Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Awujale stool: KWAM1 disenfranchised, writes Ogun governor on matter of selection The family has scheduled the nomination meeting for Monday, January 12, 2026, for those contesting the vacant stool. Popular Fuji musician and Olori Omooba of Ijebu land, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, has written Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, alleging that he is being excluded from the ongoing selection process for the next Awujale of Ijebu land. Ayinde claimed that the Fusengbuwa ruling house, next in line to produce the Awujale, has been issuing directives that contravene the Chieftaincy Declaration, Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State. He alleged that…

Olu of Warri demands for infrastructure development in Delta communities Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III … Olu could no longer remain silent in the face of growing hardship among his people. The Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, on Saturday appealed to the Federal and Delta State governments, as well as major oil companies, to intensify the execution of infrastructural projects in Itsekiri coastal communities of Delta State. The monarch expressed concern that the Itsekiri people had remained poor, frustrated and neglected despite their significant contribution to Nigeria’s oil wealth, blaming years of regulatory inconsistency and poor…

Semi-final fixtures of AFCON 2025; date, time, venue Nigeria vs Morocco – Wednesday, January 14. The semi-final fixtures for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 have been confirmed following the conclusion of the quarter-final matches. Egypt, Nigeria, hosts Morocco and Senegal, emerged as the last four teams after a series of intense quarter-final encounters that ended on Saturday night. Hosts Morocco will take on Nigeria, while Senegal will face Egypt in the two semi-final matches scheduled for Wednesday. Seven-time champions Egypt sealed the final semi-final ticket after edging defending champions Côte d’Ivoire 3–2 in a thrilling encounter.…

Manny Ita Senator Shehu Sani, the prominent Nigerian writer, human rights activist and former lawmaker, is scheduled to present seven newly authored books at the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) headquarters in Abuja this coming week. The event is set to take place at the ANA’s Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village in Mpape, Abuja, and is expected to draw literary figures, authors, critics and members of the reading public from across the country. The book presentation, slated for the first or second week of January 2026, will showcase the breadth of Sani’s work and reaffirm his place as one of Nigeria’s…

Manny Ita The Hadiza Ibrahim Aliyu Schools Festival (HIASFEST), widely recognised as Africa’s largest teen arts festival, is set to begin in Minna on January 14. The annual festival is expected to attract hundreds of secondary school students, educators, artists, and cultural stakeholders from across Nigeria and other parts of the continent. HIASFEST is designed as a creative platform that promotes artistic excellence among teenagers through structured competitions, exhibitions, performances, and interactive sessions. Participating students are given the opportunity to showcase talents in areas such as visual arts, music, dance, drama, poetry, fashion, and creative writing, while also engaging in…

Manny Ita The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has directed the immediate enforcement of the “No Work, No Pay” policy against members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) as their nationwide strike enters its 58th day. In a circular dated January 8, 2026, and signed by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Abisola Adegoke, on behalf of the Coordinating Minister, the government ordered Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of federal tertiary hospitals to stop the salaries of all participating workers effective immediately. The directive follows the union’s persistent refusal to suspend the industrial action, which began…

Manny Ita The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to receive more than $9.5 million (£7 million) in recovered corruption proceeds following a landmark agreement with the Bailiwick of Jersey, a British Crown Dependency. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was formally confirmed in Abuja on Friday, January 9, 2026, was signed by Jersey’s Attorney General, Mark Temple KC, and the Nigerian government. These funds were forfeited after the Royal Court of Jersey determined in January 2024 that the money, held in a local bank account, was “more likely than not” the result of a corrupt scheme where third-party contractors…

Manny Ita Global oil markets were thrown into turmoil this weekend as Brent crude prices plummeted to $60.56 per barrel, officially sliding beneath the $64.85 benchmark established in Nigeria’s N58.18 trillion 2026 Federal Budget. The downturn, largely triggered by a massive influx of supply following a landmark deal for the United States to import up to $2 billion in Venezuelan crude, has left the Nigerian government facing an immediate revenue shortfall only days into the new fiscal year. Financial analysts warn that if the price remains depressed through the first quarter, the Presidency may be forced to initiate a supplementary…

Manny Ita The Lagos State Government has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the operations of Euracare Multi-specialist Hospital following formal allegations of medical negligence brought by world-renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Adichie publicly attributed the death of her young son to “systemic failures and professional lapses” within the facility, asserting that the hospital failed to provide the “basic standard of urgent care” required during his final hours. The author’s public indictment has intensified national scrutiny regarding the safety and reliability of Nigeria’s elite private medical centers. ​In response to the gravity of the accusations, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu directed the Lagos…

Manny Ita Nigeria’s dominance in the global cultural economy has been reaffirmed this week as music visionary Don Jazzy and cinematic powerhouse Funke Akindele topped the prestigious “50 African Personalities and Brands Who Have Mastered the Art of Visibility” list for 2026. Curated by Visibility 50 Africa, the ranking celebrates leaders who have moved beyond mere social media fame to build multi-billion naira ecosystems that drive continental growth. The inclusion of these two icons highlights a year where Nigerian “soft power” has successfully transitioned from viral trends to institutional financial dominance across West Africa and the diaspora. ​Michael Collins Ajereh,…