News

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Government has renamed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in honour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that he conceived the project during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State nearly 3 decades ago.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the decision on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja. He said the ministry approved the new name after consultations with its leadership and staff.

“That highway is named President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway,” Umahi said.

He added, “By the powers conferred on me as minister of works, in consultation with my permanent secretary, the minister of state, directors and staff of the ministry, we decided to name it after him because of his dream for it.”

The minister said Tinubu first envisioned the project about 27 years ago while serving as Lagos State governor.

“He had that dream about 27 years back as governor of Lagos state. It is one thing to dream and another thing to have the grace of God to actualise that dream. This is one man who dreams and has the grace and divine mandate to actualise that dream,” Umahi said.

He also announced that President Tinubu approved the extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway by an additional 400 kilometres. The approval increases the total length of the corridor to about 1,100 kilometres.

Umahi further disclosed that the president approved the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with reinforced concrete pavement. He said the approvals also cover the completion of the abandoned Ibi Bridge in Taraba State, the construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lau Bridge and the dualisation of another 400 kilometres of the East-West Road.

The minister said work was progressing on several sections of the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. He explained that the first section, which stretches from Victoria Island to Eleko Village in Lagos State, serves as a model for modern highway construction.

According to him, the second section from Eleko to the Lagos-Ogun boundary is about 60 per cent complete. He said the project is expected to reach substantial completion by November. He added that construction is also underway in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Ondo states.

Umahi expressed confidence that the approved road projects would improve transportation across the country, strengthen national unity and stimulate economic activities.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran has claimed responsibility for missile attacks on United States military assets in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait. The development came after the US carried out its seventh consecutive night of air strikes on targets inside Iran, according to reports by Al Jazeera.

Iran’s military said it struck US facilities in response to the latest American attacks. Iranian state media reported that the targets in Bahrain included the Sheikh Isa Air Base.

According to a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency, Iran said it targeted the “aircraft hangar and parking lot” as well as “fuel tanks” at the Sheikh Isa airbase and several communication bridges in Bahrain.

The statement added that the United States had used the base to launch “operations against regional targets, especially our country.”

“We are proud of our military duty to defend this land,” the statement concluded.

Earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had completed its seventh straight night of military operations against Iran. The command said it used “fighter aircraft, aerial drones and warships” to strike Iran’s “surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities”.

Reports indicated that the attacks targeted Lar, Jask, Sirik, Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Ahvaz and the central city of Yazd.

Iranian state media said at least 3 people were killed and 8 others sustained injuries in Hormozgan Province, which borders the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military also dismissed claims by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards that two oil tankers exploded after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM described the allegation as “false”.

Meanwhile, Kuwait said its armed forces were responding to Iranian missile and drone attacks for the third time. The country’s military urged residents to “adhere to the authorities’ safety and security instructions”.

Bahrain also activated warning sirens for the fourth time within a few hours. The country’s Ministry of Interior advised residents to “remain calm and head to the nearest safe place”.

The US State Department also issued a travel advisory as tensions continued to rise across the Middle East.

In a statement posted on X, the department warned that “due to high tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation”. It also advised that “Americans should reconsider travel to/through the Middle East”.

The department urged US citizens already in the region to exercise caution, monitor developments closely and confirm flight schedules with their airlines.

By Sabiu Abdullahi l

At least 14 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Friday. Eight of the victims died after a drone strike hit mourners attending a funeral procession in the Nuseirat refugee camp, according to Palestinian civil defence authorities and hospital officials.

The incident was reported by Al Jazeera, which cited Gaza’s civil defence agency and Al-Awda Hospital. The hospital also said at least 20 people sustained injuries in the attack.

Witnesses said the drone struck mourners gathered outside the Ahmad Yassin Mosque in the Al-Balata market area as they prepared to begin the funeral procession for a Palestinian who had been killed earlier the same day in another Israeli attack.

“There is no regard for the ceasefire,” Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud said while reporting from Gaza City.

“The people who were participating in the [funeral] procession were coming out of the mosque [when] a drone strike targeted a group of people within the procession itself.”

The Israeli military confirmed that it carried out the strike. According to AFP, the army claimed it had targeted a “terrorist” cell in central Gaza. It added that it was “aware of the claims that several uninvolved individuals were harmed as a result of the strike. The results of the strike are under review.”

Hamas condemned the attack in a statement, describing it as a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement.

“This heinous crime takes place while the aggressor regime, through its systematic and continuous violation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, continues to kill and terrorise innocent citizens in front of the eyes of mediators and the international community,” the group said.

Elsewhere in Gaza, a 52-year-old woman was killed after an Israeli drone reportedly dropped a bomb near Abu Tammam School in Beit Lahia. Another Palestinian was killed in Az-Zawayda, while another lost his life after Israeli fire struck a shelter for displaced people in al-Sawarha.

An Israeli drone strike on an apartment in Gaza City also killed one Palestinian and injured several others, including children. Another woman later died from wounds she sustained during Israeli gunfire southwest of Khan Younis.

Despite the ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, hostilities have continued across Gaza. Research group Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) reported that Israeli attacks increased in recent months, with more than 40 strikes recorded in June, the highest monthly figure since the ceasefire began.

“The skies above the Gaza Strip are filled with drones,” Mahmoud said.

“You can hear the mechanical hum of these drones everywhere … In addition to the ongoing [Israeli] destruction of remaining infrastructure,” he added.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz also reported on Friday that 274 children have been killed since the ceasefire began, stating that, on average, one child has died each day during the period.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Andy Burnham has been elected leader of the United Kingdom’s governing Labour Party. His victory clears the way for him to become the country’s next prime minister.

The result was announced on Friday by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who confirmed that Burnham would succeed Keir Starmer as Labour leader and assume office as prime minister on Monday.

In his first speech after the announcement, Burnham declared his readiness to lead the country.

“I am ready,” he said.

The incoming prime minister said Britain required a new political direction. He argued that leaders of his generation had failed to address a political culture and economic system that no longer served ordinary citizens.

Burnham said his administration would focus on building “a new politics” that would bring meaningful change.

“People are looking for us to deliver and we will,” he said.

He also praised his predecessor, Keir Starmer, for rebuilding the Labour Party after one of its worst electoral defeats and leading it back into government.

Burnham said Starmer had positioned Labour to improve the lives of people across Britain. He also thanked the outgoing leader for his dedication to both the country and the party.

Starmer resigned as prime minister and Labour leader on June 22 after months of increasing political pressure.

When he announced his resignation, Starmer said he had “heard the answer” from his party on whether he was the right person to lead Labour into the next general election. He added that he accepted the decision “with good grace”.

Burnham is expected to be sworn in on Monday. His inauguration will make him Britain’s seventh prime minister in the past decade, a period marked by frequent changes in the country’s political leadership.

Sabiu Abdullahi

Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed that his wife, Chioma Adeleke, oversees his finances because of his spending habits.

The singer made the disclosure in a video that went viral on social media after he was seen asking Chioma to transfer money to his personal assistant, Lati.

In the clip, Davido explained that he could not access his account due to a service issue. He then called his wife and asked her to send $4,000 to his aide.

“Hello, hello baby, good morning my wife, my love. Help me send Lati $4,000. I can’t login, I don’t know why, its the service here. Alright. We’re taking off now to Naija, I love you,” he said during the phone conversation.

After the call, Davido’s official streamer, Davreltv, asked whether Chioma had taken over the management of his finances.

“So your wife has been managing the money?” the streamer asked.

Davido responded in the affirmative. He said his wife handles his finances because he spends money carelessly.

“Of course, you know I’m a reckless spender. Na she dey arrange everything. Na my life coordinator be that,” the singer replied.

The video has since attracted widespread attention on social media, with many users reacting to the singer’s remarks about his marriage and financial arrangement.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Kogi State Government has confirmed the rescue of the school principal, a National Examinations Council (NECO) ad hoc official and 2 students abducted during an attack on an unauthorised examination centre in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area.

The state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. He said the victims regained their freedom after Governor Ahmed Ododo ordered an immediate security operation following the attack.

According to Fanwo, the governor directed his Security Adviser, Jerry Omodara, to coordinate a joint operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), local vigilante groups and other security agencies.

Gunmen attacked Government Secondary School (GSS), Olowa, on Tuesday evening. They abducted the school principal, the NECO ad hoc official and 2 students.

Fanwo said security personnel launched an operation into the forest where the victims were believed to have been held.

“The State Security Adviser and the leadership of the 12 Brigade and the 21 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, the DSS, the Police and local security operatives stormed the forest to ensure the victims were rescued,” the statement read.

He added: “Just this evening, while inspecting the Armoured Personnel Carriers procured by the Kogi State Government to strengthen the fight against criminality, the Governor assured newsmen that every effort was being made to secure the release of the victims.

“A few hours later, the victims regained their freedom. The sustained pressure on the kidnappers and the saturation of the forest by heavily armed security personnel forced the criminals to abandon the victims and flee.

“Security operatives remain in the forest and the operation is still ongoing. We are determined to ensure that none of the criminals escapes justice.

“Our resolve is clear: anyone who chooses the path of crime in Kogi State will face the full weight of the law.”

The commissioner said all 4 victims were rescued safely. He added that they were in good condition and remained with security agencies for debriefing and medical examinations.

Fanwo commended the Nigerian Army, the DSS, the police, local vigilante groups and other security agencies that participated in the operation. He said their prompt response demonstrated the effectiveness of collaboration among security agencies in tackling insecurity.

He also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his “steadfast support for the state’s security efforts”. He said the president directed security chiefs to provide Kogi State with all the assistance required to secure the victims’ release.

Fanwo assured residents that the Ododo administration would continue efforts to eliminate criminal activities in the state. He said the government would sustain investments in intelligence gathering, security logistics and cooperation among security agencies to strengthen public safety.

By Uzair Adam 

The Federal High Court in Kano has ruled that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has no legal authority to carry out enforcement operations on roads under the control of the Kano State Government or its local government councils.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice M. S. Shuaibu held that the commission acted beyond its statutory powers when its personnel stopped, questioned and delayed motorists on township roads in Kano in July 2025.

The suit was instituted by Kano-based lawyer, Abba Hikima, who challenged the legality of the commission’s operations on state roads, arguing that FRSC officials violated his fundamental rights by demanding his driver’s licence and interrogating him despite the absence of any traffic offence.

The court agreed with the applicant, ruling that the actions of the FRSC officers violated the rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed under Sections 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

Justice Shuaibu granted all the major reliefs sought by Hikima, including a perpetual injunction restraining FRSC personnel from stopping, harassing or interfering with motorists on Kano State roads without lawful authority.

The court also ordered the commission to publish a public apology in a national newspaper and awarded the applicant N800,000 as damages and litigation costs.

The dispute arose in July 2025 after FRSC operatives mounted checkpoints on township roads within Kano metropolis, where they stopped motorists to demand driver’s licences and question them even when no primary traffic offence had been committed.

Hikima maintained that the FRSC’s powers are limited to federal highways and do not extend to roads under state or local jurisdiction, a position the court upheld in its judgment.

By The Daily Reality

The Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership has inaugurated the Alhaji Gidado Idris Institute of Governance and Public Policy as part of efforts to strengthen governance research, public policy development and institutional capacity across Africa.


This was contained in a statement signed by Paul Liam, Media and Communications Officer of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership.

The organisation also announced the appointments of 4 senior officials. They include 3 institute directors and a new Head of the Athena Election Observatory.

The new institute is named after the late Alhaji Gidado Idris, who served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Permanent Secretary under several civilian and military administrations.

According to the Centre, the institute will serve as its flagship platform for governance research, public policy innovation and institutional performance.

Speaking on the development, the Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Osita Chidoka, OFR, said the initiative reflects the organisation’s belief that Africa’s development depends largely on strong institutions.

“Nations do not transform because they have more policies; they transform because they build stronger institutions capable of implementing those policies with integrity, competence and public accountability. The Alhaji Gidado Idris Institute is our contribution to that institutional future. It is a future in which government works more effectively for citizens, public trust is strengthened, and evidence consistently informs decision-making,” Chidoka said.

The Centre appointed Professor Temitayo Shenkoya as Director of the Arthur Nwankwo Institute for Education and Intellectual Freedom. Shenkoya is a scholar in public policy, governance and innovation with more than 20 years of experience in academia, government and development practice. He currently serves as Professorial Researcher and Regional Director for Africa at Chungnam National University in South Korea. He has also worked with the Abuja Technology Village Foundation, UNICEF Nigeria and the Daejeon Metropolitan Government. He will coordinate the institute’s 2026 programme titled Fixing Nigeria’s Schools: Accountability and Digital Transformation.

Dr Danjuma Iyaji was named Director of the Olikoye Ransome-Kuti Institute for Health and Social Equity.

He is a health economist and monitoring, evaluation, research and learning specialist with nearly 20 years of experience. He has held technical and research positions at the Society for Family Health, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He has also taught at the Nigerian Army University Biu, Kogi State University and Salem University. He will lead the 2026 programme, Expanding Access to Affordable Healthcare and Nutrition in Nigeria.

The Athena Centre also appointed Dr Christiantus I. Anyanwu as Director of the Alhaji Gidado Idris Institute of Governance and Public Policy. Anyanwu is a political scientist, governance specialist and public policy scholar.

He previously served as a Senior Lecturer at Veritas University, Abuja, and as a Senior Research Fellow at the Athena Centre. His first assignment will focus on the institute’s programme, Making Government Work for Citizens at Every Level.

Sarah Eke was appointed Head of the Athena Election Observatory. A member of the Centre’s founding team, she has more than 6 years of experience in programme management, election audits, governance and public policy analysis.

She previously worked as a Senior Adviser and Coordinator on a presidential campaign. At the Athena Centre, she has led election analysis and post-election assessments in Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi, Edo, Ondo and Anambra states. She will oversee election audits, electoral data analytics and evidence-based electoral reform.

Chidoka said the appointments demonstrate the Centre’s commitment to combining academic excellence with practical policy expertise.

“Our ambition is not simply to produce research,” he said. “It is to produce ideas that influence policy, institutions that strengthen governance, and leaders who transform society. These appointments represent an investment in that mission.”

The Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership describes itself as an independent, non-partisan think tank that promotes good governance, evidence-based public policy and ethical leadership across Africa through research, executive education and strategic dialogue.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested 7 suspects over an alleged armed robbery attack on students of Sa’adu Zungur University, Itas-Gadau Campus, at an off-campus hostel in Gadau.

According to the police, the suspects allegedly attacked Rahama House, an off-campus hostel, at about 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The assailants reportedly injured 2 students with machetes before making away with 2 Android phones.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, said the suspects allegedly planned the attack before carrying it out.

Police operatives from the Gadau Division responded after receiving a distress call through the Safe Schools Initiative. Officers moved to the scene immediately, while the injured students were taken to the General Hospital in Azare for treatment.

The command said detectives later carried out a coordinated operation that resulted in the arrest of all 7 suspects. Officers also recovered the 2 stolen Android phones.

Following preliminary investigations, the suspects were transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), where further investigation and prosecution will continue.

The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the attack and pledged that everyone connected to the incident would face justice.

He also assured residents, especially students, that the command remains committed to protecting lives and property. The police further advised members of the public, particularly students living off campus, to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly to the nearest police station.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Gunmen have abducted the principal of Government Secondary School (GSS), Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, four students, and a National Examinations Council (NECO) ad hoc staff member during the ongoing NECO examination.

According to security sources, the attack happened at about 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday while candidates were sitting for their examination.

The sources, quoted by counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, said the armed men invaded the school, seized the victims, and escaped to an unknown destination before security operatives arrived at the scene.

A joint security team has since commenced a search-and-rescue operation. The team has deployed intelligence resources and carried out “bush-combing exercises” across the area to locate the kidnappers and rescue the victims.

Security sources disclosed that one of the abducted students has already regained freedom, while efforts continue to rescue the remaining victims.

The sources added that security agencies have stepped up surveillance and intelligence gathering as investigations continue. They also said efforts to track down and arrest those responsible for the attack have intensified.