Headlines

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over his recent remark about hunger in Nigeria, describing it as politically motivated.

Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Monday, Wike dismissed Amaechi’s claim of being hungry, stating that the former Rivers State governor is only hungry for power.

Amaechi, while speaking at an event to mark his 60th birthday last week, had said, “We’re all hungry, all of us are. If you’re not hungry, I am. For us, the opposition, if you want us to remove the man in power, we can remove him from this power.”

He also criticised the political class, saying, “In Nigeria, there are no capitalist ideas among the politicians; it’s about sharing.”

In his response, Wike said, “We have no time to listen to nonsense in Nigeria. I don’t understand why a man like Amaechi would choose his 60th birthday to lie to Nigerians about being hungry.”

He recalled Amaechi’s long political career, noting that he served as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007, Governor from 2007 to 2015, and Minister from 2015 to 2023, without previously raising concerns about hunger.

“Now they are regrouping. They are only hungry for power. This shows his failure. How can you trivialise the issue of hunger?” Wike said.

The FCT Minister further accused Amaechi of joining forces with opposition leader Atiku Abubakar to criticise the government, despite his own record during previous administrations.

He added, “He was a former governor who couldn’t deliver even 25 percent for Buhari during elections, despite being the campaign DG. Thank God we did not support the PDP; otherwise, he would have taken the glory.”

Wike questioned the implication of Amaechi’s call for removing the current administration, saying, “Let’s see how he plans to remove the president. Is it a military coup? The term ‘removal’ is synonymous with dictatorship.”

Reaffirming his support for President Bola Tinubu, Wike said, “I am not a liability; I am an asset. You may dislike me, but I am an asset in ensuring President Tinubu wins a second term.”

The Federal Government has declared Friday, June 6, and Monday, June 9, 2025, as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-ul-Adha celebration.

This was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of the Federal Government.

Tunji-Ojo congratulated all Muslims in Nigeria and the Diaspora on the occasion and urged the Ummah to continue to exemplify the values of sacrifice, obedience, and faith as demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon Him).

The minister also called on Nigerians to use the Eid period to pray for the peace, unity, and prosperity of the nation.

He assured citizens that the reforms and initiatives under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda are aimed at returning Nigeria to the path of progress.

While wishing the Muslim faithful a joyous Eid-ul-Adha celebration, Tunji-Ojo encouraged all Nigerians to support the administration’s efforts to restore the country’s greatness.

At least 20 athletes from the Kano State contingent have died in a tragic motor accident at Dakatsalle Bridge in Kura Local Government Area of Kano State.

The victims were returning from the recently concluded National Sports Festival held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, when the incident occurred on Saturday.

Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Umar Fagge, confirmed the development, stating that the bus conveying about 30 athletes plunged from the bridge, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 individuals.

“As I am talking to you now, we have counted 19 dead bodies,” Fagge said, adding that several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Ado Salisu, a former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), said some of the injured victims were being taken to Kura General Hospital for medical attention.

Also confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kano Sector Command, Abdullahi Labaran, said the agency had received the report but could not provide details on the number of casualties.

“We just received the report of the accident, so I cannot confirm the exact number of casualties at the moment,” Labaran said.

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised at least 60 insurgents in a coordinated overnight operation in the Bita area of Borno State, the Nigerian Army confirmed on Friday.

In a statement shared via its official X handle, the Army described the operation as a “decisive and coordinated” land and air offensive. The encounter began around 1:09 a.m. on Friday when insurgents launched an attack on troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade.

“In a decisive and coordinated operation, gallant troops of Operation Hadin Kai launched a simultaneous land and air assault on terrorist positions in Bita, Borno State, in the early hours of today,” the statement read. “The intense battle resulted in the neutralization of at least 60 terrorists.”

The Nigerian Air Force also confirmed the development, noting that its Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai played a key role in the success of the joint operation against Boko Haram insurgents.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states for Saturday, June 20 and Saturday, August 8, 2026, respectively.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced the dates on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony of six newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners recently confirmed by the National Assembly.

According to Yakubu, political parties are expected to conduct their primaries for the Ekiti governorship election between October 20 and November 10, 2025. The deadline for uploading nomination forms on the dedicated portal is 6:00 p.m. on December 22, 2025. The final list of candidates will be published on January 18, 2026, while campaigns will commence on January 21 and end 24 hours before election day.

For Osun State, party primaries are to be held between November 24 and December 15, 2025. The deadline for submission of nomination forms is 6:00 p.m. on February 9, 2026. The final list of candidates will be released on March 9, 2026, and campaigns will run from March 11 until 24 hours before the August 8 poll.

Yakubu noted that the detailed timetable and schedule of activities for both elections have been made available on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.

He also addressed concerns over pending bye-elections and the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise across the country. According to him, the number of pending bye-elections has risen to 17.

“We are aware of the urgency to commence the CVR, particularly in view of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State. We want to assure Nigerians that we are finalizing our preparations for both activities, the details of which will soon be made public,” he said.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the recent incident in which Nigerian students were forced to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) under poor and dark conditions, describing the situation as a “national disgrace.”

His reaction follows mounting criticisms over the conduct of the ongoing examination. The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies has summoned the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), giving it a 24-hour ultimatum to appear before the committee on Friday to address the issues.

Similarly, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has criticised WAEC over delays in the administration of the English Language paper in the ongoing Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

In a statement on Thursday, Atiku expressed deep concern over what he described as systemic failures in Nigeria’s education sector.

“This is not merely an unfortunate incident; it is a damning indictment of our systemic failure to uphold the most basic standards in public education,” he said.

“It is unacceptable, unjustifiable, and utterly indefensible that in 2025, our children are forced to write critical national exams in pitch darkness like second-class citizens.”

Atiku called for an immediate retake of the affected examination paper in all compromised centres, stating that anything less would be a “grave injustice” to the students involved.

He also urged authorities to establish and enforce minimum environmental and infrastructural standards for all national examinations to prevent future occurrences.

At least 21 people have died and more than 10 others remain missing following a flash flood that swept through Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State after a night of intense rainfall.

The disaster, which affected the Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa communities in Mokwa town, was triggered by a torrential downpour that lasted for several hours, according to a statement by the Acting Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Ibrahim Hussaini.

More than 50 residential houses were submerged and swept away by the floodwaters, resulting in heavy casualties and extensive property damage.

Emergency response efforts are ongoing. NSEMA, in collaboration with the Mokwa Local Government Authority, local divers, and community volunteers, has launched search and rescue operations in the affected areas.

“So far, 21 corpses have been recovered, while search and rescue efforts are ongoing to locate more than 10 persons still missing,” Hussaini stated.

Three survivors, a woman and her two children are currently receiving medical care for injuries and trauma at the Mokwa General Hospital.

NSEMA has pledged continued support to the affected families and communities.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the election of Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, dismissing the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

In a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, a three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, ruled that Ighodalo’s appeal lacked merit and upheld the earlier judgment of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

The court maintained that the appellants failed to provide sufficient evidence to overturn the tribunal’s ruling, which had declared Okpebholo’s election valid.

Ighodalo, who rejected the judgment, has vowed to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.

In the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election, Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 291,667 votes to defeat Ighodalo of the PDP, who garnered 247,274 votes. Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata finished third with 22,763 votes. Fourteen other candidates participated in the contest but failed to make significant electoral impact.

The APC secured victories in over 10 of Edo’s 18 local government areas and dominated two of the three senatorial districts, enabling Okpebholo to clinch the governorship seat.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Okpebholo winner of the poll, and he was sworn into office on November 12, 2024, succeeding former Governor Godwin Obaseki of the PDP.

Following the declaration, Ighodalo approached the election tribunal seeking to nullify Okpebholo’s victory. However, in its April 2025 ruling, the tribunal, chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition on grounds of insufficient evidence and failure to prove claims of electoral malpractice or non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

Justice Kpochi noted that the petitioners failed to call credible witnesses such as polling unit agents, presiding officers, or voters to substantiate their allegations, a lapse which the tribunal said weakened their case beyond repair.

With the Appeal Court now siding with both the tribunal and the electoral body, Ighodalo’s final legal recourse lies with the Supreme Court.

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has announced an amnesty programme targeting cultists and individuals in possession of illegal firearms, as part of a broader push to restore peace and prepare restive communities for a major urban development project.

The governor made the disclosure on Tuesday during a meeting with traditional and community leaders from Obagie, Oke-Oroma, and Amagba—areas located within the proposed site for a new city project in Benin City.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Governor Okpebholo urged youths involved in cultism and criminal activity to take advantage of the window to surrender to authorities in exchange for amnesty.

“We are committed to restoring peace and stability to every corner of Edo,” the governor said. “This amnesty programme is designed not just for disarmament, but to offer a lifeline—skills training, empowerment, and the opportunity to lead productive lives.”

A technical committee, he added, will soon be inaugurated to manage the reintegration of surrendered cultists and criminal elements, with a mandate to implement restorative justice and skill-building initiatives.

The amnesty effort is closely tied to the government’s new city initiative, which will span several communities including Obagie, Oke-Oroma, and Amagba. Governor Okpebholo reiterated that the urban expansion will be carried out with community input and cultural sensitivity.

“For the new city project, especially LOT ‘A,’ we are committed to preserving traditional sites. As for LOT ‘B,’ once development commences, residents can present their documents to the Committee on Land Resolution,” he stated.

He also assured affected residents that steps will be taken to regularize legitimate land claims across all designated LOTS, adding that the government was open to addressing grievances from property owners affected by previous demolitions.

“Those who lost their properties under the last administration should meet with the Land Resolution Committee, provided they have their documents,” he said.

Governor Okpebholo’s peace outreach and development agenda mark a significant shift in the state’s approach to both urban expansion and crime prevention, signaling a more inclusive and rehabilitative path forward.