NEWS

Hundreds of Ghanaian youths on Friday staged a peaceful protest in Accra under the banner of the “South Africa Must Go” campaign, calling for the closure of South African-owned businesses operating in the country. The demonstration was sparked by recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa that have reportedly claimed lives and heightened concerns across the African continent. The incidents have also prompted several countries to begin evacuating their citizens from South Africa. Videos circulating on social media showed protesters condemning the attacks on Ghanaians and other African nationals residing in South Africa, while demanding immediate action to address the situation. Carrying placards bearing messages such as “Ghanaian Lives Matter,” the demonstrators marched through part...

Religious leaders, mental health experts and community stakeholders have raised concerns over the growing prevalence of substance abuse in the country, revealing that an estimated 14.4 million Nigerians have been exposed to drug use. The concerns were raised at the 40th Anniversary Lecture of Fountain of Hope Society 10NG held at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, according to a statement made available to Saturday PUNCH on Friday. The lecture, themed “Overcoming the Scourge of Substance Abuse and Addiction: The Role of the Church in Prevention and Rehabilitation,” brought together experts to examine the causes, consequences and solutions to Nigeria’s growing drug abuse problem. Delivering the keynote presentation, Consultant Addiction Psychiatrist...

President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and committed to the nation's progress, even when expressing disagreements with his administration. Speaking during his nationwide broadcast on Friday to commemorate the 27th anniversary of uninterrupted democratic governance in Nigeria, Tinubu emphasized the importance of citizens' confidence in the democratic process. The President noted that democracy can only thrive when people trust its institutions, highlighting the National Assembly, the judiciary, the media, and civil society organizations as vital pillars safeguarding the country's democratic system. Tinubu encouraged Nigerians to voice their concerns and criticisms constructively while maintaining faith in the nation’s future. “Criticise me and disagree with ...

A woman believed to be mentally challenged was reportedly found wandering within the Okpella community in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. According to residents, the woman was sighted moving around parts of the town in a confused state, prompting concerns among community members about her welfare and safety. Witnesses said efforts are being made to identify her and locate her family or relatives. Some residents expressed sympathy for her condition and called on relevant authorities and social welfare agencies to intervene. Community leaders have urged anyone who may recognize the woman or have information about her identity to come forward to assist in reuniting her with her family. As of the time of filing this report, her identity and place of residence remain...

The House of Representatives has approved the State Police Bill, marking a major step toward decentralising Nigeria’s policing system. The bill secured overwhelming support during Thursday’s plenary, with 289 lawmakers voting in favour. The session was presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. The lower chamber had dedicated Thursday’s sitting to deciding on the proposed legislation amid rising concerns over insecurity, including killings, kidnappings, and bandit attacks across the country. Proceedings, however, witnessed a brief controversy when Bashir Zubairu, a lawmaker from Kaduna State, raised a point of order. He argued that members had only received the report prepared by the House Committee on Constitution Review earlier in the day and had insufficient time to ...

Some members of the Hausa community in Ibadan staged a protest on Wednesday against alleged ethnic profiling and stigmatization linked to recent kidnapping incidents in the state. The demonstration comes weeks after the abduction of 46 pupils and teachers during a coordinated attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The protesters expressed concern over being unfairly targeted and blamed, calling for fairness and an end to discrimination following the security challenges in the region. Nigeria See photos by Muhammed Ibrahim below.

A former Chief Financial Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Umar Ajiya, has strongly denied allegations of financial impropriety against the company, insisting that neither NNPCL nor its employees are involved in stealing public funds. Ajiya made the remarks during a hearing of the Senate Public Accounts Committee, which is currently examining claims of financial mismanagement within the state-owned oil company. His response came after Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, reportedly described NNPCL as a “house of thieves” while raising concerns about the company’s financial operations. Rejecting the allegations, Ajiya maintained that the company has operated transparently and has not misappropriated any funds. He also corrected reports...

Evacuated Nigerians from South Africa have arrived in Lagos after recent xenophobic tensions that left many residents in fear. The evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Thursday, aboard an Air Peace aircraft. Their return followed efforts by the Federal Government in response to renewed attacks targeting foreign nationals in South Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier said that the first group would return on Thursday morning. The flight, which was coordinated by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies, was part of efforts to bring home Nigerians affected by the recent violence and anti-immigrant protests in South Africa. The evacuees arrived safely at the airpo...

Concern has continued to grow within media circles in Osun State following the reported arrest of the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Osun State Council, Olalekan Akindoju, by police officers in Osogbo, on Thursday morning. The development was confirmed by the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State Council, Adeyemi Aboderin in a post on the official Osun NUJ WhatsApp platform. Aboderin said, “IMPORTANT NOTICE. Policemen reportedly arrested Hon.Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Osun State Council, Olalekan Akindoju at his residence on Thursday morning. “His apartment was allegedly raided by policemen, and he was taken to the State CID, Osogbo. More details coming. The Osun NUJ chairman, in a chat with DA...

The senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Joseph Ikpea, has commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for the proactive steps he took by closing down some secondary schools in the state following a red alert raised by the Department of State Services (DSS) on the plan by bandits to attack some schools in the state. Senator Ikpea said that by closing some of the schools prone to the threat as warned by the DSS, Governor Okpebholo had shown uncommon leadership and full grasp of the elementary principle of governance which places a premium over the wellbeing of the people. The senator, in a statement he endorsed in Benin, the Edo State capital, said that with the situation of security in the nation, it was just...