Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Trump Calls For Iran’s “Complete Surrender” As Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates. US President Donald Trump has intensified his rhetoric against Iran, demanding the nation’s “complete surrender” and the total abandonment of its nuclear programme as the ongoing conflict with Israel enters its fifth day. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after departing the G7 summit in Canada early, Trump dismissed calls for a ceasefire, insisting on a definitive resolution to the escalating Middle East crisis. “I have no desire to negotiate with Iran. I expect nothing less than their complete surrender,” Trump declared, as reported by Fox News. He…

Pastor Adefarasin Surrenders To Police Over Gun Incident In Lagos. Pastor Paul Adefarasin, a prominent Nigerian cleric, has voluntarily surrendered to authorities at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja. The pastor is currently under interrogation following the emergence of a viral video that appears to show him brandishing a gun-like object at another motorist while driving. The Lagos State Police Command confirmed that detectives have launched a full investigation into the incident, which has sparked widespread debate on social media. The video, which surfaced online earlier this week, has raised questions about road safety, responsible conduct, and…

President Tinubu Launches Groundbreaking New INEC Headquarters Annex In Abuja. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu today, 17 June 2025, officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the new annex building of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja, a significant milestone in addressing the commission’s chronic office space constraints. The ceremony, attended by dignitaries including the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the FCT Minister, and leaders of various political parties, marks a pivotal step towards modernising INEC’s infrastructure. In his address, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for personally leading the…

Nigeria’s Defence Chief Unveils Plan To Train Benue Youths As Vigilantes To Combat Terrorist Attacks. In a move to address the escalating violence in Benue State, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has announced plans to train credible local youths as vigilantes to work under military supervision, replicating a successful model used in Borno State. The initiative aims to bolster community defence against terrorist attacks, following a deadly assault in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, which claimed over 200 lives last Friday. Speaking during a meeting with traditional rulers in Makurdi on Tuesday, General Musa emphasised…

CBN Directive: Major Nigerian Banks Face Dividend Suspension Until 2028, Says Renaissance Capital. A new report by Renaissance Capital (Rencap), a leading investment bank focused on emerging markets, has revealed that several of Nigeria’s top banks, including Access Holdings, First Bank Holdings (FirstHoldco), Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), First City Monument Bank (FCMB), and Fidelity Bank, may be barred from paying dividends until 2028 due to a recent Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive. The policy, aimed at strengthening the financial resilience of banks under regulatory forbearance, has sparked significant concern among investors and market analysts. On…

APC Ward Secretary Abdullahi Balla Dies After Collapsing In Gwargwada, Abuja. The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gwargwada Ward, Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is mourning the sudden loss of its ward secretary, Abdullahi Balla, who tragically passed away after collapsing on his way home from his farm. The incident, which occurred last week, has sent shockwaves through the local community and the APC. According to Ibrahim Bala, the deceased’s brother, Abdullahi appeared healthy earlier in the day and had gone to the farm with two younger siblings. The incident took place around 5:23 PM…

Lagos Halts Planning Approvals Along Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road To Ensure Sustainable Development. The Lagos State Government has announced an immediate suspension of all planning approvals for properties along the corridor of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, a major infrastructure project aimed at enhancing connectivity across Nigeria’s coastal region. The decision, revealed on Monday by Dr Oluyinka Olumide, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, is intended to align the ambitious highway project with the state’s long-term urban development goals. In a statement issued in Alausa, Ikeja, Dr Olumide explained that the suspension is a proactive measure to address the…

Oil Marketers Voice Concerns Over Job Losses Amid Dangote Refinery’s New Distribution Strategy. The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has raised alarm over potential job losses and business closures following Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s announcement of a new nationwide fuel distribution plan. The initiative, set to commence on 15 August 2025, aims to transform Nigeria’s fuel supply chain but has sparked fears of a monopolistic market structure that could threaten thousands of livelihoods in the downstream petroleum sector. Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest with a production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, revealed on 15 June…

Armed Herders Who Enter Benue Without Cattle Responsible For Fresh Attacks, Says Benue Governor. Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has attributed the recent surge in deadly attacks to armed herders entering the state without cattle, describing them as orchestrators of violence rather than traditional pastoralists. Speaking to news men in Markudi , Alia alleged that some attacks are politically motivated, with unnamed Abuja-based politicians sponsoring the perpetrators to destabilise his administration. The governor’s claims have sparked controversy, particularly his assertion of a report implicating high-profile individuals. His spokesperson, Tersoo Kula, clarified that the focus was on the Sankera axis…

FG’s Failure To Stop Benue Killings May Push People To Self-Help, Says David Mark. Former Senate President David Mark has issued a stark warning that the Federal Government’s inability to curb the ongoing killings in Benue State risks pushing communities towards self-defence measures. Speaking amid public outrage over the deaths of over 200 people in recent attacks, Mark condemned the violence and called for unity to prevent ethnic profiling or reprisals. His remarks, underscore growing frustration with the government’s response to the crisis. The attacks, largely attributed to suspected armed herders, have devastated communities in the Sankera axis and Guma…

Tinubu Dispatches SGF, NSA, Others Ahead Of Visit To Benue, Wednesday. President Bola Tinubu has deployed a high-powered delegation, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to Benue State in preparation for his visit scheduled for Wednesday. The move comes in response to a wave of deadly attacks attributed to suspected armed herders, which have claimed over 200 lives in recent weeks across the state. The delegation’s mission is to assess the security situation and coordinate with local authorities to restore calm. The violence, concentrated…

Just-In: Police Inspector Fatally Shot By 10-Year-Old Son In Tragic Anambra Accident. The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the tragic death of Inspector Okolie Amechi, who was accidentally shot by his 10-year-old son in Awka, the state capital, on Sunday, 15 June 2025. The incident, described as a heart-wrenching accident, has left the local police force and community in mourning. According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the incident occurred around 9:40 p.m. at Polaris Bank, located along Zik Avenue in Awka, where Inspector Amechi was on duty. The officer’s three sons had visited…