Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

El-Rufai Leaves APC, Joins Social Democratic Party. Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP). El-Rufai announced his decision in a statement on Monday, citing dissatisfaction with the APC’s leadership and direction in recent years. He stated that after repeatedly expressing his concerns about the party’s trajectory, both privately and publicly, he had decided to seek a new political platform aligned with his progressive values. “As a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I have fond memories of working with other…

IgniteHer Bootcamp Empowers Women Entrepreneurs With Digital And Business Skills. The IgniteHer Bootcamp, an initiative by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), concluded on 7 March after five days of intensive training for women entrepreneurs. The programme, which brought together 90 female entrepreneurs, aimed to equip participants with essential digital skills, business strategies, and mentorship opportunities to scale their ventures and contribute to economic growth. As part of NITDA’s commitment to fostering gender inclusivity and digital transformation, the bootcamp addressed systemic barriers that often hinder women’s involvement in…

Parents Express Concern Over Suspected Diphtheria Outbreak At King’s College, Lagos. Parents of students at King’s College, Lagos (KCL), have raised concerns over a suspected outbreak of diphtheria in the school, which has reportedly led to the hospitalisation of some students. Several parents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, attributed the situation to poor sanitary conditions within the school. They criticised the management for its perceived lack of transparency and slow response to the crisis. Parents Demand Answers A parent, who requested anonymity, questioned the school’s silence on the issue, noting that students had…

Concerns Grow Over Delayed Implementation Of Oronsaye Panel Report. One year after the Federal Executive Council (FEC), led by President Bola Tinubu, approved aspects of the 2012 Stephen Oronsaye panel report for implementation, concerns are mounting over the lack of progress. Nigerians are increasingly demanding updates on the status of the report’s execution, with the Federal Government remaining silent despite repeated inquiries. The FEC gave its approval for implementation on 26 February 2024, in what was described as a bold move to reduce the cost of governance. Following the decision, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris,…

Real Madrid Keep Title Race Alive With Victory Over Rayo Vallecano. Real Madrid moved level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga after securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano. Two quickfire goals in the first half put Los Blancos in control at the Estadio de Vallecas. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner after cutting inside, before Vinicius Jr doubled the lead moments later with a similar finish, which took a slight deflection off Rayo defender Andrei Ratiu. However, Rayo Vallecano responded just before the break, with Pedro…

Arsenal’s Title Hopes Fade Further After Draw At Old Trafford. Mikel Arteta’s 200th Premier League game as Arsenal manager ended in disappointment, as the Gunners could only manage a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The result all but extinguishes their slim hopes of challenging for the title, leaving them trailing league leaders Liverpool by 15 points. Despite dominating possession with 68.2%, Arsenal struggled to create clear-cut chances against a United side low on confidence. Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring for the hosts with a trademark free-kick in first-half stoppage time, before Declan Rice equalised in the 74th…

Abacha Family Rejects Babangida’s Claims On June 12 Annulment. The family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has dismissed claims by former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, that their late father played a significant role in the annulment of the 12 June 1993 presidential election. In a statement issued yesterday, Abacha’s son, Mohammed, criticised Babangida’s recently published autobiography, *A Journey in Service*, stating that the former leader missed an opportunity to provide a truthful and objective account of past events. Abacha Family Challenges Babangida’s Narrative The family insisted that General Abacha was neither Head of…

Trump Administration Pressures Ukraine For Ceasefire As High-Level Talks Begin In Saudi Arabia. The Trump administration believes Ukraine’s leadership is prepared to move forward with negotiations on a ceasefire with Russia, according to a senior US State Department official. The remarks come as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz are set to arrive in Saudi Arabia for talks with Ukrainian officials on Tuesday. US President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept a swift ceasefire with Moscow. However, despite the push for peace, the US has not offered…

Mark Carney Becomes Canada’s Prime Minister, Pledges Strong Stance Against US Trade Threats. Mark Carney has won the race to succeed Justin Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister, vowing to stand firm against US President Donald Trump’s trade policies. Carney, a former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, secured a landslide victory in the Liberal Party’s leadership contest, defeating three rivals. The 59-year-old leader delivered a powerful victory speech in which he criticised Trump’s recent tariffs on Canadian goods and dismissed the US president’s controversial remarks about making Canada the 51st American state. “Americans…

Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence In Self-Defence Case In Nigeria. The Nigerian Supreme Court has recently upheld the death sentence of Sunday Jackson, a farmer from Adamawa State, for the killing of a Fulani herdsman in an incident he claimed was an act of self-defence. The ruling, delivered on 7 March 2025, has ignited widespread discussion and criticism regarding the legal interpretation of self-defence in Nigeria. Jackson’s case has drawn significant attention, particularly from human rights advocates and figures within the Christian community, who have expressed deep concerns. They argue that the decision represents a potential miscarriage of justice, highlighting…

Nigeria Boosts Energy Sector With Approval Of Three New Petrochemical Refineries. In a significant step towards energy self-sufficiency, the Federal Government of Nigeria has granted licences for the construction of three new petrochemical refineries, a move set to bolster the nation’s refining capacity and reduce its reliance on imported fuel. The announcement, made on Sunday, has been hailed as a landmark decision in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to harness its vast oil resources for domestic benefit. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) confirmed that the licences were awarded to three companies: Eghudu Refinery Ltd, MB Refinery and Petrochemicals…

Manchester City Face Unprecedented Challenge Following Loss To Nottingham. Manchester City find themselves in unfamiliar territory under Pep Guardiola after a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, marking their ninth league loss of the season. This equals their worst-ever record for league defeats in a single campaign since the Spaniard took charge. More concerning for City is the growing uncertainty around Champions League qualification, a scenario that seemed unimaginable when they secured their fourth consecutive Premier League title last May. Champions League Spot at Risk For the first time in Guardiola’s tenure, City’s place in Europe’s elite competition is in…