Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

American Gospel Singer Ron Kenoly Passes on at 81 Elegbede Abiodun Kenoly greatly influenced Christian worshippers to spiritual upliftment through his music globally. American Christian worship leader, singer and songwriter Ron Kenoly has died at the age of 81. The globally renowned gospel musician reportedly passed away on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, with his death confirmed by several artistes across social media platforms. Reacting to the news, Nigerian gospel minister Nathaniel Bassey paid tribute to Kenoly, describing him as a generational inspiration. “Dr Ron Kenoly crosses to yonder side. Thank you for inspiring generations of psalmists like me. I…

U.S. fighter jet intercepts Iranian drone Elegbede Abiodun U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters from the 58th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla. perform an aerial refueling mission with a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 336th Air Refueling Squadron from March ARB, Calif., May 14, 2013 off the coast of Northwest Florida. The 33rd Fighter Wing is a joint graduate flying and maintenance training wing that trains Air Force, Marine, Navy and international partner operators and maintainers of the F-35 Lightning II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen/Released) United States’ fighter…

UBA Group Declares Loknath Mishra as CEO UBA UK Elegbede Abiodun Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), has made public the appointment of Loknath Mishra as Chief Executive Officer of UBA UK. The appointment which takes effect from February 2nd, 2026, reinforces the Group’s commitment to strengthening its international footprint and enhancing its role as a key financial bridge between Africa and the world. As CEO of UBA UK, Mishra will focus on positioning the UK subsidiary as a centre of excellence for regulatory compliance and customer service, strengthening financial resilience through diversified liquidity and income sources,…

Manny Ita The Lagos State Government has issued a formal warning to citizens against the assumption of chieftaincy titles and traditional roles without official executive approval, threatening violators with arrest and imprisonment. In a public notice titled ‘Prohibition of Unapproved Chieftaincy Titles In Lagos State’ released on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Bolaji Robert, declared that the state will strictly enforce the Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State 2015. The government characterized the rise of self-proclaimed traditional rulers as an “unhealthy development” that has increasingly triggered communal tension and…

Manny Ita The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has implemented a strategic shift in its operational focus, moving away from a reputation historically marred by boat accidents toward a model centered on internal human capital and external collaboration. Former Managing Director, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, recently detailed this organizational transformation, noting that the agency has intensified efforts to prioritize staff welfare and stakeholder engagement as the primary drivers for safety and efficiency on Nigeria’s waterways. ​Under this reformative agenda, the authority identified that structural safety cannot be achieved through equipment alone but requires a motivated and disciplined workforce. To address…

FG reserves N881m to strengthen non-oil exports Elegbede Abiodun The Federal Government has set aside N881.13m to total capital projects of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, following an all-time high non-oil export record of $6.1bn in 2025. Data from the 2026 budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly showed that the allocation targets institutional strengthening, export infrastructure, certification, market access, and value-chain development across the six geopolitical zones. The allocation is included in the proposed N58.47tn federal budget, and growing policy emphasis on diversifying foreign exchange earnings away from crude oil. A breakdown of…

NECO 2025 SSCE external results recorded over 80% score of five credits Elegbede Abiodun The National Examinations Council has announced the release of the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External results, with over 80 per cent of candidates scoring five credits and above. The results were announced on Tuesday by NECO Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, during a press conference held at the council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State. Declaring the results in a video posted on NECO’s X handle, Prof. Wushishi said, “It is my pleasure to declare the 2025 SSCE External Results released. “Candidates…

Manny Ita Senator Adams Oshiomhole has come under intense public criticism after a video showing him boarding a private jet circulated widely on social media, shortly after his comments suggesting that food prices in Nigeria were affordable. The backlash followed Oshiomhole’s recent remarks in which he dismissed widespread complaints about the rising cost of food, claiming that staple items were still “cheap” in local markets. The comments sparked outrage among many Nigerians who have struggled with soaring inflation and worsening economic conditions. The controversy deepened when footage emerged online showing the former Edo State governor travelling on a private…

Manny Ita The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced a major shift in its communication strategy, formally discontinuing the use of the long-standing pseudonym “Emma Powerful” for its public statements. In a statement issued by its Directorate of State (DOS), the separatist group said the decision is part of a broader move toward a more structured and formal administrative system. IPOB directed that all official press releases and public communications must now be issued strictly on the organisation’s official letterhead or through clearly designated official channels. The directive effectively brings to an end the use of the “Emma…

Electricity: Federal Govt to share subsidy costs with states, councils Elegbede Abiodun * Says fair sharing will encourage better performance in the power sector. Henceforth, States and councils will share the payment of electricity subsidies with the Federal Government, which had solely borne the subsidy cost on electricity. In a year, between September 2024 and October 2025, the Federal Government paid N1.98 trillion. Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, announced the plan to share the subsidy cost during a meeting with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on the 2026 Budget. Yakubu added that President Bola…