Author: Naija Daily News

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday criticised the widening gap between the rich and the poor as he visited Monaco, marking the first Western European trip of his papacy. The pontiff arrived by helicopter from Rome and was received at Monte Carlo’s heliport by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene under bright sunshine. Shortly after arriving in the wealthy Mediterranean principality, Leo condemned what he described as growing “chasms between the poor and the rich.” Speaking in French from the balcony of the Prince’s Palace, he denounced “unjust configurations of power” and “structures of sin” that deepen divisions between privileged and…

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said he would not oppose Bola Ahmed Tinubu if he decides to seek the All Progressives Congress ticket for re-election in 2027. Otti made the declaration during his monthly media chat for March held at the Government House in Umuahia on Friday night, stating that he had no basis to challenge the president’s candidacy since he is focused on securing a second term as governor. “I am not in a position to oppose President Tinubu’s candidacy. I have no basis to challenge his re-election, as I am not contesting for the presidency but seeking…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has elected a new set of national officers during its 4th Elective National Convention held at Eagle Square, Abuja. Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda was returned as the party’s National Chairman, while Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru emerged as National Secretary. Their emergence, along with other members of the National Working Committee, was announced by the Convention Election Committee under a consensus arrangement. The convention, held on Friday night, drew the attendance of key party leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, among…

At least six health workers were abducted in the early hours of Saturday when suspected gunmen attacked a Primary Healthcare Centre in Akure, Ondo State. The assailants reportedly stormed the facility located in the Oke Ijebu area of the state capital at about 2:00 a.m., catching both medical personnel and patients off guard. Eyewitnesses said the gunmen arrived in a vehicle, forced their way into the premises, and rounded up health workers who were on night duty, including nurses, interns, and other essential medical staff. A patient who managed to escape the attack said some of the interns on duty…

Photo: Late Herbert Wigwe A new investigation by UK publication The Londoner has linked the late Herbert Wigwe to 106 properties across London, placing him among the top foreign owners of real estate in the British capital. The report, which examined 32,611 London properties owned by overseas entities, traced ownership through shell companies and offshore structures following a 2022 UK law requiring foreign property owners to disclose their beneficial ownership. It, however, stressed that the findings do not suggest any wrongdoing, noting that it only documents ownership patterns. Wigwe, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, died in…

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has lost his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who passed away in Cairo, Egypt after a prolonged illness. Family sources confirmed that she died on Friday at an advanced age in Cairo, where she had been residing with her son since he left office in 2023. Her grandson, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, announced her death in a post on his X handle, expressing gratitude for her life and calling for prayers for her soul. “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. From Allah SWT we came and to Him we shall all return,” he wrote. “We…

The Super Eagles returned to winning ways on Friday with a 2-1 victory over Iran national football team in an international friendly played in Antalya. Nigeria started brightly and took an early lead just six minutes into the encounter, with Moses Simon cutting in from the left before firing past goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand. The three-time African champions dominated much of the first half but were unable to extend their advantage despite creating several scoring opportunities. The second goal eventually came in the 61st minute when Akor Adams found the back of the net with a composed finish after being set…

Photo: Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo, has resigned from office, citing the need to ensure stability in governance and allow the office to function effectively. In a statement issued on Friday by the Kwankwasiyya Movement, the decision was described as difficult but necessary in the overall interest of the people of Kano State. According to the statement, recent developments had significantly limited Gwarzo’s ability to fully discharge the responsibilities of his office, making it imperative for him to step aside to enable optimal functioning of the deputy governor’s office. The…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revised its timetable for the 2027 General Election, extending the deadline for the submission of political parties’ membership registers. In a statement issued on March 27, 2026, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the decision followed concerns raised by political parties during a meeting with the Commission held on March 24, 2026. According to INEC, the earlier deadline scheduled between April 1 and April 21, 2026, has been adjusted to ensure compliance with statutory provisions of the Electoral Act. The Commission explained that…

Tension flared on Friday in Abuja as journalists jostled for accreditation ahead of the convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) holding in the nation’s capital. The incident occurred at the Kano Hall of Transcorp Hilton Abuja, where over 100 journalists—both accredited and non-accredited—stormed the venue in a bid to secure accreditation tags for coverage of the event. Trouble reportedly began earlier in the day when the coordinator in charge of accreditation announced that only a limited number of tags were available, noting that most of those allocated to APC correspondents had already been distributed. The announcement sparked agitation among…