Author: Gbenga Oluranti Olaleye

Pastor Femi Lazarus has responded to the ongoing debate over the financial expectations in gospel music by praising singer Timi Dakolo for his advocacy on behalf of gospel musicians. The debate, which was sparked by Lazarus’ recent sermon, focused on the financial demands made by gospel artists for their performances. Dakolo, a well-known advocate for fair compensation in the music industry, had strongly challenged Lazarus’ stance, calling for better treatment and remuneration for gospel musicians. In an Instagram post on Monday, March 24, Pastor Lazarus shared a picture of himself with Dakolo and Pastor Emmanuel Iren. He referred to Dakolo…

The Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru Abubakar, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to modernising the Nigerian military, with a particular focus on equipping forces with cutting-edge technology, improving personnel welfare, and enhancing training for greater operational efficiency. Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the First Batch of Special Operations Force Training and Equipping for the Armed Forces of Nigeria, held at Camp Kabala in Jaji, Kaduna State, Minister Abubakar underscored the strategic importance of the initiative. He said, “This milestone marks a new chapter in our commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s defence capabilities, enhancing our response to evolving security threats,…

In Monday’s early trading, Bitcoin saw a significant uptick, reaching approximately $87,480, marking a 3.71% increase. Ethereum also experienced notable growth, rising 4.05% to trade at $2,093. The overall cryptocurrency market capitalisation rose by 2.94% over the past 24 hours, now standing at a robust $2.84 trillion. Despite concerns about upcoming U.S. tariffs and key economic data releases later this week, investor confidence in the crypto sector remains strong. Other notable performers include XRP, Cardano, and Dogecoin, which posted gains of 3%, 2%, and 3.8%, respectively. Chainlink, Avalanche, Hedera, and Stellar also saw significant growth, with rises ranging from 3%…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially received a petition calling for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The petition was submitted on Monday, with the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, confirming its receipt. This move follows a series of legal developments, including a recent court order which temporarily halted the recall process and barred INEC from accepting the petition. Despite this, the call for the senator’s recall continues to gain traction, with constituents citing claims of ‘international embarrassment’ as a key reason for the action. The constituents claimed the signed petition…

A heavy-duty tanker filled with fuel exploded on Sunday night while offloading its contents at a fuel station in Kontagora, sparking fears of major casualties. The incident occurred at a fuel station belonging to a prominent marketer, located just metres from the ‘B’ Division of the Nigeria Police in Kontagora Local Government Area. Eyewitnesses reported that the explosion took place during the offloading of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol. The blast created a massive inferno, and there were immediate concerns about the presence of other fuel storage tanks at the station, which still contained fuel, raising fears…

The battle for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, has entered a decisive phase. African teams are preparing for Matchday 6 of the qualifiers, with some aiming to strengthen their hold on top positions, while others fight to keep their hopes of qualification alive. Nigeria’s impressive 2-0 victory over Rwanda on Friday has set the tone for what promises to be an exciting week of football. With the stakes higher than ever, both leaders and challengers alike will need to bring their A-game to secure a coveted place…

Greenlandic leaders have sharply criticised the planned visit of a high-profile U.S. delegation to the semi-autonomous Danish territory, which President Donald Trump has previously suggested the U.S. should annex. The delegation, set to visit later this week, includes Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. The visit is scheduled to include a trip to the U.S. military base at Pituffik and attendance at Greenland’s national dogsled race. Greenland’s outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede described the visit as a “provocation” and confirmed that his caretaker government would not…

Sir Keir Starmer’s proposal for a “coalition of the willing” to keep the peace in Ukraine has been dismissed by military sources and critics as “political theatre” and “posturing” with little substance. The UK Prime Minister introduced the peacekeeping initiative earlier this month, suggesting that several countries were prepared to enforce any peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. However, his plan has faced significant criticism due to the lack of concrete details about the troops, equipment, and logistical support that would be needed. On Sunday, senior military sources expressed their doubts about the proposal, with one source telling The Telegraph…

Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has strongly denied any affiliation with militant groups, warning against attempts to incite violence or economic sabotage in his name. The governor’s comments followed the circulation of false videos alleging explosions at oil and gas installations in the state. In a statement issued on Monday, March 24, by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, in Port Harcourt, Fubara described the videos as “fake” and “malicious,” adding that they were part of a broader misinformation campaign intended to cause unrest. The governor’s statement reads: “Our attention has, once again, been drawn to a flurry of…

M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have announced they will withdraw their forces from the town of Walikale in eastern Congo, a move they say supports ongoing peace initiatives. The group, which has been advancing through the region, previously indicated their intention to leave troops in Walikale as they moved towards the capital, Kinshasa. The Congolese government has expressed hope that this announcement will be followed by concrete action, particularly after the M23 rebels unexpectedly pulled out of planned talks with the Congolese authorities earlier this week. The talks were called off due to EU sanctions imposed on some of the…