Author: Festus Adeloye

The leader of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as commendable strides in governance, stating that the President has “surpassed” his expectations since assuming office. Pa Fasoranti made the remark on Thursday when the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Remi Tinubu, paid him a courtesy visit at his residence in Akure, Ondo State. According to a statement from the First Lady’s media aide, Busola Kukoyi, the 98-year-old elder statesman expressed satisfaction with the direction of the Tinubu administration and offered prayers for the President’s continued guidance and success. “I…

The Donald Trump administration is reportedly considering shutting down nearly 30 embassies and consulates worldwide — including several in Africa — as part of a broader plan to streamline America’s diplomatic presence abroad. This is according to an internal document from the US State Department, CNN obtained. Among the proposed closures are American embassies in Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan. A consulate in South Africa is also listed for potential shutdown. These developments come amid a sweeping attempt by the administration to shrink the size of the US federal government, with influence from…

The Presidency has assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu remained fully in charge of the country’s affairs despite his ongoing stay in Europe, adding that he is expected to return to Nigeria after the Easter holidays. In a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the State House clarified that the President’s absence was temporary and consistent with the earlier communicated timeframe of approximately two weeks. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains fully engaged in Nigeria’s governance even though he is away in Europe,” the statement read. “His return to Abuja…

The leadership of Labour Unions in Ekiti state has endorsed Governor Biodun Oyebanji for a second term in office, citing his exceptional commitment to workers’ welfare and all round development of the state for their decision.  Speaking at a Labour Round Table Meeting with the Governor at Lady Jibowu Hall of the Government House in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday evening, the labour leaders also vowed to continue to support the governor in the realization of all his lofty policies and programmes aimed at achieving his shared prosperity agenda, with a promise not to allow miscreant disrupt the pace of progress…

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has signed a fresh two-year contract with the club. The 33-year-old centre-back’s previous contract had been set to expire at the end of the season. The Dutchman has joined forward Mohamed Salah, who signed a two-year extension last week, in committing his future to the club. “It was always Liverpool,” said Van Dijk, who had been linked with a move to Paris St-Germain. That was the case. It was always in my head, it was always the plan and it was always Liverpool.” The Dutchman, who has made 314 appearances for the Reds, was named…

Arsenal will face Paris Saint-Germain in the semi- final of the Champions League after defeating Real Madrid in the second leg of the quarter- final stage. Barcelona will square up with Inter Milan in the other semi-final match. The gunners who had a 3-0 lead in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last week, dominated Real Madrid in both legs, winning 2-1 in the second leg with a 5-1 aggregate. In the other quarter-final game, Inter Milan progressed to the semi- final with a 4-3 aggregate win over Bayern Munich.

The Rivers State Government has dismissed a viral report claiming that the state’s Administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd), summoned suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, for interrogation. In a statement signed by Sir Dede Friday, Permanent Secretary of the Special Service Bureau in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the government described the report as false and lacking any official source. The statement urged the public to disregard the claim, labeling it as the work of individuals attempting to destabilize the state. It also cautioned against other fake announcements circulating on social media and…

The trade war between China and the United States has taken a new dimension as China now faces tariffs of 245 percent on imports into the United States, “as a result of its retaliatory actions,” the White House was quoted as saying. This development also comes as President Donald Trump authorised an investigation into “national security risks posed by the US’ reliance on imported, processed critical minerals and derived products,” which includes cobalt, lithium, nickel, and rare-earth metals used in the manufacture of smartphones, batteries for electric vehicles, and military equipment. Trump, meanwhile, has said China needs to make the…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has dissociated itself from the ongoing circulation of false, misleading, and criminal messages targeting candidates that registered for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The JAMB spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said these messages were being disseminated by suspected fraudsters with the intent to defraud unsuspecting individuals. Benjamin noted that the perpetrators had exploited the numerical variant of UTME, 8863, and merged it with the Board’s sort code, ‘55019’, to create a deceptive sort code that mimics JAMB’s official messaging system. According to him, through this…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched a comprehensive investigation into an alleged N1.3 trillion cryptocurrency fraud connected to the now-defunct digital investment platform, CryptoBank Exchange (CBEX). According to the EFCC, the commission is collaborating with the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) to trace local and international suspects involved in the massive scam and get back the monies of those who invested in the scheme. CBEX, said to have been run by a group of foreign nationals in collaboration with Nigerian partners, abruptly shut down operations on Monday. The sudden collapse left thousands of investors locked out of…