Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita The “Nigerian Modernism” exhibition at Tate Modern is being described by critics as a “tectonic shift” in the global curation of African art, marking a significant departure from earlier ethnographic approaches and positioning Nigerian artists at the center of international modernist discourse. Rather than presenting the works as cultural artifacts, the exhibition traces Nigeria’s political and cultural evolution through art, linking creative expression to the country’s journey from late colonial rule to post-independence complexities. The exhibition spans nine galleries and features more than 250 works by over 50 artists, covering a 50-year period from the 1940s to the…

Manny Ita  Talks among key opposition figures have intensified following the issuance of what insiders describe as the “Otuocha Communiqué,” a joint statement that, while stopping short of announcing a formal merger, underscored what it called “total alignment on economic and security reforms.” The statement, released after closed-door consultations, has fueled widespread speculation about a coordinated political strategy ahead of the next general elections. Sources familiar with the discussions said a central focus of the talks was a proposed “Single Term Pact,” an arrangement under which a consensus presidential candidate would commit to serving a single four-year term. According to…

Manny Ita The Nigerian Air Force has killed a notorious bandit commander known as “Yellow Janaros” during a precision airstrike carried out under Operation Whirlwind in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, military authorities said. The strike targeted a bandit enclave in the Maru forests after intelligence identified Janaros as a key figure behind kidnappings and armed robberies along the Gusau–Funtua highway. Military sources said the operation followed days of sustained aerial surveillance that confirmed the presence of the commander and his lieutenants at the location. After the air interdiction, ground troops advanced into the area to conduct a…

Manny Ita The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has officially activated a “Level 2 Emergency” Response following a sharp escalation in Lassa fever cases across the country. As of January 16, 2026, the agency reported that 450 cases have been confirmed since the start of the year, with a staggering 70% of the total infections concentrated in four hotspot states: Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, and Taraba. Health officials noted that while the disease is seasonal, the intensity of this year’s outbreak has triggered the activation of the National Lassa Fever Multi-sectoral Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) to coordinate a…

Manny Ita The Federal Ministry of Works has announced a significant milestone in the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, reporting that Section 1 and a substantial portion of Section 2 are now over 65% complete. During a recent inspection tour on January 10, 2026, the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, expressed satisfaction with the pace of work, noting that the 47.47-kilometer Section 1, which stretches from Ahmadu Bello Way to the Eleko area, is on track for full commissioning by April 2026. This progress follows the temporary opening of a 30-kilometer stretch of the highway in December 2025…

Lagos LIRS Declares Deadline For Employers, Threatens Sanctions By Elegbede Abiodun … insists that failure to comply would result in statutory penalties. Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has reiterated the January 31, 2026, deadline for all employers of labour to statutorily file their yearly tax returns for the 2025 financial. In a statement yesterday, its Executive Chairman, Dr Ayodele Subair, reminded employers that the obligation to file yearly returns is in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025 (NTAA). He explained that employers are required to file detailed returns on emoluments and compensation…

Atiku Abubakar Reacts to Son’s Defection to APC as  Personal and Conscientious Atiku says there’s no family feud in this matter. Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the defection of his son, Abba Abubakar, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a personal decision rooted in democratic freedom. In a statement released on Wednesday, Atiku stressed that political choices are matters of individual conscience and should not be misconstrued as a reflection of family pressure or ideological conflict. “The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely…

2026 placement test: Lagos sets N5,000 fee for private schools The Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has announced that e-registration for the 2026 Universal Basic Education by Continuous Assessment Scores and Placement Test will run from January 26 to April 30, 2026. According to a circular issued on Wednesday by the Registrar of the Lagos State Examinations Board, Mr Orunsolu Adebayo, registration for pupils in public primary schools is free, while those in approved private schools are required to pay N5,000 per candidate through the Lagos State Central Billing System. Adebayo explained that only Primary Six pupils…

Olu of Warri Hosts Commonwealth Secretary General, Harps On Traditional Leadership The Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse III on Tuesday has hosted the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, in a landmark one day visit that underscored the growing role of African traditional institutions in global development discourse. The visit, hosted by Their Royal Majesties, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the 21st Olu of Warri Kingdom, and Her Royal Majesty, Olori Atuwatse III, is the first of it kind by Botchwey to any country. The visit was aimed at positioning community rooted leadership, culture, and inclusive growth at…

Nigeria exempted from high-risk financial list ~ EU File photo: President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen  Minister of State for Finance welcomes move as a major boost to investors confidence. Nigeria has been removed from the European Union’s list of high-risk jurisdictions, a move expected to ease trade, payments and investment flows between the country and Europe, according to a report by Business Insider. Business Insider reports on Wednesday that the European Commission confirmed that Nigeria, alongside South Africa, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique and Tanzania, had strengthened its AML/CFT regimes and no longer posed “strategic deficiencies” under…