Author: New Daily Prime

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has called on the Senate to investigate the sexual harassment allegation made against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The allegation, which has recently dominated media discussions, came after a feud between Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, and Akpabio. Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, an accusation which Afenifere has urged the Senate to thoroughly investigate. In a statement released on Monday, March 3, by the National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, Abagun Kole Omololu, the group emphasised the need for an independent investigation. They noted that the Senate President should not…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted provisional licences to 11 new private universities across Nigeria, a move aimed at expanding educational opportunities in the country. The announcement was made by the President’s Special Adviser on Media & Public Communication, Sunday Dare, in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) following Monday’s Federal Executive Council meeting. The newly approved universities are spread across various states, providing greater access to higher education for students in different regions. The full list of the newly licensed institutions includes: The approval comes as part of President Tinubu’s commitment to expanding the frontiers of educational opportunities…

The United Kingdom and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to boosting trade relations and fostering economic growth through the implementation of Nigeria’s National Quality Policy under the Standards Partnership Programme (SPP) – Phase II. This initiative, aimed at eliminating technical trade barriers and improving regulatory compliance, was announced in a statement from the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos on Monday, March 3. Launched in June 2024, the SPP – Phase II seeks to enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian exports and facilitate trade between the two nations by strengthening quality infrastructure. The programme is a joint effort between the British…

By Adeniyi Yusuf The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), and some Nigerians have condemned four northern governors for ordering school closures during Ramadan. The governments of Katsina, Kebbi, and Bauchi states have directed all schools—public and private—to go on holiday for the entire month of Ramadan, during which Muslims observe strict fasting. The governments stated that the holiday was intended to allow students, teachers, and other stakeholders to observe the holy month, which begins on Saturday, March 1, 2025. According to Kebbi State’s revised 2024/2025 academic calendar, the second term will conclude on February 28,…

PORT HARCOURT, March 3, 2025 – Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has directed Heads of Local Government Administration to immediately assume control of the 23 local government areas, pending the conduct of fresh elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). This directive follows last Friday’s Supreme Court judgment, which nullified the previous local government elections and upheld the legitimacy of the Martin Amaewhule-led 27 lawmakers as the authentic Rivers State House of Assembly. Governor Fubara, in a statewide broadcast from Government House, Port Harcourt, on Sunday evening, emphasized that the transition was necessary given the outlawing of caretaker…

By Alade Adisa The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has criticized the decision by the Bauchi and Katsina state governments to shut down primary and secondary schools during the ongoing Ramadan fasting. The association has called for an immediate reversal of the decision. Speaking in an interview with New Daily Prime, NAPTAN National President, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, described the move as unnecessary and warned that it would further set back the education system. **“This decision is unnecessary. In the end, it will bring further setbacks to the education system. Firstly, not all pupils and students in these states…

European leaders, led by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, have agreed to work with Ukraine on a plan to end the war. Starmer confirmed that the UK, France, and possibly other allies will collaborate with Kyiv on a roadmap for peace, which will then be presented to the United States. “I think we’ve taken a step in the right direction,” Starmer told Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC. “We must find a way to work together because, after three years of bloody conflict, the focus must now be on securing a lasting peace.” “The United…

By Friday Omosola and Damilola Olufemi The Lagos State House of Assembly has been a hub of political activity since its inception. The once eyed Assembly by opposition with a history of conflicts and power struggles that have shaped the state’s politics. From its early days to the present, the Assembly has been a battleground for politicians seeking to assert their influence and control. Founded in 1979, following the introduction of the presidential system of government in Nigeria, the first Assembly was dominated by the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), with the party’s candidate, Lateef Jakande, serving as the first…

As Moscow’s top trading partner, Beijing wields substantial economic leverage over the Kremlin While Europe remains outraged by the Trump administration’s controversial groundwork on ending the war in Ukraine, some officials have questioned whether China might be able to step up its peace brokering efforts. Beijing’s continued approach of cool distance makes it a reticent yet critical potential player in negotiating a ceasefire — but the situation is complex. As has been shown by its interventions on the Israel-Hamas conflict, China is keen to raise its stature as a global peacemaker. However, in the case of Ukraine, it seems…

It has been a deadly start to the year in Nigeria, where jihadist organisation Boko Haram and other militias murdered over 220 people in January alone. Their atrocities continue more than a decade after the Chibok girls were abducted, exposing leadership and policy failures in parts of western Africa. Boko Haram’s ideology — rooted in a grotesque distortion of Islam — declares education forbidden. The group targets women’s empowerment through violence, knowing that education is key to a just society. Elsewhere in the wider Muslim world, similar mistakes are being made — 1.4mn girls are currently barred from classrooms in Afghanistan, and similar restrictions are unfolding in…