Author: Olóyè Gbenga

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited(NNPC) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NURPC) remitted more than N322bn and $116.9m into the Federation Account within two months after the implementation of Executive Order 9 signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in February 2026. Documents presented during the Federation Account Allocation Committee meetings for March and April 2026 revealed that the increased remittances followed the Federal Government’s directive mandating the full transfer of crude oil and gas revenues into the Federation Account. The policy was introduced to improve transparency, strengthen revenue accountability and address long-standing concerns over revenue leakages in the…

Real Madrid have reportedly intensified their interest in Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen ahead of the summer transfer window, with incoming manager Jose Mourinho said to be eager to bring the forward to Spain. According to reports, the Spanish giants are close to appointing Mourinho as their next head coach following growing speculation surrounding changes at the Santiago Bernabéu. The Portuguese tactician has allegedly identified Osimhen as a key target capable of leading Real Madrid’s attack in the coming season. Osimhen, who currently plays for Turkish champions Galatasaray, has continued to attract attention from several top European clubs following his impressive…

Former presidential media aide, Lauretta Onochie, has called for the immediate release of Nasir El-Rufai, describing his continued detention as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy and political freedom. Onochie, who previously served as a media aide to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, made the remarks in a statement shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. She argued that opposition voices in a democratic society should be challenged through political engagement and debate rather than intimidation or detention. According to her, El-Rufai’s prolonged detention over what many Nigerians allegedly viewed as politically motivated charges had raised concerns about the misuse…

Former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, revealed that the Nigerian Democratic Congress and the African Democratic Congress could still form a political alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria. Kwankwaso made the remarks on Monday during a live appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, where he addressed ongoing political realignments and growing discussions surrounding opposition coalitions before the next presidential election. The former Kano State governor spoke about his departure from the ADC and his growing political relationship with former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi. According to Kwankwaso, discussions between…

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has dismissed claims of a genuine political coalition forming ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, describing the movement as a gathering of individuals primarily interested in gaining power. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s programme, The Morning Brief, on Monday, Sowore argued that there was currently no meaningful opposition alliance capable of transforming the country’s political landscape. According to him, the individuals championing the proposed coalition were largely responsible for Nigeria’s present political and economic challenges. He criticised the antecedents of the politicians involved, insisting that many of them had…

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday played a video recording containing the alleged confession of the sixth defendant in the ongoing trial of six persons accused of conspiring to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu. The video, presented during the continuation of proceedings before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, featured Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir speaking to investigators about his alleged knowledge of the coup plot. In the recording previewed before the court, Abdulkadir, who described himself as an Islamic cleric, stated that he had warned those allegedly involved in the plot that the operation would fail and that those behind…

Supporters of former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso under the banner of the Kwankwasiyya Movement have defended the decision of the Nigerian Democratic Congress to zone its presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general election. The National Coordinator of the movement, Habeeb Saleh, made the position known on Monday during an interview on Arise Television, where he said the party’s decision was rooted in its commitment to national unity and the principle of “one Nigeria”. Saleh explained that the zoning arrangement was designed to promote trust, fairness and political stability across the country, stressing that Nigerians must…

Spain has insisted that it implemented “all measures” necessary to prevent the spread of hantavirus following the evacuation of passengers and crew from a cruise ship linked to multiple deaths and international health concerns. The Spanish health ministry issued the assurance on Monday after authorities in France and the United States confirmed positive hantavirus tests involving one evacuee each from the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius. The vessel became the focus of international attention after three passengers reportedly died during the voyage, prompting emergency health measures and a large-scale evacuation operation in the Canary Islands. On Sunday, Spain authorities coordinated a complex…

Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation FANSAN YAMMA have carried out a precision airstrike that reportedly neutralised several terrorists during an operation targeting a high-level gathering of terrorist commanders in Zamfara State. According to the military, the operation was conducted on May 10, 2026, after intelligence reports revealed that notorious terrorist leaders from different parts of the West African sub-region had assembled at a hidden location in Tumfa Village, located in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The development was disclosed in a statement released on Monday by the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt. Col.…

The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned opposition parties against restricting the 2027 presidential ticket exclusively to candidates from Southern Nigeria, warning that such a move could hand President Bola Tinubu an easy path to re-election. In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, Atiku’s media aide, Olusola Sanni, argued that opposition parties must prioritise political strategy and electoral realities over sentiment in deciding their presidential candidate ahead of the next general election. According to the statement, while the ruling All Progressives Congress may maintain its southern presidential arrangement around Tinubu, it would be politically risky for…