Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Dangote Refinery Begins Nationwide Fuel Distribution With Free Shipping. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has commenced a groundbreaking initiative to distribute petrol and diesel directly to retailers across Nigeria, effective today, with the added benefit of free shipping. This move is set to transform the country’s fuel supply chain, aiming to stabilise pump prices and ease distribution bottlenecks for retailers and consumers alike. The refinery, Africa’s largest single-train facility located in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, has introduced this programme to ensure a steady and affordable fuel supply nationwide. By absorbing transportation costs, Dangote Refinery seeks to reduce financial pressures on retailers,…

Senegal Introduces Reciprocal E-Visa Policy In Bold Move For Fairness. Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has announced a transformative new e-visa policy, requiring travellers from countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, and China to pay visa fees before entering Senegal. This policy, rooted in the principle of reciprocity, marks a significant step towards asserting Senegal’s sovereignty and demanding equitable treatment in global travel protocols. Unveiled during a major economic policy briefing, the initiative is part of the “Senegal 2050” strategic vision, championed by President Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. The government estimates that the…

President Tinubu Appoints Rotimi Pedro As New NTA Director-General In Major Leadership Overhaul. President Bola Tinubu has appointed Rotimi Pedro as the new Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), marking a significant restructuring of the state broadcaster’s leadership. The announcement, made earlier today, signals the administration’s intent to revitalise the nation’s premier television network and enhance its role in shaping public discourse. Rotimi Pedro, a seasoned media professional with extensive experience in broadcasting and management, is expected to bring fresh vision to the NTA. His appointment follows a comprehensive review of the organisation’s operations, aimed at improving efficiency,…

African Union Backs Campaign To Redraw World Map With Accurate African Scale. The African Union (AU) has endorsed a transformative campaign to replace the 16th-century Mercator map, which significantly distorts Africa’s true size, with the Equal Earth projection. Announced on 14 August 2025, the initiative, led by advocacy groups Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, seeks to ensure that governments, schools, and international organisations adopt maps that accurately reflect the continent’s vast scale and global significance. The Mercator projection, designed by cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569 for maritime navigation, inflates the size of landmasses near the poles, such…

US Doubles Reward To $50M For Capture Of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro. Washington, DC – The United States has escalated its pursuit of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, doubling the reward for information leading to his arrest to $50 million (£37.2 million), up from $25 million set in January 2025. The announcement, made by US Attorney General Pam Bondi on 7 August 2025, accuses Maduro of being a major narco-trafficker, allegedly collaborating with criminal syndicates to flood the US with fentanyl-laced cocaine. In a video statement posted on X, Bondi described Maduro as “one of the world’s largest narco-traffickers and a…

NELFUND Outlines Plan To Recover Student Loans Two Years After NYSC. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has detailed a robust strategy to recover interest-free student loans, ensuring sustainable financing for higher education, as announced by its Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, on 13 August 2025. The repayment process, designed to be flexible and fair, will commence two years after beneficiaries complete their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, supporting President Bola Tinubu’s vision of accessible education for all Nigerian students. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Sawyerr explained that NELFUND, established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher…

Drogba Submits Petition For Fair Transfer Of Ademola Lookman. Milan, Italy – Football legend Didier Drogba arrived in Italy on 14 August 2025 to present a 50-page petition to Atalanta, calling for a fair and transparent transfer process for Ademola Lookman, the 2024 CAF African Player of the Year. The petition, endorsed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), underscores the need for accountability in global football transfers, particularly for Africa’s brightest talents. Drogba, a two-time CAF Player of the Year and former Chelsea star, has taken a bold stand to ensure that Lookman, the Nigerian forward who has…

Nigeria Introduces E-Visa System For Swift 48-Hour Visa Processing. The Nigerian government has launched a groundbreaking electronic visa (e-visa) system, enabling international visitors to obtain entry visas within just 48 hours, according to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. This transformative initiative, announced on 14 August 2025, aims to boost tourism, streamline business travel, and enhance Nigeria’s appeal as a global destination. The new e-visa system marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s immigration policy, replacing cumbersome manual processes with a fully automated, online platform. Speaking on the television programme *Politics Today*, Minister Tunji-Ojo highlighted the economic potential of…

Lagos State Government Schedules Night Repairs For Maryland Independence Bridge. The Lagos State Government has announced a four-day partial closure of the Maryland Independence Bridge to facilitate essential repairs. The maintenance work, targeting a damaged section of the bridge’s wall and expansion joints, is set to take place from Saturday, 16 August, to Tuesday, 19 August 2025, between 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. daily, as confirmed by the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi. To minimise disruption, the repairs will occur during late-night hours when traffic is lighter. Motorists travelling inbound to Oshodi, Ojuelegba, Stadium, or Lagos Island will be…

D’Tigress Soar To Eighth In FIBA Women’s World Rankings. Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have achieved a historic milestone, climbing to eighth place in the latest FIBA Women’s World Rankings, as announced on 14 August. This remarkable rise from their previous 11th position marks their highest-ever ranking and solidifies their status as the only African team to break into the global top 10. The team’s ascent follows a stellar performance at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan, where they clinched their fifth consecutive title and seventh overall with a commanding 78-64 victory over Mali in the final. This…

Nigeria Aims To Become Steel Powerhouse By 2030, Says President Tinubu. President Bola Tinubu has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform Nigeria into a regional steel powerhouse by 2030, targeting an annual production of 10 million tonnes of liquid steel. The pledge, announced during the inaugural National Steel Summit in Abuja on 13 August, is part of a broader strategy to revitalise the nation’s steel industry, create over 500,000 jobs, and reduce reliance on imported steel, which currently accounts for over 90% of consumption. Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the two-day summit themed “Rebuilding and Consolidating Nigeria’s…

Dangote Group Pledges Full Support For Phyna’s Sister Injured In Truck Accident. The Dangote Group has committed to covering all medical expenses and providing compensation for Ruth Otabor, the sister of Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner Ijeoma “Phyna” Otabor, following a tragic accident involving one of its trucks. The incident, which occurred near Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State on 13 August 2025, left Ruth with severe injuries, including the amputation of one leg, sparking widespread public outcry. In a statement released on 14 August via its official X account, Dangote Group confirmed that senior officials from Dangote Cement…