***Luxury Meets Legacy in a Landmark Moment for African Excellence Abuja witnessed a cultural spectacle as Gold Bar Whiskey, one of the world’s most revered luxury spirits, partnered with Africa’s leading entrepreneur, Chief Obinna Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana), to celebrate his landmark 50th birthday. More than a party, the event was a statement—an extraordinary blend of heritage and prestige, purpose and power. With the golden touch of Gold Bar Whiskey at its core, the celebration elevated the narrative of African luxury, redefining what it means to honour success on a global stage. Held at the iconic Transcorp Hilton, the event turned…
Author: National Update
A prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has raised concerns over what he described as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike’s alleged interference in the political affairs of Bayelsa State. Speaking from Port Harcourt over the weekend, Eze urged Wike to respect the political autonomy of the Ijaw people and warned against interpreting their calm disposition as a sign of weakness. Eze, a former member of the APC Legacy Media Team, accused Wike of attempting to inject political unrest into Bayelsa’s landscape—drawing parallels to the recent political turbulence in Rivers State involving Governor…
In a dramatic and symbolic show of force, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has incinerated 1.6 million kilograms of illicit drugs—the largest drug destruction operation in Nigeria’s history—sending a strong message to drug traffickers that there is no safe haven in the country. The operation, which took place in Ipara, Ogun State, involved the destruction of massive quantities of narcotics seized across Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo States. The haul included, 1.4 million kg of cannabis, 123 kg of cocaine, 46.8 kg of heroin, 148,000 kg of codeine syrup, 3,244.26 kg of tramadol, 1,544 kg of skuchies and 111…
The Nigerian Presidency has reacted to a U.S. court order compelling the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to release documents linked to past investigations involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, addressing the matter on social media, downplayed the ruling, stating: “There is nothing new to reveal. The FBI and DEA reports have been in the public space for over 30 years and do not indict President Tinubu.” However, Onanuga noted that legal experts within the Presidency are reviewing the decision. The ruling, issued by Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District…
***Politics, Prestige, Pop Culture Converge to Celebrate Five Decades of Influence in Unprecedented Style Abuja witnessed a seismic cultural event on Saturday night as Obi Iyiegbu, famously known as Obi Cubana, turned 50, and did so in a way only he could: with power, polish, and pure panache. The iconic Transcorp Hilton played host to a night that was equal parts celebration and spectacle. From politicians to pop icons, moguls to movie stars, the Nigerian elite gathered not just to mark a birthday, but to honour a man whose journey has become synonymous with aspiration, innovation, and resilience. It wasn’t…
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has announced plans to expand dry season rice cultivation from 200,000 to 500,000 hectares by the year 2030. The governor made this known during the launch of the 2025 Dry Season Rice Production Programme held in Jura village, Auyo Local Government Area. Malam Namadi explained that as part of the administration’s agricultural transformation agenda, dry season rice cultivation had already increased from less than 100,000 hectares to 200,000 hectares during the 2023/2024 farming season. “Our goal is to expand dry season cultivation from the current 200,000 hectares, and in the…
***Intercepts Deadly Fentanyl at Cameroon Border In a series of high-stakes operations that read like scenes from a crime thriller, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has taken down a notorious Malaysian returnee with a cunning meth trafficking plot and intercepted a deadly shipment of fentanyl at Nigeria’s border with Cameroon. Director of media advocacy, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday indicated that 41-year-old Ndubuisi Udatu, a convicted drug trafficker who recently returned from serving a jail term in Malaysia, was arrested in Adamawa state after NDLEA operatives discovered four large parcels of methamphetamine weighing 2.7kg hidden inside…
****Kogi accounts for N94.5bn of N3.5 trillion annual post-harvest losses in Nigeria By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja SMALL-SCALE Women Farmer Organization in Nigeria (SWOFON) has called on national and sub-national governments to evolve deliberate policies to address perennial post-harvest losses being incurred by farmers especially the smallholders. Hajia Rukayat Larai Ahmed, Coordinator of SWOFON, Kogi State chapter made the call on Friday while presenting the SWOFON and Budget Committee Group (BCG) annual press briefing on Kogi state 2025 Agriculture Budget Analysis, Observations and Recommendations in Lokoja. The annual Agriculture Budget Analysis, aimed at improving agricultural productivity in Kogi State, through consistent…
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has fired back at the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, describing him as “naive” in response to the Minister’s reported dismissal of renewed Boko Haram threats in the state. The disagreement stems from Governor Zulum’s recent warning about a resurgence of Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks and kidnappings, which he said were occurring with minimal resistance from security forces. The governor made the remarks during a security meeting in Maiduguri earlier in the week, sounding an alarm over what he called a “looming situation.” However, a separate publication claimed that the Minister of…
*** Over 200 Members, Including Youth Leader, Defect to NNPP in Rano In a dramatic political shift, over 200 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including the party’s youth leader and key executives from Rurum Tsohon Gari Ward, have defected en masse to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Rano Local Government Area. This wave of defections, led by the APC Youth Leader Yusuf Usman Said Rurum, marks a significant realignment of political forces ahead of the 2027 elections. Zonal Information Officer, Rano Local Government Area, Rabiu Khalil Kura in a statement made available to the National Update…