National
US freezes Kwankwaso, associates’ assets over religious war
By Didimoko A. Didimoko, with agency reports Fresh moves in Washington toward possible visa bans and asset freezes have put former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and some Nigerian groups under renewed international scrutiny over alleged religious-freedom and security concerns. Some United States lawmakers have recommended that Kwankwaso, the Miyetti…
Read More »First batch of U.S. troops arrives Nigeria for counterterrorism support mission
The first wave of United States military personnel has arrived in Nigeria, marking the commencement of a planned deployment of about 200 American intelligence analysts, advisers and trainers to support Nigerian forces in targeted counterterrorism operations. A U.S. military aircraft touched down in Maiduguri on Thursday night, bringing in the…
Read More »El-Rufai talks himself into trouble with ‘NSA phone-tap’ claim
….Presidency calls for probe Effervescent former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, is known for his verbosity andn overreach, which critics say is attention-seeking, but his recent claim suggesting that the phone of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, may have been tapped by someone known to him, may…
Read More »Court orders DIA to produce cleric accused of coup plot
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Defence Intelligence Agency to produce before it an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir Zaria, who is accused of plotting a coup against President Bola Tinubu’s government. Justice Peter Lifu gave the order on Friday, directing that the cleric be presented in…
Read More »Customs intercepts N1bn cocaine in Lagos, announces shift to paperless operations
The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 22 wraps of suspected cocaine weighing 25 kilograms and valued at about N1 billion, even as it unveiled plans to commence paperless operations before the end of the second quarter of 2026. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed the seizure on Friday while…
Read More »INEC releases timetable for 2027 general elections
By Deborah Nnamdi The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the official timetable and schedule of activities for Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections, detailing key dates for voting, party primaries, campaigns, and voter registration. The announcement comes amid concerns over the delayed passage of the amended Electoral Act currently before…
Read More »INEC proposes N873.78bn for 2027 general elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission has proposed a budget of N873.78 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, with major allocations earmarked for operations, technology and capital expenditure. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, presented the proposal on Thursday before the joint committee of the iSenate and House of…
Read More »Ezekwesili slams Senate over electoral act amendment, calls it ‘coup against democracy’
Former Minister of Education and public policy advocate, Oby Ezekwesili, has strongly criticised the Senate over its amendment to Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act, describing the move as a “coup against our democracy and the Nigerian people.” In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ezekwesili accused the upper legislative chamber…
Read More »FG orders NAFDAC to suspend enforcement of sachet alcohol ban
The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to immediately suspend all enforcement actions relating to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products. The government also warned the agency to stop sealing factories and warehouses over the issue.…
Read More »Senate amends Electoral Act, approves electronic transmission of Results
Photo: Senate President, Godswill Akpabio By Deborah Nnamdi The Senate has amended the Electoral Act to allow for the electronic transmission of election results, with safeguards in place to address potential technical challenges. This decision follows a move on Tuesday to rescind the upper chamber’s earlier stance, which had rejected…
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