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 HAJJ 2025: 388 LAGOS INTENDING PILGRIMS DEPART FOR MADINAH, SAUDI ARABIA Lagos State has commenced airlifting of its intending pilgrims embarking on the Y2025 Holy pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with 388 pilgrims on board the inaugural flight.  The intending pilgrims left the Pilgrims and Cargo Terminal, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on board a FLYNAS airline Airbus A330-300 with registration number XY8410. The airline took off at exactly 5.42 pm Nigerian time on Monday, May 12, 2025, with 167 males and 221 females. The Commissioner for Home Affairs/Amirir-ul-Hajj, Hon. Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode; the National Commissioner for Operations, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi and members of Y2025 Hajj Central Working Committee (CWC), were among the government functionaries present at the airport to bid farewell to the intending pilgrims on the inaugural flight.  While speaking with journalists at the ta...

 SANWO-OLU, FAMILY, LASG OFFICIALS HOLD ONE YEAR REMEMBRANCE FOR LATE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF  •Soyannwo’s memories are as vivid as ever, says Governor     As family, friends and associates celebrate the one-year remembrance of Mr. Gboyega Soyannwo, the immediate past Deputy Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, tomorrow, Thursday, May 15, Governor Sanwo-Olu said he missed his former aide dearly, noting that his memories of him are as vivid as ever.   Governor Sanwo-Olu and other dignitaries are expected to attend the one-year Memorial and Thanksgiving Service of the late Adegboyega Soyannwo at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, The Covenant House at Victoria Island in Lagos.      It would be recalled that the late Soyannwo, died on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, after a brief illness at the age of 55. The remains of the former Deputy Chief of Staff were committed to Mother Earth on Thursday, May 23, at the Vaults and Gar...

 In the aftermath of Turkey and Azerbaijan expressing support for Pakistan following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, a significant number of Indian tourists are cancelling their travel plans to these countries. Leading travel agencies, including MakeMyTrip and EaseMyTrip, have reported a 60% drop in new bookings and a surge in cancellations—250% for Turkey and 30% for Azerbaijan—within just six days. Industrialist Harsh Goenka has called for a tourism boycott, highlighting that Indian tourists contributed over ₹4,000 crore to the economies of Turkey and Azerbaijan last year. He urged citizens to choose alternative destinations, emphasizing the need to reconsider supporting nations that back India’s adversaries. In response to public sentiment, travel platforms like ixigo have suspended bookings to Turkey, Azerbaijan, and China. Additionally, travel agents in Gujarat are advising against non-essential trips to these countries. Tourists are now exploring alternative destinations s...

 In a shocking incident in Farrukhnagar, Haryana, four men allegedly shot dead 27-year-old Rajesh Saini, the owner of a sweets shop, following an argument over the delivery of a samosa. The fatal shooting occurred on Tuesday afternoon near Jhajjar Chowk, just a day after Saini reportedly refused a delivery request from one of the accused. According to police, Pankaj from Ismailpur, Faridabad, had visited the shop on Monday and demanded that a samosa be delivered to a nearby office. When Saini declined, citing that his shop did not offer delivery services, a heated exchange followed. Pankaj allegedly left after issuing threats. The next day, he returned with three associates and opened fire on Saini, who was struck by two bullets and died on the spot. The incident has sparked outrage among the local business community, who shut down their shops in protest and blocked the Farrukhnagar-Jhajjar Road for hours, accusing the police of inaction despite earlier warnings from Saini’s family...

 The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the immediate filing of an FIR against state minister and BJP leader Vijay Shah for his derogatory remarks about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.  The controversy arose after a video of Shah’s statement, made during a government event, went viral and sparked widespread outrage. Shah had made a comment suggesting that the Prime Minister had sent a “sister from the same community” as those in Pakistan to retaliate against the Pahalgam terror attack, which was seen as an indirect attack on Colonel Qureshi, who had represented the armed forces during an Operation Sindoor briefing. The court has instructed the Director General of Police to register the FIR within four hours, and Shah may face charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to promoting enmity between groups. In response, the Congress party has filed a complaint, demanding Shah’s dismissal and criticizing the BJP for its silence on the matter...

 Non-Resident BVN (NRBVN) Framework Launch In a bold statement to ensure financial inclusion, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in collaboration with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), has formally launched the Non-Resident BVN (NRBVN), a secure digital gateway to banking for Nigerians abroad.   Governor Olayemi Cardoso firmly stated the following:  1. The launch of the NRBVN platform is a major milestone in Nigeria’s financial inclusion drive and reflects a commitment to innovation, inclusive growth, and economic integration. 2. ⁠Through digital verification and robust Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, Nigerians across the globe can now remotely obtain their BVN swiftly and securely. 3. ⁠The NRBVN offers a single digital gateway that enables Nigerians abroad to open accounts, send funds securely, and access banking services with greater convenience and lower costs. 4. ⁠Nigerian banks are urged to develop tailored products for the Diaspora, stating that ...

 Uruguay's Ex-President Mujica, 'World's Poorest President,' Dies at 89 Former Uruguayan President José “Pepe” Mujica has died at 89 after battling cancer. A former guerrilla fighter, Mujica was celebrated for his humility, progressive reforms, and simple lifestyle, donating most of his salary and living on a modest farm. Latin American leaders mourned his passing, with Uruguay declaring three days of national mourning. As president (2010–2015), Mujica legalized abortion, same-sex marriage, and recreational cannabis, earning global admiration as a symbol of modest leadership and social justice.

 ICPC Arraigns Civil Servant for Alleged Forgery, IPPIS Salary Fraud The ICPC has arraigned Mrs. Moses Oluwafunmilayo Esther for allegedly forging a posting letter and illegally manipulating the IPPIS platform to receive salaries while suspended. Appearing before an FCT High Court, she pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge. The ICPC said her employment records were falsified and she restored her salary without approval after suspension in 2021. Justice Yusuf Halilu granted her bail with strict conditions and adjourned the trial to July 8, 2025.

  Nike Unveils New Kits for Nigeria’s Super Falcons Nike has revealed the Super Falcons’ new home and away kits, blending Nigerian heritage with a modern design. The unveiling, which has gone viral, has been widely praised on social media. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER SOURCE: Nike Unveils 2025 Super Falcons Kit Sportswear giant Nike has officially unveiled the 2025 season kit for Nigeria’s women’s national football team, the Super Falcons. The new design reflects bold African-inspired patterns and modern performance features, celebrating the team’s heritage while gearing up for upcoming international competitions. The Super Falcons continue to represent Nigeria with pride, and this latest kit highlights both style and strength on and off the pitch. More photos below. 

 NIMC Reports Over 120 Million NIN Enrolments, Justifies Price Review The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that National Identity Number (NIN) enrolments have surpassed 120 million, reaching 120,000,040 for citizens and legal residents. The milestone was revealed alongside the commission’s rationale for its recent service price adjustments during a press conference on Wednesday. NIMC Director General, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, highlighted the commission’s efforts to enhance infrastructure capacity over the past 24 months to better serve Nigerians. She also claimed a 40 percent reduction in corruption within the agency, attributing it to improved operational measures. Addressing the controversial price review effective May 1, 2025, Coker-Odusote explained that the adjustments aimed to curb extortion and standardize charges. “There were all sorts of prices over there. People were extorting citizens with outrageous prices,” she stated. While NIN enrolmen...

 Gabon transfers wife and son of former President Bongo to house arrest The wife and son of Gabon's former president have been transferred from prison to house arrest, though it is unclear when they might stand trial for alleged financial crimes, two sources told Reuters. Sylvia Bongo, 62, and Nourredin Bongo, 33, were taken into custody shortly after Ali Bongo was toppled in a military coup more than a year and a half ago. They had most recently been held in basement cells in the presidential palace in Libreville, one of the sources said. The transfer to house arrest - where they have been reunited with Ali Bongo - came on May 9 after pressure from African Union officials for their release. On May 1, one of the sources said, they had been hospitalized after staging a hunger strike. Sylvia Bongo and Nourredin Bongo stand accused of crimes including embezzlement and money laundering. Their supporters have said they were tortured in custody. In an interview with Radio France Internat...

 Tantatu Ward Councillor Calls For Government Intervention As Windstorm Destroys Properties In Kajuru A destructive cyclone accompanied by a heavy downpour hit parts of Kajuru Local Government yesterday, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The violent windstorm unroofed several buildings, including the First ECWA Church in Maraban Kajuru and a government primary school in Kajuru Station, located in Tantatu Ward. The incident was confirmed by the Councillor representing Tantatu Ward at the Kajuru 3rd Legislative House, who described the reports as "heart-wrecking." “This is a matter of urgent public importance,” he stated, calling for swift intervention from relevant authorities. “I urge our Chairman, Hon. Dauda Madaki, and the ever-dedicated Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency, Dr. Senator Uba Sani, to conduct an immediate impact assessment and initiate necessary remedial actions.” More photos below. 

  JAMB registrar breaks down in tears as he admits errors in 2025 UTME, apologises to affected students The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has admitted that there were errors during the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) that affected the performance of many candidates. JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, made this known while speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, May 14.  Oloyede who fought back tears while speaking, disclosed that the board has rescheduled fresh UTME for 379,997 candidates in the five States of the South-East and Lagos State. “What should have been a moment of joy has been marred by one or two errors. Once again, I apologise and I assure you that this incident represents a significant setback. We remain committed to emerging stronger in our core values of transparency, fairness and equity. It is our culture to admit error because we know that despite the best of our efforts, we are huma...

 EFCC Arraigns One for N1.6m Fraud in Maiduguri The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 arraigned one Alhaji Abba Umar before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court,  Maiduguri. The defendant was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation to the tune of N1, 600,000.00 (One Million and Six Hundred Thousand Naira) The charge reads: "That you, Alhaji Abba Umar, sometimes in March, 2022 in Maiduguri, Borno State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly induced Modu Goni Sheriff to deliver to you his title document of a plot of land measuring 450 square meters with right of occupancy no. BO/46605/4 dated 19/03/2002 in the name of Mohammed Goni Umar and located at No. BOTP/178 Abbaganaram Housing Estate where you sold the same plot of land to another person at the rate of N1,600,00.00 (One Million and Six Hundred Thousand Naira) which you are yet to...

 Ghana president tells firms to pump oil ‘like there’s no tomorrow’ Ghana’s President, John Mahama, on Tuesday urged global firms to ramp up crude oil production in the West African nation before the global shift to renewable energy renders the resource worthless. He warned that Ghana risks seeing its oil resources stuck in the ground if drilling is not fast-tracked while demand still exists. Many countries have pledged to reduce their use of oil and gas to meet international targets for reducing carbon emissions that drive deadly climate change. “Oil is in transition. Everybody who has any assets should be pumping like there’s no tomorrow,” Mahama told the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. “I will lay a red carpet to anybody who wants to drill and pump oil because in the next decade or two, the world would have made a transition to renewables.” Mahama, who took office in January, accused the previous government of Nana Akufo-Addo of stalling oil exploration through regulat...

 Brazil’president  Lula presses Putin to join peace talks with Zelensky Brazil’s president said Wednesday he will press Vladimir Putin in person to attend negotiations with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey, adding to calls on the Russian leader to enter talks and end Moscow’s invasion. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will stop over in the Russian capital on the way back to Brazil following the conclusion of a regional forum in China. “I’ll try to talk to Putin,” Lula said at a press conference in Beijing ahead of his departure. “It costs me nothing to say, ‘hey, comrade Putin, go to Istanbul and negotiate, dammit'”, he said. The negotiations scheduled for Thursday in Istanbul would be the first direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour. Lula’s comments come after the Ukrainian foreign minister on Tuesday urged Brazil to use its influence with Russia and make a meeting between Putin and Zelensky happen. They als...

 French PM faces parliamentary c’ttee over abuse allegations 14th May 2025 French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Wednesday faces one of the most delicate moments of his five months in office as he responds to questions from a parliamentary committee investigating claims of sexual abuse at a Catholic school. Bayrou has faced accusations from the opposition that, as education minister in the mid-1990s, he knew of widespread physical and sexual abuse at the Notre-Dame de Betharram school in southwestern France over many decades. The 73-year-old politician, who served as France’s education minister between 1993 and 1997, has denied any wrongdoing and denounced what he calls a campaign of “destruction” against him. Speaking on Saturday, he said his appearance before the committee would give him an “opportunity to prove that all this was false.” Centrist Bayrou, the sixth prime minister of President Emmanuel Macron’s mandate, was named head of government last December. He has been giv...

 France to expel Algerian diplomats in tit-for-tat move 14th May 2025 France will expel Algerian diplomats in response to plans by Algiers to send more French officials home, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Wednesday, as relations between the countries deteriorate. Relations between Algeria and France, the former colonial power in Africa’s largest nation by land area, have been beset by a series of problems in recent months. Barrot told the BFMTV broadcaster that he would summon Algeria’s charge d’affaires to inform him of the decision that he said was “perfectly proportionate at this point” to the Algerian move, which he called “unjustified and unjustifiable”. Barrot had already announced on Monday that France would respond “immediately, firmly” after Algeria summoned the charge d’affaires of the French embassy in Algiers on Sunday to notify him of the expulsions of the French officials from Algerian territory. The officials concerned are on temporary reinforcement missi...

 ASHIA Sensitizes Enrollment Officers on Free HIV,  TB Insurance Scheme   By Chisom Okafor  The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) has held a one-day sensitization workshop for enrollment officers to strengthen the implementation of its free health insurance program for people living with HIV and tuberculosis, supported by the Global Fund.  The workshop, which took place in Awka, aimed to equip officers with a clear understanding of the scheme, reinforce the importance of maintaining beneficiary confidentiality, and ensure accurate data collection during the enrollment process. It also clarified the roles of enrollment officers and stakeholders, while addressing potential challenges that may arise in the field.  Speaking at the event, the ASHIA Managing Director and CEO, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, emphasized the need for professionalism, empathy, and strict adherence to ethical standards,  reminding officers that a valid National Identifica...

 Man Arrested for Brutal Murder of His Partner in Schoemansdal A 41-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of the mother of his children. The incident took place on Monday, 12 May 2025. According to reports, the man and the 31-year-old woman were involved in a heated argument before the attack. It is alleged that the suspect used an axe to fatally assault the victim. Preliminary investigations reveal that the couple had two children together. After the attack, the suspect reportedly left the woman’s lifeless body in the street. Police and other emergency services were called to the scene, and a swift investigation led to the suspect’s arrest. He is expected to appear before the Nkomazi Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 14 May 2025, where he will face a charge of murder.

  Governor Peter Mbah hosts PDP South-East Zone, as it re-affirms Udeh-Okoye as party’s National Secretary, in line with the recent decision of the Supreme Court  *COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE SOUTH EAST ZONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (ZEC) MEETING OF THE PDP HELD AT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, ENUGU, ENUGU STATE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2025*  PREAMBLE The South East Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, met at the Government House, Enugu, Enugu State, today, Wednesday, May 14, 2025 to deliberate on the issue of the Office of the National Secretary of the Party. It is recalled that on March 21, 2025, the Supreme Court brought to a close the protracted legal tussle over the position of the National Secretary of the PDP. The apex court, in its ruling, held that the issue of the leadership of a political party was the internal affairs of such a party and that the courts and INEC had no jurisdiction and ought not to interfere. Following the considera...

 A 7-year-old and 9-year-old boy were  in an armed stand off with Albuquerque Police. Yes, with a firearm. This is nearly an unbelievable story! Although this shocking and heart stopping incident occurred back in February, video of the encounter has just been released and has left viewers utterly shocked. In the video captured by a drone, you witness the two young boys wearing Star Wars and Minecraft shirts, hiding behind an air conditioning unit as police move in. You can see the two boys passing the loaded handgun back and forth and peeping over the top of the unit to keep track of where the police are positioning around them.  Police were eventually able to surround the very young boys and fire non-lethal rounds to distract the children as they moved in to subdue them.  Unbelievably, as the police moved in, one boy points the weapon at officers and attempts to fire the weapon at police.  Fortunately, the weapon malfunctioned and failed to fire or this story c...

  Plus-size model and Nollywood actress, Monalisa Ayobami Stephen, has passed away.    The Chief Executive Officer of Best of Nollywood (BON), Seun Oloketuyi, confirmed her death in an Instagram post on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.    According to Oloketuyi, the influencer d!ed on Tuesday, May 13, after a battle with low blood sugar and internal bleeding   He added that the deceased actress’ sister confirmed her passing.    “Brand influencer, Monalisa Ayobami Stephen is dead. She died yesterday in Lagos after losing the fight against low sugar and internal bleeding. Her immediate younger sister confirmed the d3ath of this hardworking and beautiful soul,” he wrote.

 US church refuses to resettle white South Africans granted refugee status The White House questioned Tuesday the humanitarian commitment of the influential Episcopal Church after it refused to comply with a federal directive to help resettle white Afrikaners granted refugee status by the Trump administration, AFP reported. Trump ran on an anti-immigrant platform and essentially halted refugee arrivals in the United States after taking office, but made an exception for white Afrikaners despite South Africa's insistence that they do not face persecution in their homeland. On Monday, around 50 white South Africans arrived for resettlement in the United States, after Trump granted them refugee status as victims of what he called a "genocide." That claim - oft-repeated by Trump's Pretoria-born ally, billionaire Elon Musk - has been widely dismissed as absurd, including by the South African government. Resettlement program On Monday, the Episcopal Church said it would end ...

 Mali bans French television channel TV5 Monde over protest coverage Mali’s media regulatory body said it is banning a French television channel in the country due to “defamatory remarks” it made about a demonstration in the capital earlier this month, AFP reported. The High Authority for Communication said in a letter published on Tuesday that it was cutting the signal of French channel TV5 Monde after a news anchor remarked that “hundreds of security forces were mobilized to prevent demonstrators from accessing” the Palais de la Culture during a May 3 protest. The authority said this was incorrect and that "the forces of law and order were present at the Palais de la Culture to secure the demonstrators.” TV5 Monde did not immediately comment on the announcement. Signals blocked The decision was the latest move by Malian authorities that targeted media outlets. The signals of France 24 and Radio France Internationale (RFI) have been blocked for three years. Mali’s private TV chan...

 Oshiomhole Challenges Abati to ‘Street Fight’ Over TV Comments Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called out journalist and former presidential spokesperson Dr. Reuben Abati, challenging him to a physical confrontation following remarks made on a television program that Oshiomhole deemed "disrespectful" and "mischievous." The dispute stems from a recent TV episode where Abati questioned former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa about his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Oshiomhole, speaking on Tuesday, took issue with Abati’s suggestion that Okowa needed his permission to join the APC, questioning the journalist’s implication that he holds such authority within the party. “How can you ask that? What is my status? I am in the legislature. Is the legislature responsible for the prosecution of anyone?” Oshiomhole, a former Edo State governor and Nigeria Labour Congress president, said during an interview. Without naming Abati directly, Oshiomhole ...