Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Thai authorities have declared a state of emergency in Bangkok, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Friday after the city was hit by a major earthquake centred in Myanmar. Damage was reported to buildings across Bangkok after the 7.7-magnitude quake, including a 30-storey under-construction skyscraper that collapsed in the city’s north. Medical workers transport an earthquake casualty in the compound of a hospital in Naypyidaw on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake in central Myanmar. A powerful earthquake rocked central Myanmar on March 28, buckling roads in capital Naypyidaw, damaging buildings and forcing people to flee into the streets in…

The Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has cleared the air on the plan to apply Sharia Law in some states of the South-West, including Oyo, noting that his administration will not oppose anything that is in line with the Constitution. The clarification came against the backdrop of a media report that the Oyo State Government would go to court to challenge the plan. Governor Makinde declared that members of the public can approach the Sharia Panel if they feel like doing so. The governor, who stated that the panel could be an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, noted that the court…

The Delta State College of Nursing Sciences has issued a disciplinary query to a student nurse, Osato Edobor, for allegedly recording and posting an “unauthorised” video on social media during the visit of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Delta State. A picture of a letter sent to Edobor was posted by Arise New journalist Oseni Rufai on Friday via X. The letter, signed by the provost of the institution, Evbodaghe Rita Ogonne, and dated March 27, 2025, accused Edobor of engaging in a “malicious act” by recording herself singing and posting an “unofficial response” to a song during…

The Anambra State Fire Service is currently on  intervention at the scene of fire outbreak at Ifejika Street, by Sokoto Road, Onitsha. It was gathered that the fire which began at one of the buildings at about 6:20am has escalated into a nearby building. The cause of the fire has yet to be ascertained but residents, passersby and men of the fire service who are already on ground were seen making rescue efforts to salvage some properties and goods from the building. The head of the Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra State Fire Service, Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed the…

President Bola Tinubu has expressed condolences to Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, wife of the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, over the passing of her daughter, Mrs. Bisola Kola-Daisi. In a statement issued on Friday and signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the death as an unexpected and heartbreaking loss. “In a poignant conversation with the bereaved mother on Thursday, President Tinubu conveyed his deep sympathy to the family during this time of profound loss, acknowledging the unexpected and heart-wrenching departure of a cherished daughter, devoted wife, and mother of…

The Confederation of African Football has announced Egypt as the host of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. CAF revealed the new host in a statement on Thursday evening. Cote d’Ivoire was billed to host the age-grade competition from April 26 to May 18, but the country pulled out precisely a month before the event. According to CAF, the West African country pulled out of hosting the competition due to “unforeseen circumstances”. The statement reads, “The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) today awarded the Egyptian Football Association (“EFA”) and Egyptian Government the rights to host the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20…

The Premier League will have two transfer windows this summer to allow Manchester City and Chelsea to register players for the Club World Cup. Clubs in the English top flight will now be able to recruit and retain players in a special window between June 1 and 10. The exceptional registration period was approved by FIFA last October and is open to any national association which has teams involved in the new expanded Club World Cup, which starts in the United States on June 14. Winners of the competition could earn up to $125 million in prize money with a…

The Senior Special Assistant on Media Affairs to President Bola Tinubu, Tunde Rahman, has revealed that the late Dr. Doyin Okupe had set up an office and assembled a team to work for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 before his passing. Speaking at a Service of Songs held in Okupe’s honour at Trinity House, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday, Rahman disclosed that Okupe took the step because he believed strongly in Tinubu’s policies and vision for Nigeria. Rahman, who represented the president at the event, described Okupe’s death as a significant loss not only to Tinubu but also to the political…

The Federal Government has declared Monday, March 31 and Tuesday, April 1 as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Fitr celebration. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Magdalene Ajani. The minister congratulated all Muslims for the successful completion of the fasting in the holy month of Ramadan. He urged all Muslims to “embrace the virtues of self-discipline, compassion, generosity and peace, emphasising the importance of love, forgiveness, and solidarity in building a harmonious society.” Tunji-Ojo called on Nigerians to use this festive period to pray for peace, stability, and…

The World Bank has expressed concern over Nigeria’s poor statistical performance, noting that the country lags behind its aspirational peers such as Mexico, Colombia, South Africa and Brazil. According to a statement by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Mrs Julie Osagie-Jacobs, this was noted during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, by a delegation from the World Bank led by Country Director, Ndiame Diop, and Practice Manager for West and Central Africa, Mr Johan Mistiaen, on Wednesday. In his presentation titled “Next Level Statistics to Support Nigeria’s Reform and Growth Agenda,”…