NEWS

Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has downplayed the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, stating that he “cannot” be the president of Nigeria.Speaking during an interview on TVC, Oshiomhole described Peter Obi as a trader who focuses on short-term calculations:  “Peter Obi is a trader. Traders have short-term calculations, they are not into long-term projections. They are not wired to think about what the situation will be in the long run. Their turnover is within 3 months, maximum of 6 months.”The lawmaker criticized Obi’s political trajectory, contrasting his past commitments with his subsequent party alliances: “The Peter Obi that was  Governor of Anambra State is not the same today, because he was the one who said, ...

The Senate has reacted to the outrage over a ban on preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles. The Senate clarified that the ongoing amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC Act, does not introduce a new ban on preaching or hawking, rather, it only restates existing provisions relating to commercial vehicles. In a statement issued on Monday, July 27, by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Leader of the Senate, the chamber said it had noted public concerns over the purported proscription. According to the statement, Section 10(4) of the FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007, and Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, already make preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles offences. The Senate explained t...

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit has arrested 33 suspects during a coordinated enforcement operation targeting criminal activities across parts of the state.The raids took place in Ikate Bus Stop, Marwa Bus Stop, Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, Obalende Underbridge, Law School Junction, and other adjoining locations along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.This was made public in a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Affairs of the Taskforce, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem.Gbadeyan said: “In furtherance of its statutory mandate and in alignment with the THEMES Plus Agenda of the Lagos State government, particularly its zero-tolerance stance against environmental degradation, drug abuse, and criminality, the Lagos State Environmental and S...

Two people have been confirmed de@d, while three others were rescued after a three-storey hostel building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, collapsed in Amaokpala, near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.The building, Elite Five Star Lodge, reportedly contained about 60 rooms and collapsed on Sunday night, July 26, while occupants, most of them students, were inside.Eyewitnesses said the structure suddenly gave way after a loud sound was heard. One resident, Ifeoma, told PUNCH that the noise drew students and neighbours to the scene moments before the building came crashing down.“We heard a very loud noise before the building collapsed. The noise attracted many residents and students, who rushed to the area to see what had h...

61 people arrested in Tanzania in early July for allegedly calling for or participating in planned anti-government protests have been charged with terrorism-related offences, opposition party Chadema announced on Monday, July 27.The party added that about 70 other detainees arrested during the same period remain in police custody and are yet to be formally charged.On July 9, two days after authorities thwarted the planned demonstration, police announced the arrest of 130 people suspected of plotting criminal activities or inciting unrest by sharing messages linked to the planned protest.“Sixty-one people have been charged with terrorism until today, and most of them are our members,” Chadema’s lawyer Rugemeleza Nshala told reporters.“Chadema is not supporting terrorism at a...

The National Population Commission (NPC) has announced the end of manual registration for births and deaths across Nigeria, warning that certificates issued outside its new electronic registration platform will no longer be recognised.The commission said its Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) platform, which became operational on July 1, 2026, is now the only approved channel for registering births and deaths nationwide.The announcement was made on Monday in Umuahia by the Federal Commissioner representing Abia State in the NPC, Rev. Emma Trumps Eke, during a briefing to mark the 2026 World Population Day and the nationwide rollout of the digital platform. Eke said the transition to a fully digital registration system would enable real-time registration, im...

Chad has announced plans to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), arguing that the court's effectiveness has been "limited and uneven" and accusing it of disproportionately focusing on African countries.The announcement was made on Monday, July 27, in a statement by a government spokesperson following what Chad described as an in-depth review of the ICC's performance since it began operating in 2002. According to the government, the review concluded that the court's record has been "limited and uneven across different regions."The statement also criticised what it described as the concentration of the ICC's activities in Africa. Chad said that of the 13 investigations opened by the court since it came into force, nine involve African countries, while four concern ot...

A total of 175 visitors who travelled to Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have filed asylum claims, with Nigerians among the nationalities seeking refugee protection after the tournament.Canadian immigration authorities confirmed that the applications were submitted by foreign nationals who entered the country during the World Cup, which Canada co-hosted alongside the United States and Mexico. The asylum seekers reportedly identified themselves as FIFA World Cup visitors in their temporary residence applications.The figures showed that Ghana recorded the highest number of asylum claims, with 25 visitors applying for refugee protection after the tournament.Egypt and Colombia each recorded 15 claims, while Senegal had 10. Ecuador accounted for five claims among countries w...