The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed off a rice processing facility in Kano State, Fortune Rice Mills Limited, over alleged violations of environmental regulations relating to air pollution and offensive emissions. The enforcement action, carried out on Monday, 18 May, 2026, was led by the agency’s North-West Zonal Director, Dr. Mudashiru Raheem, following investigations into public complaints against the company. According to NESREA, residents had raised concerns over persistent dust emissions and offensive odour emanating from the facility despite earlier compliance notices issued to the company. The agency said investigations established that the rice mill…
Author: Khadijah Olowode
A Nigerian national, Samuel Ugberaese, has been extradited to the United States to face prosecution over an alleged international romance fraud and money laundering scheme that reportedly targeted elderly victims across the U.S. and other countries. The arrest followed coordinated operations involving American and Nigerian law enforcement agencies, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Justice. Ugberaese was arrested by the FBI after being extradited from Nigeria to the United States, where he is now facing charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering before the U.S. District Court…
Ahead of the next governorship election in Lagos Stare, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Samuel Ajose, on Tuesday, 19 May, 2026 announced his withdrawal from the governorship race, declaring support for the Deputy Governor of the state, Obafemi Hamzat. Ajose, who announced this on Tuesday, 19 May, 2026 while addressing his supporters in Lagos, said the decision was taken after careful reflection and in the interest of unity and collective progress. While stating that although the decision placed him in a difficult position, he added that he found peace after weighing what would benefit everyone involved. “I…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola The African Infectious Diseases Multidisciplinary Research and Grant (AFIDMURG) has trained over 150 infectious disease experts and researchers across Africa and beyond in a workshop targeted on systematic review reporting, reinforcing efforts to strengthen evidence-based research on the continent. The one-day virtual training, held on Thursday, 7 May, 2026 convened participants from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The workshop, organised by AFIDMURG, focused on equipping attendees with step-by-step skills in conducting systematic reviews to improve timely data reporting and integration of African research into global health databases. Founded in 2020, AFIDMURG aims to connect African…
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has officially been declared the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ogun East Senatorial District primary election held on Monday. According to figures announced by the Chief Returning Officer for Ogun East, Dr. Wale Bello, Abiodun scored 75,550 votes out of a total of 99,503 votes cast to emerge victorious. Otunba Gbenga Daniel polled 398 votes, while Bukola Braimoh secured 29 votes. Dr. Bello gave the breakdown of the votes as follows: In Sagamu Local Government Area, out of 11,285 registered members, Abiodun polled 8,434 votes, Otunba Gbenga Daniel scored no vote, while…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola The Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, has clarified that Nigeria’s fiscal year is determined by law rather than the calendar, defending the timeline for the publication of recent Quarterly Budget Implementation Reports. Yakubu made the clarification in a State House press statement issued on Sunday,17 May, 2026 in response to public concerns over delays in releasing the reports. He explained that the adjustment in the publication schedule followed recent legislative actions affecting the 2025 Appropriation Act and its implementation timeline. Providing context, Yakubu said the fiscal year should not be confused…
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has approved the appointment of Engr. Dr. Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe as the Acting Chief of Staff to the Governor as part of efforts to strengthen governance and accelerate policy implementation in the state. A statement signed by the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani, said Dr. Mallumbe, who previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS I) to the Governor, would assume the new role with immediate effect. The Governor also approved the posting and allocation of portfolios to the 10 newly sworn-in commissioners, describing the move as part of broader efforts to…
Five years of military rule in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have produced not sovereignty but collapse. No propaganda can survive the evidence of the May 2026 security map, by OUMAROU SANOU There is one document that no junta press conference can censor, no hired influencer can spin, and no state television anchor can reframe. It is the current security map of the Sahel, compiled from open-source intelligence platforms and conflict-monitoring organisations, including the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies, ACLED, the Critical Threats Project, the International Crisis Group, and the Institute for the Study of War. That map tells a…
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday granted bail to social media commentator, Justice Chidiebere, popularly known online as “Justice Crack,” in the sum of ₦5 million over allegations bordering on cybercrime and the dissemination of controversial military-related content on social media. The bail was secured by the defendant’s new counsel, Sam Amadi, who also commended the treatment of his client while in the custody of the Department of State Services. Trial judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, granted the bail application with stringent conditions and adjourned the matter until May 25 for continuation of trial. Under the conditions outlined by…
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised fresh concerns over worsening human rights conditions in Nigeria, revealing that it received a staggering 266,787 complaints nationwide in April 2026 amid rising insecurity, extra-judicial killings, economic hardship, communal violence, and growing threats to civic freedoms. The alarming figures were disclosed on Monday, 18 May, 2026, in Abuja by the Executive Secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu, during the presentation of the April 2026 Human Rights Situation Dashboard and the signing of an Advisory on Protecting Civic Space and Human Rights. The development comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with escalating security…