FocalPoint Reports

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State said that Kano’s political gladiators are now more united than ever in the state’s political history. The Governor made the pronouncement when he received the Ward and Local Government Congress Committee, which paid him a courtesy visit on Monday. In a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, Governor Yusuf emphasised that since he and many others decamped to the All Progressive Congress, APC, the giant party in Africa, more and more people have been reuniting, with family divisions now healing as well. He buttressed his earlier submission on why he and many others joined APC, “anyone who means well for the people of Kano should align with the Federal Government, because we have missed a lot.” He commended the committees for a well-done job on the Wards and Local Government Congresses across the State. Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Ward/LGA Congress Committee, Mr Lantep Dabang, thanked the Governor for the com...

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned that the federal government would be held accountable if any harm comes to the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, who is currently in custody. El-Rufai had voluntarily honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16. Two days later, he was taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) after being released by the EFCC. Both anti-graft agencies are investigating the former governor over alleged financial irregularities linked to his administration in Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023. In a statement issued on Monday, El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, disclosed that the former governor had spent eight days in detention and reportedly suffered an overnight nosebleed while in custody. Adekeye added that El-Rufai’s lawyers had not been shown any remand order authorising his detention beyond the constitutionally allowed 48 ho...

Cross River State House of Assembly has removed the Vice Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Council, Hon. Emmanuel Idi Yakubu, over allegations of gross misconduct, despite a subsisting court order restraining the Assembly from taking such action. Yakubu had earlier approached a State High Court seeking an order to stop the Assembly from proceeding with his removal. However, lawmakers went ahead with the process and removed him from office during plenary on Tuesday. The decision followed a voice vote in which 19 lawmakers voted in favour of his removal, one member abstained, while five members were absent. Before the vote, the House considered the report of its Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution. The report was presented by the Committee Chairman, Rt. Hon. Davies Etta, who also serves as Deputy Leader of the House. Presenting the findings, Etta recalled that the Ogoja Legislative Council had earlier issued an impeachment notice agai...

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has resigned from office at the instruction of President Bola Tinubu. It was gathered from a source in the Presidency on Tuesday that Egbetokun is to be replaced by AIG Tunji Disu, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Force CID Annex, Lagos. Egbetokun was asked to resign at a meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, the source further said. Egbetokun was appointed by President Tinubu as the 22nd indigenous Inspector General of Police on 19 June 2023 while the Police Council confirmed the substantive appointment on 31 October that year. Egbetokun, who was 58 years old on appointment as IGP, was due for retirement on 4 September 2024, upon reaching the mandatory age of 60. However, the National Assembly amended the police law, allowing him to serve his full four-year term as IG unless removed by the president. He was thus expected to complete his four-year tenure and remain in offic...

Tragedy struck on Monday, February 23, 2026, when a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officer and two pedestrians were crushed to death at the Badagry Roundabout inward Seme, Lagos, following a brake failure involving a truck. The devastating crash sent shockwaves through the community, with residents lamenting the frequent accidents recorded along the axis in recent times. The incident, which involved a truck belonging to the Dangote Group, underscored the daily risks traffic officers face in keeping roads safe. According to initial reports, the fully loaded SHACMAN truck suffered a catastrophic brake failure while travelling at high speed. The driver reportedly lost control, crushing the LASTMA officer who was regulating traffic, along with a pedestrian at the roundabout. The truck continued on its path and tragically struck another individual before coming to a stop approximately 200 metres from the initial point of impact. The driver fled the scene but was later app...

The chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the February 21 Abuja Municipal Area Council election, Mr Eze Chukwu, says he will not challenge the victory of the All Progressives Congress. Chukwu stated this in a congratulatory message to APC candidate Christopher Maikalangu, who was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, Chukwu said he would not contest the outcome “for any reason whatsoever”, noting that elections are about service, not personal ambition. He described the poll as peaceful and orderly, adding that the safety recorded during the campaign and election day was “a victory for democracy”. Chukwu said although APGA did not win, elections remained a means to serve the people, and service could not be forced. The APGA National Youth Leader, who also chairs the Forum of National Youth Leaders of All Political Parties in Nigeria (FNYLPPN), urged aggrieved persons t...

The Ijaw media council under the auspices of the Ijaw Publishers' Forum (IPF) has announced that Dr. Agediga, Chairman of the Delta State Scholarship/Bursary Board, will serve as the Chairman of the Inauguration Ceremony of its 2nd National Working Committee (NWC). The event is scheduled to take place on February 26, 2026, at the Chief Tunde Smooth Playground, NPA, Warri, Delta State. However, top Niger Delta State leaders and stakeholders are expected to attend the ceremony. The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, will serve as the Special Guest of Honour, adding significance to the occasion. The forum prides itself as the intellectual arm of Ijaw/Niger Delta self-determination struggle, advocating for justice and fair share of the nation's resources. According to the statement, the forum under the leadership of Comrade Ozobo has brought the Ijaw nation more significant in the media space of the country. The inauguration of...

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has approved the nullification and cancellation of 485 land title applications across the territory after they failed rigorous integrity checks. The move, part of an ongoing overhaul of the FCT land administration, targets applications submitted for the regularisation of Area Council land documents that have now been confirmed as invalid by officials. According to a public notice published in Vanguard newspaper on Monday, the minister directed that these unsuccessful applications be immediately expunged from the regularisation databases of both the Department of Land Administration and the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS). The FCTA confirmed that the cancellations were carried out because the documents failed to pass necessary official checks for genuineness, and the notice serves as a final guide for the affected applicants. High-profile entities are among those hit by the sudden nullification. The list of...

Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, has defended Executive Order 9, insisting that the directive is consistent with the 1999 Constitution and does not amount to an overreach of executive authority. The presidential aide spoke in a post on his verified X handle on Monday, following criticism that the order amounts to the President “making law”. President Tinubu had, last Wednesday, signed Executive Order 9 of 2026, formally titled  Presidential Executive Order to Safeguard Federation Oil and Gas Revenues and Provide Regulatory Clarity . Addressing the concerns, Dare said claims that the order violates constitutional boundaries misrepresent both the Constitution and the fiscal framework governing public revenue. Quoting Section 80(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), he said: “Section 80(1) of the Constitution (1999, as amended) is mandatory: all revenues or other moneys raised or received by the Federation shall be paid into...

A cement-laden truck careered out of control on Monday, killing a traffic officer and two motorcyclists at Badagry Roundabout in Lagos. The victims included a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) official on duty and two commercial motorcyclists waiting for passengers at about 9.45 a.m. Eyewitnesses said the truck suddenly lost control while approaching the busy junction, ploughing into the victims and sending shockwaves through the community. “The truck hit the LASTMA staff on official duty and two cyclists waiting to carry passengers,” an official of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Corps said. He added, “The driver tried to manoeuvre to reduce casualties; otherwise many more motorcyclists and vehicles would have been affected.” Confirming the tragedy, Mr Yusuf Sanni, Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said the driver had been arrested. “The driver has been taken to Badagry Police Station,” Sanni said, blaming the crash on loss of control and urging mot...

The Police Command in Lagos State has apprehended its officers involved in a shooting that killed two passersby in the Alagbado area of the state. It was gathered that the officers were pursuing suspected criminals in the area when gunshots were accidentally discharged during the operation. Residents had expressed concern over the incident, prompting swift intervention by the authorities to contain tensions and maintain public safety. The command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, who confirmed the arrest in a post shared on her X handle, said the officers were apprehended on Friday. “The officers implicated in the unfortunate incident had been taken into custody pending further investigation,” she said. Adebisi said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, had ordered a thorough and comprehensive probe to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The spokesperson further stated that additional security personnel had been deployed to the community to forestal...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday recorded early arrival of election materials and ad hoc staff at city centre for the area council elections. The News Agency of Nigeria NAN report that as at 8:15 a.m., all the polling units visited within Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) were set for commencement of the election. NAN also reports that security agencies, including the police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel were seen manning the polling units. At polling unit 16, Area 8, City Centre, AMAC, the Presiding Officer, Emmanuel Miracle, said they arrived at 7.30 a.m. to start the business of the day. “We’re set and waiting for the time for commencement of the election,” Miracle said. Also at polling unit 15, the electoral officers and security agents were already on ground waiting for election to start. Also at polling units 072 and 073, the electoral officers were already set as at 7.50 a.m., waiting for the electorate and the c...

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it sealed 18 warehouses in Bida, following the discovery of large quantities of expired food and beverage products. A statement by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola, said that the warehouses were located around Ndazabo White House along Minna Road, behind Bida Modern Market in Niger state. Akintola said that the warehouses were shut after NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement team acted on credible intelligence. He said that the items recovered during the raid included expired non-alcoholic beverages, dairy milk, candies, bottled water and pasta valued at N100 million. He said that some of those items were already packaged for distribution, including 80,000 packets of expired non-alcoholic drinks, 5,000 packets of dairy milk, 16,000 packets of bottled water, 28 cartons of pasta and other assorted expired products. The statement noted that other assorted expired products were uncove...

By Tessy Ogbemi A two-day capacity building programme for leaders of OML 42 host and impacted communities has commenced in Ughelli, Delta State, with a strong focus on leadership development, conflict resolution, and sustainable community growth. The training, facilitated by the Center for Peace & Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), kicked off on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at Wetland Hotel, Ughelli. It is sponsored by NNPC/NECONDE, operators of OML 42, alongside Jones Creek Hydrocarbon Limited. During the first session, resource person Dr. Sylvester Okoh JP delivered a lecture on understanding leadership skills, emphasizing the need for competence, accountability, and effective community management. In the second session, Prince Ambassador Ebilade spoke on conflict resolution and management, community advocacy, and networking, engaging participants in an interactive question-and-answer segment. Speaking with journalists, the National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Chief Comrade She...

Plateau State Police Command on Friday said it has commenced intensive 24-hour surveillance and patrol operations throughout the 17 local government areas of the state to ensure a hitch-free observance of the Christian Lenten season and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Bassey Ewah, gave the directive in a statement made available to our correspondent and signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alabo. The statement reads that “This is aimed at boosting visible policing, discouraging criminal elements from taking advantage of the festive periods, and maintaining law and order across communities. CP Ewah also ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and tactical team leaders to swiftly deploy officers and equipment to key flashpoints, vulnerable spots, and strategic locations. The State Intelligence Department has equally been tasked with stepping up inte...

The Rivers State House of Assembly has suspended the impeachment proceedings initiated against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu after the intervention of President Bola Tinubu. The resolution to halt the process was adopted on Thursday during the Assembly’s resumed plenary in Port Harcourt, the state capital. The House had, at its first sitting of 2026, begun impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the State Assembly complex and alleged spending without legislative approval, among other claims. Details later.

The Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF), Ijaw People's Development Initiative, IPDI, and other stakeholders have passed a vote of confidence in Dr. Dennis Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), marks two years of his visionary leadership.  According to the stakeholders, Otuaro's two years' tenure has been marked by significant reforms, including institutional upgrades, increase in foreign scholarship, youth empowerment, and peacebuilding initiatives in the Niger Delta region. The IPF commended Otuaro for reinstating vital programs such as foreign scholarships, marine training, and vocational training, benefiting over 2,000 students and ex-agitators. His collaborative approach has fostered community and stakeholders involvement and support for the amnesty initiative.  In related development, the South-South Traditional Council and Ijaw Youth Council Western Zone also praised Otuaro's visionary leadership, accountability, and commitment to ...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congress in Ondo State has l turned bloody in Idanre, Idanre council area, as two persons were reportedly shot dead by suspected gunmen during the exercise. Sources added that three persons were injured following the bloody violence that erupted at the congress venue. An eyewitness account said that residents scampered for safety as sporadic gunshots rented the air, creating panic across many parts of the community. It was alleged that the younger brother of the State Chairman of the ruling party, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, who was beaten at the party secretariat on tuesday, was attacked by thugs. A vehicle was set ablaze during the crisis in the town. The Police command spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, had led a team of tactical operatives to Idanre for an on-the-spot assessment and to forestall further escalation. Abayomi added that security had been reinforced in the area to restore calm and mainta...

UMUAHIA – The strength of the Peoples Democracy Party,PDP, caucus in the Abia State House of Assembly, has been reduced to two members following the defection of the lawmaker representing Obingwa West State Constituency, Hon. Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jnr, to the All Progressives Congress ,APC. The PDP which had a majority of 13 members during the inauguration of the Assembly,now only have Chief Solomon Akpulonu(Obingwa East Constituency) and Chief Mandela Obasi (Ohafia North Constituency). Erondu, who chairs the House Committee on Public Service Matters, was formally received into the APC at Nenu, Obingwa council area by the former Deputy Governor, Dr Chris Akomas, alongside party leaders and supporters. Erondu defected alongside former Chairman of Obingwa council, Chief George Ubani; Mr. Chikezirim Monday Orji; and over 5,000 supporters, in what stakeholders described as a major boost for the APC in the State. Speaking at the occasion,Erondu disclosed that joining the APC would enable hi...

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has declared that there will be no extension of the registration deadline for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), warning prospective candidates to complete their enrolment before February 26 or risk missing the examination. In a firm notice issued on Tuesday, the Board announced that the sale of e-PINs, a mandatory requirement for registration, will close at 12:00 midnight on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Registration at accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres for candidates who have already purchased their e-PINs will end two days later, on Saturday, February 28, 2026. As of February 17, JAMB disclosed that over 1.5 million candidates have successfully registered nationwide. Despite this impressive figure, the Board revealed that registration centres across the country are operating at barely 30 per cent of their daily capacity, raising concerns that many eligible candidates are yet to take advantage of t...

Former Cross River State Resident Electoral Commissioner and lawyer, Mike Igini, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reject the newly passed Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, warning that the proposed law could undermine Nigeria’s democratic process. Igini made the call on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television, following the passage of the bill by the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday after tense debates over Clause 60. “It is my indeed humble recommendation to Mr President that you are a man of history. You were a senior man to very many of us in the struggle at the time when the journey of Nigeria and the prospect of democracy was less certain,” Igini said. “What is going to be presented before you is a recipe for chaos. It’s a recipe to undermine all that you have done when we were in the trenches. “What is put before you? Please take it back,” he added. Igini recalled past political struggles in which election outcomes were determined by voters rather tha...

The Delta State Police Command wishes to notify the public that it will intensify enforcement of traffic laws and other related revenue offences across the State, with immediate effect. This follows official confirmation from the Delta State Judiciary, through the Office of the Chief Registrar of the High Court of Justice, Delta State, on behalf of the Hon. Chief Judge, Hon. Justice T.O. Diai, that designated Mobile Courts are operational across various jurisdictions in the State. These courts are empowered to summarily try traffic offenders and other violators in accordance with extant laws. Consequently, the Command will strengthen surveillance, patrol, and enforcement operations across major roads and urban centres including Asaba, Warri, Effurun, Sapele, Ughelli, Agbor, and other locations within the State. Offences such as reckless driving, driving against traffic, use of unauthorized number plates, driving without registration numbers, unauthorized use of sirens and r...

By Tessy Ogbemi  For more than three decades, oil and gas producing communities of the Niger Delta have waited often in vain for justice promised by the Nigerian Constitution. The 13% Derivation Fund, conceived as compensation for environmental degradation and economic dislocation, has remained largely out of the reach of the very communities whose sacrifices sustain the nation’s economy. The Niger Delta Civil Society Forum (NDCSF), led by Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala, has again placed this unresolved injustice before President and Commander-in-Chief, Bola Tinubu, urging decisive executive order for a derivation board to correct what it describes as a long-standing constitutional and moral failures. The 13% Derivation Fund belongs to oil and gas producing communities, not state governors. The historical record is clear. The struggle for derivation intensified during the military era long before the advent of elected governors. Communities bore the brunt of repression, pollut...

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced the full implementation of its Digital Certificate Services System, WAEC DigiCert, across its five member countries. The announcement is contained in a statement by the Head of Public Affairs, WAEC Headquarters, Accra, Ghana, Demianus Ojijeogu, on behalf of the Registrar. The member countries are Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. According to Ojijeogu, the digital certificate services platform is a mobile and web-based application designed to provide stakeholders with seamless access to digital versions of original certificates. ”The WAEC Digital Certificate Services System offers candidates the opportunity to access, request, confirm and securely share digital copies of their certificates with institutions worldwide,” he explained. He added that users could also recover lost WAEC examination numbers through the system while enjoying guaranteed authenticity and significant cost benefits. ”The system is reliable ...

Governor Sheriff Orohwedo Oborevwori, it's time to take action! The people of Delta North are suffering while the electricity generated from the Okpai IPP station is being supplied to other states. I urge you to restore the phase 2 IPP projects and other abandoned projects across the State. The lack of patriotic leadership in Delta State is evident in the deplorable state of electricity supply in Delta North. The Okpai IPP project, commissioned in 2005 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has been a subject of irony for the people of Delta North. While the electricity generated from the plant supplies Anambra, Enugu, and Abuja, the host communities in Delta North struggle to access reliable power. The first phase of the project was supervised by the then Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan from Delta South. However, his successor, who is from Delta North, failed to complete the second phase when he took over office in 2015. This situation highlights the lac...

Today, we specially remember with fondest memories our father, leader, national icon and statesman, Chief EK Clark, OFR, CON. One year its like just yesterday. After 98 years of labour and devotion to building our nation Nigeria to where truth, justice, fairness and  harmony reigns, you departed with those final words "I am a Nigeria, I love Nigeria ". But more, your toil for the unity, solidarity, national relevance of the Niger Delta, yes the entire South-South geopolitical zone will for endless generations be celebrated and adulated.  A game changer you were, your memory and voice remained firm, astute and unfailingly till the torch-line. Like a lion, your courage was unmatched and resonated large and wide. Thank God, your vision on all fronts remains aglow and the zeal shall certaindly not flounder.  Even as we remember you in  Special Memoraial Service at your EDWIN CLARK UNIVERSITY, KIAGBODO, today rest on dear daddy, "Gogorogo" Ambassador Dr Godkn...

The Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF) announced the inauguration of its new leadership on February 26 in Delta State. The event which would take place in Chief Tunde's playground at Barracks junction in NPA, Warri is expected to draw prominent Ijaw leaders, stakeholders, and members, highlighting the importance of the transition process. According to the statement, the Forum was established to give voice to the marginalized Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta region. IPF has been championing free press and journalists' rights. The forum's focus areas include resource control, self-determination and accurate and balanced storytelling about the cause of the Ijaw people.  The new leadership is poised to take the organization to the next level, building on the efforts of its achievements in the next two years. The statement invites the general public to grace the event.

The Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu would visit the South-South and South-Eastern parts of the country on the 12th of May, 2026. Umahi spoke after inspecting the Aba-Port Harcourt Motorway Abia State section and Eleme Axis of the East-West road in Rivers and said the visit would be to inaugurate the projects that would be completed in April. The minister said the federal government has intensified work on key highway projects across the South-South, with several strategic corridors slated for commissioning by President Tinubu during his planned visit to the regions in May. The project includes the 43-kilometre dualisation of the Aba–Port Harcourt highway, a critical economic artery linking Abia and Rivers states, which officials say will be substantially ready by April. Umahi said the project, handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), is at 90 per cent completion, adding that the project reportedly was stalled for ...

The Ijaw Publishers' Forum, IPF has celebrated Comrade Victor Isereke PhD, a prominent philanthropist, a humanitarian, politician, and youth leader, on the occasion of his birthday.  In a statement by its national president Comrade Ozobo Austin, said Isereke's dedication to youth development, community and humanitarian services has inspired many, with his silent achievements showcasing his character and commitment to making a difference.  "As a respected leader, he has demonstrated that passion and perseverance can drive positive change", the statement reads. The statement acknowledged his tireless efforts in creating opportunities for youths in Niger Delta region and beyond. The forum wished Isereke continued success, joy, and fulfillment, hoping his legacy would inspire more young people to follow in his footsteps.

Abuja — Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday arrived at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja to honour an invitation over corruption allegations linked to his tenure in office. The EFCC invitation, issued in December 2025, is part of ongoing investigations into claims of financial misconduct during his administration, including allegations involving about N432 billion. The probe is being conducted in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), before which El-Rufai is also expected to appear on Wednesday, February 18. His legal team had earlier notified the EFCC that he would report at 10 a.m., explaining that he was outside the country when the initial summons was sent. Brief Tension Tension briefly flared at the EFCC headquarters as pro- and anti-El-Rufai demonstrators confronted one another outside the anti-graft agency. Security personnel reportedly restricted acces...

Troops of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army have neutralised two terrorists during a tactical operation conducted along Akunu–Auga road in Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State. Maj. Irabor Njoka, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 32 Artillery Brigade, made this known in a statement on Monday in Akure. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Njoka said the operation was carried out on Feb. 14 by troops deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Auga. He explained that the troops, acting on credible intelligence on the movement of the criminals within the area, swiftly mobilised and intercepted the suspects. Njoka said that the troops’ interception of the criminals led to a firefight that resulted in neutralising two of the terrorists, while others fled with gunshot wounds. “The operation was carried out in conjunction with personnel of Ondo State Security Network Agency and local vigilantes. “Items recovered from the encounter with the criminals i...

FORMER Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe says  he would be President of Nigeria by God's grace but stressed he would join leaders across Delta State to campaign for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborovweri's re-election in 2027.  Orubebe spoke, recently, at his country home at Ogbubagbene where he played host to the Bulou Kosin-led Ijaw Journalists Association Worldwide (IJAW). Expressing satisfaction at Oborevwori's performance so far, Orubebe stated: "When I recently drove  from Ughelli to Asaba, I couldn't believe it. That is a road previous governments in the state could not complete. He came and he completed it". "I see the good road infrastructure and the fly-over bridges in Warri. Now he has awarded  other fly-over bridges in Ughelli and Agbor. He is touching everywhere in the state. So his determination to develop the state, I have seen it", Orubebe stated, stressing: "I am joining other lead...

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Birnin Kebbi, capital of Kebbi State, and commissioned the state secretariat. The president also commissioned an ultra-modern motor park in Birnin Kebbi as he is expected at the fishing arena any moment. High-profile guests include state governors from Sokoto and others who will accompany the president to the fishing arena to officially kick-start the international fishing festival. Meanwhile, the fishing arena is full to the brim with anxious spectators and foreign journalists from China, India and other West African press.

BENIN CITY – EARLY morning callers at the Ekheuan Campus of the University of Benin were stranded on Saturday morning as students of the University blocked the entrance gate over power outage and lack of water for the past three days. Workers of the University, operators of businesses including several people who had several social engagements in the various spaces in the compound who had come with their canopies, chairs and other needs were stranded. The students said they have been without light and water for the past three days and that last night an unknown person armed with a cutlass tried to enter the girls hostel and that he inflicted a bite injury on a student while trying to escape. “For you to have your bath is like getting a hold in this campus” a student said. Another student who gave his name as Prosper said “We have been in this situation for the past three days, no light, no water yet we have paid our fees including several other charges that have been increased since th...

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspects and recovered approximately 10,000 litres of suspected stolen diesel valued at N12 million during an intelligence-led operation at a construction site in Ibadan. In statement made available to journalists on Friday by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the police acting on credible intelligence and with the timely cooperation of members of the public noted that operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit apprehended Yusuf Mutiyat (43) and Ogunniyan Rasheed (64) at Kopek Construction Company while they were allegedly siphoning a liquid substance suspected to be diesel from a mixer truck. According to the statement, a subsequent search led to the recovery of 24 barrels, each containing 240 litres of liquid suspected to be diesel, amounting to approximately 10,000 litres in total, with an estimated value of N12,000,000. The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Femi Haruna, commended the officers...

LAGOS — Family members, church leaders, dignitaries and well-wishers from across Nigeria are set to gather in Lagos on Thursday, February 19, 2026, to bid a final farewell to Pa Fatai Olalekan Adekola, a revered Christian elder, accomplished entrepreneur and devoted family patriarch whose life was marked by faith, integrity and service. Pa Adekola, fondly known among his Yoruba contemporaries as “Baba Alanu”—meaning “Merciful Father”—passed away peacefully on October 1, 2025. He was 81. Born in 1944 at Oke Ola, Ibadan, into a Muslim family, Pa Adekola embraced Christianity at a young age, a decision that would shape the course of his life. Drawn early to spiritual devotion and church service, he grew to become a respected elder known for his compassion, humility and unwavering commitment to God and humanity. Educated in Ibadan and Lagos, he trained as an Instrument Engineer at a teaching hospital, where he distinguished himself in the management of complex medical equipment...

The Ijaw Publishers' Forum (IPF) has extended warm birthday wishes to Barr S. Smooth, describing him as a legendary icon of Ijaw music who had achieved much that had made him outstanding. In a statement signed by IPF's National President, Comrade Ozobo Austin, the organization applauded Barr Smooth's contributions to Ijaw music industry and his philanthropic efforts, particularly in empowering youths in the Niger Delta region. The group added that Smooth's contributions to the Niger Delta struggle and enduring peace are overwhelming, adding that history will be kind to him eternity. The statement spotlight Barr Smooth's selfless leadership and generosity, wishing him continued strength, wisdom, and divine blessings on his special day. The IPF also prayed for his legacy to flourish, creating more opportunities for young people.

A Yoruba socio-political organisation, the Yoruba Commitment Group (YCG), has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the removal of Yoruba rights activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, from the Federal Government’s list of wanted persons. In a statement jointly signed by Otunba Tayo Onayemi (Convener), Chief Olugbenga Oyewusi, Mrs Buky Tunde Oshunrinde, Barr. Akeem Aponmade (Secretary) and Dr Olukayode Olunuga, the group also thanked traditional rulers across Yorubaland for working behind the scenes to secure the development. The group described Igboho as a courageous defender of the Yoruba race, saying he fought against the activities of Fulani terrorists. Igboho’s ordeal began in 2021 when he intervened in Igangan, in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State, following complaints by residents of incessant attacks, kidnappings and killings allegedly perpetrated by armed herders. In the company of security personnel, he met community leaders and urged suspected at...

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, says it has intercepted 64 bags of suspected cannabis sativa concealed in a cement-laden trailer along the Zaria to Kano Road and arrested a driver. The State Commander, Dahiru Yahaya-Lawal, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Kano by the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASN Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari. He said that the arrest was part of the agency’s sustained efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse across the state. Yahaya-Lawal said that the consignment was seized on Feb. 2 by officers of the Kiru Area Command following intelligence-led surveillance and monitoring. He said the trailer loaded with Dangote cement departed Obajana in Kogi and was heading to Mubi in Adamawa when it was intercepted. According to him, the driver of the vehicle had been arrested and was currently in NDLEA custody pending further investigation. The commander said that the seizure was a result of meticulous intellige...

The Supreme Egbesu Assembly (SEA), a prominent Ijaw group, has declared its readiness to take legal action against the Federal Government and the National Assembly over local government creation in Bayelsa State and issues of resource control. SEA is demanding recognition of 24 Local Government Areas created during the administration of the late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, as well as acknowledgment of the Ijaw people’s right to participate in decisions regarding their natural resources. Speaking at a press conference in Yenagoa, SEA Secretary-General Dr. Felix Tuodolo, alongside delegation members, emphasized that Bayelsa’s development and political future are closely tied to the broader interests of the Ijaw nation. He noted that the state’s current eight local government structure and federal allocation formula put Bayelsa at a disadvantage despite being a significant contributor to Nigeria’s oil revenue. “The late Governor Alamieyeseigha followed constitutional procedures, includ...

The Senate yesterday grilled the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) over rising debt in the power sector. Members of the Senate Committee on Finance were told by NBET’s Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Johnson Akinnawo, that outstanding liabilities across the electricity value chain had climbed to about N3 trillion. The lawmakers questioned the agency’s performance, funding gaps and the persistent deficit between electricity tariffs and the real cost of power generation, transmission and distribution. In his presentation, Akinnawo explained that regulatory income was intended to cover recurrent expenditure and reduce overheads for market participants. He said although N858 billion was appropriated for NBET in 2025, only N60 million was released. “At the close of the year, only N60 million was released toward the end of the year. Unfortunately, that affected our budget performance,” he said. Committee Chairman, Mohammed Musa, noted that although market...