Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Ogun State Government Allocates N16.5 Million To Boost National Sports Festival Preparation. The Ogun State Government has approved a sum of N16.5 million to support 33 sports associations in preparation for the 22nd National Sports Festival, set to take place from 16 to 30 May in the state. As part of the preparation, state athletes are expected to commence closed-door training immediately to ensure peak performance at the event. The announcement was made by the Secretary to the Ogun State Government (SSG), Mr Tokunbo Talabi, during a stakeholder engagement at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta. He…

Tragedy In Badagry As Ex-Police Officer Allegedly Kills Two Family Members Over Land Dispute. The Yovoyan community in Badagry, Lagos, was plunged into mourning on Tuesday morning following a violent attack allegedly carried out by a former police officer. The suspect reportedly shot and killed two of his family members, as well as another individual, over a land dispute. According to reports, the victims—Mr Richard Atideka and Mrs Latevi Atideka from Yovoyan community, along with Mr Muji Onilude from the neighbouring Gberefu community—were killed by the ex-police officer and an unidentified accomplice. A survivor of the attack, Mr…

Sterling Bank Scraps Online Transfer Fees And Promises Refunds In Groundbreaking Move. In a bold step that has sent ripples through the Nigerian banking sector, Sterling Bank has announced it will refund all customers charged transfer fees for online transactions made on 1 April 2025. The bank also confirmed that, effective immediately, it will no longer impose fees on online transfers for local transactions carried out via its mobile app, marking a significant win for customers. The announcement, initially met with scepticism due to its timing on April Fools’ Day, has been verified as genuine by multiple sources, including…

Tribunal Upholds Governor Okpebholo’s Election Victory In Edo State. The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has dismissed a petition seeking to nullify the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a unanimous decision on Wednesday, the three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, also rejected a request for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh governorship election in the state. The petition was filed by the Accord Party (AP) and its governorship candidate, who alleged that the election, held on 21 September 2024, was marred by…

Democratic Party Sues Trump Administration Over Election Law Changes. The Democratic Party has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over new executive measures that seek to impose major changes on the US election system, including requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration and limiting the counting of mail-in ballots. The lawsuit, filed on Monday in a Washington federal court, challenges the executive order titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” which prevents states from counting mail-in ballots arriving after election day and mandates that voters present citizenship documents, such as a passport, when registering to vote.…

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour Criticises Health Scheme, Sanwo-Olu’s Aide Defends Policy. The Lagos State Government has responded to criticism from former governorship candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour regarding Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order on the Social Health Insurance Scheme. Rhodes-Vivour expressed concerns that the scheme would worsen economic hardship by mandating a ₦15,000 monthly contribution from residents. However, Sanwo-Olu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, clarified that the required amount is an annual premium, not a monthly fee. Akosile explained that the initiative aligns with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act of 2022, which mandates social health insurance for…

Ponzi Scheme Operators Face 10-Year Jail Term And ₦20 Million Fine Under New Law. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced stricter penalties for promoters and operators of Ponzi schemes in Nigeria, following the enactment of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025. Under the new law, individuals involved in fraudulent investment schemes face a minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a fine of no less than ₦20 million. This marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s regulatory framework, equipping the SEC with enhanced powers to crack down on fraudulent financial activities that have victimised millions of Nigerians.…

Danish Prime Minister To Visit Greenland Amid U.S. Interest. Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, is set to visit Greenland on Wednesday for talks with the territory’s incoming government, as international interest in the Arctic island continues to grow. The visit follows repeated expressions of interest from U.S. President Donald Trump in Greenland, as well as a recent trip by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, which was met with a frosty reception from both Denmark and Greenland’s leadership. Greenland’s incoming Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who recently won the general election and is forming a coalition government, welcomed Frederiksen’s visit, reaffirming…

Minister Warns Oil Block Owners Over Development Delays. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has issued a stern warning to oil block owners who have failed to develop their allocated resources, threatening to withdraw such licences. Speaking on the matter, the minister emphasised the government’s commitment to maximising the country’s oil and gas potential. He noted that undeveloped oil blocks pose a significant challenge to Nigeria’s energy sector and economic growth, stressing that action must be taken against non-performing operators. “We cannot afford to have valuable oil assets lying fallow while the country seeks…

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Accuses Senate President Akpabio And Yahaya Bello Of Plotting Her Assassination. Suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has levelled serious allegations against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, accusing them of plotting to have her killed and orchestrating her recall petition. Addressing a crowd of supporters at her homecoming rally in Kogi on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan shared what she described as an alarming sequence of events. She claimed that the recall petition against her, recently received by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was part of a…

Tinubu Appoints Bashir Bayo Ojulari As NNPC CEO, Restructures Board. President Bola Tinubu has appointed Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, replacing Mele Kyari. The restructuring also includes the appointment of Ahmadu Musa Kida as the new non-executive chairman, replacing Chief Pius Akinyelure. The announcement was made by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who confirmed that all board members appointed alongside Kyari and Akinyelure in November 2023 have been removed. The new 11-member board is expected to drive reforms aimed at increasing investment, improving oil and gas production,…

Icelandic Authorities Act Swiftly As Volcano Erupts Near Grindavik. A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted on Tuesday, prompting swift evacuations in the town of Grindavik and the temporary closure of the popular Blue Lagoon tourist site. This marks the 11th volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula since 2021, highlighting a period of heightened geological activity in the region. Aerial footage released by authorities showed molten lava flowing across the landscape, with thick white clouds rising into the sky following the eruption, which began at 9:45 a.m. Grindavik, a small fishing town located around 25 miles southwest of the…