Author: Naija Daily News

By Deborah Nnamdi Lere Olayinka, a media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has knocked Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara over recent attacks on his principal. Fubara, who had been engaged in face-off with Wike, his estranged godfather, said on Thursday that he had endured enough insults from Wike’s camp and would tolerate no more. The governor spoke shortly after signing the N1.1 trillion 2025 budget at the Government House in Port Harcourt. Reacting, Olayinka, in a post on his official X.com handle on Friday, said Fubara hasn’t seen insults yet. Olayinka accused Governor…

By Deborah Nnamdi A drunk police officer in Zambia freed 13 suspects from custody so that they could go and celebrate the new year, officials say. Reports said detective inspector Titus Phiri was arrested after releasing the suspects from Leonard Cheelo police station in the capital, Lusaka, before running away himself. The 13 detainees were accused of crimes such as assault, robbery, and burglary. They are all currently on the run and a manhunt has been launched to find them. Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said that Phiri, “in a state of intoxication, forcibly seized cell keys” from constable Serah Banda…

By Deborah Nnamdi The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Peter Obi’s New Year message as “misleading and an attempt to score cheap political points.” Obi, who was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, used his New Year message to criticize President Bola Tinubu, expressing grave concerns over institutional corruption, mismanagement, poverty, hardship, and an escalating debt profile. The former governor of Anambra stated that corruption has been deeply entrenched in government and nepotism has become the norm under Tinubu’s leadership. He also demanded “vigorous, positive actions” from the administration to bring succor to Nigerians.…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of fuelling division in the state. Okocha, who spoke to journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, faulted Fubara’s decision to present the 2025 budget to a faction of the state House of Assembly, stressing that Rivers might experience the worst political crisis. Recall that Fubara presented the N1.1 trillion budget to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led House of Assembly in December. The four members led by the Speaker, Oko-Jumbo, had earlier read Governor Fubara’s letter requesting permission to present the appropriation…

By Deborah Nnamdi Unknown gunmen on New Year’s Day attacked Unguwar Rogo in the Ugom community of Maro ward, Kajuru local government area of Kaduna State. According to a statement by the Chairman of the Ugom Progressive Union, Ishaya Onussim, the attackers vandalized properties, stole various farm products, burnt down six houses, and set the ECWA Church in Unguwar Rogo ablaze after looting valuables from the church and its pastorium. He said: “All the residents fled into the bushes, abandoning their belongings in a bid to save their lives.” He appealed to governments at all levels to intervene urgently, saying…

A wedding in the Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa State has turned tragic after a bride allegedly poisoned food served at the reception. The incident reportedly left the groom critically ill and one of the wedding guests dead. Eyewitnesses suggested that the bride’s actions may have been driven by a personal vendetta. The State’s Police Public Relations Officer, Shi’isu Adam, who confirmed the incident stated that an investigation was underway. “We received a report that the bride had tainted the food served at the wedding reception, leaving the groom critically ill. “Police have arrested two suspects in connection with…

By Oghenekevwe Kofi Passengers aboard Cathay Pacific Flight 880 had a truly unique way of ushering in 2025—by celebrating New Year’s Day twice. The flight, which departed Hong Kong International Airport just past midnight on January 1, 2025, took off into the night, heading eastward across the vast Pacific Ocean toward the United States. After a journey of approximately 12 hours and multiple time zone crossings, the aircraft touched down at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Despite the 16-hour time difference between Hong Kong and LA, the flight arrived at LAX at 8:30 p.m. on December 31, 2024—around 20 minutes…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has extended an invitation to former President Olusegun Obasanjo for a tour of the Port Harcourt Refinery to verify its operational status. This development follows Obasanjo’s recent interview with Channels Television, where he cited advice from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) suggesting the refinery would not function effectively. According to the former president, SPDC, which was approached to acquire equity in the refinery, expressed concerns about corruption impeding its operations.Obasanjo further alleged that NNPCL has been misleading Nigerians about the refinery’s functionality. Responding to the claims, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Zone A Operation Whirlwind Unit, has intercepted smugglers attempting to transport over 10,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) concealed in sacks by smugglers in Badagry. In a statement, the Commander of Operation Whirlwind, Mahmood Bello, said that the operation took place on New Year’s Eve. Customs operatives, he said, conducted surveillance along the waterside in Badagry, where they intercepted 61 sacks and seven jerry cans of PMS loaded in a large canoe headed for the Benin Republic. Bello added that smugglers had revived an old smuggling technique of concealing PMS in…

The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a safety advisory to citizens planning to travel to or residing in Australia. The advisory highlights concerns over rising incidents of discrimination, harassment, and verbal abuse directed at foreigners, particularly in certain cities. The ministry urges Nigerian nationals to remain cautious due to the reported increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents in Australia, which have escalated the risk of violence. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a press statement on their official X.com account on December 31,2024, urged travelers to be aware of the growing tensions and incidents of hate crimes, especially…