Author: Naija Daily News

The Federal Government has ruled out any return to fuel subsidy, insisting that the policy created economic distortions and that petrol prices would continue to be determined by market forces. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, stated this on Tuesday in Paris during an engagement between President Bola Tinubu and global investors. Oyedele said the administration would not reintroduce the subsidy despite mounting public pressure over the rising cost of living since its removal in May 2023. “We will not bring back fuel subsidy because it creates distortions for the economy, and we won’t…

The Senate of Nigeria on Tuesday amended its Standing Rules, tightening eligibility requirements for presiding and principal offices in a move widely seen as aimed at limiting the chances of incoming lawmakers, including serving governors and former senators, from clinching key leadership positions in the 11th National Assembly. The decision followed about three hours of a closed-door session, after which the red chamber amended Orders 4 and 5 of its rules to restrict eligibility for leadership positions to ranking lawmakers with clearly defined legislative experience. The development comes amid growing interest by outgoing governors and other political heavyweights who are…

An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Bukar Kashim Goni, standing trial over an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu, has told the Federal High Court that over N10 million transferred into his bank account was meant for prayers and charitable activities. Sheikh Goni is among six defendants being prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation over the alleged failed coup plot in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026 before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Other defendants in the suit include retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, serving Police Inspector Ahmed…

Two close allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have emerged as potential contenders for the Rivers State governorship in the 2027 general elections, as political permutations intensify ahead of the poll. The two politicians, Alabo Dakorinama George-Kelly and Kingsley Chinda, are said to be members of the Rainbow Coalition, a political bloc loyal to Wike. Sources within the coalition disclosed that George-Kelly has been pencilled down to contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, while Chinda is being considered to fly the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party. It was gathered that the…

No fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday defected from the African Democratic Congress to the Nigerian Democratic Congress, further reshaping the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections. Their defections were announced during plenary on the floor of the House. Also announced was the defection of Leke Abejide, who moved from the ADC to the All Progressives Congress. The lawmakers who joined the NDC are Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande, Munachim Umezuruike, Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam…

Pandemonium broke out in the Ikotun area of Lagos on Saturday after suspected cultists allegedly shot dead a bride’s father and a hypeman identified simply as Victor during a wedding after-party. The attack was said to have occurred on Oviawe Street, off Governor’s Road, shortly after the wedding ceremony had ended and guests moved to an after-party in the community. Eyewitnesses said the assailants stormed the venue while the celebration was still ongoing, causing guests to flee for safety as gunshots rang out. A resident, identified simply as Tosin, said Victor was entertaining guests when the attackers struck. According to…

The Federal Government on Monday played video evidence before the Federal High Court in Abuja in its bid to establish an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu through a coup d’état. The video recordings, tendered by the prosecution in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, showed some of the defendants explaining their alleged roles in the plot during interrogation by investigators. Those standing trial include retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, serving Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, as well as Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. Also mentioned in the charge…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with two Chinese firms for the restart, operation, and expansion of the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries as part of efforts to restore Nigeria’s refining capacity and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products. The agreement, signed with Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co., Ltd., is expected to lay the foundation for a Technical Equity Partnership aimed at completing ongoing rehabilitation works and ensuring efficient, sustainable operations at both facilities. According to a statement issued on Monday by NNPC’s Chief Corporate…

The family of 18-year-old social media user, Kingsley Akunemeihe, has appealed to billionaire businessman Tony Elumelu to forgive the teenager following his arrest over a viral social media post falsely claiming that the entrepreneur had divorced his wife, Awele Elumelu. In an emotional video shared on Instagram, Kingsley’s sister, Ngozi Akunemeihe, said her younger brother was arrested shortly after sitting for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. According to her, the teenager had reposted a claim on X, formerly known as Twitter, alleging that Elumelu had separated from his wife without knowing the information was false. She said Kingsley was…

Security operatives have arrested 13 suspected cultists during an initiation ceremony in a forest area between Alode and Onne in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. The suspects were apprehended in the early hours of Sunday after about 100 young men reportedly gathered in the forest for the initiation exercise. An eyewitness, identified as Lene, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Monday that police operatives stormed the location while the ritual was ongoing. According to him, many of the participants fled into the forest on sighting the approaching security team, while over 13 suspects…