Author: Damilola

Former Rivers State governor,  Rotimi Amaechi, has challenged claims by Bola Tinubu that late Muhammadu Buhari would not have become president in 2015 without his intervention and political support. Amaechi said Buhari’s victory was the result of collective efforts by several political actors and not solely due to Tinubu’s role in persuading the former president to contest. Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, the former Rivers State governor said he played a central role in Buhari’s emergence, noting that he led major political mobilisation efforts that contributed to the victory. “When we decided to form the APC,…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has dismantled a transnational methamphetamine production network jointly operated by a Nigerian drug cartel and Mexican collaborators, leading to the arrest of 10 suspects and the recovery of illicit drugs and chemicals valued at over N480 billion. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Buba Marwa, disclosed this on Wednesday during a media briefing in Abuja, describing the operation as the discovery of the largest clandestine methamphetamine laboratory ever uncovered in Nigeria. According to Marwa, operatives of the agency’s Special Operations Unit uncovered the hidden laboratory inside Abidagba Forest in Ijebu East Local…

Three-term Lagos State lawmaker and actor-turned-politician, Desmond Elliot, has lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Surulere Constituency I, ending his bid for a fourth consecutive term in the Lagos State House of Assembly. Elliot, who has represented the constituency since 2015, reportedly lost the party ticket after a tense primary process that was overshadowed by allegations of intimidation, internal disagreements and growing political rivalry within the party structure in Surulere. The development marks a major political setback for the lawmaker, whose political career has been closely linked to former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief…

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has claimed that terrorists have infiltrated at least 40 local government areas across the South-West, warning that the region faces growing security threats. Speaking in an interview with The Punch, Adams said his organisation had identified the presence of armed elements in several communities and had repeatedly alerted authorities over the past two years. “We have 137 local government areas in the south-west, and we spotted not remnants of terrorists, but a lot of terrorists in no fewer than 40 local governments. We have many terrorists that have infiltrated those local government…

The Nigerian naira recorded mixed movements against the United States dollar on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, across both the official and parallel foreign exchange markets as demand for dollars persisted. Figures released by the Central Bank of Nigeria showed the naira closing at approximately ₦1,373.65/$ at the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), slightly weaker than the ₦1,373.50/$ recorded in the previous trading session. In the parallel market, the dollar traded at ₦1,390 to buy and ₦1,400 to sell across major currency markets in Lagos and Abuja. Traders noted that the spread between the official and black-market rates remained relatively…

A Nigerian athlete, Oluwabukola Pereira, has been killed in a shooting during a suspected robbery at a car service centre in Lockland, Ohio, United States. Pereira, 30, worked as a cashier at the facility and was reportedly attacked while on duty. According to a colleague, the suspect fled with about $1,500 after the incident. The former middle-distance runner was pursuing an MBA at Xavier University and was expected to graduate just days after her death. The shooting occurred on May 8, though authorities are still investigating and have yet to officially determine the motive. A co-worker, Don Simpson, said Pereira…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, shortly after his conviction by the Federal High Court in Abuja over financial misappropriation during his time in office. EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, confirmed that Mamman was arrested at about 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday in Kaduna, where he was picked up alongside two individuals said to have been providing him protection. According to the commission, the property where the arrest took place is currently under investigation as part of ongoing probes linked to the case. Read related news: Court allows South African men to take…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) following an outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), a rare and severe form of Ebola

The Nigerian naira recorded a marginal depreciation against the United States dollar across both the official and parallel foreign exchange markets on Tuesday, amid sustained demand pressures in the country’s FX market. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that it traded at about ₦1,373.5 per dollar at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), compared with ₦1,372/$ recorded in the previous trading session. The development reflects a slight weakening of the local currency at the official market window. At the parallel market, commonly referred to as the black market, the dollar exchanged at approximately ₦1,395/$, up from about ₦1,390/$…

Lagos State lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I, Desmond Elliot, has explained his involvement in the attempted impeachment of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa in January 2025, saying he only signed the document based on a misunderstanding of the situation. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Elliot said he was outside the country at the time of the incident and only became aware of the development after it had already gained momentum. “I would like to state categorically that I wasn’t in the country. My wife and I travelled from January 13th of 2025,” he said, adding that they were…