Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita  – A major payroll fraud allegation involving approximately ₦13.7 billion has emerged in Osun State, prompting authorities to order an immediate and comprehensive audit of the state’s civil service payroll system. Senior government officials disclosed that preliminary findings indicate the presence of thousands of questionable salary entries, including suspected ghost workers, duplicated records, and irregular allowances embedded within the payroll structure. The anomalies were reportedly uncovered during an internal review of personnel expenditures, which had shown a steady and unexplained rise despite limited recruitment into the public service. According to officials familiar with the probe, the suspected fraud…

Manny Ita  – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun announcing results of the 2026 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, declaring winners in key councils including Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Gwagwalada, and Bwari, amid widespread reports of low voter turnout across the territory. In AMAC, the incumbent chairman, Christopher Maikalangu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was returned elected after polling more than 40,000 votes, according to figures announced by the electoral body. INEC officials said the result reflected a clear margin over rival candidates, consolidating the APC’s hold on the council widely regarded as…

Manny Ita  – A severe funding shortage is delaying the deployment of dozens of newly confirmed Nigerian ambassadors, leaving many foreign missions understaffed and operating in deteriorating conditions despite the formal approval of envoys by the federal government, diplomatic sources have disclosed. While high-profile postings to major capitals — including the United Kingdom, France, and the United States — have been filled, numerous other embassies and consulates across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America remain without substantive heads of mission, forcing senior career diplomats to serve in acting capacities for extended periods. Officials familiar with the situation say the…

Manny Ita  – Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has announced plans to offer Nigerians the opportunity to buy shares in the Dangote Refinery beginning in July 2026, in what could become one of the largest public offerings in the country’s history and a landmark moment for domestic participation in the oil and gas sector. Dangote disclosed that the move is intended to broaden ownership of the multi-billion-dollar facility and allow ordinary citizens to benefit directly from the refinery’s operations, which are expected to transform Nigeria from a major fuel importer into a net exporter of refined petroleum products. He said…

Manny Ita  – Nigeria’s state-owned oil company, NNPC Ltd, and the Dangote Group have announced a sweeping strategic alliance designed to strengthen the nation’s energy security, stabilize fuel supply, and reduce dependence on imports, in what officials describe as a major step toward self-sufficiency in petroleum products. The agreement, unveiled after high-level talks between executives of both organizations, focuses on coordinated crude supply arrangements, infrastructure collaboration, and joint investments across refining, distribution, and gas development. The partnership is expected to leverage the capacity of the Dangote Refinery alongside NNPC’s upstream assets and nationwide distribution network to ensure consistent availability of…

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa … college to provide a structured pipeline of military-trained doctors. The Federal Government says it has advanced plans to establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences (AFCOM&HS) to strengthen military healthcare services. This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Abuja by Folasade Boriowo, Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education. Boriowo said the initiative would also address manpower shortages within the Armed Forces and expand Nigeria’s overall medical training capacity. She quoted the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, as disclosing this development at…

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have engsged in a $16.61 million grant agreement to kick off the third phase of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation Programme, known as TAAT-III, with the goal of expanding climate-resilient food production across the continent. The engagement was signed in Abuja and announced through a statement on the Bank’s official website on Friday. The collaboration is aimed at modernising African agriculture by deploying proven farming technologies, strengthening seed systems, and deepening cooperation among research institutions, governments, and private sector stakeholders. According to the AfDB, previous…

Manny Ita  – ​A high-level delegation from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, has conducted a comprehensive assessment of the Gusau International Airport, signaling a potential shift for the facility to become a national center for aviation training. The visit, led by Nasir Muhammad Bungura, focused on evaluating the infrastructure and operational readiness of the airport, which is currently under construction by the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal. The delegation’s findings suggest the facility could serve as a strategic hub for specialized training, offering students practical experience in a modern environment. ​During the inspection, the NCAT team, accompanied…

By Elegbede Abiodun The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially said that Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology will be instrumental from the knockout stage right through to the final in both of its premier inter-club competitions: the Champions League and the Confederation Cup. The continental football body clarified that VAR will be operational throughout the knockout rounds of both tournaments. This move is part of CAF’s ongoing commitment to elevate officiating standards and ensure fairness in these decisive matches, where the stakes are incredibly high. Consequently, participating clubs are now expected to guarantee that their home grounds adhere to…

Elegbede Abiodun Sterling One Foundation has reaffirmed its support to women’s empowerment.  The Foundation actively participated in the Presidential Breakfast Meeting on Financing and Reaffirming Africa’s G-20 Summit commitments, held alongside the African Union Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa. This significant gathering united influential African leaders, including H.E. John Dramani Mahama, former President of Ghana, H.E. Muhammed B.S. Jallow, Vice President of The Gambia, alongside ministers, development finance institutions, private sector representatives, and other key stakeholders, all focused on generating actionable financing strategies aimed at empowering women and youth across the continent. The discussions centred on mobilising catalytic…