News

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Federal Government has dismissed media reports claiming the collapse of a potential forward sale of crude oil involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd).

In a press statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance, the government acknowledged market speculation around the deal but clarified that no final decision had been made.

It described reports of the initiative’s failure as “unfounded.”

The statement emphasized the government’s commitment to exploring transparent and fiscally responsible financing options to maximize Nigeria’s oil resources, boost external liquidity, and enhance economic stability.

Authorities reassured stakeholders that innovative strategies remain underway to strengthen the nation’s financial outlook.

No further details were provided on the status of the proposed crude oil sale.

By Uzair Adam 

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed two interlocutory motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio in the case challenging Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan represents Kogi Central.

A three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Hamman Barka, unanimously struck out the motions after Akpabio’s legal team withdrew them. The court also awarded N100,000 in costs against the Appellant.

The ruling, delivered on May 21 and made available to reporters on Wednesday, involved motions dated March 3 and March 25, 2025, identified as CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025.

Akpabio was listed as the Appellant in the appeal, while the Respondents included Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuem, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.

Akpabio’s lawyers had sought the appellate court’s permission to extend the time to appeal a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja, delivered on March 10, 2025, in a suit involving Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and others. 

They also asked for leave to file a notice of appeal against the ruling, citing mixed law and fact grounds.

Ultimately, the appellate court struck out both motions, upholding the objections raised and awarding costs against Akpabio.

By Uzair Adam 

Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and a former advisor to Donald Trump, admitted on Wednesday that he went too far in some of his social media criticisms of the US president after their public fallout last week.

“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,” Musk posted on his social media platform X.

Musk’s apology came just days after Trump warned the billionaire of “serious consequences” if he tried to punish Republican lawmakers who supported a controversial spending bill.

Their dramatic split played out on social media last Thursday, when Musk harshly criticised Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful” spending bill, which Congress is considering.

Some Republican lawmakers opposed the bill and urged Musk, a major Republican financial backer in last year’s presidential election, to fund primary challenges against those who voted for it.

“He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,” Trump, who called Musk “disrespectful,” told NBC News on Saturday, though he did not specify the consequences.

By Uzair Adam 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a strong warning to Senator Ali Ndume following his recent remarks suggesting that President Bola Tinubu could face the same electoral fate as former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2027 if urgent reforms are not implemented.

Senator Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, made the statement during his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday.

Responding to his remarks, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, on Tuesday acknowledged Ndume’s longstanding role within the party but stressed that discipline within the party is of utmost importance.

“Senator Ndume is a senior and respected member of the APC. This is not the first time he has aired his views publicly about how the country is being governed by his party, sometimes expressing dissent or contrary opinions,” Ibrahim said.

He continued, “However, the APC is a party of liberal-minded people. We do not reject diverse ideas, provided they do not violate the party’s constitution.”

Ibrahim reiterated that while the APC upholds internal democracy and freedom of expression, members are expected to operate within the party’s defined limits.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Government has inaugurated a technical committee to probe the recent fire incident at the GSM Market, Farm Centre, and oversee reconstruction efforts.

A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, on Tuesday, said the committee was inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, who represented the State Governor.

Ibrahim stressed the importance of transparency in donations and cautioned against politicizing the relief efforts.

He directed that all donations be made through the Committee or the designated Zenith Bank account (Account Name: FARM CENTRE GSM MARKET FIRE INCIDENCE SUPPORT FUNDS ACCOUNT; Account Number: 1310076187).

The committee, chaired by Alhaji Nasiru Sule Garo, Commissioner for Special Duties, comprises representatives from key ministries, security agencies, traders’ associations, and the private sector.

Other members include the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Special Services; officials from the Kano State Fire Service; Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs; Director of Treasury; State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA); Nigeria Police Force; KNUPDA; Farm Centre GSM Traders’ Association; Department of State Services (DSS); Kano State Investment and Properties; KACCIMA; as well as local government officials, special advisers, and senior stakeholders.

Abdulkadir Shehu AGS-HOC serves as the Committee Secretary.The committee’s mandate covers investigating the fire’s cause, assessing damages and any loss of life, reviewing emergency response and current safety measures, and proposing preventive strategies to avoid similar incidents in the future.

It will also gather testimonies from victims and witnesses, compile a verified list of those affected, review the market layout in line with urban safety standards, and propose a framework for improved market management.

The committee will manage all donations and is expected to submit a detailed report within a week.

The Kano State Government reaffirmed its commitment to assisting victims and rebuilding the market in a safer and more organized way, urging all stakeholders to support the committee’s work.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Vice-President, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for not living up to public expectations, especially in terms of improving the quality of life for Nigerians.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm programme on Tuesday, Baba-Ahmed stated that the current government has failed to bring about meaningful governance improvements.

“Clearly, the Tinubu administration has failed expectations that it was going to radically improve the quality of governance,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed, who also served as spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum, pointed out that positive reports from international bodies should not be the only measure of government performance.

He stressed that the real test lies in how citizens experience daily life under the administration.

“They will tell you they are doing great with all the World Bank statistics, all the international ratings and everything, but that’s not the only measures you use to measure a government; you measure by the way citizens live, and if that is the yardstick by which we are going to measure this administration, then clearly, the Tinubu administration has failed expectations that it was going to radically improve the quality of governance of President Buhari,” he explained.

He further advised President Tinubu to prioritise the fight against corruption, address the worsening insecurity, reduce poverty, and invest heavily in infrastructure and social welfare initiatives.

On the removal of petrol subsidies, Baba-Ahmed observed that the decision has made life more difficult for many Nigerians.

He also urged the president to ensure better management of federal allocations given to state governors, particularly those belonging to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“So much waste, so much abuse of resources and corruption going on,” he lamented.

He concluded by calling for stronger accountability mechanisms and better governance at all levels.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

Pep Guardiola, the renowned Manchester City manager, delivered a moving and heartfelt speech on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza while receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester this week.

In an emotional address, Guardiola veered from the usual ceremonial tone to speak about the suffering in Gaza, calling for compassion and courage in the face of ongoing violence. 

“It is so painful what we see in Gaza, it hurts all my body,” he said, his voice weighted with emotion. “It is not about ideology but the love of life. It is about refusing to be silent or still when it matters the most.”

Guardiola, known as much for his principled stances as for his tactical brilliance on the pitch, received a standing ovation from many in the audience, including faculty, students, and dignitaries.

The University of Manchester awarded Guardiola the honorary degree in recognition of his contributions to sport and his influence as a global figure. Yet, it was his candid acknowledgement of human suffering and his call for empathy that left a lasting impression.

Social media erupted in praise following the speech, with many highlighting Guardiola’s words as a rare and courageous gesture from a figure in elite sport.

As tensions and humanitarian concerns continue to mount in Gaza, Guardiola’s remarks have added a prominent voice to the growing international calls for peace and justice.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A senior naval officer, Lieutenant Commodore M. Buba, was fatally stabbed by a robber in Kaduna while resisting a phone-snatching attempt near Kawo Bridge.  

Eyewitnesses reported that the officer, undergoing training at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, had stopped to fix a flat tire when the assailant attacked him. After refusing to hand over his phone, the robber stabbed him in the chest.  

A vigilante, Suleiman Dahiru, who intervened, was also injured. The attacker was later lynched by an angry mob.  

The officer was pronounced dead at Manaal Hospital, and his body has been moved to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital mortuary. Security forces have intensified covert operations in the area to curb crime.  

Kaduna Police PRO, ASP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the incident and assured increased security measures.

By Uzair Adam

The Kaduna State Police Command says security operatives have stormed criminal hideouts in the Kawo area of Kaduna, arresting 27 suspected criminals and recovering weapons and hard drugs.

In a statement on Monday in Kaduna, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the operation was part of the Commissioner of Police’s directive to identify and dismantle criminal elements threatening peace in the area.

Hassan stated that the command carried out several raids in a joint operation with the Military, DSS, and the Kaduna State Vigilante Service, resulting in multiple arrests and the seizure of weapons.

“On Sunday, around 10:30 pm, a joint tactical operation was launched across Kawo and neighbouring areas, leading to the arrest of 27 suspects and the recovery of significant caches of weapons,” he said.

Exhibits recovered included knives, axes, cutlasses, and large quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, as well as other hard drugs.

Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order in the state. He warned that miscreants would not be given any breathing space.

“Kaduna remains a peaceful state, and we will not allow anyone to disrupt the peace. Those with violent intentions should desist or leave the state,” he said.

By Uzair Adam

Maryam Abacha, widow of the late military ruler General Sani Abacha, has denied longstanding allegations that her husband looted billions of dollars while in power, insisting that no credible evidence exists to support the accusations.

In a recent interview with TVC, Mrs. Abacha demanded that those making the claims present verifiable evidence.

“Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed? Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad?” she asked.

She further claimed that funds her husband had secured for Nigeria quickly disappeared after his death, alleging mismanagement by successive administrations.

“The monies that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months, the monies vanished. People are not talking about that,” she said.

Questioning the motivation behind the persistent focus on her husband’s alleged wrongdoing, Mrs. Abacha asked, “Why are you blaming somebody? “Is that tribalism or a religious problem or what is the problem with Nigerians? I pray for Nigerians. I pray for all of us. I pray that we should have goodness in our hearts. We should stop telling lies and blaming people.”

She also criticized what she described as a media culture of “bastardizing people,” urging journalists to educate Nigerians rather than perpetuate unfounded claims.

“People are not that bad. “Twenty-seven years ago and you are still talking about Abacha. He must be very powerful and loved by Nigerians. We thank God for that,” she added.

Mrs. Abacha, responding to a comment on the relatively stable economy under her husband’s rule—characterized by higher foreign reserves and lower external debt—insisted her husband had not stolen public funds.

“So, where did he steal the money from? So where would he have stolen the money from? And because Nigerians are fools, they listen to everything,” she said.

Emphasizing the need for national unity and mutual respect, Mrs. Abacha declared, “Babangida doesn’t make Nigeria alone. Abacha does not make Nigeria alone. Abiola and everybody, nobody is big enough for Nigeria. We are all very important.

“Even the single man on the street is very important. We are all human beings, for goodness sake. All these wahala should stop. Babangida cannot make things or unmake things.”