Author: admin

By Sharon Njoku, Abuja Catholic Church mourns as Archbishop Augustine Akubeze dies at 69 The Catholic Church in Nigeria has announced the death of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Benin City, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, who passed away on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the age of 69. The announcement was contained in an official In Memoriam statement issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and signed by its Secretary General, Rev. Fr. Michael A. Banjo. The Church described Archbishop Akubeze as a devoted shepherd, a servant leader, and a man who dedicated his life to the spiritual…

By Oluchi Jacinta Okorie, state house Tinubu cracks down on phantom presidential council President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch a comprehensive investigation into the activities of a purported “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” (PFIPC), which the Federal Government says was never established. The President ordered the anti-corruption agency to conclude the investigation and submit a detailed report to him within 30 days. The directive followed the discovery of the alleged fake council, which reportedly had no legal foundation, presidential approval, executive directive or any official recognition from the…

By Chiemeka Ugwowo My husband fought for your victory, don’t persecute him — El-Rufai’s wife tells Tinubu” The wife of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Hajiya Asiya El-Rufai, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu over her husband’s continued detention, saying the former governor does not deserve to be persecuted after working for the President’s victory in 2023. Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday alongside another wife of the former governor, Aichatou El-Rufai, Asiya urged President Tinubu to ensure that El-Rufai’s constitutional rights are protected. She said the family was not asking the President to stop the ongoing legal process or…

By Chiemeka Ugwowo Ghana urges Ramaphosa to shelve planned visit amid rising xenophobic tensions The Ghanaian government has advised South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to postpone his planned state visit to Ghana, citing security concerns linked to renewed xenophobic tensions between the two countries. The visit, scheduled for the first week of August, was expected to provide an opportunity for both nations to strengthen diplomatic ties and address growing concerns over the treatment of Ghanaian nationals and other African migrants in South Africa. However, officials of the Ghanaian government led by President John Dramani Mahama reportedly expressed concern that the…

By Chiemeka Ugwowo,  Abuja NCAA raises alarm over proposed funding cut, warns of impact on aviation safety The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned that a proposed reduction in its share of the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) could undermine aviation safety oversight and affect the country’s ability to sustain its safety standards. The NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said any cut in the agency’s funding would limit its capacity to carry out critical regulatory functions, including training aviation inspectors, enforcing safety regulations and monitoring compliance across the sector. Achimugu explained that the NCAA operates…

By Israella Njasi, Abuja FCT police bust kidnap syndicate, recover n8.25m ransom, arrest six suspects The Command said operatives of its Violent Crime Response Unit launched a tactical operation on June 29, 2026, after receiving a distress report on the abduction of a young woman in the Maitama area of the FCT. According to the police, the kidnappers initially demanded ₦20 million from the victim’s family but later collected ₦8.25 million before releasing the victim on July 3. The Command said digital tracking and intelligence gathering revealed that the victim was held captive at Kwan-Kwashe Village in Niger State. Following…

By Aghedo Oziengbe Charles, Abuja ICPC sensitises inec officials on corruption-free elections ahead of 2027 polls The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has begun a two-day anti-corruption sensitisation programme for officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), aimed at promoting transparency and integrity ahead of the 2027 General Elections. The workshop, held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, is themed “Corruption-Free Election: Integrity Matters (C-FEIM)” and is focused on strengthening ethical conduct, accountability and corruption prevention among electoral officers. Representing INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, National Commissioner Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, described the initiative…

By Augustine Martha, Kaduna Senate advances bill to establish teaching hospital for kachia varsity The Senate has advanced a bill seeking the establishment of a Teaching Hospital for the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State, after it scaled through second reading on the floor of the chamber. The bill, sponsored by Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, seeks to amend the University Teaching Hospitals Act to accommodate the proposed Federal University of Applied Sciences Teaching Hospital, Kachia. Presenting the lead debate on the bill in Abuja, Senator Katung said the move was timely, considering the…

By Aghedo Oziengbe Charles, Kebbi 18 first-term governors storm Kebbi, seek solutions to economic, security challenges Eighteen governors elected during the 2023 general elections have converged on Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, in a strategic meeting aimed at finding common solutions to governance challenges, security concerns and economic pressures facing their states. The closed-door meeting, which brought together the nation’s first-term governors, provided an avenue for experience sharing, policy discussions and peer review as the leaders continue to navigate the early years of their administrations. Sources familiar with the meeting revealed that the governors examined critical issues affecting state…

By Augustine Martha, Abuja Fg launches university innovation hub, targets manufacturing boom The Federal Government has unveiled Nigeria’s first Manu-Tech University Innovation Pod, setting the stage for a new era where universities will serve as engines of industrial development, technology advancement and enterprise creation. The innovation facility, launched at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, is aimed at bridging the gap between academic research and manufacturing by connecting students, researchers, investors and industry players to develop commercially viable products and solutions. Speaking at the inauguration, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said Nigerian universities must move…