Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Niger Declares Hausa As New National Language In Landmark Move. Niger’s military government has officially designated Hausa as the country’s new national language, marking a significant shift away from its colonial legacy in which French held a dominant position. The decision was announced in a new charter released on 31 March and published in a special edition of the government’s official journal. The document clearly states, “The national language is Hausa,” while also recognising English and French as “working languages”. Hausa is already the most widely spoken language in Niger, particularly prevalent in the regions of Zinder, Maradi, and…

In-Form Ligue 1 Side PSG Continue To Deliver In Champions League After Stunning City, Liverpool And Villa. A resurgent Ligue 1 side have emerged as one of the surprise packages of this season’s Champions League, combining composed possession with electrifying attacking play to great effect. In the newly introduced first-stage format of the competition, the French outfit stunned Premier League champions Manchester City with an impressive victory, showcasing their tactical discipline and cutting edge on the break. Their momentum continued into the last 16, where they faced another English heavyweight in Liverpool. After suffering a narrow defeat at…

Raphinha Equals Messi Record As Barcelona Crush Dortmund In Champions League Rout. Raphinha matched a long-standing club record set by Lionel Messi as Barcelona stormed to a commanding 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash. The Brazilian forward was in sensational form, scoring once and providing two assists to take his goal involvements in this season’s competition to 19 – equalling the tally Messi recorded during the 2011–12 campaign. Raphinha opened the scoring midway through the first half, converting from close range after Pau Cubarsí’s effort was trickling towards goal. The…

Liverpool Make Positive Strides Towards New Salah Deal. Liverpool are edging closer to securing a new contract for star forward Mohamed Salah, as negotiations continue to progress positively between the club and the player’s representatives. Although a final agreement is yet to be reached, sources close to the discussions suggest that encouraging steps have been taken, with all parties hopeful that a deal can soon be concluded. Salah’s current contract is set to expire at the end of the season, sparking speculation about his future amid interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia. However, the recent breakthrough in talks…

Rivers State Sole Administrator Appoints New Members To Key Commissions Amid Controversy. Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibokette Ibas, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has made sweeping changes to the state’s administrative framework with the appointment of new members to the Civil Service Commission and the Local Government Service Commission. In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika, the appointments were confirmed to take effect from 7 April 2025. The move is part of Ibas’s broader effort to realign the governance structure of the state following his assumption of…

Bashiru Lamidi Apapa Assumes Leadership Of Labour Party Following Supreme Court Ruling. Bashiru Lamidi Apapa has officially assumed the leadership of the Labour Party in an acting capacity, following the Supreme Court’s judgement that removed Julius Abure as National Chairman of the opposition party. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Apapa stated that the court’s ruling on 4 April 2025 rendered Abure’s leadership null and void. Citing Article 14 2(a)(b) of the Labour Party constitution, Apapa declared himself the most senior deputy national chairman and, therefore, the legitimate acting leader of the party. “I, Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi…

Federal Government To Continue Crude-For-Naira Policy, Says Technical Committee. The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative, confirming that the crude-for-naira policy will remain in place as a long-term strategic measure. This resolution was reached during a meeting of the Technical Sub-Committee on the initiative, held on Tuesday to review its progress and address matters related to ongoing implementation. In attendance were key stakeholders including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, who also chairs the Implementation Committee; Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland…

Senator Nwaebonyi Faces N5 Billion Lawsuit Over Defamatory Comments On Senator Natasha. Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, representing Ebonyi North, is currently facing legal and political pressure following a N5 billion defamation lawsuit filed against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and a recall threat from a prominent diaspora group. In a writ of summons dated 7 April 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Nwaebonyi of making false and malicious statements that have severely damaged her reputation. The remarks, allegedly made during multiple media interviews—including appearances on Channels TV, Arise News, and YouTube—form the basis of the legal suit filed at the High Court of…

PDP Nominates Ezenwafor As Governorship Candidate For Anambra Election. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially selected Mr Jude Ezenwafor as its candidate for the upcoming Anambra State governorship election scheduled for 8 November 2025. Ezenwafor emerged as the party’s flagbearer during a peaceful and well-attended congress held on Tuesday at the Women’s Development Centre in Awka, the state capital. Chairman of the Anambra Governorship Election Congress Committee, Dr Cornell Onwubuya, announced that Ezenwafor was the sole aspirant in the race and received overwhelming support from party delegates. Out of 999 delegates listed, 853 were accredited, with Ezenwafor…

NiMet Issues Rainfall Advisory To Ensure Public Safety. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a weather advisory predicting three days of moderate to heavy rainfall across parts of the country, urging the public to remain cautious and prioritise safety during this period. According to NiMet’s bulletin released on Tuesday, the forecast covers the period between Wednesday, 9 April, and Friday, 11 April 2025. The states expected to experience significant rainfall include Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Bayelsa, Delta, and Ogun. In addition to these, light to moderate rainfall is anticipated in Ondo, Lagos, Imo, Abia, Ekiti, and…

FUOYE Governing Council Clears Vice Chancellor Of Harassment Allegations. The Governing Council of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has formally exonerated the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina, of the sexual harassment allegations levelled against him by a senior lecturer, Mrs Folasade Adebayo. This outcome was contained in an official statement issued on Wednesday by the university’s Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Mr Mufutau Ibrahim. The Council, after a thorough investigation into the matter, declared that there was no evidence of sexual misconduct. It directed Mrs Adebayo to submit a written letter of apology within seven days for…

Lagos Police Nab Suspect In Viral Assault And Theft Case. The Lagos State Police Command has arrested Friday Onu, a man caught on camera assaulting Mrs Yetunde Amole along the Lekki-Epe Expressway. The arrest follows the circulation of a viral video showing Onu attacking the female commercial driver in a brazen attempt to steal her car battery. The incident, which occurred near the Oriental Hotel on Monday, sparked outrage after footage surfaced online, depicting Onu’s violent confrontation with Mrs Amole. According to reports, the suspect was interrupted mid-theft by the driver, who courageously intervened. Infuriated by her resistance, Onu…