Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian military personnel who were detained following the unscheduled landing of a Nigerian Air Force C‑130 aircraft at Bobo-Dioulasso airfield, a move Ouagadougou authorities described as unauthorised. The group, consisting of two crew members and nine passengers, was initially held for questioning amid suspicions that the flight might be connected to the recent failed coup in Benin Republic. Following investigations, they were cleared of any wrongdoing and returned safely to Nigeria. Diverging Accounts: Nigeria vs Burkina Faso Nigerian authorities maintained that the aircraft made a technical emergency landing on its way to Portugal. The Nigerian…

A deadly nighttime blaze tore through a four-storey residential building in Shantou, a coastal city in China’s southern Guangdong province, killing 12 people, state media reported Wednesday. The fire erupted around 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday and was brought under control shortly after 10:00 p.m., according to the local fire department. Despite firefighters extinguishing the blaze within about 40 minutes, the speed and intensity of the fire left little time for escape. Initial reports had confirmed eight fatalities, with four others taken to the hospital in critical condition. By Wednesday, state media agency Xinhua confirmed that all four injured victims had…

With just eleven days to the kickoff of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle is grappling with a dual challenge: finalising Nigeria’s squad while navigating an ongoing dispute over unpaid salaries with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The tournament, set to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, will see Nigeria compete in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania. Like all participating nations, Nigeria is allowed to submit a squad of up to 28 players. CAF has set Thursday, December 11, as the deadline for final squad submissions, while clubs…

The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), has informed customers that there is a power outage affecting parts of its network — specifically around the Ogba, Ikeja, and Alausa axis of Lagos. According to a message making media rounds, the outage was triggered by a “jumper cut” at the injection substation operated by Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). A “jumper cut” refers to a fault that occurs when a jumper cable — a high‑voltage cable that helps connect transmission infrastructure — is damaged, disconnected, or intentionally severed, disrupting the flow of electricity. “Dear Customer, the current power outage is due to…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated the temporary opening of the 37.9-kilometre Bodo-Bonny Road in Rivers State—an achievement widely celebrated as a historic breakthrough for the people of Bonny Kingdom, Bodo, and broader Ogoni communities. The opening marks the end of decades of hardship defined by dangerous river travel and expensive helicopter trips that residents relied on to access Bonny Island, the home of Nigeria LNG (NLNG), and other multi-billion-dollar oil and gas installations. The road, first awarded on December 11, 2014, but later abandoned, was revived on October 20, 2017, under a renewed contract with Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.…

Abuja, Nigeria – December 9, 2025 – The Nigerian Senate has granted approval for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin, marking a significant regional intervention aimed at stabilising the neighbouring country following a recent coup attempt. Tinubu’s Request President Tinubu formally submitted a letter to the Senate seeking consent for the deployment of Nigerian troops. The letter, read during plenary by the Senate President, cited constitutional provisions that allow the President, in consultation with the National Defence Council, to deploy the armed forces abroad, followed by timely Senate approval. The letter emphasized…

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FG), has directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), to carry over 70 per cent of their 2025 capital allocations into the 2026 fiscal year. The directive, aimed at strengthening budget continuity and ensuring completion of ongoing projects, comes amid mounting fiscal pressures and constrained revenues. The Directive The instruction is contained in the 2026 Abridged Budget Call Circular, issued by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and circulated to ministers, service chiefs, and heads of agencies. The circular outlines a new framework that caps all 2026 capital budget ceilings at 70 per cent…

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has issued a detailed clarification regarding reports about the diversion and landing of one of its C-130 Hercules aircraft in Burkina Faso, stressing that the decision was a precautionary safety measure fully aligned with standard aviation procedures and international protocols. According to NAF, the aircraft—on a scheduled ferry mission to Portugal—was compelled to divert to the nearest suitable airfield after its crew detected a technical concern shortly after takeoff from Lagos on 8 December 2025. In a statement released on Tuesday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Air…

In a tense escalation in West Africa, the Government of Burkina Faso announced on Monday, December 8, 2025, that a Nigerian Air Force aircraft carrying 11 soldiers was forced to land in the country after reportedly violating its airspace. The development was reported by the Agence d’Information du Burkina, the state-run news agency, which published a statement from the Confederation of Sahel States (AES). The statement, translated from French, read: “The Confederation of Sahel States informs the public that a C130 aircraft belonging to the Air Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was forced to land today, December 8,…

The United States and Rwanda have formalised a new five-year, $228 million health cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening Rwanda’s health system, combating infectious diseases, and advancing the America First Global Health Strategy. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), was signed in Washington by Jeremy Lewin, Senior Official and Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom, and Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. According to the State Department, the agreement represents its second bilateral health cooperation pact and outlines a strategy intended to “save lives, strengthen Rwanda’s health system, and make America safer, stronger, and…

The United States government and the European Commission issued a joint statement last week Thursday reaffirming their commitment to strengthening peace, stability, and economic development in Africa’s Great Lakes region, with a major focus on advancing the ambitious Lobito Corridor infrastructure project. The declaration underscores growing transatlantic alignment on boosting investment in Central Africa, where both Washington and Brussels see economic growth as essential to long-term regional stability. Central to that vision is the Lobito Corridor—a strategic rail and infrastructure network designed to connect the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito. Officials said the…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has granted final operating licences to 82 Bureau‑De‑Change (BDC), operators under its updated regulatory framework. The new licences became effective on November 27, 2025. CBN has warned the public to only transact with BDCs whose names appear on its official website, reminding that dealing with unlicensed operators is risky and unlawful. This move aligns with the bank’s 2024 overhaul of the BDC regulatory framework — part of efforts to clean up the foreign‑exchange (FX) market, stamp out illicit or unregulated forex trading, and restore trust in legitimate currency trading channels. Understanding the new BDC…