Author: Gbenga Olaleye

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Wednesday resumed payment of outstanding arrears to corps members, marking the first disbursement since 3 June following a two-month hiatus. The payment covers the newly approved ₦77,000 monthly allowance, which was announced earlier this year as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to alleviating economic hardship among Nigerian youths. The NYSC arrears, which span from July 2024 to March 2025, had generated widespread concern among current and recently discharged corps members due to the prolonged delay in implementation. Confirming the resumption of payments, a former corps member who requested anonymity told New Daily…

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has retracted his earlier comment describing Lagos as a “no-man’s land” following widespread backlash. The controversial remark, made during his appearance on Arise Television on Wednesday, triggered strong reactions across social and political circles, reviving long-standing debates over the ownership and identity of Lagos State. Addressing the issue on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Bwala clarified that his words were misinterpreted and reaffirmed that Lagos is historically and constitutionally Yoruba land. “Culturally, historically, and constitutionally, Lagos belongs to the Yoruba people, and that has never been in…

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has praised the team’s focus and determination as they prepare for two must-win matches in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. Nigeria will host Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Saturday in a high-stakes encounter before travelling to South Africa for another crucial clash three days later. Speaking to NFF TV, Troost-Ekong expressed confidence in the team’s mindset going into the decisive phase of the qualifiers. “The boys are very focused. We are looking forward to the game on Saturday,” the defender said. “Now it’s going to be an important set of…

Abuja – A legal expert, Sunday Adebayo, Esq., has raised concerns over the increasing use of defamation laws to silence bloggers, content creators, and social media users in Nigeria, warning that freedom of expression must not be undermined under the guise of enforcing defamation laws. In a legal commentary titled “Freedom of Expression and the Law of Defamation in Nigeria: A Legal Appraisal of the Double-edged Sword,” Adebayo noted the rising number of arrests and detentions over social media posts, particularly involving criticisms of public figures and government officials. He argued that while freedom of speech is a constitutional right, it…

The Deputy Governor of Osun State, Prince Kola Adewusi, has called on members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ife Federal Constituency to remain calm and allow the party’s leadership to resolve the internal crisis that has recently emerged within the zone. Adewusi, reacting to reports of a vote of no confidence passed against him and two other party chieftains over alleged anti-party activities, described the situation as a “storm in a teacup.” He made the remarks in a statement released on Wednesday through his Chief Press Secretary, Goke Awoyemi. Earlier reports indicated that tensions flared during a…

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has declared a 50 per cent reduction in fares on the Blue Line rail service for Thursday, 4 September 2025, in celebration of the rail’s second anniversary of commercial operations. The announcement was made in a statement released on Wednesday, highlighting the significant strides the Blue Line has made since it began serving the public in September 2023, along the Marina–Mile 2 corridor. “In just two years, the Blue Line has transported more than five million passengers safely. Trains now operate at 10-minute intervals, completing over 90 trips daily. What used to be long,…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ife Federal Constituency has passed a vote of no confidence in Osun State Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi, and former National Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, accusing them of engaging in anti-party activities. The decision was announced in a communiqué issued following the constituency’s meeting on Monday. The statement also sanctioned the Ife East Local Government PDP chairman, Olasunkanmi Makinde. The party accused the three leaders of fraternising with Bimbo Ajilesoro, the member representing Ife Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, who recently defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives…

Paulinus Iheanacho Okoronkwo, a former employee of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC), is scheduled to be sentenced on 1 December in the United States for allegedly receiving a $2.1 million bribe from a Swiss company during his tenure at the corporation. Okoronkwo faces a maximum prison term of 25 years. Okoronkwo was indicted in January 2024 by the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California on multiple charges, including three counts of engaging in monetary transactions involving property derived from unlawful activity, one count of tax evasion, and one count of obstruction of justice. The charges…

Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has emphasised that Nigerians can only enjoy true leadership when leaders are genuinely elected. Speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, on Tuesday, Baba-Ahmed highlighted the connection between credible elections and national security, asserting that the ongoing cycle of violence in Nigeria stems from flawed leadership selection. “When asked how to stop the cycle of killings in Nigeria, I say this: only when you have the right leaders, and you can only have the right leaders when they are truly elected,” Baba-Ahmed stated. He warned against electoral malpractice, saying, “So long…

Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has called for former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to be formally questioned over his recent claims that the Federal Government is financially supporting bandits. Baba-Ahmed made the remarks during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme broadcast by Channels Television on Tuesday. He strongly criticised the response issued by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, which dismissed El-Rufai’s allegations. “If the so-called office of the National Security Adviser treats this statement with levity, then Nuhu Ribadu was never a policeman; he is not a…