Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has officially commenced the implementation of a new cargo charging regime today, February 2, 2026, marking the first significant upward review of these levies in over two decades. This move follows months of stakeholder consultations and is part of a broader federal strategy to modernize airport facilities and bridge the funding gap within the nation’s aviation sector. Industry experts note that the previous rates had become completely unsustainable given the current inflationary pressures and the high cost of maintaining international safety standards across Nigeria’s cargo terminals. ​While the government maintains…

Manny Ita The annual Venice Carnival officially began on Sunday with a series of celebrations centered on the upcoming Winter Olympics hosted in Italy. This year’s event is centered on the theme “Olympus – back to the origins of the games,” a direct tribute to the international sporting competition scheduled to begin later this week. Large crowds gathered at the historic Rialto Bridge and along the city’s iconic lagoons to witness the opening festivities of the nearly two-week celebration. ​The event, which bridges cultural tradition with contemporary sporting milestones, utilized Venice’s unique water-based geography for its inaugural displays. Organizers…

Manny Ita Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos for attempting to smuggle 1.60 kilograms of cocaine. The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday, February 1, 2026, by Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy. Mr. Onyekwere, 47, who reportedly operates a toy business in São Paulo, was intercepted on January 29 during the inward clearance of passengers arriving from Brazil via Johannesburg. ​Following a suspicious body scan, the suspect was subjected to a secondary…

Manny Ita South African singer Tyla, who secured the Grammy for Best African Music Performance for her single “Push 2 Start” during the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, shared insights into her personal preferences and professional trajectory during a red-carpet interview at the Crypto.com Arena. Speaking exclusively to E! News on February 1, the 24-year-old artist detailed the qualities she values in a partner, expressing a preference for a balanced temperament. “I like to get treated like a princess,” the singer stated, adding, “I love a gentleman. But I love a guy that can play both—a gentleman but also little…

Manny Ita A Russian drone strike targeted a bus transporting mine workers in the Dnipropetrovsk region on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of 15 people and injuring at least seven others. The attack occurred as employees of DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy firm, were returning from a shift near the city of Ternivka. The energy company characterized the incident as a “large-scale terrorist attack on DTEK mines,” stating that “the epicentre of one of the attacks was a company bus transporting miners from the enterprise after a shift.” Ukrainian officials confirmed that the strike ignited a fire that was…

Manny Ita The Federal Government of Nigeria has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s Asia Economic Development Committee (AEDC) to establish the first Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant in Africa. The agreement, signed on January 30, 2026, aims to develop critical charging infrastructure across the country and position Nigeria as a regional leader in green automotive technology. Senator John Enoh, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, signed the document on behalf of the Nigerian government, while AEDC Chairman Yoon Suk-hun represented the South Korean organization. According to a statement from the National…

Manny Ita The 68th Annual Grammy Awards took place on Sunday night at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, marking the sixth consecutive year comedian Trevor Noah served as the evening’s host. The ceremony, which recognizes outstanding achievements in the music industry over the past year, featured a series of live performances from a roster of nominees including Sabrina Carpenter, KATSEYE, Addison Rae, Rosé, and Bruno Mars. While the majority of the 95 award categories were presented during the Premiere Ceremony held earlier in the day, the primary telecast focused on the high-profile “General Field” categories, including Record of…

Manny Ita The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has confirmed that he was a specific target for arrest or assassination during a foiled coup attempt uncovered by Nigerian security agencies in late 2025. Speaking on the Channels TV programme Sunday Politics, the retired Army General disclosed that intelligence gathered during subsequent investigations revealed his name was listed among several high-ranking government officials marked by the conspirators. Regarding the specific instructions given to the plotters, Mr. Musa stated, “I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot.” This confirmation follows exclusive reports from…

Manny Ita The management of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, has officially refuted social media allegations suggesting that a lack of adequate care or a shortage of anti-snake venom led to the death of singer Ifunanya Nwagene. Ms. Nwagene, a soprano with the Amemuso Choir popularly known as Nanyah, passed away on January 31, 2026, following complications from a snake bite. In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Bioku Muftau, the head of clinical services, the hospital described her death as a “painful loss” and extended condolences to the family, stating, “First and foremost, we express…

My comment not targeted against Funke or Toyin — Kunle Afolayan declares By Elegbede Abiodun Nollywood director and producer, Kunle Afolayan, has cleared the controversy about his recent comments on film promotion and cinema releases, saying his comments were misunderstood and never directed at his colleague, Funke Akindele. Speaking on Arise TV earlier today, Afolayan explained that the viral video was taken from a film business forum where industry stakeholders were discussing cinema economics and sustainability. “I am a product of travelling theatre and travelling cinema,” Afolayan said. “Our parents would go into the streets to tell people to…