NEWS

The Jigawa State Government has dismissed 22 vendors and companies involved in the ongoing Ramadan Iftar programme over allegations of cheating, misrepresentation of food quality and quantity, and questionable financial practices. The decision was taken as part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability in the initiative designed to provide meals for vulnerable residents during the holy month. Recall that Governor Umar Namadi initiated the Ramadan Iftar programme, targeting 7.9 million beneficiaries across 640 free meal centres in the state, to provide relief and nutritious meals to vulnerable citizens during the 2026 Ramadan period. However,  two weeks into the programme, a comprehensive supervisory report and field monitoring exercise reportedly uncovered serious...

President Bola Tinubu has approved the postings of 65 ambassadors-designate and high commissioners to various countries and the United Nations, with former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode assigned to Germany and presidential aide Reno Omokri to Mexico. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who signed the statement announcing the postings on Thursday, disclosed that 34 non-career and 31 career ambassadors have been assigned to their duty posts. Among the high-profile non-career appointees, former Katsina State Governor Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau will serve in Beijing (China), while Senator Jimoh Ibrahim has been designated as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Other prominent postings include Senator Ita Enang (...

The Commission advised members of the public, media organisations, and political stakeholders to disregard the message in its entirety. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has denied issuing a deadline of March 26, 2026 for government officials seeking to contest in the 2027 election to resign from their position. INEC said this in reaction to a graphic image circulating online on the 2027 election timeline in which March 26 was indicated as the deadline for government officials and political appointees seeking to contest in the 2027 election to resign. However, INEC in a statement published on its social media handle on Friday described the claim in the graphic image as fake and misleading while that the information contained in the graph did not emanate f...

Tension has escalated in Ubima community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State after suspected political thugs allegedly attacked and burned down the local office of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Reports indicate that the community, which is the hometown of former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, was thrown into panic as the assailants reportedly arrived with firearms and fired several gunshots into the air. Residents said the attackers invaded the area on Thursday night, shooting sporadically before setting the party’s secretariat on fire. The attack came just hours before Amaechi’s planned visit to the community on Friday, where he was expected to officially register with the ADC at the ward level. Amaechi is among the key figures in the party...

Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has accused Iran of sponsoring extremist activities in Nigeria and other parts of the world, alleging that Tehran supports groups aimed at destabilising countries while pursuing its hostility against Israel. Freeman made the remarks on Friday while speaking during an interview on The Morning Show on Arise News. The envoy claimed that Iran is the only country within the United Nations that openly expresses a desire to destroy another sovereign state, referring to repeated threats against Israel. According to him, the Iranian government has, over several decades, supported militant groups and terror organisations around the world in pursuit of that objective. Freeman alleged that Iran has backed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, a...

Ovation International publisher, ADC, Dele Momodu, has claimed that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is desperate to make President Bola Tinubu the only candidate on the ballot in the 2027 general elections. Momodu stated this on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television. The former presidential aspirant said that the APC having 31 governors in their party means nothing to the opposition, stressing that if the election is held today, the APC will be defeated. The publisher of Ovation Magazine also took a swipe at the conduct of the FCT Area Councils elections. “The APC is trying to make sure that President Tinubu is the only candidate on the ballot. “They are trying to manoeuvre, but Nigerians are wiser than them. We are not worried or panicking in the ADC. ...

The Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Benjamin Hundeyin, is expected to vacate his position in Abuja on Friday, March 6, 2026, ending his five-month stint in the role. Sources at the police headquarters revealed that a senior officer has already been selected to replace Hundeyin, though the individual’s identity had not been officially disclosed as of the time of filing this report. According to insiders familiar with the development, Hundeyin has been notified of the decision and has begun making arrangements to hand over his responsibilities. As of about 8 p.m. on Thursday, he was still carrying out his official duties. An official announcement from the office of the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, is expected later on Friday. Hundeyin as...

Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, has firmly rejected allegations that Iran carried out a drone attack on the United States embassy in Riyadh earlier this week. Saudi authorities had claimed that Tehran targeted the diplomatic compound with drones, an accusation that Iran has strongly denied. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused Iran of launching missile and drone strikes against its territory and has warned that the kingdom reserves the right to defend itself, including responding with retaliation if necessary. Iran had earlier dismissed claims that it attacked the massive Ras Tanura Refinery, one of the largest oil facilities in the Middle East, after Riyadh alleged that the refinery was targeted twice with drones. Reiterating Tehran’s position, Enayati s...

Joani Reid has stepped down from the Labour Party whip while an internal party investigation takes place following the arrest of her husband on suspicion of spying for China. Reid’s husband, David Taylor, is believed to be one of three men detained by counter-terrorism police on suspicion of assisting foreign intelligence services. Two other men, Steve Jones, 68, and Matthew Aplin, 43, were also arrested during coordinated police operations. All three were later released on bail while the investigation continues. In a statement shared on X, Reid confirmed she had voluntarily suspended herself from the party whip and would not sit as a Labour MP until the inquiry is concluded. “This week has been the worst of my life. The shock of recent days has been difficult for me and my fa...

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a new Exit Benefit Scheme that will allow retiring Federal Civil Servants to receive a gratuity equal to 100 per cent of their total annual earnings. The scheme, scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026, aims to ensure that civil servants who have spent at least 10 years in the Federal Civil Service leave service with improved financial security and dignity. The approval was confirmed in a statement issued by Eno Olotu, Director of Public Relations in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. According to the statement, the decision followed detailed discussions and technical recommendations from an Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee established by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service. The committe...