Author: Damilola

Governor of Abia state, Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his loyalty to the Labour Party (LP), insisting he is still a card-carrying member of the party that brought him to office in the 2023 governorship election. Speaking against the backdrop of recent defections by opposition governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Otti noted that while political realities can change, his current position remains unchanged. The governor made the remarks during his monthly media briefing, where he addressed questions surrounding the ongoing leadership dispute within the LP. “We are on the right side. We have maintained that Abure’s tenure has expired,…

The Senate, through its Committee on Appropriations, has provisionally scheduled March 17 for the final debate and approval of Nigeria’s N58.47 trillion 2026 federal budget. The timeline was agreed during a special meeting of the committee on Friday. According to the schedule, committees of the Senate will review budget estimates between February 2 and 13, while a public hearing on the proposal is slated for February 9 to broaden stakeholder participation. Chairman of the committee, Solomon Adeola, said Professor Wasiu Adeoye of the University of Lagos will deliver a PowerPoint presentation at the public hearing. He also disclosed that March…

The Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced plans to challenge a Federal High Court ruling in Ibadan that declined its request for an order of mandamus. The court ruled that granting the application would amount to “sitting on appeal” over decisions of courts with equal jurisdiction — a verdict the faction said it had anticipated. In a statement issued by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, on Friday, the group said it had directed its lawyers to immediately file an appeal and take all necessary legal steps to defend its position. Despite the judgment, the…

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the federal government four weeks to fully implement pending agreements on pay, allowances and welfare conditions. The decision followed the association’s national executive council (NEC) meeting and scientific conference held in Jos, Plateau state, from January 25 to 29, 2026. In a communiqué signed by NARD president Mohammad Suleiman, the group commended President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and other stakeholders for their engagement in resolving the issues. The NEC acknowledged the reinstatement of dismissed doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and praised the interventions of the ministry of labour…

Burkina Faso’s military-led government has abolished all political parties and organisations and scrapped the laws regulating their activities. The announcement was made on Thursday by the presidency’s communications directorate after junta leader Ibrahim Traore chaired a meeting of the council of ministers. Minister of Territorial Administration and Mobility, Émile Zerbo, described the move as a decisive step in the country’s political overhaul, saying the “great and important decision is part of the re-founding of the state”. In a statement, the presidency argued that the proliferation of political parties had encouraged division among citizens and weakened national cohesion. The government said…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has authorised Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State, to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser hajj. Justice Emeka Nwite granted the request on Thursday after Joseph Daudu, a senior advocate of Nigeria, argued the application on Bello’s behalf. Daudu explained that the motion, filed on January 20, sought the temporary release of the former governor’s international passports to enable him to undertake the religious trip. According to the defence, Bello plans to spend the final 10 days of Ramadan in Makkah, with the fasting period expected to run from February 18…

The Senate has inaugurated a seven-member ad hoc committee to streamline and consolidate lawmakers’ contributions to the proposed amendment of the Electoral Act, as efforts intensify to reform Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections. The decision was reached after a closed-door session that lasted about three hours on Thursday, during which senators reviewed key issues in the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill currently under consideration by the National Assembly. Announcing the outcome of the meeting, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the committee was created to integrate senators’ perspectives and resolve outstanding matters in the proposed legislation.…

The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned two activists, Taiwo Hassan and Dele Frank, over their alleged roles in the recent protest against demolitions in parts of the state. The activists, who were arrested during the demonstration, were charged before a magistrate court in Yaba on five counts bordering on breach of peace and related offences. According to the police, the defendants allegedly threatened members of the public who refused to participate in the protest. They were also accused of singing “abusive songs” aimed at inciting the public against the Lagos State Government. In the charge sheet, the police stated:…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed that nearly half of Nigerians who own 5G-enabled devices are unable to use 5G services because of insufficient network coverage across the country. The NCC Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Edoyemi Ogoh, disclosed this on Wednesday while presenting the telecom industry’s fourth-quarter (Q4) 2025 performance report. “About 50 percent of Nigerians with 5G devices don’t have access to 5G service,” Ogoh said, explaining that the service is unavailable in many areas where users want to connect. “So, there is still a gap in the 5G coverage.” Ogoh also pointed to a continuing…

Sarah Mullally has officially been confirmed as the Archbishop of Canterbury, marking a historic milestone as the first woman to hold the office since the Church of England was founded nearly 1,400 years ago. Her confirmation took place on Wednesday during a formal ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Reacting to the moment, Mullally described the role as “an extraordinary and humbling privilege”. “With God’s help, I will seek to guide Christ’s flock with calmness, consistency and compassion,” she said, highlighting the importance of such leadership in “times of division and uncertainty for our fractured world”. The confirmation service…