Author: Damilola

There was tension in the Senate on Monday after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan raised concerns over her alleged omission from the committee of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC). The Kogi Central lawmaker had attended the committee meeting ready to take part in deliberations but was reportedly unable to find her name on the official attendance register. Seeking clarification, she approached the committee clerk and was told he was with the committee chairman, Titus Sam. Natasha then went to Zam’s office, where she later claimed that he suggested his decision was based on “instructions from higher authorities,” without offering further explanation.…

The Nigerian Army has confirmed that several soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) lost their lives while resisting a coordinated assault by ISWAP fighters in Mandaragirau, Borno state. Media Inormation Officer at the headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North-East), Sani Uba disclosed this in a statement detailing separate attacks on Mandaragirau and Pulka late on Saturday. According to him, insurgents launched a complex operation against troops stationed in Sector 2 at Mandaragirau, deploying gun trucks and motorcycles in what he described as a multi-pronged offensive. Uba said the military had anticipated the move and positioned combat…

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported a marginal decline in Nigeria’s headline inflation rate, which fell to 15.1 percent in January 2026 from 15.15 percent in December 2025. The bureau disclosed this in its latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released on Monday, noting a slight moderation in overall price pressures at the start of the year. “The January 2026 Headline inflation rate showed a decrease of 0.05% compared to the December 2025 Headline inflation rate,” the NBS said. Providing further context, the agency explained that inflation on a year-on-year basis dropped significantly when compared to the same…

The United States government has imposed sanctions on eight Nigerians accused of ties to extremist groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), freezing any assets and property linked to them within US jurisdiction. The action was detailed in a 3,000-page publication dated February 10 by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), an arm of the United States Department of the Treasury. The document, sighted on Monday, also listed individuals sanctioned for cybercrime and other security-related offences. The move comes amid heightened scrutiny from US lawmakers, who recently recommended visa restrictions and asset freezes…

Former Anambra governor, Peter Obi, has reaffirmed his intention to run in the 2027 presidential election, saying alleged efforts to sideline him will not deter his ambition. He made the declaration at the OBIDIENT Conference and formal unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. Obi, who recently defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the ADC, explained that his departure followed claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would withhold recognition of the party’s leadership as long as he remained a member. “I left LP when I got informed that as long as I…

Arsenal booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in six years with a ruthless 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic on Sunday. Mikel Arteta’s side effectively settled the fourth-round tie within 27 minutes at the Emirates Stadium, racing into a four-goal lead. Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli struck early before an own goal from Jack Hunt and a composed finish from Gabriel Jesus completed the demolition. The win sends the Gunners into the last 16 for the first time since lifting the FA Cup in 2020 — still the only major trophy of Arteta’s tenure.…

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has said Nigeria currently lacks the communications and power infrastructure required to support compulsory real-time electronic transmission of election results nationwide. In a statement released on Sunday by his directorate of media and public affairs, Bamidele cited data indicating that the country’s existing infrastructure is insufficient for seamless nationwide uploads from polling units. The Senate had earlier rejected clause 60(3) of the Electoral Bill, 2026, which proposed that the presiding officer “shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real time.” Following further deliberations, the upper chamber…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu for attending the Argungu Fishing Festival, describing the visit as poorly timed amid rising insecurity across parts of the country. In a statement issued Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party warned that terrorists are steadily gaining ground in sections of Kwara State. Tinubu had travelled to Kebbi State on Saturday for a one-day working visit during which he commissioned projects and participated in the Argungu Fishing Festival. Reacting to the trip, the ADC said it was troubled that the President attended a celebratory event while security…

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has written to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, requesting clarification over reports that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) procured about 10 kilogrammes of thallium sulphate. In a letter dated January 30 and addressed to Ribadu, El-Rufai said information available to opposition figures indicated that the substance was sourced from a supplier in Poland. “I am writing as a concerned citizen to seek clarification and reassurance regarding information available to the political opposition leadership about a procurement of approximately 10 kilograms of Thallium Sulphate by the Office of the National…

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said the south-east geopolitical zone will deliver 90 percent of its votes to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Umahi made the declaration on Saturday during an inspection of the Alaoji section of the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway. He argued that the region must adopt a strategic political approach, adding that it is not yet the turn of the south-east to produce Nigeria’s president. Praising Tinubu’s infrastructure drive in the region, Umahi said the president had addressed longstanding complaints of marginalisation. “All the marginalisation we complain about has been addressed by the…