Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita  – Israel launched fresh attacks early Thursday on targets in Lebanon and said it intercepted missiles fired from Iran as the widening conflict involving the United States and Israel continued to destabilise parts of the Middle East, with new developments also reported in Iraq. Iranian news agency Tasnim News Agency reported that several explosions were heard in Tehran on Thursday and that Iran had activated its air defence systems after launching several rounds of missiles toward Israel earlier in the day. An airstrike carried out before dawn hit a Hezbollah stronghold in the suburbs of Beirut. The Iran-backed…

Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu. Photo: Nigerian Police | X Disu vows Police non-sided conduct during the elections of 2027. The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, on Wednesday declared that the Nigeria Police Force would maintain strict neutrality and professionalism in the build-up to the 2027 general elections. Disu gave the assurance in Abuja during his inaugural conference with strategic police managers following his assumption of office. Addressing senior officers, the IGP said the credibility of the 2027 polls and the stability of Nigeria’s democracy would depend largely on the conduct of the police as the lead agency in…

Manny Ita – France will host a yearlong series of cultural exchange events across South Korea to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the French Embassy in Seoul announced Thursday. The programme, organised under the theme “creativity, opportunity and solidarity,” will feature about 100 cultural events spanning music, visual arts, literature, film, drama and performing arts. The activities are scheduled to take place in around 20 cities across the country. Speaking during a press conference at the embassy, French Ambassador to South Korea, Philippe Bertoux, said the programme would deepen cooperation and strengthen relations between…

L-R: District Head, Kyangakwai, Alhaji Suleiman Musa; Former Speaker, Kebbi State House of Assembly, Mr Isma’ila Abdulmumuni Kamba; District Head, Kamba (Sarkin Shikon Kamba), Mamuda Zarummai; Council Secretary, Dandi Local Government, Kebbi State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Muhammad; and Regional Bank Head, North-West Zone 2, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr Muhammad Lawal-Ahijo; at the official commissioning of the new Fidelity Bank Plc branch in Kamba, Dandi Local Government Area, Kebbi State recently. Residents of Kamba in Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi State have welcomed the opening of a new branch of Fidelity Bank Plc, describing it as a major milestone that will…

Manny Ita  – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned the public about counterfeit HIV diagnostic test kits circulating in Nigeria and urged healthcare providers and distributors to exercise caution. The agency said investigations revealed that the counterfeit product differs significantly from the authentic version approved for use in the country. According to NAFDAC, the fake test kit is manufactured by Omega Diagnostics Ltd. and bears the address Omega House, Hillfoots Business Village, Alva, FK12 5DQ, Scotland, United Kingdom. “By contrast, the counterfeit version is manufactured by OMEGA DIAGNOSTICS LTD., Omega House Hillfoots Business…

Manny Ita  – The Federal Executive Council has approved the implementation of a GIS-enabled alphanumeric digital postcode system aimed at modernising Nigeria’s national addressing framework. The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed the development in a post shared on X on Tuesday, noting that the approval was granted under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of efforts to implement the ministry’s strategic blueprint for the country’s digital transformation. Mr Tijani explained that the new system will be developed in collaboration with the Nigerian Postal Service, working closely with the Postmaster General, Tola Odeyemi,…

Manny Ita  – The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved an amendment that will allow medical professionals to use medical fellowships as the equivalent of a PhD for academic promotion and career progression in universities. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed the decision on Wednesday after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Mr Alausa said the council reviewed and approved amendments to the National Postgraduate Medical College Act to recognise medical fellowships as an equivalent qualification to a PhD for medical professionals working in academia. He added that the proposed changes…

Manny Ita  – Efforts by China to expand its media influence across Africa have yielded limited results, with audiences across the continent continuing to favor established international broadcasters over Chinese state outlets despite years of investment and expansion. In Nairobi, Kenya, Davis Moroko, who works at a print shop in the leafy suburb of Gigiri, says he regularly follows global news through platforms such as BBC and YouTube. However, he says he has little awareness of Chinese broadcasters operating in the region. “I never watch Chinese media at all,” he said. “I didn’t even know they had a studio here.”…

Manny Ita  – The Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to strengthen its oversight of Nigeria’s rapidly expanding fintech sector in order to curb increasing cases of financial fraud within the country’s banking system. The chairman of the committee, Adetokunbo Abiru, made the call on Wednesday during an investigative hearing into the operations of Ponzi schemes in Nigeria, with particular reference to the recent activities of Crypto Bullion Exchange (CBEX). The hearing was jointly organised by the Senate Committees on ICT and Cyber Security, Capital Market, and Anti-Corruption and…