The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman, Uche Onyekwere, for attempting to smuggle cocaine into the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. Onyekwere, 47, was apprehended last Thursday, at the airport’s arrival hall during the inward screening of passengers on a South African Airways flight from Brazil via Johannesburg. NDLEA officials acted on intelligence that led to his selection for further checks. A body scan conducted on the suspect indicated the presence of concealed substances. A subsequent strip search uncovered a large wrap of a white powdery substance, later confirmed to…
Author: Abimbola Ogunaike
Leaders from several West African countries have agreed to pursue a new, structured approach to regional cooperation aimed at tackling terrorism, cross-border crime, and deepening insecurity across the sub-region. The commitment was reached at the end of a two-day High-Level Consultative Conference on Regional Cooperation and Security held in Accra from January 29 to 30, 2026. The meeting was chaired by Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, with Presidents Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone and Joseph Boakai of Liberia leading their respective delegations. Representatives from Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo also participated. Discussions at the conference focused…
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have issued a strong warning to construction companies, contractors, and other stakeholders over the rising incidents of fibre-optic cable damage during road construction and civil engineering activities across the country. In a joint statement issued at the weekend, the two agencies described fibre-optic infrastructure as a critical national asset and cautioned that negligence leading to its damage will no longer be tolerated. They stressed that offenders risk prosecution, as such acts now constitute criminal offences under existing laws. According to the NCC and NSCDC, fibre-optic cables…
By Segun Adewale in Bauchi Vice Chancellor of Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Professor Fatimah Tahir, has emphasized the critical role of universities in promoting peace, resilience, and social harmony, particularly in regions facing complex security challenges. She made the call over the weekend at a One-Day Workshop on Youth Engagement in Peacebuilding, organised by the University’s Centre for Peace, Security and Social Studies (SATCEPSS). Represented by Dr. Wasilu Suleiman, the Vice Chancellor noted that universities must go beyond teaching and research to actively shape values, leadership, and civic responsibility among young people. According to her, institutions of higher learning have…
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has commissioned the 9.4-kilometre Ogu Community Road Network and a 1,500-seater Royal Hall in Ogu, Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State. Speaking at the inauguration of the two projects, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, said they were further demonstrations of the Federal Government’s determination to develop the Niger Delta region. He said: “I am overwhelmed by the current level of development in Ogu, facilitated by the NDDC. I have seen the network of concrete roads with drainages and I am impressed.” “The NDDC has impacted positively on the…
The world of music has honoured a giant: Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Fela was more than a musician. He was a fearless voice of the people, a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary force whose music confronted injustice and reshaped global sound. His courage, creativity, and conviction defined a generation and continue to inspire the world. In Yoruba mythology, he has transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa. He is now eternal. Fela Kuti has blazed the trail with the Recording Academy of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the first African to receive this honour, though posthumously. The award is…
The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its territorial jurisdiction over Eba Island in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, dismissing claims from some quarters in Ondo State as misleading and capable of triggering avoidable communal tension. The clarification follows public debates and a motion sponsored by Hon. Donald Kimikanboh Ojogo, representing Ilaje Federal Constituency in Ondo State, after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the commencement of drilling activities at an abandoned oil well located on Eba Island. In a statement issued on Sunday , the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, said the Eba Island…
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken note of the recent comments credited to global technology entrepreneur and investor, Elon Musk, on the prospects of the Nigerian economy. His objective assessment stands in sharp contrast to the persistent narrative of gloom, decline, and hopelessness being peddled by the opposition for narrow political gains. Coming from one of the world’s most influential innovators and investors- whose opinions are shaped by hard data, market realities, and future trends- Mr. Musk’s outlook reinforces what discerning observers already know: Nigeria remains a country of vast economic potential, resilience, and…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday, 31 January, 2025, witnessed a historic and massive reception in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, as the Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas, was officially welcomed into the ruling party.In a symbolic and defining moment, the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, formally presented the party’s flag to Governor Kefas, thereby affirming him as the leader of the APC in Taraba State. With this development, the ruling party has 30 governors as members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum. The party is poised to receive more Nigerians. The event…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has described the posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award given to Afrobeat icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, as a clear affirmation of his enduring legacy and global relevance. Sani made the assertion in a post on his verified X handle, @ShehuSani, where he reflected on the significance of the honour, noting that only a few artists attain such recognition. According to him, the award underscores Fela’s lasting influence in music, activism and cultural expression. “Not every great artist or entertainer would be so honored to receive the lifetime achievement award; Fela’s Grammy…