Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has criticised the planned salary increase for Nigerian political office holders, labelling the proposal as “insensitive” given the country’s dire economic state. He believes the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has failed to consider the severe hardships faced by ordinary citizens. During a discussion on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Falana pointed to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, which indicates that over…

A passenger train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna derailed on Tuesday morning, sparking panic among passengers and their relatives. The incident occurred along the Kaduna corridor shortly after the train departed Abuja at around 11 a.m. Witnesses described scenes of confusion, with passengers scrambling to safety as the coaches came to a halt. It was not immediately clear what caused the derailment, and no official confirmation of injuries or fatalities…

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take firm action against his Chief Security Officer (CSO), Kunle Fagbemi, following a series of alleged incidents of harassment directed at journalists covering the governor’s activities. The latest episode occurred on Saturday at the Lagos House in Ikeja, where Mr Fagbemi was accused of verbally assaulting and obstructing members of the governor’s official press…

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bashir Ojulari, has warned that crude oil theft in Africa has escalated beyond local crime, with international syndicates now orchestrating the illicit trade. Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the opening of the Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference, Ojulari said the crime was being driven by organised cartels exploiting weaknesses in national and continental security systems.…

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has vowed to shut down major infrastructure across the country if the Federal Government fails to resolve its lingering dispute with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which has again threatened to embark on a nationwide strike. NANS Assistant General Secretary, Emmanuel Adejuwon, speaking in Abuja on Monday, said the union would mobilise students for “massive protests” that would paralyse activities nationwide…

Retired military personnel across Nigeria have renewed their calls for an upward review of salaries and pensions for both serving and retired officers, warning that prolonged delays are worsening frustrations within the veterans’ community. The demand was raised last week during a meeting between the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and members of the Ministry of Defence’s five-man Ministerial Standing Committee on Military Veterans’ Welfare, led by retired…

Osun State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) more than doubled in 2024, rising to N54.7bn from N25.3bn in 2023, according to the state’s Financial Statements and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024. The report, presented by the State Auditor-General, Kolapo Idris, showed that total revenue inflows for the year stood at N306.8bn. Of this, statutory allocation accounted for N159.7bn, Value Added Tax contributed N66.8bn, while capital receipts and funds…

The Federal Government on Monday launched a digital portal aimed at creating a credible database of Nigerian teachers, streamlining licensing processes, and promoting professionalism in the education sector. The platform, unveiled in Abuja by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) in partnership with the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme, is expected to enhance transparency and efficiency in teacher management. Speaking at the launch, the…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has unveiled plans to establish a 260,000-strong rapid deployment counter-terrorism brigade, requiring an annual budget of $2.5 billion. The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, disclosed this during the 2025 African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja, themed “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration.” Represented by the ECOWAS Commissioner for…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a criminal network at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, after uncovering how its members planted illicit substances on unsuspecting Nigerian pilgrims who later faced detention in Saudi Arabia. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, flanked by the Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, Dr Abdul Ibrahim,…

A Lagos State High Court has sentenced a mortgage banker, Sulaiman Gbajabiamila, to 20 years in prison for property fraud totalling N31 million. Justice I. O. Ijelu delivered the judgment on Monday, following a full trial initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Gbajabiamila was arraigned on September 19, 2023, on a seven-count charge that included stealing, obtaining by false pretences, forgery, and retaining proceeds of crime. READ…

Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has warned that Africa is confronting increasingly complex and serious security challenges. He urged for stronger collaboration among nations to address them. Matawalle stated that the continent’s security must be guided by African-led solutions, leadership, and unity. During his address at the opening of the Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference in Abuja, Matawalle highlighted the transnational and asymmetric nature of these threats.…