Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi Declares 2026 Governorship Bid In Osun State. Former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Benedict Alabi, has formally declared his intention to contest the state’s governorship election slated for 2026. The announcement was made during a special service at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Ile-Ife, where Alabi, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), revealed that his decision to run was inspired by divine direction and deep personal reflection. Alabi, who hails from Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area—part of the Osun West Senatorial District—made his declaration at a time when calls…

Nigeria Introduces Stricter Immigration Rules To Curb Visa Overstays. The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced a new set of immigration reforms aimed at curbing visa overstays and strengthening expatriate regulation in the country. Speaking in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced that foreigners who overstay their visas by more than six months will now face a five-year entry ban, while those who overstay for up to a year will be subject to a 10-year ban. Additionally, a daily fine of $15 will apply from the day a visa expires. These measures will come…

Edo Private School Owners Protest Over ‘Outrageous’ Tax Hike. Private school owners in Edo State took to the streets of Benin City on Friday in a peaceful demonstration against what they described as an “outrageous” increase in income taxes imposed by the state government. Operating under the Coalition of Associations of Private Schools (CAPS), the proprietors—carrying placards and banners—gathered in front of the Ministry of Education to voice their concerns. The coalition includes the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), the Association for Formidable Education Development (AFED), the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), and…

Eleven Russians Detained In Tunisia Over Terrorism Allegations Released Without Charge. A group of eleven Russian nationals detained in Tunisia last November on suspicion of terrorist activity have been released and are expected to return home shortly, Russian state media reported on Friday. The individuals were apprehended near Tunisia’s border with Algeria and had been held for several months under suspicion of “involvement in terrorist activities”. However, they were never formally charged by Tunisian authorities. While Tunisian police initially raised concerns over equipment allegedly found in the group’s possession—items which the Russian embassy in Tunis claimed “did not…

First Lady Oluremi Launches ‘Free To Shine’ Campaign To Combat HIV/AIDS In Taraba. Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Friday launched the ‘Free to Shine’ campaign in Taraba State, a bold initiative aimed at eradicating HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis among women of reproductive age. Speaking at the official flag-off ceremony in Jalingo, the First Lady explained that the campaign specifically targets women and young people, with a key focus on preventing mother-to-child transmission and providing access to treatment for children living with HIV. “This campaign will be carried out across all six geopolitical zones, and what we…

Paramilitary Attack On Displacement Camp In Sudan Leaves Dozens Dead Amid Growing Humanitarian Crisis. At least 25 civilians have been killed in Sudan’s war-torn North Darfur state following a brutal assault on a famine-stricken displacement camp, local activists reported on Friday. The deadly incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as the battle for control of El-Fasher, the last army-held city in Darfur, intensifies. According to the local resistance committee in El-Fasher—a volunteer aid group operating under siege—shelling and heavy gunfire rained down on the Zamzam…

Arteta Confirms Saka And Rice Fit For Brentford Clash. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that both Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are fit and available for Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Brentford, much to the relief of the club’s supporters. The England duo were instrumental in the Gunners’ 3-0 victory over Real Madrid earlier in the week, with Saka winning the free-kicks from which Rice scored twice. However, both players had to be withdrawn from the match after picking up minor knocks, raising concerns over their availability. Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Arteta revealed that the…

Concerns Mount As Afghanistan Carries Out Public Executions Across Provinces. Afghanistan’s Supreme Court has confirmed the public execution of four men on Friday, marking the highest number of executions in a single day since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The executions took place in sports stadiums across three provinces — Badghis, Nimroz, and Farah — bringing the total number of public executions since 2021 to ten, according to an AFP tally. Witnesses in Qala-i-Naw, the capital of Badghis province, reported that two men were executed in front of gathered spectators. The men were made to sit with…

China Escalates Tariffs On U.S. Goods To 125% As Trade Tensions Deepen. In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing trade dispute with the United States, China has announced it will increase tariffs on all U.S. imports from 84% to 125%, effective from tomorrow, 12 April 2025. The move marks a significant step towards what analysts are calling the “decoupling” of the world’s two largest economies, raising fears of broader economic fallout across global markets. The Chinese Finance Ministry described the tariff hike as a direct response to recent U.S. policies, accusing Washington of undermining fair trade practices. “The U.S.…

Israeli Military Issues New Evacuation Orders Amid Ongoing Offensive In Gaza. The Israeli military has issued fresh evacuation orders for neighbourhoods in eastern Gaza City as it continues its operations across the Gaza Strip. The orders, announced on Friday, targeted areas already designated for evacuation in the previous week, indicating that some residents had remained despite earlier warnings. This latest development comes as part of Israel’s wider campaign in Gaza following the collapse of a ceasefire with Hamas in March. The military has since advanced into various parts of the territory, aiming to establish what it terms a “security…

Obasanjo Champions New African Mindset At Premiere Of ‘The Decolonisation Of Africa’. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on Africans to embrace a new mindset if the continent is to achieve true decolonisation and take its rightful place on the world stage. He made the statement at the African premiere of *The Decolonisation of Africa*, a groundbreaking documentary hosted by Accelerate Media Group at The Metropolitan Club in Lagos. The film was executive produced by Colette Otusheso, CEO of Accelerate Media, and inspired by a profound conversation with Obasanjo, rooted in the late Dr Herbert Wigwe’s vision of empowering…

Nigeria And Pakistan Deepen Military Ties Through High-Level Strategic Visit. In a significant move to strengthen military cooperation, Nigeria welcomed the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Pakistan, General Shahir Shamsad Mirza, to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday. During his visit, General Mirza held talks with Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, who commended the engagement as a meaningful step towards reinforcing bilateral defence relations. General Musa expressed Nigeria’s strong commitment to enhancing collaboration with Pakistan, especially in the areas of capacity building and joint training programmes. He highlighted…