NEWS

The United States says two-way trade with Nigeria reached nearly $15 billion in 2025, making Nigeria Washington's second-largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa. The Chargé d'Affaires of the US Mission in Nigeria, Keith Heffern, disclosed this on Wednesday during the celebration of the 250th Independence Day of the United States in Lagos. Speaking on bilateral relations, Heffern said trade and investment remain central to US engagement across Africa, describing Nigeria as a key economic partner. "Nigeria is now the United States' second-largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa," he said. "In 2025, two-way trade between our countries reached nearly $15 billion, a 14 per cent increase over 2024. These aren't just numbers. "With more than 100 US companies operating in ...

President Bola Tinubu has defended the economic reforms introduced by his administration, insisting they are beginning to deliver positive results and laying the foundation for long-term national growth. Tinubu made the remarks on Thursday, July 2, during the maiden State House Media Dinner in Abuja, where he said the government's difficult policy decisions were stabilising the economy and restoring investor confidence. "The difficult but necessary reforms undertaken by this administration are yielding results. Our economy is stabilising. Public revenues have strengthened significantly," the president said.  He added that state governments are now receiving substantially higher allocations to support development, while foreign reserves have improved and investor confidence is gr...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that the era of ballot box snatching and manual manipulation of election results is gone, assuring Nigerians that current technological safeguards are robust enough to protect every vote cast in the 2027 general elections.  The declaration was made on Wednesday, July 1 in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the INEC headquarters by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu. Both institutions used the occasion to deepen collaboration on voter education ahead of the 2027 polls.  The INEC chairman, noting that the presidential election will hold on January 16 and governorship polls on February 6, 2027, said the commission must begin intensive civic engagement immediately...

No fewer than 18 people from Sokoto State have been confirmed d3ad in a tragic road accident along the Sokoto-Yauri road in Kebbi State while returning home from Lagos, where they had travelled in search of livelihoods.  The victims were among 20 passengers travelling in an 18-seater commercial bus when it reportedly collided head-on with a trailer around 11 p.m. on Monday night, June 29, 2026, leaving 18 people d3ad on the spot and two others with injuries. An eyewitness, who visited the scene, told Daily Trust that the passengers were returning to Sokoto after spending some time in Lagos in search of means of livelihood. Bello Muhammad, a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and a close friend of the late driver, said he joined other community ...

Some parts of Lagos State have been plunged into blackout following the unfortunate flooding in the state. In a statement released, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, declared “force majeure on the Oworoshoki 33KV and Lekki 330/132KV Transmission Substations as a result of flooding caused by continuous rainfall in Lagos”. According to the statement signed by its GM Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, TCN lamented that the Oworoshoki 133/33KV Transmission Substation is totally out of service, stating that the flood affected two power transformers. “Although Lekki 330/132KV Transmission Substation is in service as water is continuously being pumped out of the station, Oworoshoki 133/33KV Transmission Substation on the other hand is currently not in service as the level of water ...

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has commenced its 2025 promotion exercise for more than 13,000 civil servants across the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority. The Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Emeka Ezeh, announced the commencement of the exercise in a statement issued on Wednesday, saying it was approved by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. According to Ezeh, the exercise began on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, and will run for 10 days, covering over 13,000 civil servants across 150 cadres and grade levels. He said the exercise forms part of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is aimed at ensuring eligible officers progress in the civil service. “As part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President, the Honourable Minister of FC...

The Nigerian government will engage with the South African government to seek compensation for Nigerians forced to leave behind businesses and properties amid anti-immigrant protests, Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi says. Ajayi disclosed this during a television broadcast as another batch of Nigerians prepared to arrive under the Federal Government’s ongoing voluntary evacuation programme. He clarified that those being repatriated are individuals who voluntarily opted to return home ahead of the latest planned anti-immigrant protests. He further noted that the Federal Government has begun documenting the businesses and properties abandoned by returnees to ensure adequate compensation is pursued systematically. “In terms of the businesses, just t...

Former Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Uche Nnaji, has reportedly been arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, while preparing to board a chartered flight to Abuja. It was gathered that the former minister was taken into custody on Wednesday at the airport. According to Premium Times, sources disclosed that Nnaji is expected to be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, for interrogation. The ICPC had been on the trail of the former minister since he resigned from office last year following investigations that revealed he forged his academic certificates. Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji has reportedly been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after arri...

Governors elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have reviewed the party’s recent primary elections and agreed to engage with the APC National Chairman, Netanwe Yilwatda, and other key leaders as preparations begin ahead of the 2027 general elections. The decision was reached during a meeting of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), which ended in the early hours of Tuesday in Abuja. Speaking after the meeting, PGF Chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, said the governors assessed the outcome of APC primaries nationwide, the recent Ekiti governorship election, and several by-elections where he said the party recorded positive results. Uzodimma noted that the forum also deliberated on issues affecting Nigeria’s democratic system and measures to...

The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has fixed October 15, 2026, for judgment in the alleged ₦6 billion money laundering case involving social media personality, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha. Justice Mojisola Dada, who is handling the case, reserved judgment after proceedings in the matter involving Mompha and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Mompha and his company on January 12, 2022, with an eight-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy to launder funds obtained through illegal activities, retention of proceeds of crime, failure to declare assets, and possession of documents containing false information, among other offences. The court is now expected to deliver its ruli...