Author: Gbenga Olaleye

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday delivered an optimistic outlook for the country’s economy in the second half of 2025 during a statutory briefing to the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions. The committee, chaired by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (Lagos East), commended the apex bank for what it described as a clear upward trajectory since the beginning of the year but urged its leadership to sustain the momentum as the nation moves towards 2026. CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso reported steady improvements in output, noting that real GDP grew by 3.98 per cent in the third…

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced that the Federal Government is set to strengthen existing policies and introduce new frameworks aimed at boosting growth in Nigeria’s aviation sector. Keyamo made the remarks on Thursday during the closing ceremony of the maiden Nigeria International Airshow, held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. He stated that the government would intensify efforts to align regulatory standards with international benchmarks while investing in critical infrastructure upgrades across major airports. According to the minister, priority will be placed on enhancing safety and security protocols to ensure a more…

Nigeria’s newly appointed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has issued a direct and uncompromising order to military personnel: engage armed bandits immediately and “shoot on sight” when confronted, without waiting for further authorisation. Speaking during his Senate screening on Wednesday, the former Theatre Commander said the instruction was necessary to ensure the safety of troops on the frontline and to demonstrate a decisive shift in Nigeria’s security posture. The directive came as lawmakers raised concerns about delays in relaying commands during insurgent and banditry-related confrontations. Musa emphasised that troops deployed to conflict zones already carry the mandate to…

In a dramatic escalation of the internal crisis within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), rival factions led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki and Nyesom Wike have issued contradictory public disclaimers, each declaring different sets of high-profile politicians as no longer members of the Party. The Turaki-led faction released a statement to the public asserting that Nyesom Wike and several others had been formally expelled at the 2025 Elective National Convention held in Ibadan. According to the faction, the individuals listed no longer hold membership or authority within the PDP and should not be recognised as representing the Party in any capacity.…

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has formally announced the expulsion of eleven prominent members following decisions taken at its 2025 Elective National Convention, held between 15 and 16 November in Ibadan, Oyo State. The announcement, issued as an official statement and signed by National Chairman Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, confirms that the individuals concerned “no longer hold membership of the PDP nor occupy any office within the Party”. According to the statement, the expulsions were carried out “in accordance with the Constitution of our Party (as amended)” and are considered final decisions of the national leadership. Those named include several…

The Accord Party has expressed readiness to welcome Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State into its ranks as he considers options for his second-term bid in the 2026 off-cycle governorship election. Speaking on Wednesday in Lagos, the Lagos State Chairman of the party, Mr Dele Oladeji, made the declaration following Adeleke’s resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has been plagued by leadership crises in recent months. Adeleke, who is seeking re-election, is reportedly exploring a more stable political platform ahead of the polls. Oladeji described the Accord Party as a well-organised and dependable platform, capable of providing the…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially denied claims circulating on social media that the party has “picked” Hon Najeem Salam as its flagbearer for the forthcoming Osun State gubernatorial election. The reports, which began trending earlier this week, suggested that Salam had emerged as the ADC’s candidate for the 2026 governorship race. The claims sparked a flurry of reactions among party members, particularly supporters of another aspirant, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, some of whom accused Ogbeni Rauf of undermining the party’s internal democracy. In response, ADC issued a statement on Wednesday, clarifying the situation. The statement, signed by the party’s…

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday inaugurated the newly appointed Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr Aminu Yusuf, alongside two commissioners of the agency and five Federal Permanent Secretaries. The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, shortly before the President presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. Tinubu arrived at the Chamber at exactly 1:31 p.m., where the newly appointed officials and senior government aides were already assembled. After citations were formally read, the five permanent secretaries — Abdulkarim Ibrahim, Dr John Ezeamama, Dr Abdul-Sule Garba, Dr Isiaku Mohammed and Dr…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally announced that its National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) will meet on Monday, 15 December 2025, and Tuesday, 16 December 2025, respectively. Both high-level gatherings are scheduled to take place at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The announcement was contained in an official notice signed by the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and published on the party’s website on Wednesday. According to the notice, the National Caucus meeting will convene at 6:00 p.m. on 15 December. The National Caucus is one of the statutory organs of the…

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has defended his principal’s decade-old demand that former President Goodluck Jonathan step down following the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014. Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Bwala insisted that Tinubu’s call at the time was “legitimate”, given the severity of the incident and the government’s initial response. In 2014, Tinubu—then a leading opposition figure—accused Jonathan’s administration of failing to secure Nigeria after Boko Haram militants abducted 276 schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Chibok. The kidnapping, the first mass school abduction in the country, sparked global…