Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Oborevwori Signs Power Sector Bill And Six Others, Declares Delta Open For Investment. Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has signed seven key bills into law, including the landmark Delta State Electricity Power Sector Bill, 2024, which he described as a “game changer” in the state’s quest for rapid industrialisation. Other bills assented to include the Delta State Physical and Regional Planning Bill, 2024; Delta State Film and Video Censor’s Board Bill, 2024; Registration and Regulation of Private Veterinary Clinics (Amendment) Law, 2024; Child Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2024; Delta State Pet Control and Responsible Ownership Bill, 2024; and the Delta…

Adesina Urges Investment In African Youths, Not Handouts. President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has emphasised the need for genuine capital investment in young people across Africa, stressing that empowerment should go beyond small handouts and focus instead on meaningful support that transforms ideas into wealth. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Adesina addressed Nigeria’s growing ‘Japa’ trend – a term used to describe the mass migration of young Nigerians seeking better opportunities abroad – describing it as a major loss for both the country and the continent at large. “Young people don’t…

Heroic Ten-Man Rangers Hold Athletic Bilbao In Europa League Thriller. Rangers delivered a spirited and defiant performance at Ibrox to keep their Europa League hopes alive, battling to a dramatic goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao despite being reduced to ten men early in the match. The Scottish side entered the encounter under significant pressure, having suffered a club-record five consecutive home defeats. With the Spanish visitors widely considered favourites, the odds were stacked against the hosts from the outset. Their task became even more daunting just 13 minutes into the match when Robin Propper was shown a red…

Amorim Backs Under-Fire Onana After Europa League Errors. Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has offered a strong show of support for goalkeeper Andre Onana, following criticism and high-profile mistakes in the club’s Europa League quarter-final first-leg draw against Lyon. The Cameroonian was at fault for both of Lyon’s goals in Thursday’s 2-2 result, prompting fresh scrutiny just a day after former United midfielder Nemanja Matic labelled him “one of the worst goalkeepers” in the club’s history. Despite the criticism, Amorim stood firmly behind his player, admitting his own shortcomings and calling for perspective. “If you look at the…

NDLEA Arrests 112 Suspects, Seizes 56kg Of Drugs In Ebonyi State. The Ebonyi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of 112 individuals for drug-related offences and the seizure of nearly 56 kilogrammes of illicit substances in the first quarter of 2025. In a statement issued by the State Commander, Mr Peter Ogar, the agency revealed that the arrests were made between January and March and involved 85 males and 27 females, ranging in age from 16 to 76 years. The arrests covered a spectrum of drug-related crimes including dealing, usage, and…

Lagos Government Warns House Agents Against Illegal Fees, Reaffirms Rent Limit. The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to regulating rent practices in the real estate sector by upholding the enforcement of monthly, quarterly, and yearly rent payments—limited to a maximum of one year in advance. In a joint statement released on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, alongside the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, emphasised the administration’s resolve to promote fairness and transparency in housing transactions across the state. Speaking during a recent engagement with leaders of the Estate, Rent and…

Nigerian Broadcasting Commission Bans Eedris Abdulkareem’s Protest Song ‘Tell Your Papa’. The Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has imposed a nationwide ban on the latest protest song by veteran Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem, titled “Tell Your Papa”, prohibiting its airplay on radio and television stations across the country. The decision, announced earlier today, has sparked widespread discussion about freedom of expression and the role of music as a tool for social commentary in Nigeria. In a statement released on Thursday, the NBC cited the song’s “objectionable nature” as the reason for the ban, arguing that its lyrics fail to meet…

Rivers State Administrator Approves Recruitment Of 10,000 People Into Civil Service. Rivers State Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has approved the recruitment of 10,000 eligible graduates and non-graduates into the state’s civil service. The announcement, made earlier today, has been hailed as a significant step towards addressing unemployment and empowering the youth of the region. The decision comes amidst ongoing efforts by the Rivers State government to revitalise its workforce and stimulate economic growth. Vice Admiral Ibas, a highly respected figure who assumed the role of Sole Administrator following a period of political transition in the state,…

Dangote Refinery Reduces Petrol Price To ₦865 Amid Ongoing Policy Support. In a welcome development for consumers, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to ₦865 per litre. This marks a ₦15 decrease from the previous price of ₦880 per litre recorded just a day earlier. According to Punch, the refinery communicated the new price in a customer notice issued on Thursday morning. The adjustment has also been confirmed by industry tracker petroleumprice.ng. This price reduction follows recent developments concerning the federal government’s crude-for-naira initiative, which had experienced…

NCDC Identifies Three States As Epicentre In Ongoing Lassa Fever Outbreak. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has identified Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo states as the epicentres of the Lassa fever outbreak currently affecting the country. Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, the NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, revealed that the three states have collectively contributed over 70 per cent of the confirmed Lassa fever cases reported so far in 2025. Dr Idris stated that between January and the end of March 2025, Nigeria recorded 660 confirmed cases of Lassa fever. Ondo State accounted…

DR Congo Hands Over Americans Jailed Over Failed Coup Attempt. Three United States citizens who were sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for their involvement in a failed coup attempt have been repatriated to the US after their sentences were commuted to life imprisonment. The handover was confirmed on Tuesday by Congolese presidential spokesperson Tina Salama, who stated that the trio — including Marcel Malanga, the son of coup leader and political exile Christian Malanga — will now serve their life sentences in the United States. The coup attempt, which occurred in May 2024,…

OPay Celebrates Prestigious Fintech Award Win At Leadership Awards. In a momentous achievement for Nigeria’s financial sector, OPay has been crowned the Fintech Company of the Year 2024 at the esteemed Leadership Awards. The glittering ceremony, held on 8 April at the iconic Aso Rock Villa, recognised OPay as the sole fintech recipient, spotlighting its remarkable contributions to innovation, security, and financial inclusion across the nation. OPay stood out amongst a competitive field of contenders, earning the accolade for its steadfast dedication to broadening financial access for tens of millions of Nigerians, particularly those in unbanked and underbanked communities. The…