Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Nigerian Academic Abidemi Babalola Wins Prestigious $300,000 Dan David Prize. Dr Abidemi Babatunde Babalola, a Nigerian research archaeologist based in the United States, has been awarded the 2025 Dan David Prize, the world’s largest financial award for historical scholarship. The $300,000 prize was presented to Dr Babalola at a ceremony in Italy on 28 May 2025, recognising his groundbreaking contributions to the study of West African history and technology. Dr Babalola, an anthropological archaeologist at the British Museum, was honoured for his pioneering research on the indigenous production of glass beads in premodern West Africa, particularly at the historic…

President Tinubu Awards National Honours To Notable Nigerians In Democracy Day Ceremony. In a significant gesture marking Democracy Day 2025, President Bola Tinubu has posthumously conferred the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, recognising her contributions to Nigeria’s political history. The announcement was part of a broader ceremony in which numerous individuals and groups were awarded national honours for their roles in shaping the nation’s democratic journey. The event, held in Abuja, spotlighted a diverse group of Nigerians, both deceased and living, who have influenced the country’s political landscape. Among the posthumous…

Aliko Dangote Retires As Chairman Of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc After 20 Years Of Transformative Leadership. Billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote has announced his retirement as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, concluding an illustrious 20-year tenure. The retirement, effective 16 June 2025, was confirmed in a statement released on Wednesday by the company’s secretary, Temitope Hassan, marking the end of an era for one of Nigeria’s leading sugar producers. Dangote, who assumed the chairmanship in 2005, has been widely credited with steering Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc to its position as a market leader in…

Tragic Air India Flight AI171 Crashes Near Ahmedabad Airport, Killing At Least 133. A devastating aviation disaster struck Ahmedabad today when Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) at 1:38 p.m. IST. The flight, carrying 242 passengers and crew, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals, plunged into the Meghaninagar area near the airport, resulting in at least 133 fatalities, according to initial reports from News18. The aircraft, piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal with 8,200 hours of…

Dele Momodu Warns Of ‘Two Presidents’ As Wike’s Influence Sparks Concern. Veteran journalist and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Dele Momodu has raised alarm over the growing influence of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), likening the situation to Nigeria having “two presidents.” Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Momodu criticised President Bola Tinubu’s apparent endorsement of Wike’s actions, warning that Nigeria’s democracy is sliding towards a “civilian dictatorship” ahead of the nation’s Democracy Day on 12 June. Momodu’s remarks were prompted by President Tinubu’s comments during the commissioning of the refurbished…

Lagos Court Sentences Businessman To 74 Years For N360m Fraud. A Lagos State High Court in Ajah has sentenced 45-year-old businessman Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness to 74 years in prison for stealing N360 million and issuing 31 dud cheques, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s battle against financial crime. The ruling, delivered by Justice Josephine Oyefeso on Tuesday, 10 June 2025, concludes a nearly decade-long trial that began in 2016. Goodness was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in June 2016 on a 33-count charge of theft and fraudulent practices. The charges…

#EndBadGovernance Movement Defies Police, Vows To Stage Peaceful Protest In Lagos On Democracy Day. The Lagos chapter of the #EndBadGovernance Movement has reaffirmed its commitment to holding a peaceful protest on Democracy Day, 12 June 2025, despite alleged attempts by the Lagos State Police Command to disrupt plans through scheduling conflicts. The protest, set to commence at 7:30 a.m. at Ikeja Underbridge, aims to highlight Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship, soaring cost of living, and perceived erosion of civil liberties under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which began in May 2023. In a statement signed by Hassan Taiwo Soweto and Oloye…

Devastating Floods In Nigeria Destroy 180,000 Farmlands, Prompting Urgent Action. Nigeria’s agricultural sector has been dealt a severe blow as widespread flooding has destroyed an estimated 180,000 cultivated farmlands across more than 30 of the country’s 36 states, according to a recent report by SBM Intelligence. The catastrophic deluge, which began in July 2024, has affected approximately 1.2 million people, exacerbating food insecurity and threatening livelihoods in a nation already grappling with economic challenges and climate change. The flooding, attributed to a combination of poor infrastructure, badly maintained dams, and human activities, has hit Nigeria’s Middle Belt—often referred to…

Petrol Tanker Explosion Sparks Chaos On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. A catastrophic explosion rocked the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday, 11 June 2025, when a petrol-laden tanker overturned and burst into flames at the NASFAT U-Turn axis near Aseese Bus Stop, causing significant disruption and widespread concern. The incident, confirmed by the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), led to severe traffic congestion and affected nearby vehicles, though early reports suggest no fatalities occurred. The blaze, which erupted in the afternoon, sent plumes of thick black smoke into the sky, with the fire spreading rapidly and engulfing…

President Tinubu To Mark Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day With Nationwide Broadcast And National Assembly Address. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will commemorate Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day on Thursday, 12 June 2025, with a nationwide broadcast at 7:00 AM, followed by a special address to a joint session of the National Assembly at noon. The announcements, made by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Democracy Day Celebration, highlight a packed schedule to mark 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in Nigeria, a milestone rooted in the historic 1993 presidential election won by Chief MKO Abiola. The Federal Government has declared 12 June a…

Tinubu To Wike, The Door Of APC Is Open To You. President Bola Tinubu has publicly invited Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and a prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) figure, to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stating, “We will welcome you to APC whenever you decide.” The remarks, made during the commissioning of the refurbished International Conference Centre in Abuja on 10 June, have sparked widespread discussion about Wike’s political future and the dynamics within Nigeria’s political landscape. Tinubu’s comments came as he praised Wike’s transformative work in the FCT, including infrastructure…

Tunde Onakoya Defends Visit To President Tinubu Stresses Non-Political Motive. Tunde Onakoya, the renowned chess champion and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, has addressed the controversy surrounding his recent visit to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, firmly denying any political motives. The meeting, which sparked significant debate on social media, was described by Onakoya as a step towards advancing youth empowerment, not an endorsement of the current administration. Onakoya, who recently set a second Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon—playing non-stop for 64 hours in Times Square, New York—faced criticism after photos of his meeting with Tinubu…