Author: Olóyè Gbenga

Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to partnering with relevant government agencies and private institutions as part of efforts to accelerate economic growth and promote sustainable development in the state. The governor pledged on Thursday while receiving the management team of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) at the Governor’s Office in Akure, the state capital. He said strategic collaboration with credible institutions would enable Ondo State to harness innovation, technology, and investment opportunities critical to long-term development. Represented by his deputy, Mr Olayide Adelami, Aiyedatiwa stressed the importance of science and technology…

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, has said the most significant contribution former Vice President Atiku Abubakar could make to Nigeria’s democratic future is to abandon any plan to contest the 2027 presidential election. Baba-Ahmed made the remarks on Thursday during an appearance on The Morning Show on Arise News Television, where he argued that Atiku stepping aside would send a powerful message to Nigerians that a new political culture is possible, rather than a continuation of what he described as the recycling of familiar political figures. The former spokesman of the Northern Elders…

The legal tussle surrounding the suspension of the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has intensified following a fresh move by Senate President Godswill Akpabio to the Supreme Court. Court documents sighted on Thursday reveal that Akpabio has filed an application before the apex court seeking to regularise and sustain his appeal against earlier decisions of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal relating to the controversial suspension. The matter is listed as SC No: SC/CV/1111/2025, arising from Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025 and Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025. In the application, Akpabio is named as the appellant. At the same time,…

The Enugu State Government has recovered a total sum of ₦1.28 billion from Sujimoto Luxury Construction Ltd following investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the alleged diversion of funds earmarked for the construction of Smart Green Schools across the state. The recovered funds, which represent part of the payments earlier made to the construction firm for projects said to be either abandoned or substantially unexecuted, were formally handed over to the Enugu State Government on Wednesday at the EFCC Zonal Office in Enugu. According to a statement issued by the media office of Governor Peter Mbah,…

The Federal Government has signalled a sharp increase in domestic borrowing, with plans to raise as much as ₦900bn from its January 2026 Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) bond auction. This represents a 100 per cent increase compared with the ₦450bn raised in January 2025, reflecting rising fiscal pressures and growing refinancing needs. Offer documents released by the Debt Management Office (DMO) show that the January 2026 auction will consist of three reopened FGN bonds with a combined size of ₦900bn, underscoring the government’s deeper reliance on the domestic debt market. By contrast, the January 2025 auction adopted a more…

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has formally commenced academic activities at Northwest University, Kano, after enrolling as a 200-level student in the institution’s Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) programme. The monarch joined other undergraduates for lectures on Tuesday, drawing attention as he arrived on campus in a modest flowing black outfit and a white turban. Photographs shared on social media showed the Emir seated among fellow students in a lecture hall, engaging attentively with the class. Sanusi’s presence follows the university’s recent decision to grant him special admission into its Common and Sharia Law programme, a move the institution…

The Lagos State Government has disbursed a total of N40 million to families of personnel of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) who lost their lives while on active duty. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa, disclosed this on Wednesday during LASTMA’s financial presentation ceremony held in honour of its fallen officers. The event was organised to recognise the sacrifices of traffic personnel who died in the line of duty and to support their families. Giwa explained that the gesture followed the 25th anniversary celebration of LASTMA, held on July 15, 2025, during which…

Guinness World Records (GWR) has officially confirmed Nigerian chef and restaurateur, Hilda Baci, as a three-time world record holder, following the recognition of her largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice as also the largest serving of rice ever prepared globally. The confirmation was announced on Wednesday via Guinness World Records’ official X (formerly Twitter) page, putting to rest weeks of speculation after Baci hinted that her earlier achievement had earned her an additional record. “Yes, it’s true! @hildabacicooks is a three-time @GWR holder after her largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice has also been awarded the record title for the…

The Awujale Kingmakers Council has announced the cancellation of a planned meet-and-greet, earlier scheduled to be held at the Aafin Awujale in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, and instead directed that all Awujale nominees report to the Department of State Services (DSS) office in the town. The directive was conveyed in a formal communication dated January 20, 2026, and addressed to key leaders of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, including its Chairman, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi; Deputy Chairman, Otunba Dokun Ajidagba; and Vice Chairman, Professor Fassy Yusuf. According to the notice, all nominees in the ongoing Awujale selection process are required to present themselves…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is said to have agreed in principle to hold a meeting with former Kano State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, amid growing speculation over a possible political realignment. Credible sources disclosed that the anticipated meeting may have been facilitated by Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, who is Kwankwaso’s political protégé. According to the sources, discussions are expected to centre on Kwankwaso’s possible decision to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), potentially alongside his supporters. Although Senator Kwankwaso has reportedly met President Tinubu…