Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita  – The international ratings agency S&P Global Ratings has upgraded Nigeria’s sovereign credit rating from “B-” to “B”, while maintaining a stable outlook, signaling cautious improvement in the country’s economic position. The upgrade was announced by Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele, who said the decision reflects growing confidence in Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms. According to him, this development follows similar positive rating actions earlier in 2025 by Fitch Ratings and Moody’s, which also raised Nigeria’s credit standing. The Federal Government welcomed the decision, describing it as evidence that recent economic policies under President Bola Tinubu are beginning to yield…

US President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, shortly after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25, 2026. US President Donald Trump (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) Al-Minuki had been placed under US sanctions in 2023 for ties to the Islamic State group. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that American and Nigerian forces had killed a senior Islamic State group leader. “Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed…

Manny Ita  – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken popular Nigerian influencer Blessing CEO to court over an alleged ₦36 million rent scam. According to the charges, Blessing CEO—whose real name is Blessing Okoro Nkiruka—was accused of collecting ₦36 million from a woman, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye, under the false claim that she could secure a six-bedroom duplex for rent in Lekki, Lagos. The alleged incident occurred between July 14 and 17, 2024. She pleaded not guilty to the two charges brought against her. Her lawyer informed the court that she had already refunded ₦24 million and…

Manny Ita – The first General Assembly of the Global South NGO Platform concluded in Baku on May 14, bringing together representatives of civil society organizations from more than 110 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific. Held during the Baku Urban Week, the gathering focused on strengthening cooperation among developing nations and promoting a unified voice for the Global South on major international issues. Addressing participants, Hikmet Hajiyev said the Global South now occupies an increasingly influential place in world affairs. “Azerbaijan considers itself a part of the Global South. We are a part of the Global…

Manny Ita  – The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released its final list of aspirants for the House of Representatives primaries scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Rivers State, disqualifying four individuals linked to the political camp of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Among those barred from participating are serving lawmakers such as Awaji Inombek Abiante and Boma Goodhead, alongside retired Air Commodore John Opera and Hon. Anderson Igbiki. The party did not publicly give detailed reasons for their disqualification in the list. On the other hand, 21 aspirants were cleared to contest in the primaries. This includes the Speaker of…

Manny Ita  – The Lagos State Government has announced that it will not admit candidates who score below 185 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) into any of its state-owned universities, rejecting the national minimum benchmark of 150 set by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, made this known during a ministerial press briefing in Alausa, Lagos, as part of activities marking the third anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term. He said Lagos considers the 150 cut-off too low for its institutions and is committed to maintaining higher academic standards.…

Manny Ita  – Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are developing a feature film adaptation of the Afghanistan war memoir No Way Out: The Searing True Story of Men Under Siege for Netflix, through their production company Archewell Productions. The project is being developed under the couple’s ongoing first-look deal with the streaming platform. The film is based on Major Adam Jowett’s 2019 memoir, which details the experiences of a British military unit deployed in Afghanistan’s Helmand province in July 2006. The story follows a hastily assembled group of soldiers who are deployed to a vulnerable…

Manny Ita  – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commenced the process allowing candidates who participated in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to change their institution or course choices. The announcement was confirmed in a statement issued by the Board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, and shared via his official X account on Friday. The development comes as part of ongoing preparations for the 2026 admission cycle across Nigerian tertiary institutions, where candidates are expected to begin screening and admission processing. According to the Board, eligible candidates can now adjust their previously selected institutions and programmes following the…

Manny Ita  – Pep Guardiola joked that Wembley should consider naming a stand after him as he prepares to lead Manchester City into yet another FA Cup final appearance at the stadium. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s clash against Chelsea, the Manchester City manager highlighted his long history with Wembley, noting that the club has played there frequently since his arrival in 2016. City have now featured at the national stadium around two dozen times under his tenure, including multiple finals and semi-final matches across different competitions. Guardiola also pointed to his personal connection with Wembley dating back to his playing…

Manny Ita  – Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 15.69% in April 2026, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), marking a slight increase from 15.38% recorded in March. The report shows that although inflation continues to rise on a yearly basis, the pace of monthly price increases has slowed. Month-on-month inflation fell to 2.13% in April from 4.18% in March, indicating a moderation in short-term consumer price pressures. Food inflation increased to 16.06% year-on-year, reflecting sustained pressure on household food costs. However, this is significantly lower than the 24.68% recorded in April 2025. The rise…