Headlines

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has commenced a nationwide special patrol ahead of the Eid el-Kabir celebrations scheduled for Friday, June 6.

The operation, which will run from June 5 to June 11, is aimed at ensuring road safety and effective traffic management during the festive period.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, over 36,000 personnel—including regular and special marshals—will be deployed across the country.

The FRSC will also utilize 750 patrol vehicles, 120 ambulances, 25 tow trucks, and more than 200 motorbikes as part of the operation.

“Pursuant to the declaration of Friday, 6 June, 2025 as the day of Eid el Kabir in Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Corps has commenced massive mobilisation of its personnel and operational equipment for the Sallah special patrol aimed at ensuring a safer road environment before, during, and after the festive period,” the statement read in part.

The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, was quoted as saying that the special patrol is designed to facilitate free vehicular movement, enable prompt rescue services, and ensure the quick removal of road obstructions.

The Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Abayomi Akinruntan, has resigned from his position, citing the need to align with the state’s conventional power-sharing arrangement.

Akinruntan, who represents Ilaje Constituency 1 and is the son of the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, conveyed his resignation in a letter read on the floor of the House by the Clerk, Benjamin Jayeiola, during plenary on Monday.

The former deputy speaker, who was absent from the sitting, was elected to the position in June 2023.

In the letter dated June 2, 2025, Akinruntan stated: “I hereby tender my resignation from the office of the Deputy Speaker effective from today, 2nd June, 2025. Recall the House was inaugurated June 2023 and I was unanimously elected as Deputy Speaker by members as stipulated in our standing order. My resignation is borne out of the need to align with the conventional arrangement in power sharing of elective positions in the state. I want to appreciate all members and staff for their contributions and support.”

Following his resignation, Ololade Gbegudu, who represents Okitipupa Constituency 2, was nominated as the new Deputy Speaker. His nomination was moved by Oluwatoyin Japheth (Akoko North East Constituency) and seconded by Chris Ayebusiwa (Okitipupa Constituency 1).

With no opposition to the nomination, Gbegudu was sworn in and pledged to discharge his duties with commitment and diligence.

The Appeal Panel on Local Government Election Petitions for Benue State has upheld the elections of all 23 local government chairmen elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC), delivering a major legal victory for Governor Hyacinth Alia and the ruling party.

The panel, which sat at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) House in Abuja, delivered its verdict on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, reversing earlier decisions by the Local Government Election Petition Tribunals. The tribunals had nullified APC victories in nine local government areas following the October 2024 elections conducted by the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC).

The affected councils in the previous rulings included Vandeikya, Konshisha, Kwande, Ushongo, Otukpo, Agatu, Ado, Apa, and Ohimini.

In its ruling, the appellate panel dismissed all petitions filed mainly by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition parties, citing lack of merit and insufficient evidence of substantial non-compliance with electoral laws.

Reacting to the development, Chairman of Agatu Local Government, Melvin Ejeh, described the judgment as a victory for justice and democracy. He called on opposition parties to set aside political differences and work with the elected leadership to deliver development and good governance at the grassroots.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that he has no crisis with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, contrary to widespread reports of political tension between the two.

Wike also clarified that he does not support the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday, the former Rivers State governor said Fubara had allowed himself to be used by political opponents seeking to fight him indirectly.

“I don’t have any crisis with him (Fubara). I’m not the President who declared a state of emergency; if Mr President had called me, I wouldn’t have agreed to the state of emergency,” Wike said.

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.