Author: Gbenga Olaleye

Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has urged President Bola Tinubu to exercise greater caution in matters of regional security, domestic governance and the deployment of state protection, particularly for individuals close to power. Speaking at the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Awards in Lagos on Tuesday, the playwright recounted a recent incident in Ikoyi that left him “astonished”. His comments were captured in a now-viral four-minute, 25-second video shared by #Nigeriastories on X on Tuesday night. Soyinka described witnessing what he called an excessively large security battalion escorting a young man later identified as Seyi Tinubu, the President’s…

Reps accuse the Tinubu government of poor implementation of the 2024–2025 budgets and vow not to consider the 2026 Appropriation Bill until the 2024–2025 budgets are fully implemented. The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, over what lawmakers described as the “embarrassingly poor” implementation of the capital components of the 2024 and 2025 federal budgets. Both ministers, along with the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, appeared before the House during a closed-door session…

Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is marking her 46th birthday with reflections on her personal journey and prayers for guidance, wisdom, and protection for her family, friends, and constituents. In a post on Facebook on Tuesday, the senator expressed gratitude to God for the strength and grace that have shaped her life. She wrote:”Dear God, as I turn 46 today, I thank You for grace, strength, and growth. Bless my journey ahead with wisdom, courage, and compassion. Keep my family, friends, constituents and all well-wishers safe and may You keep my path aligned with purpose. Amen.” Akpoti-Uduaghan also highlighted her…

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has clarified reports that one of its aircraft, a C-130, was diverted to Burkina Faso, stating the action was a precautionary measure taken in line with standard safety and international aviation protocols. The aircraft, which was on a ferry mission to Portugal, made a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso after the crew detected a technical concern shortly after takeoff from Lagos on 8 December 2025. According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, all personnel on board are safe and receiving cordial treatment from Burkinabe…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has confirmed that just 82 Bureau De Change (BDC) operators currently hold valid licences to operate in the country. The announcement was made on Monday by the Bank’s spokesperson, Hakama Sidi Ali. According to the CBN, the licences were issued in line with its powers under the Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020 and the 2024 Regulatory and Supervisory Guidelines for Bureaux De Change Operations. The apex bank stated that the final licences became effective on 27 November 2025. It warned that anyone operating a BDC without a valid licence is in…

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has stated that Nigeria’s recent military intervention in Benin Republic and the successful rescue of 100 abducted students in Niger State underscore President Bola Tinubu’s firm commitment to defending democracy and strengthening national security. Speaking to Arise News on Monday, Onanuga said Nigeria’s swift and coordinated response to last week’s attempted coup in Benin was carried out at the direct request of the Beninese government. “What happened on Sunday and what happened today only showed that this government is committed to protecting democracy, not just in Nigeria, but…

The Kogi State Government has announced that security operatives successfully intercepted a group of underage children trafficked into the state, in what is suspected to be an attempt to recruit minors for banditry training. The disclosure was made on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo. According to the statement, at around 1500 hours on 5 December 2025, vigilant officers of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Yagba Area Command, in collaboration with other security agencies in Isanlu, intercepted a truck carrying 21 children aged between six and 17 years. The operation followed credible…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that a total of 2,685,725 new voters have so far been registered nationwide through the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, combining both online and physical enrolments. The latest figures, released on Monday via the commission’s official X handle, show that 1,576,137 applicants completed the online pre-registration process, while an additional 1,109,588 finalised their registration through in-person capture. According to the update, Osun State continues to top the national CVR chart, recording 208,357 registrations. It is followed by Kano with 159,669, Sokoto with 152,650, Imo with 145,561, Borno with 123,835, Lagos with…

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called on local and international investors to take advantage of the expanding economic opportunities in the state, citing Lagos’ rising ease of doing business ranking and major improvements in its investment climate. Sanwo-Olu made the appeal on Tuesday during the inauguration of TY Logistics Park, FZE—an ultra-modern warehousing and trade complex developed by TY Holdings and situated in Alaro City, within the Lekki Free Zone. The facility, spanning 29,000 square metres, is expected to serve as a major boost to Nigeria’s logistics and supply chain infrastructure. According to a statement posted on the Lagos…

The Federal Government has directed ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to carry over 70 per cent of their 2025 capital allocations into the 2026 fiscal year, as part of efforts to prioritise the completion of ongoing projects and manage spending pressures arising from weak revenues. The directive is contained in the 2026 Abridged Budget Call Circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and circulated to ministers, service chiefs, agency heads and senior officials in Abuja. The circular, obtained by New Daily Prime, states that preparations for the 2026 budget will not accommodate new capital projects and…