Author: Naija Daily News

By Deborah Nnamdi Inah Canabarro Lucas, a Brazilian nun recognized as the world’s oldest living person, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 116. Known for surviving a fragile infancy, Lucas credited her extraordinary longevity to her faith in God and dedication to her religious order, according to longevity trackers LongeviQuest and the US-based Gerontological Research Group (GRG). With her passing, the title of the world’s oldest person now goes to 115-year-old Ethel Caterham of Surrey, England, according to both databases. Born on June 8, 1908, Lucas became the world’s oldest person after the January death of Japan’s Tomiko…

By Didimoko A. Didimoko Disaster was averted on the Bukuma River in Rivers State on Tuesday as the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder, rescued 99 traders from a local market boat during a collision with a barge in Degema Local Government Area of the state. Eyewitness accounts of the incident indicated that but for the swift intervention of the military personnel, the dozens of victims would have died. The boat, known as ‘Blood of Jesus,’ was making its usual journey from Port Harcourt to Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, carrying both passengers and valuable wares when the collision occurred. Our source…

Foreign ministers of the member states of the BRICS bloc have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in three areas: politics and security, economy and finance, and cultural and humanitarian exchanges. A statement published on the official website of Brazil’s BRICS Presidency indicated that the ministers reaffirmed their commitment at a two-day BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro with the participation of the BRICS member states. The meeting, the statement further indicated, was held in an expanded format with representatives of the BRICS partner countries in attendance. The ministers emphasised the key role of BRICS as the…

By Douglas Maha In a major crackdown on international vehicle trafficking, INTERPOL has led a successful two-week operation that exposed a network funnelling stolen cars from Europe and Canada into West Africa. The operation, dubbed Safe Wheels, resulted in the identification of approximately 150 stolen vehicles, with over half of them seized on the spot. The operation, carried out in March 2025, was the result of close cooperation between INTERPOL and law enforcement agencies across 12 West African nations, including Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire, among others. Together, these countries set up daily checkpoints—averaging 46 per day—and inspected…

Photo: Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, DG WTO By Gabriel Efe Human resilience is astonishing—not for its brilliance, but for its persistence in the face of constant absurdity. We weathered COVID, rewired systems on the fly, and momentarily reminded ourselves that survival demands innovation. Just when it seemed like we’d turned a corner, here comes another spectacle: a trade war masquerading as industrial policy. This isn’t a strategy. It’s performance art—clumsy, costly, and hollow. There’s been little consideration for how everyday people are supposed to navigate the fallout. No real reckoning with the global repercussions. Just a political reflex to “act,” even…

Photo: Gov Umo Eno likens PDP to a faulty plane By Didimoko A. Didimoko Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno hints at a potential defection from the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections, with his recent comments and cabinet shakeup fueling speculation of a switch to the APC. Speaking during a constituency outreach event in Ikot Akpankuk, Ukanafun Local Government Area, the governor compared the PDP to a faulty aircraft, implying he is open to boarding a more “reliable” political vehicle—an analogy widely interpreted as a nod to the All Progressives Congress (APC). “If you were set to travel with…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Nigeria Police Force has issued a detailed nine-step procedure to help motorists apply for a tinted glass permit through its official online platform. To begin, applicants must visit the Police Specialized Services Automation Project (POSSAP) website at www.possap.gov.ng and register using their National Identification Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), or Tax Identification Number (TIN). After completing the registration form with accurate personal details, users need to create an account and verify it via a code sent to their email address. Once the account is verified, they can log in with their email and password to…

By Deborah Nnamdi Starting Thursday, May 1, 2025, bank customers will be charged N6 for every SMS transaction alert, up from the previous rate of N4. This adjustment follows a recent 50% increase in SMS tariffs by telecom providers, which was approved by the federal government. In response, several banks have notified their customers of the revised charges via email. Guaranty Trust Bank Limited, in an email titled “Increase in SMS Transaction Alert Fee,” stated:“Dear Valued Customer, Please be informed that effective Thursday, May 1, 2025, the SMS transaction alert fee will increase from N4 to N6 per message. This…

Opinion Article by Ray Ekpu The storm between the Rivers State government and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) may be a storm in a teacup but it is a storm. The story is that the Rivers State government under Governor Siminalayi Fubara gave N300 million to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which had planned to hold its 2025 Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State. This was before President Bola Tinubu removed the governor on March 18, declared a state of emergency and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokete Ibas as the Sole Administrator of the state. Now that the NBA…

Australia’s position as a top destination for international education may be under threat, as proposed changes to student visa fees could make it one of the most expensive countries in the world for global learners. The Australian government is currently considering an increase in its student visa application fee from AUD$1,600 to AUD$2,000—an amount equivalent to about ₦2,054,480 at current exchange rates. This change, if implemented, could significantly impact Nigerian students, who have long considered Australia a welcoming environment for higher education. A Sharp Climb in Costs The current AUD$1,600 fee—introduced as recently as July 2024—was already a steep rise…