The Niger State Government has reached an agreement with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for the implementation of the Niger Solar Electrification Project. The project, described as the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa, will cover 200 hectares of land and cost about $163 million. It is expected to provide an alternative source of power to many communities across the state. Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, who received the IsDB Preparation Mission team for the project, code-named NGA1063, said the state had invested heavily in agriculture and that the solar electrification project would complement efforts in food production and industrialisation.…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Ankara, Türkiye, to begin a diplomatic mission that is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and Türkiye. The President landed at the Ankara Esenboğa Airport at 9:05 p.m. local time on Monday and was received by a Turkish government delegation led by the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin. Earlier, President Tinubu departed Abuja at about 2:05 p.m. from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the visit is intended to deepen cooperation in key sectors, including security, education, social…
Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has demanded the immediate release of over ₦130 billion in statutory allocations, he said, that were withheld from the state’s local governments. He said the continued blockade is crippling grassroots governance and inflicting hardship on workers and residents. In a statewide broadcast on Monday on the illegal occupation of local government secretariats and the defence of democratic order, Adeleke said court-sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors had unlawfully occupied council offices across the state for nearly a year, despite judgments of the Federal High Court in Osogbo in November 2022 and affirmations…
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has concluded investigations into 16 officers arrested over acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations, with several of them set to face court-martial for alleged involvement in a coup plot. The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja. Uba recalled that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) announced the arrest of the officers in October 2025, adding that investigations have now been completed in line with established military procedures and extant regulations. ALSO READ Alleged coup: Growing concerns over prolonged detention of military officers According…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted a temporary dispensation allowing importers to process Form M using valid National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) licences. The directive is contained in a circular dated January 26, 2026, with reference number TED/FEM/PUB/FPC/001/001, issued by the apex bank. According to the circular, the measure is intended to ease documentation challenges faced by importers of regulated products, particularly in situations where delays in regulatory processing could disrupt legitimate trade and supply chains. Under the dispensation, authorised dealers are permitted to process Form M applications for eligible imports upon presentation…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has upgraded the operating licences of selected FinTechs companies and Microfinance Banks (MFBs) with nationwide operations to national status. The disclosure was made by the Director of the Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department (OFISD), Mr. Yemi Solaja, during the just-concluded annual conference of the Committee of Heads of Banks’ Operations (CHBOs) in Lagos. According to Solaja, the move is aimed at aligning licensing structures with the actual operational footprint of FinTechs and MFBs whose services now span across the country, in order to strengthen regulatory oversight. At the conference, he urged closer collaboration between…
Nigeria is once again at a familiar crossroads where policy choices expose deeper structural contradictions within the federation. The ongoing controversy surrounding the siting of the proposed National Gold Refinery in Lagos State is not merely an administrative disagreement; it is a constitutional, economic, and moral question that strikes at the very heart of equity, federal balance, and inclusive development. The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has rightly raised fundamental concerns about the decision to locate a gold refinery thousands of kilometres away from the primary gold-producing regions of the country. The Coalition of Funtua Community-Based Organisations strongly aligns with this…
A powerful winter storm sweeping across large parts of the United States has killed at least 10 people and triggered widespread travel disruptions, power outages, and emergency warnings, as freezing conditions persisted into Monday. The storm, which dumped snow, sleet and freezing rain across a wide expanse of the country, prompted officials to urge residents to stay off the roads, while an Arctic air mass trailing the system was forecast to drive temperatures to dangerously low levels for several days. The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) warned that severe winter conditions would continue into Monday morning, prolonging disruptions to daily…
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has urged Nigerians—particularly people with asthma and other respiratory conditions—to exercise caution as dust haze and thunderstorms affect parts of the country. In its weather outlook released on Sunday, NiMet said dust particles are currently in suspension across several regions, posing health and visibility risks. The agency warned that the conditions could disrupt transportation and aviation operations. “Driving in the rain should be done with caution. Airline operators are advised to obtain airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning,” the agency said. NiMet also advised the public to stay updated through its…
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has taken over the criminal case instituted against senior lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The takeover stalled Ozekhome’s planned arraignment before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on a three-count charge in which he is accused, among other offences, of forgery. At the proceedings, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), announced that he was representing the AGF and formally informed the court of the decision to assume control of…