Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Military Cracks Down On Oil Theft, Denies Peace Deals With Bandits. The Nigerian military has thwarted an illegal oil theft operation valued at N461.7 million in the South-South region, marking a significant crackdown on economic sabotage within the past week. In a targeted operation, troops intercepted 247,629 litres of stolen crude oil and 198,374 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). The military also uncovered and dismantled an extensive network of illegal refining operations. Among the dismantled assets were 36 crude oil cooking ovens, 42 dugout pits, 28 boats, 33 storage tanks, 65 drums, and 21 illicit refining…

NiMet Forecasts Three Days Of Sunshine And Haziness Across Nigeria. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecasted a mix of sunshine and hazy conditions across the country from Friday to Sunday. In its weather outlook released on Thursday in Abuja, NiMet provided details of expected conditions across different regions. For Friday, the northern region is expected to experience sunny skies with hazy conditions, while Taraba State may witness thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening. The North Central region will have sunny skies with patches of clouds, with isolated thunderstorms anticipated over parts of Kogi and Benue states. In…

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Alleges Harassment, Faces Recall Effort. Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) has claimed that she endured sexual advances from Senate President Godswill Akpabio for over a year. She made the allegations during an interview with Sky News, stating that her recent suspension was a direct consequence of speaking out. Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Akpabio persistently pressured her to “please him” in order to enjoy the privileges of her office as a senator. She recounted that after formally making her claims public on 5 March 2025, she was suspended the following day for six months. She described the…

Backlash As National Assembly Approves State Of Emergency In Rivers State. The National Assembly has come under heavy criticism following its approval of President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. The decision, which also led to the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as the Sole Administrator, has sparked widespread discontent among political stakeholders and the public. Despite opposition calls to reject the proposal, both chambers of the National Assembly endorsed the emergency rule through a voice vote, a move that many critics argue undermines democratic principles. While the Senate introduced a clause…

Trump Signs Executive Order To Dismantle The Department Of Education. US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education, marking a significant shift in the country’s education policy. The announcement was made at the White House, where Trump outlined his administration’s plans to phase out federal oversight of education. A Move Towards State-Controlled Education Speaking at the signing ceremony, Trump declared that the order would “begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all,” a statement that was met with applause from the audience. The event was attended by…

Heathrow Airport Closes Due To Major Power Outage. Heathrow Airport, the UK’s busiest aviation hub, has been forced to shut down entirely for Friday following a significant power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation. The disruption is expected to impact thousands of travellers and flights worldwide. Passengers Warned to Stay Away   The airport has urged passengers not to travel “under any circumstances” until normal operations resume. “To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23:59 on 21 March 2025,” a spokesperson confirmed. While fire…

Kirsty Coventry Makes History As First Female And African IOC President. Kirsty Coventry has made history by becoming the first woman and first African to be elected President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Zimbabwean swimming legend was elected on 20 March in Greece, two decades after winning her first Olympic gold medal in the same country. The 41-year-old, who claimed gold in the women’s 200m backstroke at the Athens 2004 Olympics and successfully defended her title at Beijing 2008, will serve an initial eight-year term, with the possibility of a four-year extension. A Historic Victory Coventry’s election…

Oyo State Government Withdraws Charges Against Queen Naomi Over Tragic School Stampede. The Oyo State Government has officially withdrawn criminal charges against Naomi Silekunola, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife; Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, the owner of Agidigbo FM; and Abdullahi Fasasi, the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan. The charges were in connection with the tragic stampede that claimed the lives of over 35 children during a festive event in December 2024. Following the court’s decision on Thursday, the defendants were visibly relieved, smiling and exchanging pleasantries as they walked free from the legal proceedings. Attorney-General…

Senate Approves Tinubu’s State of Emergency in Rivers State. The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to impose a state of emergency in Rivers State, following a closed-door session on Thursday. This decision came hours after the House of Representatives also backed the declaration, albeit with key amendments to the original proclamation. House of Representatives Introduces Modifications During a plenary session presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, lawmakers supported the emergency rule through a voice vote but insisted on critical adjustments. The House ruled that the National Assembly, rather than the Federal Executive Council, should assume legislative…

Canada Sees Sharp Rise In Deportations, Reaching Highest Levels Since 2015. Canada has recorded its highest number of deportations since 2015, with nearly 7,300 individuals removed from the country by 19 November 2024. This represents an 8.4% increase compared to the previous year, as the government works to manage a growing backlog of refugee claims and enforce immigration policies. According to data cited by Immigration News Canada (INC) and obtained by Reuters, deportations in 2024 also marked a 95% rise compared to 2022, reflecting a significant shift in immigration enforcement. Rising Deportation Figures and Backlog The Canada Border…

Atiku, El-Rufai Leads Opposition Coalition To Challenge Tinubu In 2027. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and El-Rufai alongside other prominent political figures, has announced the formation of a new opposition coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election. Speaking at a press conference at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Thursday, Atiku, flanked by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Labour Party spokesperson Yunusa Tanko, and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha, confirmed the coalition’s objective. When asked if the gathering marked the launch of a movement to remove Tinubu from…

Rhodes-Vivour Launches ‘Our Lagos’ App To Empower Residents. Former Lagos State Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has unveiled a new mobile application, Our Lagos, aimed at providing economic opportunities and policy information for residents of the state. Speaking at the launch event, which marked the second anniversary of the 2023 general elections, Rhodes-Vivour reflected on the election’s challenges, citing reports of voter suppression and violence documented by both local and international observers. However, he emphasised that his focus remains on empowering Lagosians beyond politics. The Our Lagos app offers access to grants, skills development programmes, job opportunities,…