Author: Damilola

The House of Representatives of Nigeria has approved an amendment to the Electoral Act 2026 aimed at criminalising membership in more than one political party at the same time. Under the revised provision, anyone found to be simultaneously registered with multiple political parties could face a fine of N10 million, a maximum prison sentence of two years, or both upon conviction. The lower chamber passed the amendment during Wednesday’s plenary session as part of efforts to tighten regulations guiding political party membership in the country. The amendment introduces three additional subsections to Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026, which…

Four members of the House of Representatives of Nigeria have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party Nigeria (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The lawmakers include Inuwa Garuba, representing Yamaltu/Deba federal constituency of Gombe State; Abdullahi El-Rasheed, who represents Dakku/Nafada federal constituency of the same state; and Mohammed Audu, representing Karim Lamido/Lau/Ardo-Kola federal constituency in Taraba State. The trio moved from the PDP to the APC. Also defecting to the APC is Obika Chinedu, the lawmaker representing Abuja Municipal/Bwari federal constituency in the Federal Capital Territory, who left the Labour Party. In a…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has formalised an agreement to host the fifth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair 2027, with Lagos selected as the venue for the continental trade and investment gathering. The hosting agreement was signed on Tuesday in Lagos in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank, the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat. The ceremony also signified Nigeria’s official assumption of hosting responsibilities from Algeria, which organised the fourth edition of the trade fair that reportedly generated $49.94 billion in trade and investment deals. Scheduled to hold from November 5 to 11,…

The Lagos State House of Assembly has recommended that residents displaced from the Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro waterfront communities be relocated to Agbowa in Epe Local Government Area of the state. The proposal followed the adoption of a report by the assembly’s standing committee on rules and business, which reviewed the demolition of structures in the affected communities. In December 2025, the Lagos State Government began pulling down what it described as “illicit structures” in waterfront settlements located near the Third Mainland Bridge. The exercise led to the displacement of many residents. Following the demolitions, affected residents staged protests and…

The management of the University of Lagos has criticised the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for declaring an industrial action without adhering to the proper procedures. ASUU at UNILAG had directed its members to withdraw their services starting Wednesday following a congress held on Tuesday. The lecturers protested what they described as “amputated” salaries for January and February. Chairman of the union’s UNILAG chapter, Idou Keinde, said lecturers did not receive their full salary components, including the Consolidated Salary Structure for Academics, Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance and the Professorial Allowance. Keinde insisted that lecturers would…

The Nigerian currency, the Nigerian naira, traded at N1,401.4 per dollar on Tuesday at the official foreign exchange window. Data from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), the country’s official FX platform, showed that the naira has weakened by about 4.09 percent over the past three weeks compared with the N1,346.32/$ rate recorded on February 20. The figures also indicated that the exchange rate crossed the N1,400-per-dollar mark on Monday when the local currency traded at N1,405.62 against the United States dollar. The last time the naira traded around the N1,400 range was on January 27, when it exchanged at…

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced its ex-gantry price of petrol to N1,075 per litre. According to the refinery’s latest pricing template released on Tuesday, the new rate reflects a N100 reduction from the previous price of N1,175 per litre. The company also announced that petrol supplied through coastal distribution will now sell at N1,050 per litre. It also cut the price of diesel to N1,430 per litre, representing a N190 decrease from the earlier price of N1,620 per litre. The refinery noted that the quoted gantry prices do not include statutory charges imposed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream…

President Bola Tinubu has requested the Nigerian Senate to confirm Taiwo Oyedele as a minister. Tinubu, on March 3, nominated Oyedele, chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms, for appointment as minister of state for finance. If confirmed, Oyedele will replace Doris Uzoka-Anite, who is expected to move to the Ministry of Budget and Planning as minister of state — her third portfolio in the current administration. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s letter conveying the nomination during plenary on Tuesday. In the letter, Tinubu said the request was made in accordance with constitutional provisions.…

Kaduna-based Islamic scholar Abubakar Gumi has alleged that the Nigerian government is aware of the identities and locations of terrorists operating across the country. Gumi made the claim during a recent interview with DRTV, which began circulating widely online on Tuesday. The cleric was reacting to accusations that he personally knows and interacts with terrorists and bandits responsible for insecurity in parts of Nigeria, and that he advocates on their behalf. Responding to the claims, Gumi said his engagements with the groups are carried out alongside security agencies. “The government knows every terrorist by name and by location. I don’t…

Global crude oil prices dropped to about $90 per barrel on Tuesday, marking the first decline since the Middle East conflict began. Brent crude fell by 8.45 per cent to $90 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) declined by 8.58 per cent to $86.77 per barrel. The drop follows Monday’s surge when oil prices climbed above $100 per barrel — their highest level since July 2022. Analysts say the cooling trend came after European ministers discussed releasing strategic oil reserves to stabilise the market. It also followed remarks by Donald Trump suggesting the conflict in the Middle East could…