Author: Naija Daily News

By Deborah Nnamdi The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the National Assembly to reject President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s proposal to borrow $24 billion, cautioning that the loan would further aggravate Nigeria’s growing debt crisis. In a statement shared on its official X account, the advocacy group warned that the new borrowing would push the country’s total debt to an estimated N183 trillion — a figure it called “clearly unsustainable and contrary to the public interest.” “The National Assembly must immediately refuse to approve the Tinubu administration’s request to borrow $24bn,” SERAP said. “The growing national debt is…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Nigerian Senate, on Wednesday, passed the 2025 budget for Rivers State for a second reading. The budget, totaling ₦1.48 trillion, was presented by Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, and subsequently approved. Senator Bamidele noted that the Senate has assumed legislative authority over Rivers State, following the declaration of a state of emergency in the region. Contributing to the debate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola emphasized the urgency of enacting the budget, stating it was essential for the people of Rivers State to begin experiencing the impact of governance. He said, “Mr President, I don’t know under…

By Deborah Nnamdi A renewed attack in the Mushere community of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, reportedly left about seven people dead on Tuesday night, according to a local source. The attack is reportedly a result of the fallout of Monday’s attack/kidnap attempt, which led to the death of a pastor, and another attack on a Fulani settlement. According to the source, after the initial attack, residents attempted to bury the victims, but the assailants struck again. The source expressed relief that security forces promptly mobilized to the scene when alerted. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO)…

By Deborah Nnamdi The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) announced on Wednesday that it has launched an investigation into singer Speed Darlington after a controversial video surfaced online in which he claimed to have had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl. The video, which quickly went viral on social media, sparked widespread outrage, with many condemning the artist for what appeared to be an admission of unlawful behavior involving a minor. In response to the backlash, Speed Darlington asserted that his confession was entirely fictional and intended purely for entertainment purposes. He explained that…

Photo: Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Rivers State President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on his 60th birthday, which he celebrated on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu praised Amaechi for his many years of dedicated service to Nigeria. He described Amaechi as a prominent figure in Nigerian politics whose influence has been strongly felt in Rivers State and across the country. President Tinubu highlighted Amaechi’s political journey, starting from his time as Speaker of the Rivers State House of…

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has recovered three dead bodies in the building that collapsed at the Ikorodu area of the state on Tuesday. The LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday. Oke-Osanyintolu said the three people that trapped under the collapsed building had been recovered dead. He added that nine adult males were successfully rescued and attended by the LASEMA Pre-Hospital Care Unit. “Following distress alerts at 14:02 hours, LASEMA activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans from Agbowa and Alausa. Upon arrival…

Photo: President Bola Tinubu and Wale Edun, Minister of Finance BY Douglas Maha, Abuja Nigeria’s public debt is projected to hit ₦162.03 trillion ($249 billion) following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request for new external borrowings totalling $21.5 billion, €2.19 billion, ¥15 billion, and a €65 million grant as part of the 2025–2026 borrowing plan. In letters submitted to both chambers of the National Assembly, Tinubu said the funds will finance critical infrastructure, agriculture, education, healthcare, and security projects aimed at reducing poverty, improving food security, and stimulating job creation. At the current exchange rate of ₦650/$, the proposed loans amount…

Team Delta is cruising to overall victory on the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF) official medals table in Ogun with 226 medals. Delta is in a clear lead of 33 other states on the medals, has won 92 gold, 59 silver and 75 bronze, bringing the state’s total medals to 226. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bayelsa continues the chase with 64 gold, 42 silver and 49 bronze medals, totalling 155. Ogun, the host state, remains third with 53 gold, 44 silver and 52 bronze, with a total of 149 medals. Meanwhile, Rivers returns to fourth position with…

Property owners in Abuja’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who faced the risk of having their properties sealed due to unpaid ground rent have been granted a crucial reprieve. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has intervened to pause the enforcement actions and provide a 14-day grace period for defaulters to clear their outstanding payments and update their land ownership documents. The president’s gesture saved the National Secretariat of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which owes several million in unpaid ground rent for over two decades. The Wadata House building housing the secretariat had earlier been sealed off by a combined…

By Deborah Nnamdi Justice Adekunle Adeleye of the Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti on Monday sentenced 56-year-old Jayeoba Oluwafemi to life imprisonment for the rape of his 14-year-old stepdaughter. The convict was arraigned on December 4, 2020, on a single count of rape. The charge read in part: “The defendant, on October 26, 2020, at Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did rape a fourteen-year-old girl, contrary to Section 31(2) of the Child’s Right Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.” In her testimony before the court, the victim, who was a primary six…