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The day began with a trade war on the horizon.US President Donald Trump had vowed to hit Canada and Mexico with 25% tariffs on imports as the clock ticked past midnight on Tuesday.That is no longer the case, thanks to some last-minute phone calls.The leaders of America's two largest trading partners, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, both agreed to various measures aimed at boosting border security and cracking down on drug trafficking.These deals led to Trump agreeing to 30-day pauses on his proposed tariffs.At this stage, it's just a pause. The threat of a trade war still looms.And Trump's 10% tariffs on China's imported goods is still expected to go ahead at 00:01 EST (05:01 GMT).

Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has signed into law the amended Cross River Local Government Law. The law remains a significant legislative milestone aimed at enhancing governance and service delivery in the grassroots and across the state. Speaking at the signing ceremony held at his temporary office in Calabar, the governor commended the State House of Assembly for its proactive and people-centered legislative duties, affirming that the amended law would strengthen representation at the grassroots level while driving meaningful development across the entire state. “In no distant time, the difference at the grassroots level will be clearly felt, even as the chairmen would have no options than delivering on their mandate," Otu assured. He expressed satisfaction that t...

Chairman of the crises ridden New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) in Gombe State, Mr Rambi Ibrahim Ayala, has dumped the party and set to join the All Progressive Congress (APC). A deep crisis had continued to eat up the State chapter of the NNPP which led it's leader and Governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections, Ahmed Khamisu Mailantarki, leaving the party with a crowd of his supporters and joining the PDP in November, 2024. On his part, chairman of the party, Rambi Ayala, who had been having irreconcilable difference with some party members, leading to litigation, recently penned down his resignation from the party and handed over to his Billiri South ward chairman. A copy of the letter which reads, "Take notice that I have resigned from the party effective from today...

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Thursday, tendered Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines before the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal in Abuja.Appearing before the court on a subpoena issued by the Tribunal on January 9, a senior technical officer in INEC’s ICT department, Anthony Itodo, àstated, “My Lord, I brought 148 BVAS devices used in 133 polling units.”The Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Asuerime Ighodalo, who contested the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election in the state, had dragged INEC, Governor Monday Okpebholo, and the All Progressives Congress before the Tribunal to challenge the election results.Itodo explained that some polling units had two BVAS devices.Upon the presentation of the BVAS machines and confirmati...

The continuous stay in office of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is legal and lawful, NewsSepcng learnt. The appointment of Egbetokun which took effect from 31st day of October, 2023 would have come to an end on his attainment of 60 years of age on 4th day of September, 2024. An advisory from the Attorney General of the Federation however stated that the amended Police Act covered the IG. The advisory explained that before his retirement age, the Police Act was amended to allow the occupant of the office to remain and complete the original four year term granted under Section 7 (6) of the Act, notwithstanding the fact that he has attained the age of 60 years.This has, therefore, statutorily extended the tenure of office of Egbetokun to and including 31st day of...

The European Union (EU) and Plateau State are in talks over a potential small hydropower generation plant in the tin city. This was disclosed by the Head of Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Inga Stefanowicz during the delegation’s visit to the state to assess the Assop falls.Assop is speculated to have a potential to generate about 2MWp of electricity. According to Stefanowicz, the EU is in partnership with the federal ministry of power in driving the diversification of electricity generation to other renewable energy sources like small hydro power to provide clean, safe, affordable, and renewable energy sources to the people of Plateau state, to power, agro processing activities, productive use of energy and boosting the economy of the state. ...

Alarmed by the rising cases of gender based violence across schools in Gombe State, Open Knowledge Development Initiative (OKDI) has commenced a prevention and response framework to address the menace. During a one day engagement session organised by OKDI with stakeholders towards addressing the disturbing societal challenge, Adamu Usman, OKDI's Executive Director, explained that the meeting was part of ongoing 'AmplifyHer for save schools' campaign in Gombe State, with support from PLAN International. He noted that a recent school visit by the organisation revealed a shocking discrepancy between reported cases of GBV and the actual number of incidents. Usman revealed that, "Within just one month, we recorded and addressed five GBV cases in schools, whereas the Gombe State Govern...

The President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Honourable Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves at the weekend received Mr. João Ribeiro Butiam Có, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea Bissau and Permanent Representative to ECOWAS. Butiam Có was at the regional Court on a courtesy visit. The courtesy and working visit provided an opportunity to discuss key regional issues, including the current state of the ECOWAS Community. The meeting also addressed the main challenges facing the ECOWAS Court of Justice, particularly regarding the enforcement of its rulings and the impact of the withdrawal of three member states from the Community. Furthermore, both parties exchanged views on the socio-political situation in the region, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace, se...

US President Donald Trump says he will speak to Canada and Mexico's leaders on Monday about the tariffs he is imposing on his two biggest trading partners - due to come into effect at midnight on Tuesday.On Saturday, Trump announced import taxes of 25% on Canadian and Mexican goods, with Canadian energy taxed at a lower rate of 10%.Canada and Mexico have both announced retaliatory tariffs of 25% on US goods. Tariffs on EU will happen 'pretty soon', says Trump Tariffs on EU goods imported into the US will happen "pretty soon", says President Donald Trump."They've really taken advantage of [the US]," he says."They don't take our cars, they don't take our farm products. They take almost nothing, and we take everything from the millions of cars, tremendous amounts of food and farm produ...

The Kaduna State Police Command has rescued 23 kidnapped victims in a joint security operation in Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA).A statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, said security operatives, acting on credible intelligence, advanced into the Doka Village bush on February 2, 2025, and engaged a gang of armed bandits attempting to relocate their victims to Kajuru Forest.During the encounter, the joint team of police and military personnel inflicted heavy casualties on the bandits, forcing them to retreat with gunshot wounds.This led to the rescue of the victims, who had been kidnapped in Kauru LGA.The police said all the rescued victims had been safely reunited with their families, while security operatives had intensified surveillance and patrols in the...

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, Saturday donated the sum of N30 million cash to the family of the late Army Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Alari, who recently lost his life in the ongoing battle against Boko Haram insurgents in the Timbuktu Triangle. The donation was made personally to the wife of the late officer by the Governor on Saturday in Maiduguri. Zulum said the gesture is to enable the family buy a house The governor, while extending his condolences to the family of the late soldier and all others who lost their lives fighting to restore peace in Borno State, said: “Yesterday, we sent a high-level state government delegation to the funeral. However, I felt the need to personally extend my condolences on behalf of the government and people of the state. ...

Chris Wood scored a hat-trick as Nottingham Forest delivered an emphatic response to last weekend's 5-0 defeat at Bournemouth by hitting seven past Brighton at the City Ground.The loss at Vitality Stadium was Forest's first since early December but they roared back to winning ways in front of their own supporters, registering their biggest-ever Premier League victory against the sorry Seagulls.Nuno Espirito Santo's side took a 12th-minute lead when Lewis Dunk inadvertently turned Morgan Gibbs-White's low cross into his own net from close range.Gibbs-White doubled the host's advantage with a glancing header from Anthony Elanga's corner, and it was 3-0 just after the half-hour mark when Wood nodded home Elanga's cross for his 15th Premier League goal of the season – his most in a single cam...

Mustapha Rufau, a distinguished businessman has been appointed as the Kangiwa of the Adamawa Emirate. The appointment underscores his exemplary contributions to business, leadership, and community development. Mustapha Rufau is renowned for his sharp business acumen and success in diverse ventures, which have cemented his reputation as an astute entrepreneur. His visionary leadership and commitment to societal growth have earned him admiration both in the corporate world and among community stakeholders. The title of Kangiwa is one of great honor and responsibility, symbolizing leadership, trust, and service to the emirate. With his deep-rooted values and dedication to progress, Mustapha Rufau is expected to play a pivotal role in preserving the emirate’s cultural heritage whi...

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared that it will not be part of the planned protest by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over the recent hike in communication tariff by telecom companies in the country. Addressing newsmen in Gombe, National vice president of the association Mu'azu Hina, along with the north east zonal officials said NANS remains committed to advocating for the welfare and interests of Nigerian students and not a protest that may not directly benefit its members. He explained that the protest would not add any value to students and stressed that, "Our primary focus is on addressing the myriad of challenges facing students in Nigeria, including poor funding of education, inadequate infrastructure, and insecurity. "Therefore, we cannot...

Dr. Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac, the Chief Executive Officer of Homadil Realty Ltd, has urged investors—especially young entrepreneurs—to embrace land banking as a proven strategy for financial success in the real estate sector. In an exclusive interview with journalists in Abuja on Monday, Dr. Godwin-Isaac emphasized that land banking is not just a profitable venture but the ultimate wealth-building secret in real estate. "Many of the most successful real estate investors made their fortune through land banking. While others hesitated, we took calculated risks—buying and holding land in strategic locations that others overlooked. Now, those areas have transformed, and the value has skyrocketed," she said. What is Land Banking? Land banking involves purchasing and holding lan...

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has warned motorists against speeding and traffic violations in order to reduce road crashes, loss of lives and property. Samuel Ibitoye, sector commander, FRSC, Ondo State Command, gave the advice on Sunday in Ore while confirming a fatal accident which occurred in Ore in Odigbo Local Government area of the state. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that no fewer than 28 people burnt to death on Saturday evening in a fatal accident involving two vehicles at Mile 49 on the Ore-Lagos Expressway. Mr Ibitoye told NAN that the accident was caused by speeding and traffic violation leading to a head-on collision by the two vehicles while 28 persons out of 30 passengers lost their lives tragically. He advised drivers to always exercise patience on ...

By Vivian Emoni Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), and National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), have called for collaboration in implementing the Presidential Initiative on Revenue Optimisation and Digitisation. Dr Mohammed Shehu, Chairman, RMAFC, made the call at the inauguration of the initiative, organised by the commission, on Thursday in Abuja. Shehu said that strong collaboration and commitment by relevant stakeholders would bring effective implementation of the initiative through Space Technology. The chairman said President Bola Tinubu had emphasised the importance of economic recovery through enhanced revenue generation. He noted that such economic recovery could only be achieved through the discovery of new revenue strea...

Nurses in Ondo State have declared an indefinite strike from Friday over what they referred to as improper remuneration and poor welfare. Felix Orobode, the state chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), made this known on Thursday at a news conference in Akure. Mr Orobode said the strike would be fully implemented in all state-owned health institutions. According to him, it is unfortunate that the state government has been insensitive to the association’s demands since 2023 despite several engagements. “These demands include lateral conversion (point to point) for our nurses with first-degree certificates and uniform allowance for nurses, as captured in the public service rule. “We also demanded payment of arrears of promotion and hazard...

By Vivian Emoni The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), has expressed commitment to partner with Brazilian government to strengthen and facilitate business opportunities across the country. Chief Emeka Obegolu, Pesident of the ACCI, made the commitment while hosting the Brazilian delegates to an exclusive reception, on Wednesday in Abuja. Obegolu said that the meeting would provide a platform for networking, engagement and fostering business partnerships between the two countries. “I am using today’s occasion to celebrate and honour the Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Garcete. “We recognise the ambassador’s pivotal role in strengthening bilateral trade relations and facilitating business opportunities between the two nations. “We are eager to ensure th...