NEWS

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, says his administration is steadily building a new Edo State anchored on effective governance, large-scale infrastructure development and economic growth. Governor Okpebholo made the statement on Thursday while speaking to journalists after inspecting several ongoing road and drainage projects across the Edo South Senatorial District. He expressed satisfaction with the quality and speed of work on the projects, particularly those along Sapele Road and its adjoining corridors, noting that the visible changes reflect his government’s commitment to transforming the state’s development landscape. “We inspected many projects today and work is progressing steadily. I am particularly impressed with what we have seen so far, especially along S...

US President Donald Trump has instructed his team to significantly expand the details of his public schedule, a move aimed at countering growing scrutiny over his energy levels and workload as he approaches 80. In recent months, vague entries such as signing ceremonies, policy discussions and meetings with industry executives, many of them held behind closed doors, have increasingly appeared on the daily schedule released to the media each night. According to sources familiar with the decision, the changes were deliberate and personally directed by Trump. Despite frequent public appearances, some lasting several hours, Trump had grown irritated by reports suggesting his days were lighter than during his first term. Analyses of his official schedule had fueled speculation about his he...

A covert intelligence operation led by the Army Headquarters in collaboration with the State Security Service (SSS) reportedly foiled an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and neutralise key political leaders. According to a report by Premium Times, senior government sources revealed that the plot began to unravel in late September 2025 when a serving military officer, who had direct knowledge of the plan, alerted the then Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede. The officer reportedly feared being implicated in treason if he failed to disclose the information. Around the same period, the SSS independently obtained intelligence suggesting that some serving military personnel were planning actions aimed at destabilising the government an...

The Senate has set up a seven-member ad hoc committee to collate and harmonise lawmakers’ contributions on the proposed amendment of the Electoral Act, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections. The decision was reached after a three-hour closed-door executive session on Thursday, during which senators further examined the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill currently before the National Assembly. Announcing the outcome, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the committee was established to streamline senators’ views and resolve outstanding issues surrounding the proposed amendments. He explained that the panel is tasked with consolidating and refining lawmakers’ opinions on the bill. According to Akpabio, the committee ...

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of several senior and junior police officers to higher ranks across the Nigeria Police Force. According to a statement issued on Thursday by PSC spokesperson, Torty Kalu, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Funsho Adegboye has been elevated to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police. The Commission also approved the promotion of Commissioners of Police Danjuma Aboki and Dansabo Idi to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police. Kalu explained that the promotions followed a rigorous, merit-based process, which included written examinations and oral interviews conducted by the Commission. The approvals were made during the PSC’s third plenary meeting, chaired by retired Deputy Inspector-General of Poli...

The Economic Community of West African States has placed regional security at the centre of its agenda as it works toward achieving five per cent economic growth across West Africa, according to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray. Speaking in Abuja at a meeting with development partners on Thursday, Touray, while presenting highlights of the ECOWAS 2025 annual report, said security challenges continued to affect parts of the region, prompting intensified engagement by the bloc. “If we look at the various sectors and areas of our activities, we will see that in the area of peace and security, our preoccupation remains with growing insecurity that some areas of the region continue to suffer from. “Therefore, peace and security remain at the heart of our mandate,” he...

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the extension of the application deadline for the 2025/2026 academic session to February 27, 2026. This was confirmed in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday. NELFUND stated that the deadline, initially set for January 31, 2026, was extended to give prospective applicants additional time to complete and submit their applications. According to the Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the decision was taken to ensure that no eligible student is excluded from the process due to timing constraints. The statement read in part: “The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has announced an extension of the application deadline for the 2025/2026 academic session from January 31, 2026, to February 27, 2026.” Speakin...

A senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcome to travel to Moscow for direct talks with Putin, with assurances that his safety would be guaranteed. Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said that Putin has consistently expressed openness to a meeting, emphasizing that Moscow is ready to host Zelenskyy if he is genuinely prepared for face-to-face negotiations. Ushakov also revealed that the possibility of a Putin–Zelenskyy meeting has been discussed in recent phone calls between Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump, with Trump reportedly suggesting that Moscow consider the option. The remarks come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, said Zelenskyy is willing ...