Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

House Committee To Inspect Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Ahead Of Tinubu’s Commissioning. With President Bola Tinubu set to commission a 30-kilometre section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway on 25 May 2025, the House of Representatives Committee on Works has announced plans to conduct an oversight visit to evaluate the project’s readiness. The committee, led by Hon. Akin Alabi, is scheduled to inspect the ongoing construction work to ensure it complies with required standards before the presidential inauguration takes place. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of Nigeria’s most ambitious infrastructure ventures, designed to enhance connectivity between Lagos and Calabar…

Ghana Moves To Regulate Gold Market, Orders Exit Of Foreign Traders By April 30. In a significant move to reform its local gold market, Ghana has ordered all foreign nationals currently trading in the country’s artisanal and small-scale gold sector to exit by 30th April 2025. The directive is part of the enforcement of the newly enacted Ghana Gold Board Act (Act 1140), which officially came into effect following its passage by Parliament on 29th March and the subsequent assent by President John Dramani Mahama on 2nd April. “All foreigners are hereby notified to exit the local gold trading…

Bruno Onyemaechi Clinches Greek Super League Title With Olympiacos. Super Eagles defender Bruno Onyemaechi has added a major trophy to his career achievements, helping Olympiacos secure the Greek Super League title. Olympiacos sealed the championship on Sunday night with a narrow 1-0 victory over rivals AEK Athens. The decisive goal came from Moroccan forward Ayoub El Kaabi, whose strike ensured the club maintained an unassailable lead at the summit of the league table. With 66 points and three matches left to play, Olympiacos are mathematically out of reach, cementing their status as champions of Greece once again. Onyemaechi,…

Tinubu Signs ECOWAS Tariff Offer, Waives Tariff On 90% Goods Traded Within African Nations. In a landmark move to deepen regional integration and stimulate intra-African trade, President Bola Tinubu has signed the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Schedule of Tariff Offers, which establishes zero duties on 90 per cent of goods traded within Africa. This significant step reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and positions the country as a key player in shaping the future of trade across the continent. The signing took place yesterday during the AfCFTA Council of Ministers meeting…

Thousands Require Treatment As Severe Sandstorm Sweeps Across Iraq. More than 1,000 people have been left struggling with respiratory problems after a powerful sandstorm swept through central and southern Iraq, according to health officials. Hospitals across the affected regions were overwhelmed with cases of breathing difficulties, with Muthanna province alone reporting at least 700 cases of suffocation, a local official told the AFP news agency. The storm, which descended on 14 April, cloaked cities in a thick orange haze, severely reducing visibility to less than one kilometre. Footage shared online showed streets and highways blanketed in dust, with headlights…

PDP Governors Vow To Reclaim Power At Federal Level In 2027. Governors elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have declared their collective resolve to reclaim power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the federal level in the 2027 general elections. The declaration was made during a gala night hosted by the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, at the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan on Sunday evening. Present at the event were several PDP governors, including the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala…

EFCC Presents Peter Okoye As First Witness In £1m Fraud Case Against Former P-Square Manager Jude Okoye. On Monday, 14 April 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opened its case against Jude Chigozie Okoye, elder brother and former manager of the renowned Nigerian music duo P-Square, at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos. The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate presented its first prosecution witness, Peter Okoye, in a trial involving allegations of money laundering amounting to N1.38 billion (£1 million). Justice A. Owoeye presided over the proceedings. Jude Okoye, alongside his company Northside Music Limited, faces a seven-count…

François Letexier To Referee Arsenal Vs Real Madrid Champions League Quarter-Final Second Leg. French referee François Letexier has been confirmed as the official for Arsenal’s eagerly anticipated Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash against Real Madrid. The match, set to take place at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday, 16 April 2025, promises to be a thrilling encounter as Arsenal carry a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg at the Emirates Stadium. Letexier, 35, is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most promising referees, holding UEFA’s elite category status. His appointment for this high-stakes fixture underscores his growing reputation within the…

Access Bank Secures Approval For Full Acquisition Of National Bank Of Kenya. In a significant development for East Africa’s banking sector, Nigeria’s Access Bank PLC has received formal approval from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and Kenya’s National Treasury and Economic Planning to acquire 100% of the shareholding of the National Bank of Kenya (NBK). The announcement, made today, marks a pivotal step in Access Bank’s ambitious expansion strategy across the continent. The CBK granted its approval on 4 April 2025, under Section 13(4) of Kenya’s Banking Act, with the National Treasury, led by Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi,…

Forty Killed In Brutal Attack On Plateau State Community. A devastating attack has claimed the lives of at least 40 people in Zike community, Kimakpa, located in the Kwall district of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State. The assault, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, saw armed assailants storm the village and open fire indiscriminately on residents. According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers struck while many were still asleep, shooting at those attempting to flee for safety. Security forces reportedly arrived from a nearby community and succeeded in repelling the assailants, but by then, the damage had…

Fresh Protests Erupt In Rivers As Women’s Group Backs ssEmergency Rule. A group of women staged a protest in Rivers State on Monday in support of the emergency rule declared in the state, further deepening the political divide sparked by the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The demonstration, which began at 7am, saw scores of women marching through the streets, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards bearing messages such as “Emergency rule is Constitutional”, “Investigate Fubara’s bloated Contracts award”, and “Rivers women need peace in our state”. The protest was led by Inime Aguma, a former Commissioner for…

Zelensky Invites Trump To Ukraine Following Deadly Missile Strike In Sumy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly invited former US President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine before making any agreements with Russia to end the ongoing war, which has now entered its fourth year. Speaking during an interview on CBS’s *60 Minutes*, Zelensky urged Trump to witness the reality on the ground for himself. “Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead,” he said. The plea was recorded shortly before a devastating…