Author: Festus Adeloye

A trade war sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs may drive up global inflation, stoke market volatility and slow economic growth, the CEOs of two top Australian banks said on Tuesday, but added Australia was insulated from the disruption. The heads of No. 1 retail lender Commonwealth Bank of Australia and No. 1 business lender National Australia Bank told a conference the new U.S. administration’s protectionist policies would likely strain the global economy in the medium term with higher costs and lack of certainty, according to a Reuters report. But Australia’s roughly $15 billion a year in exports to…

An explosion has rocked the Trans-Niger Pipeline at Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State. The affected section of the major pipeline is currently on fire, though the exact cause of the explosion remains unknown at this time. Authorities have yet to determine whether the incident resulted from human interference, especially amid recent threats by militant groups to attack oil installations in response to the Federal Government’s withholding of Rivers State’s allocation due to the ongoing political crisis. The explosion reportedly occurred on Monday night along the critical export pipeline that transports crude to the Bonny Terminal.

Aliko Dangote has revealed plans to build a seaport and expand cement production in Ogun State. During a meeting with the Ogun State officials on Monday, Dangote told Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Executive Council that his company will construct what he described as “the largest port in the country” at Olokola Free Trade Zone, reviving previously abandoned investment plans in the area. The businessman also announced that two new cement production lines with a combined capacity of 6 million metric tons per annum are being constructed at Itori. When completed, the facilities will operate alongside the existing 12 million…

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has charged the National Assembly to uphold the sacred responsibility of leadership, prioritise unity and national development over political divisions and partisan interests. He made the call on Monday when President Bola Tinubu hosted the leadership and members of the House of Representatives to Iftar (breaking of Ramadan fast) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Shettima, who spoke on behalf of President Tinubu, also urged lawmakers to embrace their responsibility with humility and a shared commitment to progress. He said, “In the end, history will not judge us by the number of personal battles we fought against one…

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has approved for Max Air to resume its domestic flight operations following a successful completion of an economic and safety audit. This was disclosed by Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, in a statement on Monday. On January 29, 2025, Max Air voluntarily suspended its domestic operations for 90 days after a series of incidents on its flights. This decision was welcomed by the NCAA. Achimugu noted that during the suspension period, the NCAA conducted a thorough safety and economic audit of the airline. READ ALSO: NCAA Orders Max…

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Monday threatened to sack Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Yohana Dauda for alleged attempt to defraud 455 victims of demolition at Gishiri village. This is following his discovery that despite his approval of N1.3 billion for victims compensation, became enraged upon learning that the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with the Department of Compensation and Relocation, was offering the victims significantly less than the amount he had authorized. The victims comprising both indigenes and non indigenes were affected by the ongoing road construction and had their homes pulled down last…

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has refuted claims that he called for death penalty against National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Ushie Uguamaye, who recently criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a social media post. Ajayi’s response follows backlash over his initial remarks, in which he suggested that the strictest NYSC disciplinary code should apply to Uguamaye’s actions. In a statement issued on Monday, he dismissed allegations of advocating for measures beyond the established NYSC by-laws. An online news medium, People’s Gazette, had claimed that Ajayi called for Uguamaye’s execution by hanging or firing…

The Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday served a notice of gross misconduct on Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu. The letter, dated Friday, March 14, 2025, was tabled on Monday morning, March 17, for debate by the Speaker. The letter, signed by 26 lawmakers and titled “Notice of Allegations of Gross Misconduct Brought Pursuant to Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) 1999,” accused the governor of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office. A separate letter concerning the deputy governor was also tabled for…

Days after meeting President Bola Tinubu in Aso Villa, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, Olajide Adediran, popularly known as JANDOR, has returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Jandor who resigned his PDP membership along with his Lagos4Lagos Movement, disclosed this at a press conference in Ikeja, Lagos. “Our return to APC was not for personal purpose but reflection of our commitment to the development of Lagos”, said Jandor.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised the N70,000 new minimum wage approved for workers by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as grossly inadequate to cover workers’ basic needs, including transportation, food, and housing. The former President accused labour leaders of betraying workers by prioritising personal interests over collective welfare. “That is the situation in Nigeria in the third decade of the 21st century. “The minimum wage does not even cover transportation costs for some workers, let alone food, housing, and family upkeep,” Obasanjo wrote in his newly released book, “Nigeria: Past and Future”. In Chapter 17 of the book, Obasanjo…