Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Israeli Airstrikes Target Syria Amid Escalating Druse Clashes Near Damascus. Israel launched airstrikes on Syria on Wednesday in response to escalating sectarian violence involving the Druse minority, as fierce clashes near the capital, Damascus, claimed dozens of lives. The Israeli military intervened to protect Druse civilians, threatening further strikes against Syrian government forces if the unrest persists. The airstrikes targeted a group of “operatives” accused of attacking Druse civilians in the violence-ridden outskirts of Damascus, according to the Israeli military. While the operatives were not identified, forces aligned with Syria’s Islamist government have been engaged in intense fighting with…

National Assembly Steps In To Resolve FCT Teachers’ Strike Crisis. The National Assembly has launched a probe into the ongoing strike by public primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which has now entered its third month, bringing hope for a resolution to the crisis disrupting education across the region. The industrial action, spearheaded by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), stems from the non-payment of the N70,000 minimum wage and other entitlements allegedly withheld by area council chairmen. The strike, which began with boycotts in December 2024, resumed in February and has persisted through March and…

Man Charged With Terror Offence After Attempted Breach Of Israeli Embassy In London. A 33-year-old man, Abdullah Sabah Albadri, has been charged with a terrorism offence following an attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Israeli Embassy in London while armed with two knives. The incident, which occurred shortly before 6 p.m. on Monday, was swiftly thwarted by the Metropolitan Police, with no injuries reported. The Metropolitan Police, responsible for law enforcement in London, confirmed that Albadri was arrested at the embassy in the Kensington neighbourhood after officers observed him attempting to climb over a wall. Initially detained on…

South Korea To Deploy Drones Against Birds Strike In Aviation Safety Overhaul Following Deadly Jeju Air Crash. South Korea has unveiled a comprehensive set of aviation safety measures, including the deployment of drones to deter birds at airports, in response to the tragic Jeju Air Flight 2216 crash that claimed 179 lives last December. The initiative, announced by the government on Wednesday, aims to bolster safety protocols and prevent future disasters at the nation’s airports. The Jeju Air crash occurred on 29 December at Muan International Airport in southwest South Korea, when the pilots reported a bird strike during…

NiMet And ACReSAL To Launch Digital Precision Agriculture Platform For Nigerian Farmers. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project have announced a groundbreaking partnership to develop a Digital Precision Agricultural Extension (DPAE) platform tailored for smallholder farmers in northern Nigeria. The initiative aims to revolutionise farming practices by providing real-time weather and agricultural data to enhance productivity and resilience. During a meeting at NiMet’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, ACReSAL’s National Project Coordinator, Mukhtar Y. Tanko, briefed NiMet’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Charles Anosike, on the collaboration. Tanko emphasised…

ICPC Launches Probe Into £159.6bn Unaccounted Student Loans In Nigeria. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has initiated a thorough investigation into alleged financial discrepancies involving £159.6 billion in unaccounted student loans under the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). The probe targets 51 tertiary institutions across Nigeria, accused of making unauthorised deductions from student loan disbursements. In a statement released on Thursday, ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare revealed that the institutions allegedly deducted between £3,500 and £30,000 from each student’s institutional fees, which were funded through the NELFUND scheme. These actions have raised concerns about exploitation…

Nigerian Workers Deserve Immediate Implementation Of New Minimum Wage, Says Advocate Tolu Bankole. Aare (Hon.) Tolu Bankole, a dedicated champion of justice and workers’ rights, has called for the urgent and full implementation of Nigeria’s new national minimum wage across all states and institutions yet to comply. The former Students’ Union President of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, made the impassioned plea as he joined the nation in celebrating Nigerian workers on Workers’ Day. In a heartfelt message marking the occasion, Bankole described Nigerian workers as “the mother of the nation,” lauding their competence, dedication, loyalty, and resilience…

Brazilian Oldest Nun; Sister Inah, Dies Aged 116. Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, has passed away at the remarkable age of 116, her family has confirmed. Born on 8 June 1908 in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, Sister Inah dedicated nearly a century of her life to faith, education, and service. She died peacefully at a Teresian Sisters’ residence in Porto Alegre, where she had spent her final years. According to her nephew, she had not been ill, but her body had simply “gradually stopped” functioning. Sister Inah joined a religious boarding school…

FA Bans Transgender Women From Women’s Football Following Supreme Court Ruling. Transgender women will no longer be permitted to play in women’s football in England from 1 June, the Football Association (FA) has confirmed, following a landmark Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman. On 11 April, the FA had introduced updated eligibility criteria for transgender women, allowing participation provided strict medical conditions were met. However, the Supreme Court’s 15 April judgement clarified that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. In light of this, the FA has reversed its earlier policy,…

UBTH Health Workers Mourn Colleague Killed In Hospital Premises. Medical and health workers at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) have been thrown into mourning following the tragic death of their colleague, Dr Alex Ogunniyi, who was fatally shot by suspected gunmen within the hospital premises last Friday. In response to the shocking incident, staff at the hospital held a peaceful protest and a solemn commendation service to honour the late physiotherapist. The workers called on authorities to take immediate steps to improve security within the hospital environment and prevent similar tragedies in the future. Speaking during…

In a clear departure from previous practice, the Federal Government is making a spirited move to enable states to receive hundreds of billions of naira, being a five-year backlog of Universal Basic Education (UBE) Fund. The backlog dated back to the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in 2020. Govima Gathered that the President, on his return from Paris last week, approved the plan by the Minister of Education, which included updated information of how the funds can transform basic education in each of the over 30 states expected to benefit from this new strategy. The new…

UK Resumes Visa Services In Enugu After Months-Long Closure. The United Kingdom has resumed visa application services in Enugu, Nigeria, several months after operations were suspended in the city. The visa application centre (VAC), previously managed by TLScontact, had been closed in November 2024 alongside the centre in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed the launch of the UK’s largest visa facility in Lagos, operated by VFS Global, which initially redirected all applicants to Lagos and Abuja. In an update on Wednesday, the British High Commission confirmed that visa services have resumed in Enugu. According to VFS Global, residents…