Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita  – The final two cocoa farmers abducted in Ondo State have regained their freedom, bringing a wave of relief to local communities and stakeholders in the agricultural sector following weeks of anxiety over their safety. Police authorities in the state confirmed the development, stating that the victims were rescued through coordinated security operations that also led to the arrest of several suspects linked to the kidnapping. The operation marks the conclusion of efforts to secure the release of all farmers taken during the incident, which had heightened concerns about safety in farming communities. A spokesperson for the command…

File: CBN Building, Abuja The Central Bank of Nigeria has been announced the global “Central Bank of the Year” at the 2026 Central Banking Awards, following sweeping monetary and structural reforms that have helped stabilise the country’s economy after years of policy distortions. This was disclosed in a statement by the Central Banking Awards Committee which credited the apex bank’s policy reset and institutional reforms for restoring confidence in Nigeria’s financial system. According to the statement, the award reflects a decisive return to orthodox monetary policy, improved governance, and reforms that strengthened investor confidence and market stability. Nigeria’s economy had…

Manny Ita  – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended Nigerian energy expert Damilola Ogunbiyi for becoming the first Nigerian to be honoured with the TIME Earth Awards, describing the recognition as a proud moment for the country and a testament to her contributions to global sustainable development. In a statement issued by the Presidency, Tinubu praised Ogunbiyi’s leadership in advancing clean energy access and her sustained efforts in driving the global transition towards renewable power, particularly in underserved and energy-poor communities. He noted that her work continues to place Nigeria at the forefront of international conversations on sustainability and climate…

Manny Ita  – Food prices across markets in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory have surged significantly, as rising fuel costs linked to the Middle East crisis continue to ripple through the economy, placing mounting pressure on households and small businesses. A market survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria across key trading hubs in Abuja indicates that the increase in the pump price of petroleum products has sharply elevated transportation and production costs, forcing traders to adjust prices upward in response to shrinking margins. At the Orange Market along the Abuja-Keffi road, a major bulk food distribution centre, traders reported…

President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in technology and equipment to defeat terrorism and other security threats across the country. President Bola Tinubu on Sunday in Lagos said Nigeria has secured French collaboration on military equipment and training following a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday. The President disclosed this during a meeting with state governors at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos, where he observed the Eid-el-Fitr holidays after returning from his two-day state visit to the United Kingdom. This is according to excerpts of the President’s address to the governors at the meeting made available…

Manny Ita  – A coalition of dental professionals under the umbrella of the Nigerian Dental Association has partnered with consumer goods giant Unilever to roll out an ambitious nationwide oral health campaign aimed at reaching 50 million Nigerians, in what stakeholders describe as one of the largest preventative healthcare drives in the country’s recent history. The initiative, unveiled at a press briefing attended by health experts, policymakers, and industry representatives, is designed to address the growing burden of oral diseases, particularly in underserved and rural communities where access to dental care remains limited. Organisers said the campaign will prioritise early…

Manny Ita  – Nigeria’s deepening electricity crisis has taken a dramatic turn as national power generation plunged to a mere 3,705 megawatts, worsening outages across the country and leaving millions of households and businesses without reliable supply. Data from the national grid indicated a sharp decline in output, intensifying concerns over the fragility of the country’s power infrastructure and its ability to meet even the most basic demand in Africa’s largest economy. The situation has triggered widespread disruptions, with small businesses, hospitals, and manufacturers increasingly forced to rely on costly alternative energy sources. Amid the worsening crisis, the Nigeria Labour…

Manny Ita  – Nico O’Reilly etched his name into Manchester City history with two second-half headers to secure a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. The 21-year-old academy graduate, celebrating his birthday weekend, struck twice in a four-minute blitz to deliver City’s ninth title in the competition and a record-breaking fifth for manager Pep Guardiola. ​The contest began with Arsenal, current Premier League leaders, looking the more likely to break the deadlock. Mikel Arteta’s side forced City goalkeeper James Trafford into an extraordinary triple save early on, repelling efforts from Kai Havertz…

Manny Ita  – The Federal Government has announced plans to scrap the National Common Entrance Examination as part of a sweeping reform of Nigeria’s basic education system, replacing it with a continuous assessment model and a nationwide student tracking mechanism. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed the proposal during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, stating that the new policy is designed to improve access to education and strengthen monitoring of pupils across the country. Under the proposed reform, the long-standing entrance examination taken by primary school pupils seeking admission into junior secondary school will be phased out…

Manny Ita  – Iran has carried out the public execution of Saleh Mohammadi, a 19-year-old wrestling champion, in a development that has sparked widespread international condemnation and renewed scrutiny of the country’s human rights record. Mohammadi, described as a promising athlete with aspirations for international competition, was executed by hanging in the city of Qom on March 19 alongside two other men following their conviction over alleged involvement in the killing of two police officers during anti-government protests earlier this year. Iranian authorities stated that the individuals had been found guilty of “moharebeh” — a charge meaning “waging war against…