Author: Naija Daily News

By Deborah Nnamdi Heavy security presence on Tuesday engulfed the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, as two rival factions—each claiming legitimate control of the party—attempted to hold parallel meetings at the same venue, triggering violent confrontations, barricades, and police intervention. The crisis intensified shortly after the Samuel Anyanwu–led National Working Committee (NWC) arrived at Wadata Plaza. Anyanwu, who insists he remains the party’s national secretary until his tenure ends in December, settled into his office despite the escalating leadership dispute. He also confirmed that he personally invited the security operatives who had cordoned off major…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Tuesday visited Maga community in Kebbi State, where he directed troops of Operation Fasan Yamma to launch an aggressive, round-the-clock operation to rescue students abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga. During an assessment briefing with frontline troops, the Army Chief warned that bandits were increasingly targeting vulnerable communities and soft civilian locations, stressing that the trend must be met with superior strategy, intelligence, and sustained military pressure. “You must continue day and night fighting. We must find these children,” Shaibu ordered. He tasked field commanders…

Nigeria’s foreign reserve has surged to over $46 billion, marking its highest level in seven years, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, announced on Tuesday. Cardoso made the disclosure during the opening session of the Monetary Policy Department’s 20th anniversary colloquium in Abuja, noting that the milestone reflects improved economic stability and strengthened external buffers. According to him, the current reserve level is significant enough to cover more than 10 months of imports — a benchmark not achieved since 2018. The CBN governor said the development was a positive signal for Nigeria’s economic outlook and…

By Deborah Nnamdi Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo has broken her silence after failing to make the final shortlist for the CAF Women’s Player of the Year Award, saying she remains focused on proving herself through performances rather than accolades. Okoronkwo, who many fans and football analysts believed deserved a top-three spot following a stellar year for club and country, shared her reaction in an Instagram post on Thursday shortly after CAF unveiled the final nominees. “I remain grateful for the support across Africa. CAF’s decision is noted, but my focus stays on the pitch. Recognition is earned, not awarded,”…

By Deborah Nnamdi Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), Professor Cyril Ndifon, to five years’ imprisonment for sexually harassing a female diploma student. The sentence carries no option of fine. Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Omotosho ruled that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) successfully proved counts one and two against Ndifon beyond reasonable doubt. He handed the embattled academic a two-year sentence on count one and a five-year term on count two, to run concurrently.…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed the content of an insulting and abusive “Thank You” text message allegedly sent to him by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, following Obasanjo’s attendance at Fayose’s 65th birthday celebration in Lagos last week. The message, shared with journalists in Abeokuta on Monday by Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, expressed Fayose’s gratitude for the former president’s presence at the event but harshly criticised his remarks during the celebration. In the SMS, Fayose said he deliberately refrained from responding to what he described as Obasanjo’s “irresponsible comments” at the event to show “the…

By Deborah Nnamdi Two siblings were burnt to death on Sunday night after a fire outbreak swept through a cluster of makeshift buildings at the Rumuola axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, destroying properties worth millions of naira. The fire reportedly started around 10 pm from one of the rooms in a shanty where a mother had locked her four children before stepping out to buy ingredients for cooking. Eyewitnesses said two of the children were asleep, while their older siblings were awake when the fire broke out. Although the exact cause of the fire remains unclear,…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Turkish government has granted its embassy in Abuja the authority to issue visas directly to Nigerian business travellers without requiring prior clearance from Ankara—a move officials say will significantly strengthen economic cooperation between both countries. Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, announced the development on Monday during a courtesy visit to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in Abuja. He said the new visa arrangement would streamline travel for entrepreneurs and enhance commercial ties. Poroy, who arrived in Nigeria six months ago and is yet to formally present his letter of credence,…

By Deborah Nnamdi A drug trafficking syndicate has abandoned two Toyota Sienna buses loaded with 1,455 kilograms of cannabis along the Okhokho–ISI community route in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State following a hot chase by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Edo State NDLEA Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, noting that the traffickers fled into nearby bushes after realising officers were closing in on them. According to the statement, a team of NDLEA operatives intercepted the vehicles, which reportedly began their journey from Okpuje, a community notorious for large-scale cannabis…

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has intercepted a lion cub and two patas monkeys being transported to the Benin Republic during a stop-and-search operation along the Badagry–Seme Expressway. According to a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaiman, operatives discovered the endangered animals on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at about 2:19 a.m., after stopping a blue Mazda vehicle with registration number MUS 743 HA at Gbaji. During the inspection, the officers found the lion cub and two patas monkeys hidden in the vehicle, in violation of national and international wildlife protection laws. Customs Area Controller…