Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita  – A Federal High Court has granted former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, bail in the sum of ₦200 million in connection with terrorism and unlawful firearm possession charges, while ordering that he remain in custody over a separate ₦8.7 billion money laundering case. The court ruled that the defendant met part of the conditions required for bail in the terrorism-related charges but held that his continued detention was necessary pending proceedings in the financial crime allegations filed against him. According to court documents, the terrorism and firearm charges stem from allegations that Mr Malami unlawfully…

Manny Ita  – United Kingdom-based telecommunications provider Lebara has officially commenced operations in Nigeria, marking a significant expansion into Africa’s largest telecommunications market and signalling renewed foreign investor interest in the country’s digital economy. The launch was confirmed by officials of the Nigerian government, who described the company’s entry as a strong endorsement of ongoing reforms aimed at deepening digital connectivity and expanding competition within the telecommunications sector. Presidential officials said the investment represents a “vote of confidence” in Nigeria’s economic outlook and growing digital infrastructure, noting that the arrival of Lebara is expected to broaden service options for consumers…

Manny Ita  – Dangote Cement Plc has unveiled a series of expansion projects across Africa aimed at increasing installed production capacity, improving operational efficiency and reinforcing its leadership position in key markets on the continent. The projects span multiple countries and involve the development of new integrated production lines alongside the expansion of existing facilities. In Nigeria, planned locations include Itori, Apapa, Lekki, Port Harcourt, Onne and parts of Northern Nigeria, where a satellite grinding unit is also expected to support regional supply. Outside Nigeria, the company is developing a new production line in Ethiopia to meet rising domestic demand,…

Manny Ita  – The United States has intensified its military campaign targeting Iran’s missile capabilities, with officials stating that the operation is aimed at preventing threats to American national security interests. In a video message announcing the escalation, US authorities said the operation would focus on dismantling Iran’s weapons infrastructure. “To prevent the Iranian dictatorship from endangering America and our fundamental national security interests, the U.S. military is conducting a massive and continuous operation,” the statement said. “We intend to demolish their missiles and destroy their missile industry.” As tensions deepened across the Middle East, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz…

Manny Ita  – Multiple opinion polls in the United States indicate that a majority of Americans oppose military action against Iran, even as President Donald Trump confirmed that US forces had launched attacks targeting the Iranian regime. Mr Trump announced on Saturday that the United States military began what he described as a major combat operation in Iran shortly after Israel confirmed its own strikes against Iranian targets. The president said the action was aimed at neutralising what he called an imminent threat to Americans. “Short time ago, the US military began a major combat operation in Iran. Our objective…

Nigeria has officially joined the global MasterChef franchise, with organisers unveiling a N73 million prize for the inaugural cooking competition. The initiative aimed at showcasing Nigerian culinary ingenuity to the global community while contributing to the country’s economic growth. Speaking at a press conference introducing the judges, MasterChef Nigeria showrunner, Niyi Oyedeji, described the competition as a bold statement positioning Nigeria within the global fine dining conversation. Oyedeji said the judges, Founder of Red Dish Chronicles Culinary School, Chef Stone and Founder of Cooking Jar, Chef Eros would spearhead the search for Nigeria’s next culinary talent. He added that their…

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and his Cameroonian counterpart, Minister of Transport Jean Ernest NgalNgallé Bibehe during the signing of the agreement. Photo: Festus Keyamo Elegbede Abiodun Both nations to cooperate in the event of aviation emergencies. Nigeria and Cameroon have formally signed a Bilateral Agreement on Technical Aeronautical Search and Rescue Operations, strengthening aviation safety cooperation across their shared airspace. The agreement was signed in Yaoundé, Cameroon’s capital, on Friday, following high-level talks between Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and his Cameroonian counterpart, Minister of Transport Jean Ernest NgalNgallé Bibehe. Keyamo announced…

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Credit: AFP Iran said on Saturday it will “respond decisively” after Israel and the United States launched strikes on the country despite talks underway on Tehran’s nuclear programme. “The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond decisively to the aggressors,” a foreign ministry said in a statement, insisting Iran had done “everything necessary to prevent war”. “Just as we were ready for negotiations, we are now more prepared than ever to defend the Iranian nation,” it said. Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said a first wave of missile and drone attacks had…

File copy of Governor Alex Otti of Abia State By Elegbede Abiodun Over Airport Project, Otti Compensates 4000, Commences Subsidised Electric Buses Transportation on March 1. Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has made public that his administration has paid compensation to over 4,000 out of nearly 10,000 landowners affected by the Nsulu Airport project. Otti made this known on Friday at the Government House, Umuahia, during the February edition of “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians,” his monthly media chat. The governor explained that the current phase of compensation covers landowners whose properties fall within the proposed runway corridor, noting…

File Copy: Gas pipeline Nigeria’s lingering power outages, which have persisted for weeks and are being experienced across the country, are primarily due to inadequate gas supply to thermal power plants, the Nigerian Independent System Operator announced on Friday, attributing the sustained drop in electricity generation to severe fuel constraints affecting the national grid. In a statement titled “Declining Power Output Attributable to Generation Shortfalls and Gas Supply Limitations,” released on its official X handle, the system operator said average available generation currently hovers around 4,300 megawatts, far below the country’s installed capacity. As background, the lingering power outages began…