Author: Damilola

The United States government has announced plans to step up enforcement against parents who fail to pay child support, warning that affected individuals could lose their passports. In a statement released on Thursday, the United States Department of State said the initiative is being implemented under the administration of President Donald Trump in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). According to the department, the measure targets Americans who owe more than $2,500 in unpaid child support and is aimed at ensuring that parents meet their financial obligations to their children. “U.S. law requires Americans to comply…

The Nigerian naira posted slight appreciation against the United States dollar on Thursday, May 7, 2026, across both the official and parallel foreign exchange markets, supported by improved liquidity and sustained interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Figures released by the apex bank showed that the naira strengthened marginally to about ₦1,361 per dollar at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), compared to approximately ₦1,362 recorded in the previous trading session. Trading activity at the official market also improved, with stronger turnover recorded as demand and supply transactions increased. At the parallel market, commonly referred to as the black…

Nigerian industrialist and CEO of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has reportedly emerged as Africa’s second-richest individual, overtaking South African billionaire Johann Rupert following a major surge in his net worth this year. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Rabiu’s fortune climbed to $18.6 billion, placing him 138th among the world’s wealthiest individuals. The latest valuation represents a year-to-date increase of about $8.47 billion, making him one of the biggest wealth gainers globally in 2026. Bloomberg data attributed the sharp rise largely to stronger market valuations across Rabiu’s industrial investments, particularly in the cement, food, and manufacturing sectors. Read more…

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved his redeployment as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa following a request to change his earlier posting to Germany. Fani-Kayode disclosed the development in a post shared on his X account on Thursday, explaining that he personally appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reconsider his initial deployment to Germany. According to him, the request was later approved by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, before receiving final endorsement from the president. “It gives me pleasure to announce the fact that Mr. President has graciously approved…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has assured the public that the hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius is not the beginning of another global pandemic. Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, WHO officials stressed that hantavirus spreads differently from COVID-19 and currently poses a low public health risk. WHO infectious disease epidemiologist, Maria Van Kerkhove, said the situation should not be compared to the coronavirus outbreak. “I want to be unequivocal here. This is not SARS-CoV-2. This is not the start of a Covid pandemic. This is an outbreak that we see on a ship,” she said. Van…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled May 8 for hearing in the suit filed by Nafiu Bala challenging the leadership of David Mark in the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the matter for Friday following an application submitted by Bala’s legal team seeking accelerated hearing of the case. In a letter dated May 5 and addressed to the deputy chief registrar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, counsel to Bala — Robert Emukpoeruo, Lukman Fagbemi, and Lukas Musa Haruna — requested an urgent hearing date after the recent judgment of the Supreme Court. “Following…

The deputy governor of Lagos state, Obafemi Hamzat, has submitted his expression of interest and nomination forms for the 2027 governorship election in the state under the All Progressives Congress (APC) Hamzat, who makde this known via his X handle, on Thursday, described it as a journey about service, responsibility, and building a Lagos that works better for every family, every business and every person that calls this state home. In his tweet, he stated “We have made progress together but there is still more to do. I am stepping forward with experience, purpose and a deep belief in the…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has warned that any property used as a secretariat by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki will be shut down in Abuja. The development follows the emergence of Turaki as chairman of a 13-member interim national working committee (NWC), a move announced after a national executive committee (NEC) meeting of the party held on May 4. The appointment was backed by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. Turaki has since claimed leadership of the PDP, citing a Supreme Court ruling that nullified the party’s national convention…

Fresh details have emerged in the ongoing treason trial involving an alleged plot against the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as one of the defendants told the court he handled millions of naira in cash linked to a key suspect. Zekari Umoru, an employee of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc working at the Presidential Villa, said he received and deposited N8.8 million allegedly handed to him by a man later identified as “Col. Mohammed Ma’aji.” The claim was contained in a video recording of his extra-judicial statement played before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on…

The Nigerian naira recorded a slight appreciation against the United States dollar on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, across both the official and parallel foreign exchange markets, supported by improved liquidity and increased interbank activity. Read more breaking stories from our latest nigeria news Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that the naira strengthened to about ₦1,362 per dollar at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), compared to roughly ₦1,367.5 traded earlier in the week. The official window also recorded higher turnover, reflecting stronger demand and supply dynamics within the formal banking system. At the parallel market, commonly referred to…