Author: Damilola Olufemi

President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has cancelled his planned nationwide broadcast for Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day anniversary. Upon the cancellation, the president has opted to deliver his speech directly from the National Assembly. The announcement was made on Wednesday by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations, who explained that the adjustment was due to his scheduled appearance at a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday. “Due to President Bola Tinubu’s scheduled attendance at the National Assembly Joint Session, the Presidential National Broadcast on June 12 has been cancelled. President Tinubu will deliver his address from the…

Nigeria recorded a trade surplus of N5.17 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 51.07% jump from the N3.42 trillion posted in the final quarter of 2024. The figures were contained in the Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics report released on Wednesday. “The merchandise trade balance for Q1 2025 remained positive at N5,172.31bn, indicating an increase of 51.07 per cent compared to the value recorded in the preceding quarter,” the report stated. The strong surplus was largely driven by steady export growth despite global headwinds and rising import costs. According to the report, total trade for the first…

President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to address Nigerians at 7 am on Thursday as part of the events marking the 2025 Democracy Day celebrations. The announcement was made on Wednesday in a statement issued by Abdulhakeem Adeoye on behalf of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Democracy Day, chaired by the Director of Information and Public Relations. According to the statement, following his national broadcast, President Tinubu will proceed to the National Assembly complex for a special joint session scheduled at noon. However, Adeoye clarified that there will be no ceremonial parade this year. Later in the evening, a public lecture will…

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has struck out two motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, ordering him to pay ₦100,000 in costs. The three-member panel, led by Justice Hamman Barka, delivered the ruling on May 21, 2025, after Akpabio applied to withdraw the motions. The motions, dated March 3 and March 25, 2025, with suit numbers CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025, respectively, listed Akpabio as the appellant. His appeal was against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. Akpabio’s…

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dele Momodu, has raised alarm over Nigeria’s deteriorating democratic environment.

Thirty-four foreign embassies in Abuja are now facing the risk of closure today after reportedly failing to pay ground rent for 11 years, a total debt of ₦3.662 million since 2014. This enforcement follows FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s May 26 directive to target properties, totalling 4,794 in default, for revocation and sealing, although a 14-day grace period declared by President Tinubu expired on Monday. What is ground rent Ground rent is money that property owners must pay the government for using land. Embassies named as defaulters The Director of Lands at the FCTA, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, stated that defaulters would be…

Wike has called on leaders and members of the PDP to ensure that the party’s presidential ticket in the 2027 election is zoned to the southern region of Nigeria.

A new travel ban imposed by the United States of America’s President Donald Trump took effect at midnight on Monday, barring entry into the United States for citizens from 12 countries. The order marks a return to one of Trump’s most polarising policies from his first term, the BBC reports. The latest restrictions target nations such as Iran, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Libya—countries grappling with conflict or tense relations with Washington. Others affected include Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. In addition, the U.S. government has placed partial restrictions on travellers from six more countries: Burundi, Cuba,…

Maryam Abacha, wife of the late Nigerian military ruler General Sani Abacha, has strongly denied allegations that her husband looted the nation’s wealth, insisting instead that he saved money for Nigeria—funds she says vanished after his death. In an interview with TVC, the former first lady challenged the longstanding narrative surrounding Abacha’s financial dealings while in power from 1993 until his death in 1998. “Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed?” she asked. “Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad? And the money that my husband kept for Nigeria, in…

A tragic incident occurred during the UEFA Nations League final between Portugal and Spain in Munich on Sunday, as a fan died after falling from the stands, UEFA has confirmed to AFP’s German subsidiary, SID. The incident happened during the first half of extra time, when the individual fell from the middle tier of the stadium down into the press area located below. Emergency responders, including paramedics and police, quickly arrived at the scene to assist. UEFA later released a statement describing the incident as a “medical emergency,” confirming that a spectator had “sadly” passed away during the match. Following…