Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita  – The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released its final list of aspirants for the House of Representatives primaries scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Rivers State, disqualifying four individuals linked to the political camp of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Among those barred from participating are serving lawmakers such as Awaji Inombek Abiante and Boma Goodhead, alongside retired Air Commodore John Opera and Hon. Anderson Igbiki. The party did not publicly give detailed reasons for their disqualification in the list. On the other hand, 21 aspirants were cleared to contest in the primaries. This includes the Speaker of…

Manny Ita  – The Lagos State Government has announced that it will not admit candidates who score below 185 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) into any of its state-owned universities, rejecting the national minimum benchmark of 150 set by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, made this known during a ministerial press briefing in Alausa, Lagos, as part of activities marking the third anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term. He said Lagos considers the 150 cut-off too low for its institutions and is committed to maintaining higher academic standards.…

Manny Ita  – Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are developing a feature film adaptation of the Afghanistan war memoir No Way Out: The Searing True Story of Men Under Siege for Netflix, through their production company Archewell Productions. The project is being developed under the couple’s ongoing first-look deal with the streaming platform. The film is based on Major Adam Jowett’s 2019 memoir, which details the experiences of a British military unit deployed in Afghanistan’s Helmand province in July 2006. The story follows a hastily assembled group of soldiers who are deployed to a vulnerable…

Manny Ita  – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commenced the process allowing candidates who participated in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to change their institution or course choices. The announcement was confirmed in a statement issued by the Board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, and shared via his official X account on Friday. The development comes as part of ongoing preparations for the 2026 admission cycle across Nigerian tertiary institutions, where candidates are expected to begin screening and admission processing. According to the Board, eligible candidates can now adjust their previously selected institutions and programmes following the…

Manny Ita  – Pep Guardiola joked that Wembley should consider naming a stand after him as he prepares to lead Manchester City into yet another FA Cup final appearance at the stadium. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s clash against Chelsea, the Manchester City manager highlighted his long history with Wembley, noting that the club has played there frequently since his arrival in 2016. City have now featured at the national stadium around two dozen times under his tenure, including multiple finals and semi-final matches across different competitions. Guardiola also pointed to his personal connection with Wembley dating back to his playing…

Manny Ita  – Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 15.69% in April 2026, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), marking a slight increase from 15.38% recorded in March. The report shows that although inflation continues to rise on a yearly basis, the pace of monthly price increases has slowed. Month-on-month inflation fell to 2.13% in April from 4.18% in March, indicating a moderation in short-term consumer price pressures. Food inflation increased to 16.06% year-on-year, reflecting sustained pressure on household food costs. However, this is significantly lower than the 24.68% recorded in April 2025. The rise…

Manny Ita  – The upcoming biographical film based on the life of Michael Jackson is reportedly on track to surpass $600 million at the global box office this weekend, according to early industry projections and international market estimates. The film, titled Michael, has quickly become one of the most anticipated music biopics in recent years, drawing massive attention from fans, cinema operators, and entertainment analysts worldwide. Industry insiders say advance ticket sales and strong audience interest across North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa have contributed to the movie’s impressive momentum even before its wider rollout is completed. Directed…

Manny Ita  – The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed several officers accused of involvement in kidnapping, armed robbery, extortion, and other criminal activities in Rivers State as part of what authorities described as an ongoing internal reform and disciplinary crackdown. In a statement issued by police spokesperson Anthony Placid, the force said the affected officers betrayed the ethics, standards, and professional values expected of members of the police institution. According to the statement, investigations uncovered a criminal syndicate involving officers attached to Zone 16 Headquarters in Yenagoa. The officers identified were Inspectors Ayanniyi Jelili, Durojaye Francis, and Olayemi Titus. Police…

Manny Ita  – Stakeholders in Nigeria’s investment and development sectors have warned that the country is facing a widening $6.75 billion gender financing gap that continues to limit access to funding for women, youths, and persons living with disabilities. The concern was raised during the 4th Gender Impact Investment Summit held in Lagos, where policymakers, investors, development finance institutions, and private sector leaders gathered to discuss strategies for inclusive economic growth. The summit, themed “From Commitments to Action: Strengthening Inclusive Gender-Lensed Investment for Nigeria’s Growth,” also featured the unveiling of the Inclusive Capital Scorecard and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion…

Manny Ita – A fresh outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus has been confirmed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, with health authorities reporting 246 suspected infections and at least 65 deaths in the remote Ituri province. According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of the cases have been identified in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones. Four of the deaths were among laboratory-confirmed Ebola patients, while additional suspected cases are currently being investigated in Bunia, the provincial capital located near the Ugandan border. Ebola is a highly infectious disease spread through direct contact…