Edo State Governor, His Excellency Monday Okpebholo, has extended heartfelt birthday greetings to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, describing him as “a pillar of leadership, faith, and enduring service to Edo State.” In a message conveyed by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the Governor celebrated Pastor Ize-Iyamu as a distinguished son of Edo whose life has been marked by “unshakable principles, steadfast advocacy for peace, and a legacy of political and community service.” “Pastor Ize-Iyamu has remained a towering figure in our journey as a people — steadfast, visionary, and committed to the values that bind us together,” the Governor stated.…
Author: National Update
… a definitive signal to be an opposition platform ready to cut its way through to power and justice without cutting down the maize. The Nigeria National Coalition Group (NNCG), a political association of displaced politicians critical of Tinubu’s administration, has formally applied to INEC to register a new political party under the name All Democratic Alliance (ADA). Prominent figures associated with the NNCG said to be the promoters of ADA include Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Dr. Umar Ardo. ADA is certainly the natural acronym for the Association of Displaced Ambitionists, which is apt in this case.…
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Makurdi have arrested Dr. Mkor Aondona, Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Documentation, Research, and Planning, over serious allegations of sextortion, cyberbullying, and blackmail. The arrest, which took place on Friday, June 20, 2025, followed petitions from several female students who accused the aide of using his office to sexually exploit them under false pretenses. According to the complaints, Dr. Aondona routinely invited young, slim women to apply for ushering jobs, but made sexual favors a condition for selection. The victims alleged that unknown to them, their sexual…
The Ondo State Government has approved the death penalty for individuals convicted of kidnapping, in a decisive move aimed at curbing rising insecurity across the state. The decision was announced by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, who spoke on behalf of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa following the State Executive Council meeting held on Saturday. Ajulo said the state was taking firm legal steps in response to the alarming rate of abductions, many of which have resulted in fatalities and large ransom payments. He described the development as part of a broader effort to bolster public safety and restore…
A major breach in Nigeria’s correctional system has triggered swift disciplinary action after it was discovered that a convicted inmate attempted to obtain an international passport from behind bars. The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) announced the suspension of two of its officers involved in the scandal, following the detection of the illegal passport application through the Nigeria Immigration Service’s (NIS) upgraded digital monitoring system. Abubakar Umar, spokesperson for the NCoS, revealed in a statement issued Saturday that the anomaly was flagged two weeks ago thanks to recent reforms in passport application processes and improved inter-agency collaboration. “This breach highlights the…
***Calls for Dialogue and Reform The Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, has ordered the immediate suspension of all enforcement activities by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) across the country. The directive follows recent enforcement-related incidents in Lagos State and was issued by the Minister on Friday to allow for a more inclusive, transparent, and consultative engagement with stakeholders. While reaffirming NIHOTOUR’s statutory mandate to regulate standards, maintain a register of professionals, and ensure compliance across Nigeria’s hospitality, tourism, and travel sectors, Minister Musawa emphasized the need for balance between…
Panic swept through a Kano community on Saturday morning following a deadly explosion believed to have been caused by a military-grade mortar bomb. At least five people have been confirmed dead, while 15 others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The blast, which occurred in the early hours, triggered immediate response from security agencies and emergency medical teams. The scene was cordoned off as ambulances evacuated the injured to nearby hospitals. Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, who visited the scene shortly after the incident, said preliminary findings point to a suspected military ordnance that may have been improperly…
With a rallying call for unity, ambition, and urgency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has challenged West African leaders to abandon fragmentation and pursue bold economic integration at the first-ever West Africa Economic Summit held Saturday in Abuja. Addressing fellow heads of state, policymakers, and regional stakeholders, Tinubu—also Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government—declared that the region stands at a decisive crossroads. “Opportunity is not destiny,” he warned. “We must earn it—through vision, collaboration, and capital alignment.” He decried West Africa’s chronically low intra-regional trade—still under 10%—as a sign of policy disconnection, not lack of ambition.…
Tensions within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) have reached a boiling point, as Chief Corporate Communications Officer Femi Soneye steps aside following weeks of friction with the corporation’s new management. Although Soneye attributed his exit to personal reasons in a statement released Saturday, multiple sources within NNPC indicated that his departure is deeply tied to growing distrust, allegations of information leaks, and concerns over media fund mismanagement. According to insiders, the conflict escalated after the leak of sensitive details about the controversial Rwanda Retreat—an executive gathering that attracted both public outrage and political scrutiny. NNPC’s new leadership reportedly…
***Hails Him as Courageous, Outspoken By John Adams, Minna Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has felicitated with his Special Adviser on Media, Communication, and Strategy, and prominent APC chieftain, Hon. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa, on the occasion of his 64th birthday. In a congratulatory message issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, Governor Bago described Vatsa as a courageous, dogged, and outspoken politician who has played a significant role in the political development of Niger State and Nigeria at large. The governor praised Vatsa’s contributions as the pioneer Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state,…