Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

President Tinubu Signs ₦54.99 Trillion Budget, Highlights Economic Progress. President Bola Tinubu has signed the 2025 budget of ₦54.99 trillion, assuring Nigerians that the government’s strategic reforms are driving progress and economic recovery. Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Tinubu expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, stating, “Today, we see a light at the end of the tunnel. We can see signs of progress.” The National Assembly had passed the budget on 13 February 2025, increasing the initial proposal of ₦54.2 trillion to ₦54.99 trillion. The budget signing was attended by key government officials,…

Bauchi State Government Shuts Schools For Five Weeks For Ramadan. The Bauchi State government has announced the closure of all schools across the state for five weeks in preparation for the 2025 Ramadan fast. The closure, which will take effect from 1st March to 5th April, applies to all public and private primary, junior and secondary schools, as well as higher institutions of learning. The decision was confirmed by Mr Jalaludeen Maina, the Information Officer for the Ministry of Education, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Friday. He explained that the holiday…

Russia Praises Trump After Heated Exchange With Zelenskyy. Russian officials have expressed approval of U.S. President Donald Trump following his intense confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their recent meeting in Washington. The Oval Office exchange has been viewed as a sign of growing tensions between the United States and Ukraine. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia’s foreign ministry, commended Trump’s “restraint” during the argument, stating, “How Trump and [Vice President] Vance held back from hitting that scumbag is a miracle of restraint.” Similarly, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, described Zelenskyy as…

Wike, Fubara Reactions As Supreme Court Nullifies Rivers LG Election. The Supreme Court has declared the local government election conducted in Rivers State on 5 October 2024 as invalid, ruling that it was conducted in violation of the Electoral Act. The verdict also includes directives halting the release of funds to the state government and reinstating 27 lawmakers who had been removed amid political tensions. Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Jamilu Tukur stated that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) failed to meet the necessary legal conditions before organising the election, rendering the process null and void. The…

NUJ Urges Media Houses To Prioritise Salary Payment And Insurance for Journalists. The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, has called on media houses to prioritise the payment of salaries and provide insurance coverage for their staff. The appeal was made in a communiqué issued at the end of the union’s monthly congress, held on Friday at the NUJ Secretariat in Iyaganku, Ibadan. The communiqué, prepared by Comrades Akeem Abas (Chairman), Olamide Adeniji (Secretary), and Dayo Adu (Member), highlighted the rapid increase in the number of radio stations in Oyo State, particularly in Ibadan. While acknowledging the…

Tinubu Urges NIPSS Graduates To Lead Nigeria’s Digital Transformation. President Bola Tinubu has called on graduates of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and other policymakers to take the lead in driving Nigeria’s digital transformation and tech-driven economic growth. Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the Senior Executive Course 46 of NIPSS in Kuru, Plateau State, on Friday, Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to revitalising the institute. He outlined plans to fully digitise its operations, develop an advanced e-library, and establish virtual learning platforms to ensure that executive education remains…

Mojisola Meranda Retains Speakership Of Lagos Assembly Amid Leadership Row. Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have firmly backed Mrs Mojisola Meranda as Speaker, dismissing claims of her resignation amid a brewing leadership dispute. The declaration came from Stephen Ogundipe, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, during a press briefing in Lagos on Friday. The affirmation follows dramatic scenes on Thursday when ousted Speaker Mudashiru Obasa stormed the Assembly complex with a heavy security presence, proclaiming his return to the top post. Obasa, who was removed in January over allegations of misconduct and…

Microsoft To Shut Down Skype In May 2025, Ending An Era Of Video Calling. Microsoft has announced that it will permanently shut down Skype, the pioneering video calling service, in May 2025. The decision, revealed today, brings to a close over two decades of connecting people across the globe, with the tech giant urging users to transition to its Microsoft Teams platform instead. Launched in 2003, Skype quickly became a household name, revolutionising how people communicated by offering free voice and video calls over the internet at a time when international phone charges were steep. Microsoft acquired the service…

NPFL Pledges To Boost Players’ Futures With Sports And Education Initiative. The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has unveiled an ambitious plan to enhance the prospects of its players by integrating sports with educational opportunities, marking a transformative step for Nigerian football. In a landmark announcement, NPFL Chairman Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye outlined the league’s commitment to supporting young footballers in balancing their athletic careers with academic development. The initiative, revealed following a meeting in Abuja with representatives from the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, aims to secure a brighter future for players beyond the pitch. Speaking…

Senator Natasha Accuses Senate President Godswill Akpabio Of Sexual Harassment In a shocking revelation, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. The allegations, aired during an interview with Arise Television on Friday, have sparked controversy within Nigeria’s political circles. Akpabio, through his media consultant Kenny Okulogbo, has vehemently denied the claims, dismissing them as baseless. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that the Senate President made inappropriate advances towards her, which she rejected, leading to what she described as persistent harassment and professional sabotage. She recounted a specific incident on 8 December 2023, when she…

Supreme Court Halts Funding To Rivers State Government In Landmark Ruling. The Supreme Court of Nigeria has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation to immediately cease releasing financial allocations to the Rivers State Government. The ruling, delivered on Friday by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, mandates that the directive remain in effect until Governor Siminalayi Fubara halts what the court described as “illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional activities.” The apex court’s five-member panel, led by Justice Musa Uwani Aba-Aji, issued a scathing rebuke of Governor Fubara’s actions, accusing him of undermining the rule…

NAFDAC Halts Registration Of Multi-Dose Anti-Malarial Suspension Artemether/Lumefantrine. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the discontinuation of the registration of Multi-Dose Anti-Malarial (Artemether/Lumefantrine) dry powder for oral suspension. The decision, detailed in Public Alert No. 01/2025 published on the agency’s website on Thursday, comes after evidence revealed instability in the reconstituted formulations, posing risks to their effectiveness. The suspension applies to all locally produced and imported versions of the Multi-Dose Artemether/Lumefantrine dry powder for oral use. NAFDAC has confirmed it will no longer process new applications, renewals, or variations for this product.…