assembly on 13 January 2025 — the date on which Obasa was controversially ousted and Mojisola Meranda was appointed as Speaker. Obasa had taken legal action to challenge his removal, arguing that it violated both the constitutional provisions and…

Kenyan Woman Arrested After Threatening Men With Firearm On WhatsApp. A 28-year-old woman, identified as Sharon Auma, was arrested in Awasi, Nyando sub-county, on Tuesday, 15 April 2025, for illegal possession of a firearm after posting a provocative photo on her WhatsApp status. The image, which showed Auma brandishing a Canik pistol, was accompanied by a threatening message warning that any man who dared to end a relationship with her would face severe consequences. The arrest, confirmed by local police, followed a tip-off from concerned individuals who spotted the alarming post. Alongside Auma, a second woman, Nancy Atieno Obura, was…

Russian Journalists Jailed For ‘Extremism’ In Secret Trial Draw Global Outcry. Four Russian journalists have been sentenced to five and a half years in prison after a Moscow court found them guilty of extremism in a closed-door trial, sparking widespread condemnation from international human rights organisations and press freedom advocates. The journalists — Antonina Favorskaya, Konstantin Gabov, Sergei Karelin and Artyom Kriger — were convicted on Tuesday for their alleged association with the Anti-Corruption Fund, an organisation founded in 2011 by the late opposition leader, Aleksei Navalny. The group was outlawed by the Kremlin and branded as extremist. Rights…