NEWS

The United States has begun using British military bases for certain operations against Iran as fighting continues in the ongoing Middle East conflict, the UK government said on Saturday, March 7.According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the bases are being used for “specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region”. Keir Starmer initially declined to allow Britain to take part in the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran when the conflict began on February 28.However, the UK leader later approved a request from Washington allowing the use of two British military facilities for what officials described as a “specific and limited defensive purpose”. The bases involved are RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and the joint UK-US base at Diego Garcia in the ...

The Federal Government has approved 50,000 additional mobilisation slots for the 2026 programme of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as the number of Nigerian graduates awaiting enlistment into the national service scheme continues to rise.The Director-General of the scheme, Olakunle Nafiu, disclosed the development on Saturday in Abuja during the inauguration of a remodelled clinic at the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters.The event was part of activities marking the first anniversary of Nafiu’s tenure as the head of the scheme.According to a statement by the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, the extra mobilisation slots have already been included in the scheme’s 2026 budget.Speaking at the event, Nafiu said the scheme plans to mob...

A member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts has revealed that the body will meet within the next 24 hours to begin the process of choosing a new supreme leader following the death of Ali Khamenei.Hossein Mozafari, one of the 88 clerics in the influential body, disclosed the plan in comments reported by Iranian media on Saturday.According to Mozafari, the Assembly of Experts is expected to gather soon to deliberate on the country’s leadership succession.“With divine assistance, this session will occur within the next twenty-four hours,” Mozafari said, according to the Fars News Agency.The development comes roughly a week after Khamenei was reportedly killed during a joint military strike carried out by the United States and Israel.Mozafari also urged the Iranian public to rem...

President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has openly described Iran as “the enemy” while warning that the UAE is “not easy prey,” signaling a major departure from the country’s traditionally cautious tone toward its Gulf neighbour.The Emirati leader, popularly known as MBZ, made the rare public remarks during a visit to a hospital where civilians injured in recent strikes were receiving treatment.“I wanted to send a message to the enemy of the UAE. The UAE is beautiful and a model to be followed, but do not be deceived by that. The UAE’s hand can reach far and is strong. Its flesh is bitter, and we are not easy prey,” MBZ said.Like several Gulf states, the UAE has reportedly faced threats from Iranian strikes targeting not only United States military ...

Violence rocked parts of Oyo State on Saturday amid local government congresses held by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, faction loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.Our correspondent reports that there are two PDP factions in the state. One faction is loyal to the state governor, Seyi Makinde, while the other one is loyal to Wike.The Wike-led faction organised its local government congresses on Saturday.The congresses however turned violent, leading to attacks on several persons. About 25 people have been reported injured.Properties, including houses and vehicles, have been vandalised in some of the local government areas.Some of the local government areas where attacks have been reported are Ibadan North, Ido, Ibarapa Central, Akinyel...

Political economist and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Professor Pat Utomi, has stated that Nigeria is in a “complete mess as a result of failed leadership, deepening corruption and collapsing public confidence in government institutions.”In an interview with Vanguard, Utomi said‘’Nigeria is in a complete mess. Maybe a simple way to showcase the failure of leadership or the lack of leadership in Nigeria is to tell a small story about Egypt. I was at a conference in Cairo, which took place in the new Cairo. Egypt is building a new Cairo, a new city, out there in the desert. 14, 16-lane highways, probably it will be competing with Dubai very soon.Outside the conference venue, a number of senior Nigerians were just standing, lamenting, as usual, the Nigerian story....

The administration also announced that the daily ticket for tricycle riders had been cut from ₦1,200 to ₦500. However, tricycle operations will now end at 6 p.m. daily, as night operations have been permanently banned.The government of Cross River State has banned roadside operations by Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), confining the officials to office-based duties following protests by commercial transport operators over alleged harassment and excessive penalties.Governor Bassey Otu announced the directive in Calabar on Saturday after a meeting with transport stakeholders, according to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Linus Obogo.The decision came amid mounting complaints from commercial bus drivers and tricycle operators who accused enforcement teams of ...

An investigative panel established by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has praised the Vice-Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Simon Ortuanya, and the institution’s former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Oguejiofor Ujam, for their role in uncovering the alleged certificate forgery involving former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.The seven-member panel was set up on November 23, 2025, after Nnaji petitioned the education minister following a two-year investigation by Premium Times which alleged that the former minister falsified his university degree and National Youth Service Corps certificates.The committee submitted its report to the minister in December 2025.In his petition dated October 14, 2025, Nnaji accused senior officials of the uni...