Author: Damilola Olufemi

President Bola Tinubu has permanently removed the controversial 5% excise duty on telecommunications services, a levy that had sparked widespread criticism from industry players and consumer groups. The confirmation came on Tuesday from the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, during a press briefing in Abuja. “The 5% excise duty is no longer in effect,” Maida announced. “Initially, it was only suspended, but the President has now completely removed it. I was present when the issue was raised, and he firmly said, ‘No, we cannot place this burden on Nigerians.’ I was very pleased to see…

Nyesom Wike, has accused former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal of harbouring resentment against President Bola Tinubu after being overlooked as his running mate in the 2023 elections.

Federal authorities have charged 50-year-old Nathalie Rose Jones of Lafayette, Indiana, after she allegedly travelled to Washington, D.C., with the intent to “kidnap and assassinate” President Donald Trump. In a statement released on August 18, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said Jones used Facebook and Instagram to post disturbing threats. One of the posts read: “I am willing to sacrificially kill this POTUS by disembowelling him and cutting out his trachea with Liz Cheney and all the Affirmation present.” She also referenced an “arrest and removal ceremony” involving Trump. How Jones was traced The U.S.…

More than 80 women entrepreneurs converged in Lagos for SheConnectsAfrica 2025, a 3-day intensive workshop between August 6 and 8, designed to equip women-led businesses with the knowledge and tools to participate fully in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The programme combined expert-led sessions, group activities, and targeted business clinics to help participants strengthen business structures, navigate trade regulations, and prepare for export within Africa’s integrated market. “We designed this workshop to be deeply practical,” said a representative of GIZ. “From understanding tariff structures to accessing finance, we ensured that women entrepreneurs were left with actionable tools to…

A Nigerian and English teacher, Adesuyi Adeola, has shared his journey of mentoring and tutoring young lads to winning more than 20 laurels. The teacher at Greater Tomorrow International College, Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State, while sharing part of his story and journey, described himself first and foremost as a lover of words. According to him, that passion explains why he commits deeply to preparing students for spelling contests. The graduate of Adekunle Ajasin University, located in Akungba-Akoko area of Ondo State, who has been teaching since 2016, disclosed that he never had the chance to shine in competitions as a…

United States of America President Donald Trump has again criticized mail-in voting, claiming it undermines election credibility — a stance he says Russian President Vladimir Putin supports. “You know, Vladimir Putin said something, one of the most interesting things,” Trump told Fox News. “He said, ‘Your election was rigged because you have mail-in voting.’ He said, ‘Mail-in voting, every election.’ He said, ‘No country has mail-in voting. It’s impossible to have mail-in voting and have honest elections.’” However, figures from the International IDEA show otherwise, listing 34 countries that permit in-country postal voting, among them Germany, Britain, Denmark, and Canada.…

Yakubu Mohammed, one of the co-founders of Newswatch, has spoken publicly for the first time on the decades-old rumours linking Dele Giwa’s assassination to Gloria Okon, the alleged drug courier who reportedly died in police custody. Giwa, the editor-in-chief of Newswatch, was killed by a parcel bomb on October 19, 1986. Not long after, speculation spread that his death was tied to Okon, who was rumoured to be a drug mule for the powerful. Some said she died mysteriously in custody to protect the military president, Ibrahim Babangida, and his wife, while another version claimed she was secretly flown to…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio returned to Abuja early Monday after what his media team described as a brief holiday in London.

The withdrawal of criminal charges against Comfort Emmanson, the passenger accused of assaulting Ibom Air crew, has stirred widespread discussion among Nigerians. The incident took place at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, after the flight’s arrival from Uyo. Reports indicate that the passenger was instructed to switch off her phone while on board but allegedly refused. She was captured on video physically assaulting airline staff and was subsequently forced off the plane by the crew. She was later detained at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) also imposed an indefinite travel ban on Ms. Emmanson, barring her…

Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa said the decision, approved at Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, aims to “channel resources into upgrading facilities, hiring qualified staff, and expanding the carrying capacity of existing institutions.”