By Sabiu Abdullahi

Portugal captain and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has stirred online debate after his verified social media account liked a post that described FIFA as “one of the most corrupt institutions on the planet.”

The post accused FIFA of favouring Argentina and attempting to help Lionel Messi win the FIFA World Cup. It also criticised the governing body’s leadership and rising ticket prices.

Ronaldo’s apparent endorsement of the post quickly drew widespread attention and sparked discussion across social media platforms.

By Uzair Adam

The Jigawa State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the death of a 60-year-old man who reportedly suffered a medical emergency at a hotel in Dutse, the state capital.

Police said the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 12:50 p.m. after the man, who had checked into the hotel with a 20-year-old woman, developed breathing difficulties shortly after ordering a meal.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Lawan Shiisu Adam, said officers from the Yalwawa Police Division responded to a distress call and immediately rushed the victim to the General Hospital, Dutse, where doctors confirmed him dead.

Shiisu said detectives secured the scene and conducted a preliminary investigation, during which they recovered food items, beverages, a suspected sexual enhancement substance and other personal belongings for forensic analysis.

He noted that all exhibits were properly preserved as part of efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to the police spokesman, the deceased’s body was released to his family for burial after medical certification of death and completion of the necessary procedures.

He added that the 20-year-old woman who accompanied the deceased is cooperating with investigators by providing information to help establish the sequence of events leading to the man’s death.

The Commissioner of Police in Jigawa State assured residents that the investigation would be carried out professionally, thoroughly and impartially.

He also urged members of the public to avoid spreading rumours or unverified information that could hamper the investigation or cause unnecessary panic.

Shiisu said the police would provide further updates as the investigation progresses.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has announced a ₦2 billion donation for the revitalisation of the Akwete weaving industry during her maiden visit to the Akwete Weaving Cooperative Village in Abia State on Tuesday.

Mrs Tinubu, who described the visit as a personal engagement rather than a formal event, said she would personally wear an Akwete wrapper if her husband, President Bola Tinubu, secures a second term in office.

“If God brings my husband in a second time, I’ll be wearing a buba and wrapper made from Akwete. I am going to be wearing that because it is very soft breathable cotton,” she stated.

The First Lady commended the women of the cooperative for their passion and resilience in preserving the craft across generations. She noted that young people in the community were continuing the family tradition, describing it as “a craft transferred from generation to generation.”

Mrs Tinubu explained that she had approached the visit informally, opting to spend time with the women rather than follow a scripted programme. She came without a prepared speech because the trip was intended as personal engagement.

She thanked Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, describing him as a good man. The First Lady recalled reaching out to his wife in the past specifically to enquire about the weaving tradition and expressed gratitude that the visit had finally materialised despite the delay.

“I just wanted to meet with these women, which I will tell the story. But we went on, and my husband said something. He said I was getting frustrated. I said, Otti is a good man. He’s a very good man. I see that, and I want to thank you,” she said.

The First Lady urged Nigerians to patronise locally made textiles as a way of preserving indigenous craftsmanship and boosting the livelihoods of rural weavers, while also encouraging citizens to embrace Igbo traditional attire made from Akwete fabric as a means of supporting local artisans.

By Salmanu Isah


The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has once again demonstrated its preference for caution and stability, opting to retain the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 26.5 per cent despite a gradual easing of inflationary pressures across the country.


At the end of its 306th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, the apex bank resisted calls for an immediate adjustment to interest rates, choosing instead to hold all major monetary policy parameters steady. The decision reflects the CBN’s determination to protect the progress made in stabilising the economy while remaining vigilant against fresh threats emerging from the global environment.


For the CBN, the modest decline in inflation is encouraging but not yet sufficient to justify a policy shift. Although headline inflation eased slightly in June and core inflation recorded a more noticeable drop, policymakers remain concerned that renewed tensions in the Middle East could trigger another wave of global price increases, particularly in energy and food markets. Such developments would inevitably have consequences for Nigeria, where imported inflation continues to influence domestic prices.


The Bank’s decision signals confidence in the effectiveness of its previous policy actions. Over the past two years, the CBN has maintained a firm anti-inflation stance, tightening monetary conditions and implementing reforms aimed at restoring confidence in the foreign exchange market. The latest economic indicators suggest that some of these measures are beginning to deliver results.


Exchange rate stability has improved considerably compared to previous periods, helping to reduce pressure on prices. External reserves have also strengthened, rising above $52 billion, providing a significant buffer against external shocks and reinforcing investor confidence in the economy. These developments have given the CBN greater room to maintain its current course while carefully monitoring future trends.


Beyond inflation, the MPC’s statement highlights the growing importance of collaboration between the CBN and the Federal Government. The Committee acknowledged that recent coordination between fiscal and monetary authorities has helped cushion the domestic economy from global disruptions. This recognition reflects a broader understanding that sustainable economic stability cannot be achieved through monetary policy alone.


While the CBN continues to focus on price and financial system stability, the government is expected to complement these efforts through reforms that boost productivity, improve infrastructure, increase oil production and diversify revenue sources. The Committee’s endorsement of ongoing reforms in the oil and solid minerals sectors underscores the need for broader economic transformation beyond monetary interventions.


The banking sector also emerged as a bright spot in the MPC’s assessment. The Committee expressed satisfaction with the progress of the banking recapitalisation exercise, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening the resilience of financial institutions. A stronger banking system not only enhances financial stability but also positions banks to support economic growth through increased lending and investment.


Despite a slight slowdown in economic growth during the first quarter of 2026, signs of resilience remain visible. The non-oil sector continues to drive economic activity, supported by telecommunications, financial services, transportation and trade. The return of the Purchasing Managers’ Index to expansion territory further suggests that business confidence may be gradually improving.


Looking ahead, the CBN appears cautiously optimistic. Inflation is expected to moderate further as the effects of previous monetary tightening continue to filter through the economy and food supplies improve during the harvest season. However, policymakers are clearly unwilling to declare victory too early. The possibility of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East remains a major concern, with the potential to disrupt global markets and reignite inflationary pressures.


Ultimately, the CBN’s latest decision reflects a central bank focused on protecting hard-earned gains rather than pursuing quick wins. By holding rates steady, the Bank is sending a message that economic stability remains its overriding objective. For businesses, investors and households alike, the decision provides a measure of predictability at a time when uncertainty continues to dominate the global economic landscape.


As Nigeria navigates both domestic challenges and external risks, the CBN’s cautious approach suggests that maintaining stability will remain more important than pursuing aggressive policy changes in the months ahead.


Salmanu Isah Darazo is a publisher and policy analyst. He can be reached via Salmanudrz@gmail.com

By Sabiu Abdullahi

United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has said the war involving the US, Israel and Iran has so far cost $37.5 billion, according to the latest official estimate released by the Pentagon.

Hegseth disclosed the figure on Tuesday during a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee. He appeared alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, to defend a proposed $1.5 trillion US defence budget. The request includes nearly $70 billion for military operations linked to the conflict with Iran.

“The estimate we have as of today is $37.5bn,” Hegseth said in response to a question from Democratic Senator Dick Durbin.

He explained that the estimate covers some operational and maintenance expenses through the end of September. However, he did not provide a detailed breakdown of the spending.

The latest estimate is about $8 billion higher than the $29 billion figure the administration of President Donald Trump announced in May.

Other estimates place the economic impact much higher. Moody’s Analytics, for example, has estimated that the war could cost the US economy as much as $150 billion after accounting for higher domestic energy prices and other indirect effects.

The hearing took place as hostilities between the US and Iran continued after a memorandum of understanding that had paused attacks since June 17 collapsed last week.

On Monday, Trump said Iran would “pay” after two US soldiers were killed over the weekend. In recent days, he has also threatened further military action, including strikes on Iranian energy facilities, bridges and a deeply buried nuclear-linked site known as Pickaxe Mountain.

The Pentagon said the conflict has also increased pressure on US weapons supplies.

Hegseth told lawmakers that additional funding would help “to expand production lines and accelerate delivery of high-demand munitions. We’re talking about solid rocket motors, JDAMs [Joint Direct Attack Munition], hypersonics, and counter-drone capabilities”.

He also warned that military readiness could suffer if Congress failed to approve the requested funding.

“Training in the future would have to be curtailed if we do not get our budget needs met and met urgently, and yes, some of that has to do with the current budget cycle and how things come together,” he said.

Democratic Senator Patty Murray criticised the broad spending proposal, which also includes funding for National Guard deployments in Washington, DC, military operations against suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean and border security missions.

“So I’ll be blunt,” she said. “The truth is, your request does not make a lot of sense.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and running mate to the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said an NDC government would engage terrorists and other criminal groups in dialogue as part of efforts to end insecurity in Nigeria.

Kwankwaso made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He argued that residents of communities affected by violence often possess valuable information about those responsible for attacks.

“You see, all these things that are happening today, if you go to the localities, those places where these insecurities are happening, I can tell you people know almost everything,” he said.

“They know their locations, they know the names of all those involved, and so on and so forth.”

He, however, said many residents are reluctant to provide such information to security agencies because they have lost confidence in the system.

“But what is happening now is that many of the communities are even afraid to go forward and tell the security agencies or agents what is actually happening because many of them have done that in the past, and of course, they did not enjoy it,” he said.

Kwankwaso said his administration would restore public confidence and adopt an inclusive approach to addressing insecurity.

“We will give people confidence. We will work with the people, even the terrorists, and of course, the criminals themselves to see what can be done to discourage their action. We will talk with everybody.”

“And of course, if there is any issue that will require the services of the military or other security agencies, I can tell you, we will be very happy to do it,” he added.

Nigeria has faced an insurgency in the North-East since 2009, when Boko Haram launched its violent campaign.

Kwankwaso’s comments come weeks after Peter Obi said he would negotiate with bandits and other armed groups if they showed a genuine commitment to peace. Obi also stated that his administration would promote national unity and engage all groups willing to renounce violence and participate in rebuilding the country.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Scientists at Umeå University in Sweden, in collaboration with partner institutions, have developed an experimental drug that could slow the growth of aggressive prostate cancer and stop it from spreading to other parts of the body.

The findings, which were published in the journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, suggest the treatment could provide a new option for tackling metastatic prostate cancer.

Maréne Landström, Professor of Pathology at the Department of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, said the research team identified the biological processes responsible for cancer cell growth, invasion and metastasis.

“The new drug has been developed to prevent metastasis, and we are very pleased and proud that we have been able to identify the mechanisms that drive cancer cell growth, invasiveness, and metastatic spread,” Landström said.

Prostate cancer is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men. Although many cases progress slowly and remain non-life-threatening, some become highly aggressive and spread to organs such as the lymph nodes and bones.

To address this form of the disease, the researchers created a fully human antibody made entirely from human proteins. They said the design makes it suitable for further development as a therapeutic treatment.

According to the study, preclinical tests showed that the antibody stopped tumour growth and prevented the spread of an aggressive form of prostate cancer. The researchers added that the treatment works through a newly identified mechanism, which they believe could also reduce the likelihood of side effects.

Landström described the findings as encouraging but stressed that further studies and regulatory approvals are required before the treatment can be used in patients.

“This is a promising step forward, but several important stages remain before the treatment can benefit patients,” she said.

“We still need to conduct additional safety studies, and the treatment must be approved by regulatory authorities in Europe or the United States.”

She added that the project seeks to improve survival rates and the quality of life of people living with advanced prostate cancer. She also credited years of collaboration among researchers, organisations and funding partners for the progress achieved.

The research team plans to investigate whether the same treatment can be applied to other solid tumours.

“The next step is to investigate whether this treatment can also be used against other types of solid tumors,” Landström said.

“We hope that our work will ultimately contribute to the development of a new cancer drug that can benefit patients.”

The study involved experts from the SciLifeLab Drug Discovery and Development Platform, which contributed to the development of the antibody. Additional support came from the Umeå Biotech Incubator at Umeå University, while MetaCurUm Biotech AB funded the development and testing of the experimental treatment.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved 26 new appointments across 10 federal government agencies and commissions, with former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose named as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

Major General Junaid Bindawa (retd.) takes over as Chairman of the National Salary and Wages Commission in the sweeping reshuffle announced on Monday.

Fayose will head the REA board, alongside Alhaji Ahmadu Abubakar and Engineer Ilyasu Ibrahim Makinta as members and non-executive directors. The incumbent Director-General, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and three previously appointed executive directors complete the board.

At the National Salary and Wages Commission, Bindawa will be supported by eight other appointees. Former Lagos House of Representatives member Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas becomes the commission’s new secretary.

Dr Ogbole Ene Lilian (Benue), Oladele Olatubosun (Oyo), and Yakubu Umar Barde (Kaduna) were appointed as commissioners, while Dr Mai Adamu Yau (Borno), Ginika Florence Tor (Enugu), Engineer Lawrence Okoh (Edo), and Bello Morenike Iyabode (Kogi) join as members.

Tosin Johnson Adeyanju, previously Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, has been reassigned as Secretary of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission.

Dr Abuh Mohammed takes over as Director-General of the National Population Commission, while Dr Akinola Odeyemi becomes Managing Director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET).

Dr Anthony Inalegwu Godwin was appointed Chairman/CEO of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, and Engineer Julius Oloro, a former council chairman, is the new CEO of the Kwara-based National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), replacing Dr A.R. Kamal who died in January.

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission gets a new board chaired by Dr Abdullahi Maikano Saidu, with members including Mohammed Asmau, Mohammed Aliyu Makama, Dr Suleiman Gidado, Louis O. Ndukwe, Amaechi Ugwele, and Olaniyi Idowu Onikola.

Shuni Muhammad Dahiru is the new Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, replacing Professor Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu who was reassigned to the Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) in April.

At the Federal Housing Authority, Gisaor Vincent Iorja replaces Mathias Byuan as Executive Director, Finance. Byuan resigned to contest the Benue governorship election. Iorja, an economist and legal scholar, currently serves as Secretary of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission.

All appointments take immediate effect.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of Sector 4 of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a suspected foreign terrorist fighter and an alleged illegal immigrant during a security operation in Lassa, Dille General Area of Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The arrests took place at about 11:48 a.m. on July 19, 2026, during an intelligence-led operation conducted by troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion, according to a statement issued by Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai.

The military identified one of the suspects as 32-year-old Musa Fashir, a Sudanese national. It said he is suspected to be a foreign terrorist fighter and collaborator. Preliminary intelligence, according to the statement, indicates that the suspect has established links with terrorist elements, a development the military said points to attempts by foreign actors to support insurgent activities in the North-East.

The troops also arrested Mary Florence, 36, who claimed to be an illegal immigrant from the Republic of Ghana. The military said it is investigating the circumstances surrounding her presence in the area as well as the authenticity of her claims.

According to the statement, both suspects remain in military custody, where they are undergoing profiling and interrogation. The process is expected to establish their identities, determine the extent of their activities and ascertain any possible links to terrorist groups or transnational criminal networks.

The military said the arrests reflect the effectiveness of its intelligence-driven operations and the vigilance of troops in preventing terrorists and their collaborators from operating freely.

It added that Operation Hadin Kai remains committed to disrupting terrorist logistics, financing and support networks. The military also reaffirmed its determination to prevent the infiltration of foreign fighters and protect communities across the North-East.

The statement urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information, noting that public cooperation remains essential to restoring lasting peace, security and stability in the region.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigerian Army has disowned a fake recruitment advertisement circulating on social media and other online platforms, which invites applications for the Short Service Combatant Commission (SSCC) Course 50/2027.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, described the advertisement as fraudulent. She said it did not originate from the Nigerian Army.

The Army urged members of the public to ignore the fake notice. It also advised prospective applicants not to submit applications through, patronise or make payments to any individual, group or website claiming to recruit on behalf of the Nigerian Army.

According to the statement, all recruitment and commissioning exercises conducted by the Army are free, transparent and based strictly on merit. It stressed that official recruitment announcements are published only through national newspapers, the Nigerian Army’s verified social media platforms and other recognised official communication channels.

The Army further stated that no recruitment form is sold and that no individual or agent has been authorised to facilitate enlistment or collect money from applicants at any stage of the recruitment process.

It warned those responsible for creating and circulating the fake advertisement to stop immediately. The statement disclosed that security agencies have commenced efforts to identify, arrest and prosecute everyone connected to the fraudulent scheme.

The Army also warned that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.

It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the integrity of its recruitment process and advised Nigerians to verify all recruitment information only through official Nigerian Army channels. The public was also encouraged to report any suspicious recruitment activities to the nearest military formation or security agency.