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By NAN Junior Chamber International (JCI) Unity Abuja, in collaboration with SAM Empowerment Foundation (SEF), at the weekend commemorated International Women’s Day with an outreach programme at Junior Secondary School, Gwarimpa, and Kaura District in Abuja. The event, themed “Give to Gain: Women’s Economic Empowerment Through Mentorship,” featured the distribution of sanitary pads, sensitization on menstrual hygiene management, and a funfair for the students. Speaking during the programme, the President of JCI Abuja Unity, Amb. Unwana Bright Ekong, called on corporate organizations and government at all levels to support girls’ education by providing adequate water supply and toilet facilities in public schools. She noted that the gesture formed part of the organization’s...

By Victor Okoye No fewer than 150 golfers converged at the Tukur Yusuf Buratai International Golf and Country Club (TYB-IGRCC), Abuja, for the TYB Ladies Section Weekly Kitty tournament. The event, with the motto “TYB Ladies, Strength in Unity… Come Let’s Swing to Camaraderie,” attracted female golfers, veterans and dignitaries, promoting friendship and healthy competition. The club, in collaboration with EHA Clinics, also provided free medical checks for participants before the game as a precautionary measure.Medical personnel checked participants’ blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and oxygen saturation levels (SpO²) on the sidelines. The ceremonial tee-off was performed by Dr Lami Onayi Ahmed, President of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), alongsi...

In a powerful display of unity and political consciousness, the South West Youths Arise Movement has passionately appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to throw his weight behind the re-election bid of former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, in 2027. The appeal was made during a well-attended summit held in Lagos, themed: “Targeted: How to Achieve Millions of Votes for Tinubu’s Re-Election.” The event brought together youth leaders, political strategists, community mobilisers, and stakeholders from across the South West region, all united by a common goal of strengthening grassroots structures and consolidating electoral victories. In their communiqué, the youth body emphasized the need for unity within the progressive family, stressing that strategic reconciliation ...

The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari drug case is still on, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) confirmed on Thursday.NDLEA said the substantive drug case is ongoing and scheduled for continuation before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, 16th March 2026. The agency issued the clarification following the discharge of Kyari by Justice James Omotosho on a 23-count charge related to alleged non-declaration of assets. NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, explained that the ruling by Justice Omotosho concerns a separate case involving money laundering and asset declaration, and is distinct from the main drug prosecution. He added that the prosecution team will first obtain a Certified True Copy (CTC) of...

By Vivian Emoni The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has reiterated it's commitment to guide Nigerian exporters on regulatory standards required for exporting agricultural and food products to European Union (EU) market. Mrs Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director, NEPC said this at a Technical Webinar for Exporters and Stakeholders in Non-Oil Export sector, on "EU Regulations for Importation of Nigeria's Agri-Food Products," on Thursday in Abuja. Ayeni said that the programme focused on regulations governing the importation of Nigerian agri-food products into the EU market, adding that the EU remained one of the Nigeria’s most important trading partners. She said that the programme was part of efforts to improve Nigeria’s non-oil export performance, noting that it would h...

A Federal High Court has discharged and acquitted suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari of the charges brought against him, bringing a major legal chapter to a close. The court ruled that the prosecution failed to establish sufficient evidence to sustain the allegations against the former head of the Intelligence Response Team. Kyari had faced high-profile scrutiny following investigations linked to alleged misconduct. In delivering judgment, the court held that the case did not meet the legal threshold required for conviction. The ruling effectively clears Kyari of the charges and marks a significant development in one of Nigeria’s most closely followed law enforcement cases.

The Central Bank of Nigeria shored up the country’s foreign reserves with domestically sourced gold refined to international standards to about $3.5bn. The Central bank disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.The apex bank noted that the bullion was refined to the London Bullion Market Association Good Delivery standards. The statement read, “The Central Bank of Nigeria has taken delivery of responsibly sourced gold refined to London Bullion Market Association Good Delivery standards into its foreign reserves. This brings the CBN’s total gold holdings to $3.5bn, marking a significant step in its reserve diversification strategy.” According to the bank, the gold was sourced locally and aggregated by the Solid Minerals Development Fund through the National Gold Purcha...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the review of its Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties ahead of the 2027 General elections.The Commission has set 16 January and 6 February 2027 for the Presidential and National Assembly and governorship and state Assembly polls under the revised timetable. The three-day Technical Review Workshop, which commenced on Wednesday, 4th March 2026, in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, with the support of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), comes on the heels of the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026 and the release of the Commission’s Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election.The Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, described the exercise as a critic...

The Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Ikot Ekpene, has sentenced a lecturer at state Polytechnic, Abel Udo Jacob to jail.Jacob and his accomplice, Innocent Nicholas Ntokon, were sentenced to a combined 11-year jail term for their involvement in a N50m extortion scheme. Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Augustine Odokwo convicted the duo for subjecting a businessman, Edikan Jacob Jackson, to years of threats, intimidation and financial exploitation that resulted in losses exceeding N50m. The court found that between 2016 and 2020, Ntokon, described as a leader of the Klans Confraternity, orchestrated a sustained campaign of terror against the victim, allegedly sending armed enforcers to his shops and issuing threats against his family members to compel monthly payment...

Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), has again clarified the role of the United States troops in the country.Musa said that the Nigerian Armed Forces will retain full command of all military operations within the country, even with the presence of US troops providing training, surveillance, and advisory support. General Musa made the clarification during the inaugural monthly operational briefing held at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja. The session was attended by the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, service chiefs, and senior intelligence and operational officials. Speaking on the role of US AFRICOM in Nigeria, the Defence Minister emphasized that American personnel are pre...

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has made it known that he is not ready to die now.The former president will clock 89 years on Friday 6 March 2027.He condemned those circulating a fake letter in which he was purportedly speaking about his death, saying they were only wasting their time because “I dey Kampe.” The former president disclosed this on Wednesday while delivering a colloquium titled “Burden and Blessing of Leadership: Reflections from Global Africa to the World” held as part of the ceremonies lined up to mark his 89th birthday in Abeokuta. Obasanjo was born on March 6, 1937. The former president said at 89 years he had no doubt that God did not make a mistake to keep him alive and reasonably healthy at his age. He slammed those wishing him dead, saying ...

Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday assured Nigerians that the implementation of new tax reforms will help reduce poverty.Shittima explained that the reforms aimed at eliminating the burden of multiple levies and charges on small businesses, adding that it will also protect small income earners.Shettima noted that the planning and implementation of the tax reforms were carefully designed to improve livelihoods, contrary to the claims of political detractors.The Vice President spoke on behalf of President Bola Tinubu at the interfaith breaking of fast for Ramadan and Lent held at the State House. Attendees included members of the Federal Executive Council, the Central Bank governor, special advisers, senior special assistants and heads of agencies and parastatals.Shettima urge...

President Bola Tinubu has approved the renewal of the appointment of Professor Ayo Omotayo as the Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru. Omotayo who was initially appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2021 and got Senate confirmation in February 2022 will serve for a final term of four years. Omotayo is a Professor of Environmental Sustainability. He attended the University of Ibadan from 1980 to 1990, where he obtained a PhD in Geography. He began his teaching career at the Lagos State University in 1985 and rose through the ranks to become a Senior Lecturer in 1992 at the age of 30. He was the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences between 2012 and 2017 and the Director of the Centre for Planning at Lag...

The University of Uyo Microfinance Bank (Uniuyo MfB) has unveiled a loan facility - WashLoan - to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene for residents in the university community and its immediate environs. The Managing Director of the MFB, Dr Millicent Idiong, said in a statement on Thursday that initiative aimed at enhancing access to safe water for the residents. According to her, the unveiling of the loan facility by the MFB was in partnership with Water-org, a leading civil advocacy group committed to improved water access globally, was held at the university in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. She said the initiative was in collaboration with the National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB), the umbrella body of all MFBs in Nigeria. ''Access to clean water and proper sanitation ...

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to immediately suspend the controversial cashless policy.The order followed traffic congestion at airports nationwide. Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace, announced the presidential order which was barked out during the Federal Executive clCouncil (FEC) on Wednesday.The directive comes barely four days after the policy was rolled out, sparking massive gridlock at major airports nationwide. The policy, launched on March 1, mandated digital payments via ‘Go Cashless’ cards or POS systems for airport access gates, parking, lounges, and other access points — replacing over 50 years of cash collection. On the first day of implementation, Nigerians reported severe traffic jams at key f...

Teenagers Aidan, Tofunmi gets reward for exceptional swimming year The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, has embarked on an appreciation tour of secondary schools, to honour Nigeria’s brightest young stars. The initiative, which began with visit to the secondary school of standout swimmers Aidan Dumuije-Abili and Tofunmi Ibidapo (Grange School, Lagos), is part of a new Commission strategy aimed at recognizing young talents early, encouraging integrity in age-grade sports, and changing the narrative around youth development in Nigeria. The visit on Wednesday follows Team Nigeria’s commanding performance at the 2025 Africa Zone 2 Swimming Championship, where the country broke multiple continental records and showcased a new generation of e...

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has suspended three medical doctors over the death of the 21-month-old son of acclaimed author Chimamanda Adichie. MDCN, NewsSpecng gathered established a prima facie case of medical negligence and professional misconduct in the death of Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege. The findings follow an investigation initiated after a formal complaint was lodged with the Council on January 16, 2026. Medical practitioners from Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital and Atlantis Paediatric Hospital responded to the complaint, submitting affidavits and presenting oral testimony before the MDCN Investigative Panel. At the conclusion of its 25th session held in Abuja on February 17–18, 2026, the Panel determined that a prima facie case of medical negli...

Nigeria’s Value Added Tax revenue surged to N2.28 trillion in the third quarter of 2025, NewsSpecng learnt.The surge marks a 10.66% increase from N2.06 trillion in the previous quarter, according to the latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics. The figure was disclosed in the Sectorial Distribution of VAT Q3 2025 report published on the NBS website on Tuesday. The report shows that, on a year-on-year basis, VAT collections in Q3 2025 increased by 28.10% from Q3 2024. The breakdown shows local VAT payments dominating at N1.12 trillion, foreign VAT payments contributing N680.23 billion, and import VAT adding N479.79 billion. “Value Added Tax (VAT) in Q3 2025 was N2.28 trillion, showing an increase of 10.66% on a quarter-on-quarter basis from N2.06 trillion in Q2 ...

West African states decided over the weekend to create a new 2,000-strong force to combat the growing jihadist threat in the region, diplomatic and military sources told AFP Tuesday. The idea of an anti-jihadist force has been discussed for years by the 12 member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The Sahel, a region that cuts across Africa separating the continent’s north from its sub-Saharan part, has for years been plagued by jihadist insurgencies led by groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The groups have been particularly active in three former French colonies — Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger — that quit the ECOWAS group in recent years after juntas took power in the countries. The three countries will not participate in the...

The Gombe State Government is collaborating with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) towards ending the theft abuse and misuse of nutrition interventions in the State. Both parties have collaborated in the past to tackle the growing incidents of malnutrition particularly on children and women through the provision of commodities such as Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and Small Quantity Lipid-based Nutrition Supplement (SQ-LNS) among many others. However, there are indications that most of these nutrition commodities expected to be freely administered to malnourished children from health facilities have recently found their way into the open markets as well as being misused in the home front and health facilities. To this end and worried by the trend, the State Gover...