Author: Friday Omosola

Lagos State has received a significant boost to its economic reputation, as Fitch Ratings upgraded its Long-Term Foreign and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) from ‘B-’ to ‘B’. In a statement released on the state government’s Facebook page on Monday, three other states – Kaduna, Kogi, and Oyo – also benefitted from the upgrade. According to the statement, the internationally renowned rating agency announced that the outlook for all four states remains stable, in line with the recent upgrade of Nigeria’s sovereign rating from ‘B-’ to ‘B’ on 11 April 2025. According to Fitch, the improved sovereign rating reflects greater…

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has expressed confidence that more opposition governors will soon defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. Ganduje made this statement on Monday during the official welcome ceremony held in Asaba for Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, both of whom recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC. The defection of Oborevwori and Okowa, along with other major political stakeholders in Delta State, effectively ended the PDP’s nearly 26-year dominance in the state. READ ALSO: Delta gov Oborevwori, Okowa join APC The two…

The Federal Government (FG) has sounded the alarm over an escalating wave of cyber slavery affecting parts of West Africa. This warning follows revelations by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that nearly $65 million was lost over the past two years to financially motivated sextortion schemes, reportedly involving Nigerian nationals. In a statement released by Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government warned that these scams primarily target Nigerian citizens, with vulnerable young people being the main victims. The statement detailed how numerous Nigerian youths, including minors, are being enticed to leave the…

A former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has declared that he no longer has confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s leadership. Speaking yesterday during an appearance on ‘Inside Sources’ with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television, he said he does not believe Tinubu will achieve anything meaningful before the end of his term in May 2027. Lukman reflected on his earlier support for Tinubu and admitted he had realised that the President was not the progressive leader he once believed him to be. READ ALSO: Defectors are joining APC, supporting Tinubu out of…

The Presidency has dismissed claims that democracy is under threat in Nigeria, describing recent concerns by opposition parties, figures and human rights advocates as baseless and alarmist. Presidency denied the claim in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy. The Presidency criticised what it called ‘disgruntled opposition figures’ and ‘partisan human rights crusaders’ for raising false alarms over recent defections of key opposition leaders to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Presidency highlighted the ‘seismic shift’ in political alliances following the recent moves by Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, Delta…

In a bid to deepen regional collaboration and boost the creative and tourism sectors across West Africa, the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture hosted a high-level delegation from the Ghana Creative Arts Agency at its headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja. Speaking during the visit, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, described the engagement as a strategic opportunity for knowledge exchange, institutional partnerships, and sustainable growth within the creative sector. “Lagos does not compete, we create and collaborate,” she said. “It is a pleasure to host our brothers and sisters from Ghana. This engagement…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for enhanced international collaboration to advance Nigeria’s Human Capital Development 2.0 (HCD 2.0) strategy. Speaking virtually at a high-level roundtable on the sidelines of the 2025 World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings, Shettima reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to placing human potential at the centre of national progress. He stressed that the success of the HCD 2.0 agenda would depend on evidence-based interventions, data-driven policies, and sustained political will. READ ALSO: Okpebholo leads global investment drive for Edo at World Bank/IMF meetings “This meeting, for us, is not just another item on…

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has launched a crackdown on illegal and unlicensed medical practitioners, following the death of a pregnant woman at an unregistered clinic in Abuja. Wike, issued the directive in a statement released on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka. The former Rivers State governor declared, ‘Henceforth, anyone found to be operating or working in an unregistered health facility should be arrested and prosecuted.’ The move comes after 35-year-old Chekwube Chinagorom died following a caesarean section conducted at Afolmi Hospital, an unauthorised private health facility located…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has praised the United Bank for Africa (UBA) for its outstanding record of innovation, growth in emerging markets, and sustained excellence over the past 75 years. Speaking at UBA’s 75th Anniversary Dinner held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Senator Shettima described the bank as a ‘pacesetter’ and a ‘quintessential specimen’ of what African institutions can achieve when excellence is institutionalised. READ ALSO: World Bank bans two Nigerian companies, CEO over fraud “Seventy-five years is not something you pick up at a supermarket. It is earned — through risks and calculations, through storms and sunshine, through mergers…

On Saturday, Pope Francis was laid to rest in his favoured Roman church after a funeral Mass at St Peter’s Square. The 88-year-old pontiff, who passed away on Monday, was interred during a brief 30-minute ceremony that commenced at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT) within the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of Rome’s most significant ancient churches. Video footage released by the Holy See captured cardinals affixing red wax seals to his simple wooden and zinc coffin. READ ALSO: Pope Francis dies at 88: Vatican enters mourning, funeral to take place Saturday Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who as camerlengo oversees the Vatican’s…