NEWS

The Catholic Diocese of Jalingo has launched an initiative aimed at curbing electoral irregularities and strengthening democratic credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections in Taraba State. The move was unveiled on Monday during the church’s 22nd Biennial General Assembly held in Jalingo, where clerics, political leaders and stakeholders converged to deliberate on the theme, “Church-State Partnership for Credible Elections in Taraba.” Speaking at the event, the Catholic Bishop of Jalingo Diocese, Charles M. Hammawa, lamented what he described as a troubling pattern of flawed and contentious elections in Nigeria, noting that irregular electoral processes have continued to undermine governance and social stability. He stressed that the proposed partnership between the church an...

United States President Donald Trump hosted Germany’s Friedrich Merz on Tuesday for his first visit with a foreign leader since joining Israel in strikes on Iran that have dragged the Mideast into war. The long-scheduled White House meeting was supposed to focus on the war in Ukraine and rocky EU-US trade relations, part of a wider effort to salvage frayed transatlantic ties. But Trump’s signal that airstrikes against Iran could go on for weeks has upended the global agenda, with Tehran striking back against US bases and allies in the region. Merz, a harsh critic of the Islamic Republic’s leadership, said Berlin shared the Iranian people’s “relief” that the “mullah regime is coming to an end”. Yet he declined to “lecture” the United States and Israel on the legality of the Iran...

Popular Nigerian photographer and biker Orowole Kolapoz, widely known as Kola Onifoto, has died after a lone motorcycle crash in Lagos. Kolapoz, 32, a travel enthusiast and brand influencer, was reportedly involved in the accident on Sunday while embarking on what he described as his first solo motorcycle journey outside Lagos. Hours before the crash, he had shared a post on his Facebook page announcing his trip to Akure, celebrating seasoned bikers who have travelled extensively across Nigeria and beyond. “Big shout out to those who have ridden their bikes to every state in this country, to Africa, and across the world, especially women. My eye see wheeen,” he wrote. Following the accident, friends disclosed online that Kolapoz was initially taken to an emergency unit operated...

Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has assured that the state has no outstanding pension arrears, emphasising his administration’s dedication to ensuring the welfare and dignity of retirees. The assurance was conveyed in a statement on Monday by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gbenga Akosile, following a courtesy visit by the senior management team of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, PTAD. The delegation, led by Executive Secretary Tolulope Odunaiya, met with the governor at Lagos House, Marina. Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted the high regard in which pensioners are held, stating that his administration continues to prioritise fairness, equity, and respect for those who have served the government. “We in Lagos State recognise and...

Qatar has intercepted and destroyed two Iranian military aircraft while halting liquefied natural gas (LNG) production after drone strikes targeted critical energy infrastructure. Reports indicate that Tehran widened its retaliatory operations across the Gulf, heightening concerns over the possibility of a broader regional conflict. In a statement on Monday, Qatar’s defence ministry confirmed that the Qatar Emiri Air Force shot down two Sukhoi Su-24 bombers belonging to Iran. The development marks the first known instance of a Gulf nation directly engaging and downing Iranian aircraft since Tehran initiated coordinated strikes in the region. “Qatar Emiri Air Force successfully shot down two (Su-24) aircraft coming from the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the ministry announced, without...

The Federal Government has approved the allocation of ₦4 billion each to 12 selected universities for the rehabilitation of engineering and technology workshops, laboratory upgrades and the installation of modern equipment. The government also inaugurated a Ministerial Monitoring, Evaluation and Implementation Committee to oversee the TETFund Special High-Impact Intervention Project aimed at revitalising engineering and technology education nationwide. Inaugurating the committee in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to repositioning engineering and technology education as a catalyst for national development. He described the intervention as a strategic investment to bridge the gap between theory and practice, promote in...

Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda  The United States has imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and four of its top commanders, accusing them of providing direct operational support to the March 23 Movement (M23) in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The move comes less than three months after the signing of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, a US-backed agreement aimed at reducing tensions and fostering cooperation in the Great Lakes region. Announcing the measures in Washington, US officials said the sanctions were triggered by M23’s seizure of Uvira shortly after the December 4, 2025 signing of the accords — an action described as a direct breach of the peace dealAccording to Thomas Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson, Rwanda’s continue...

A 27-year old landlord’s son, Quozeem Awe, allegedly st@bbed a nursing mother to d3ath during a dispute over unpaid house rent in Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government area of Ondo State.  The suspect was said to have fatally st@bbed the deceased, identified as Deborah Adeleye, and also injured her husband, Mathew Adeleye, as well as their daughter during the attack. The shocking incident reportedly occurred around 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at the Ore Alaba area. Eyewitnesses who spoke with Ondo State owned publication, Hope Newspapwe, said the violence was allegedly triggered by an argument over unpaid house rent between the landlord’s son and the deceased’s husband, who is one of the tenants in the building owned by the suspect’s father. The dis...

The Kogi State Government has confirmed that a rescued kidnap victim has safely delivered twin girls at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in the state. The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, March 2, 2026 stated that the identity of the mother is being withheld for security reasons. According to the Commissioner, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed the State Security Adviser and the Commissioner for Health to immediately transfer the mother and her newborn babies to the State Specialist Hospital for comprehensive medical attention and postnatal care.  He assured that both the mother and the twin girls are in good condition. It would be recalled that the State Governm...

Lebanon’s government has taken the unprecedented step of banning the military and security operations of Hezbollah, declaring all armed activities carried out outside state authority illegal.  The decision was announced Monday after an emergency cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Authorities said the move was necessary to assert state control over weapons and prevent further escalation with Israel.  “The Lebanese state declares its absolute and unequivocal rejection of any military or security actions launched from Lebanese territory outside the framework of its legitimate institutions,” Salam said. He added that Hezbollah’s armed activities must cease immediately and that the group is required to hand over its weapons.  The ban came just hou...