Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Nigeria Mourns Loss Of Consul General In Cameroon, Ambassador Taofik Obasanjo Coker. The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the passing of Ambassador Taofik Obasanjo Coker, Nigeria’s Consul General in Buea, Cameroon. The 59-year-old diplomat died on Saturday, 16 August 2025, following a brief illness, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated service to his nation. The announcement was made on Wednesday, 20 August, in a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, who described Coker’s death as a profound loss to Nigeria’s diplomatic community. Ambassador Coker, appointed as Consul General in Buea in April 2024, assumed his…

Senegal Overpower D’Tigers 91-75 To End Nigeria’s AfroBasket Dreams. Nigeria’s D’Tigers suffered a crushing defeat in the quarter-finals of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket Championship, falling 91-75 to a dominant Senegal side on Wednesday at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Luanda in Angola. The loss abruptly ended Nigeria’s hopes of reclaiming the continental title they last won in 2015, leaving fans and players disheartened after a promising campaign. The Nigerian team, led by head coach Mohammed Abdulrahman, entered the match unbeaten, having topped Group B with commanding victories over Madagascar (77-59), Tunisia (87-66), and Cameroon (99-90). However, Senegal, five-time AfroBasket champions,…

Tinubu Urges UN Security Council Reform For African Representation At TICAD9. President Bola Tinubu has called for significant reforms to the United Nations Security Council, advocating for Africa to secure two permanent seats with full privileges. Speaking at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan, on Wednesday, the Nigerian leader stressed that the continent’s quest for equitable representation is both just and overdue. He also argued for additional non-permanent seats, aligning with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, which reflect Africa’s long-standing position on global governance reform. Addressing the plenary session on peace and…

Naira Marley Alleges Mohbad Used Mother-in-Law’s Account For Payments. Nigerian music executive Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has sparked controversy with claims that the late singer Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, known as Mohbad, used his mother-in-law’s bank account to receive payments. The revelation, made in a tell-all YouTube interview on 20 August 2025, has reignited public interest in the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s life and death. Marley recounted that on 21 December 2020, Mohbad sent him bank details under the name Adesanya Justina Olajumoke, insisting it was his account for receiving payments. Marley later discovered the account belonged…

Nigerian Government Closes Over 13 Million Social Media Accounts For Offensive Content. The Nigerian Federal Government has taken bold steps to regulate the digital space, shutting down approximately 13,597,057 social media accounts across platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X. The mass closure, announced on 20 August 2025, targets accounts deemed to have violated Nigeria’s Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms due to offensive content and breaches of conduct. According to the Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report, jointly prepared by major tech companies including Google, Microsoft, and TikTok, a staggering 58,909,112 pieces of offensive content…

Nigeria Launches Asfaar, First Visa Application Agency To Combat Fraud. The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced Asfaar, the country’s inaugural visa application agency, designed to streamline travel requests and tackle document fraud. Unveiled on 19 August 2025 in Abuja, the initiative, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to enhance the integrity of Nigeria’s visa processes and strengthen international travel protocols. Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, represented by his Special Assistant on Media, Alkasim Abdulkadir, described Asfaar as a pivotal step in safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty. Speaking at the launch, Tuggar highlighted longstanding concerns from foreign…

Arsenal’s Kai Havertz Sidelined With Knee Injury, Prompting Transfer Market Rethink. Arsenal forward Kai Havertz faces an uncertain period on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury, the club confirmed on 20 August 2025, dealing a significant blow to Mikel Arteta’s attacking plans for the 2025/26 Premier League season. The 26-year-old German international, who has been a key figure for the Gunners since his 2023 move from Chelsea, missed an open training session at the Emirates Stadium, raising concerns among fans and prompting the club to explore forward options in the transfer market. The injury, reported by The Athletic’s David…

Amir Khan Brings World-Class Boxing To Nigeria With Historic Lagos Fight Night. Former world boxing champion Amir Khan is set to make history by staging Nigeria’s first major professional boxing event, titled *Chaos In The Ring*, in Lagos on 1 October 2025, coinciding with Nigerian Independence Day. Partnering with Dr Ezekiel Adamu’s Balmoral Group Promotions and backed by the National Sports Commission of Nigeria, the event will be broadcast globally on DAZN, showcasing a blend of international stars and local talent in a landmark moment for African boxing. Khan, who promoted a successful card in Ghana in June, aims to…

INEC Restricts PVC Collection To Commission Offices For 2025 Voter Registration. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria has announced that eligible voters participating in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which began on 18 August 2025, must collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) exclusively from INEC offices. This directive, aimed at streamlining the electoral process ahead of off-cycle elections in Anambra, Osun, and Ekiti States, as well as the 2027 general elections, has sparked widespread discussion among Nigerians preparing to exercise their democratic rights. The CVR, which allows new voters, those transferring their voter registration, or…

20-Year-Old Australian Declares Himself President Of New Micro-nation Between Croatia And Serbia. A 20-year-old Australian has captured global attention by declaring himself president of a self-proclaimed micronation, the Free Republic of Verdis, established on a disputed 125-acre patch of forest along the Danube River between Croatia and Serbia. Daniel Jackson, a digital designer who creates virtual worlds on the gaming platform Roblox, founded the fledgling nation in 2019, turning a teenage dream into a reality that now boasts nearly 400 citizens, a flag, a cabinet, and its own currency. The idea for Verdis began when Jackson was just…

Chinese Firm Set To Launch World’s First Pregnancy-Simulating Humanoid Robot By 2026. A Chinese technology company, Kaiwa Technology, based in Guangzhou, has announced plans to introduce a revolutionary humanoid robot capable of simulating human pregnancy through an artificial womb. The ambitious project, revealed at the 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing, is expected to debut a working prototype in 2026, potentially transforming reproductive science and sparking global debate. The humanoid robot, priced at under 100,000 yuan (approximately £10,000), is designed to replicate the full gestation process, from conception to delivery. Unlike traditional neonatal incubators, the robot’s artificial womb…

Nigeria Pledges Reciprocal Visa Measures As US Tightens Rules For Applicants. The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to introduce reciprocal visa requirements for American citizens in response to new, stricter US visa policies targeting Nigerians. The US government now mandates that Nigerian visa applicants disclose their social media profiles and activities from the past five years, with failure to comply potentially leading to visa denial or future entry bans, according to a statement from the US Mission in Nigeria. The new US regulation, an expansion of rules previously applied to international student visa applicants, requires Nigerians…