NEWS

A faction of Boko Haram, identified as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian government, threatening to kill 416 captives—mostly women and children—if its demands are not met. In a video reportedly obtained by SaharaReporters, a masked spokesperson announced that the countdown had begun, stating that the directive was addressed to the government and a group known as the Borno South Youth Alliance. According to the group, both parties had already exchanged terms, warning that no adjustments would be accepted. The spokesperson stressed that failure to comply within the stipulated time would lead to severe consequences, insisting the group would act on its threats. The insurgents also cautioned against any military rescue attempt, ...

Nigerian comedian Seyi Law has criticized Isaac Fayose for urging the resignation or impeachment of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Fayose had earlier claimed in a viral video that worsening economic conditions have made life so difficult that many Nigerians can no longer afford to drive, adding that major roads in Lagos appear less congested due to rising petrol prices. He subsequently called on Tinubu to step down or be impeached by the Senate. Responding via his X (formerly Twitter) account, Seyi Law dismissed Fayose’s remarks, arguing that the reduction in traffic is largely due to infrastructural developments, including the operation of metro rail lines and ongoing road construction projects such as the Lekki-Epe Expressway and the coastal highway. According to him, anyone paying attention w...

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced a temporary suspension of its company registration portal following a cyberattack that affected millions of data records. In a statement shared via its official X account, the Commission explained that the shutdown is part of efforts to carry out maintenance and address the security breach. The portal will be unavailable for three days, from April 17 to April 20, 2026. CAC disclosed that it is working closely with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to contain the incident and strengthen its systems. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has launched an investigation into the data breach. The Commission assured users that the temporary downtime is necessary to improve service deli...

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Abuja to embark on an indefinite strike starting Monday. The union also urged parents to keep their children at home until further notice, blaming the action on unresolved welfare concerns and what it described as the government’s continued inaction. This decision was announced in a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting of the State Wing Executive Council held in Gwagwalada. The statement was jointly signed by State Chairman Abdullahi Shafa, Secretary Margaret Jethro, and Publicity Secretary Ibukun Adekeye. Teachers across the FCT have been instructed to fully comply with the directive and suspend their duties indefinitely until their d...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the N68.32 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill, officially signing it into law. The announcement was made by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement issued on Friday, April 17. The budget was passed by the National Assembly of Nigeria on March 31 following the president’s request to increase the initial proposal. Tinubu had earlier presented a N58.47 trillion budget in December 2025 but later sought an upward revision of N9.81 trillion, bringing the total to N68.32 trillion. According to Onanuga, the approved budget includes N4.79 trillion for statutory transfers, N15.8 trillion for debt servicing, N15.4 trillion for recurrent expenditure, and N32.2 trillion allocated to capital projects under the developm...

U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a temporary 10-day ceasefire following weeks of intense Israeli strikes against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group. The conflict has reportedly claimed over 2,000 lives in Lebanon. In a post shared on Truth Social, Trump said he held discussions with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, noting that both leaders agreed to begin the ceasefire at 5 p.m. EST as a step toward peace. Trump added that he has tasked Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, with working alongside both nations to secure a long-term peace agreement. He also disclosed plans to invite Aoun and Netanyahu to the White...

Over 700 repentant terrorists are set to be reintegrated into their communities after they were deradicalised and rehabilitated. The African Independent Television reports that the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, disclosed this during a media tour of facilities at the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria. Brigadier-General Ali stated that many Nigerians lack adequate understanding of the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism programme under Operation Safe Corridor. He explained that the program is aimed at rebuilding peace in communities affected by terrorism across the country. According to the report, some of the clients at the camp explained their involvement in the off...

President Bola Tinubu is currently in a meeting with the 36 state coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) at the Presidential Villa. Also present at the gathering are Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, alongside other key party stakeholders. The Renewed Hope Ambassadors initiative was launched by Tinubu on November 25, 2025, with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma appointed to lead the group. The platform was created to drive awareness of the administration’s policies and mobilize support ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Pope Leo has declared that the world is being “ravaged by a handful of tyrants,” as tensions escalate between him and Donald Trump. The pontiff made the remarks on Thursday during a visit to Cameroon, following a series of sharp criticisms from Trump over his stance on the war in Iran. Speaking in the northwestern city of Bamenda, a region long affected by separatist violence, Pope Leo condemned what he described as a “cycle of destabilisation and death,” warning against the continued exploitation of conflict zones. He criticised global leaders for channeling vast resources into warfare while neglecting investment in healthcare, education, and rebuilding efforts. According to him, profits derived from resource exploitation are often redirected into weapons, fueling prolonged viole...

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) could begin to experience shortages of widely used prescription medications, including those containing paracetamol and aspirin, as early as June if disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict persist, industry leaders have cautioned. According to Medicines UK, which represents manufacturers responsible for about 85% of NHS prescriptions, supply chains are coming under increasing pressure due to the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The group expressed growing concern over the limited availability of essential chemicals used in drug production, with some manufacturers reportedly receiving only a small portion of their usual supplies. This strain is already affecting both the cost and availability of medicines, raising concerns that pa...