Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has directed the Heads of Local Government Administration in the 23 local government areas of the state to submit the activities of their respective councils. Ibas said the HLGA appointed by the suspended governor, Siminalayi Fubara, are to submit the report to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government. This was contained in a letter addressed to the HLGAs, dated March 24th, 2025 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Itong Awani. The letter titled ‘Re: Submission of Report of The Activities of Your Councils’ was…

The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill mandating the compulsory registration of citizens, aiming to overhaul Nigeria’s identity management system through the repeal and reenactment of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act. The passage followed the submission and consideration of a report by the Committee on National Identity Card and Population, chaired by Senator Victor Umeh representing Anambra central. Umeh explained that the legislation seeks to establish a harmonised, cost-effective identity system that aligns with global best practices, enhances data accuracy, promote inclusion and closes existing gaps in Nigeria’s identity database. Once signed into law, the bill also provides…

President Bola Tinubu has assented to the South-West Development Commission Bill, the South-South Development Commission Bill, and the Nigeria Anti-Doping Bill, 2025. Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado, made this known in a statement, noting that the legislations reflect Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance, equitable progress, and Nigeria’s emergence as a global powerhouse. “By signing into law the establishment of the South-West and South-South Development Commissions, President Tinubu has reaffirmed his role as a transformational leader who prioritizes regional empowerment, economic expansion, and infrastructural excellence. “Building on the foundation of his earlier assent to the South-East…

Rosalie Cote and her parents vacationed in the US state of Maine every summer for 25 years — but this year they are staying home, incensed like many Canadians by Donald Trump’s threats of annexation and tariffs. The United States was the top destination for Canadian tourists, with 20.4 million visits reported last year by the US Travel Association, pumping some US$20.5 billion into the American economy and supporting 140,000 jobs. But that number is expected to plummet this year as Canadians — the targets of relentless attacks by an America First president intent on wielding tariffs as a policy…

Forty-two constitutional amendment bills on Wednesday scaled second reading in the House of Representatives. Among the bills was the one to remove the immunity conferred on the vice president, governors, and their deputies to curb corruption, eradicate impunity, and enhance accountability in public office. This followed 39 constitutional amendment bills that scaled second reading in the green chamber on Tuesday. READ ALSO: Businessman Okorie Sunday Collapses In Court During Money Laundering Trial Some of the notable proposals that scaled second reading on Wednesday include: A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to qualify…

The United Arab Emirates football association fired coach Paulo Bento on Wednesday, despite the team keeping their hopes alive of qualifying automatically for the 2026 World Cup by edging North Korea 2-1. “The UAE Football Association has decided to dismiss the head coach of the national team, Paulo Bento, along with his coaching staff,” the association said. “A replacement is expected to be named soon to lead the team in the Group A 2026 World Cup qualifiers and other official competitions,” it added. His replacement will coach the team in the two final matches of the World Cup qualifiers against…

MTN Group and Airtel Africa have agreed to share mobile phone network infrastructure in Nigeria and Uganda.  Statements by the duo on Wednesday said the agreement is aimed at saving investments while still increasing service coverage. Mobile operators in Africa are seeing sustained demand for digital and financial services, but building and maintaining networks is expensive, especially for fast 5G connections. The companies also said they will explore various opportunities in other markets, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda and Zambia. Among the deals under consideration are radio access network sharing, the largest portion of the cost in network deployment and operation; commercial…

A businessman, Okorie Sunday, who was arrested on March 19, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, with $578,000 in cash suddenly collapsed in court during his trial on Wednesday morning. Okorie was brought to the Federal High Court, Lagos for his trial which commenced at 8.30am. He was called into the dock for the charge to be re-read to him but collapsed just as the court registrar was about to read the counts. A day before, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him at the same court on four counts…

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has defended her clash with the senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, at a Senate Committee hearing on Tuesday. Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Wednesday, Ezekwesili stated that she is pleased with her verbal engagement with the Imo lawmaker, saying that the clash has exposed what women face in a patriarchal society. She said, “I was very pleased with what happened yesterday because now it is in the public domain what women endure in many instances, and the rest of society may know a little about it but has…

The Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has accepted the resignation of his Commissioner for the newly created Ministry of Internal Security and Special Services, Major General Muhammad Idris (retd.). In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Tofa, on Tuesday, the governor expressed his deep gratitude to the retired general for his service to the state within his short tenure, acknowledging his contributions to the initial take-off of the ministry. Even though no reason was given for the resignation, the governor also extended his best wishes to the former commissioner, describing him as a dedicated public servant and a…