By Umar Egbunu Muhammed, Lafia The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has rewarded outstanding winners of the 2026 COAS Literary Competition with cash prizes, underscoring the Nigerian Army’s commitment to promoting reading culture, intellectual development and patriotism among young Nigerians. The awards were presented during a ceremony at the Nigerian Army’s 4 Special Forces Command in Doma, Nasarawa State, as part of activities marking the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration scheduled for July 6. Represented by the Commander of the 4 Special Forces Command, Major General Hilary Nzan Awolo, the COAS said the literary competition was…
Author: National Update
The leadership of the Kogi West for Tinubu and Karimi Re-election Project (KW-TAKREP) has described Senator Sunday Karimi’s victory in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary as a decisive rejection of political oppression and a triumph of the people’s collective will. Speaking on behalf of the group, Kogi-based cleric and political activist, Stanley Ajileye, said the outcome of the primary election demonstrated the power of unity and grassroots mobilisation in the face of what he described as attempts to suppress the democratic aspirations of the people. In a statement titled “Vox Populi, Vox Dei: The Voice of the People…
A coalition of more than 300 civil society organisations has urged the Nigerian Senate to withhold confirmation of former Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) Vice-Chancellor, Abayomi Sunday Fasina, as an ambassadorial nominee, citing unresolved allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of office and workplace victimisation. The coalition, led by Womanifesto and supported by prominent advocacy groups and activists, submitted a petition to the Senate ahead of the screening of ambassadorial nominees, calling for the suspension of Fasina’s confirmation until all pending criminal and civil cases against him are determined by the courts. Among the signatories to the petition are Oby Ezekwesili, FIDA…
By Ipole AMAJAMA In recent years, China has emerged as one of Africa’s most significant economic partners. Through massive infrastructure projects, trade agreements, and investments anchored on its Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing has positioned itself as a central player in Africa’s development narrative. Official Chinese discourse often emphasizes “win-win cooperation,” portraying the relationship as mutually beneficial. Yet beneath this polished rhetoric lies a troubling reality: racism, exploitation, and social tensions that undermine the very foundations of partnership. Unlike the subtle or coded forms of racism often seen elsewhere, Chinese racism toward Africans frequently manifests openly and unapologetically. The latest…
Senator Isah Jibrin Echocho, who represents Kogi East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has unveiled a comprehensive account of his stewardship from 2019 to 2026, highlighting a wide range of legislative interventions, constituency projects, empowerment programmes and infrastructure initiatives spread across the nine local government areas of the district. The report, released through his media team, presents what the senator described as a commitment to transparency, accountability and continuous engagement with constituents who entrusted him with the mandate to represent them at the Senate. According to the statement, the stewardship report was also intended to keep the people of…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has further consolidated its political dominance in Gombe State after winning every chairmanship and councillorship seat contested in Saturday’s local government elections. Results announced by the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC) showed that the ruling party secured all 24 chairmanship positions and all 240 councillorship seats across the state’s local government councils and newly created Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). The outcome leaves opposition parties without a single elected position at the grassroots level and underscores the widening political gap between the APC and its challengers in the state. Chairman of GOSIEC, Abdullahi Garba…
A Senior Magistrate Court in Minna, Niger State, has sentenced four men to a combined 95 years imprisonment after finding them guilty of sexual offences involving a minor. The judgment was delivered by Senior Magistrate Christy Umar Barau at Court No. 4, Old Secretariat, Minna, following the conclusion of a trial that began after the defendants were arrested by operatives of the Kontagora Divisional Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The convicts, identified as Salisu Shehu Baura, Lawali Shaibu, Haruna Musa Saidu and Bello, were prosecuted on charges bordering on joint criminal conduct and unlawful sexual…
The Bayelsa State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 620 suspected drug offenders and seized 477.668 kilograms of illicit drugs and psychotropic substances over the past year, underscoring the scale of the fight against drug trafficking and abuse in the state. State Commander and Controller of Narcotics, CN Kanu S. Chukwuemeka, disclosed the figures on Friday during a media briefing in Yenagoa to commemorate the 2026 World Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Speaking on this year’s theme, “World Drug Problems: Resisting Issues with New Challenges,” Chukwuemeka said the campaign reflects the evolving nature…
Presidential hopeful and leading figure in the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has accused the Federal Government of attempting to block his participation in the 2027 presidential election, declaring that neither political pressure nor recent court setbacks would deter him from pursuing his ambition. Speaking on Friday at a leadership programme organised by the NextGen Mentorship and Leadership Initiative at Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State, Obi alleged that powerful interests were working behind the scenes to prevent him from appearing on the ballot. “Today, the Federal Government of Nigeria is doing everything possible to ensure that I am not…
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned that Nigeria risks drifting towards a one-party state following a series of legal and political developments affecting opposition parties, describing the recent court ruling against the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as part of a troubling pattern that could undermine democratic competition ahead of the 2027 elections. In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja setting aside its earlier ruling recognising the NDC extends beyond a dispute involving a single political party and raises broader questions about the future…