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STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU MOURNS KANO STATE CONTINGENT INVOLVED IN TRAGIC ACCIDENT, ORDERS NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO MOKWA FLOOD DISASTER   President Bola Tinubu has received with deep sorrow the tragic news of an accident involving members of the Kano State contingent who were returning from the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Ogun State.   On behalf of the Federal Government, the President extends heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Kano State, as well as to the families and loved ones of those who died in the accident.   "This is a devastating blow to the nation. It casts a shadow over the National Sports Festival, a celebration of unity, talent, and excellence. It has long served as a platform for discovering and nurturing athletes who bring pride to Nigeria on both national and international stages," the President said.   President Tinubu paid tribute to the accident victims, whose dedication and aspirations ...

 I’ve Not Taken A Single Loan In Two Years - Gov. Uba Sani  Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has revealed that since assuming office two years ago, he has not taken a single loan from either local or international financial institutions. The governor made the disclosure during a Hausa-language interview with select Kaduna-based broadcast journalists, held as part of activities marking his second anniversary in office. He said several banks had approached his administration with various loan offers, but he declined them to avoid plunging the state into further debt. Governor Sani noted that his government had instead adopted stringent cost-cutting measures, including slashing allowances and perks for top officials such as the Secretary to the State Government and Commissioners, to maintain a lean and efficient administration. “The Secretary to the State Government is a retired federal Permanent Secretary and a former consultant with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)....

 Abuja Pastor, Deaconess Arrested for Alleged Child Trafficking, Attempted Sale of Boy for ₦1.2m Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested Rev. Pastor Prince Bassey Ajah, General Overseer of Wells of Salvation Church in Abuja, along with two accomplices, Nancy Atoo and Deaconess Vera Duru, for alleged child trafficking. The arrests follow a distress call reporting suspicious activity at Wazobia Motor Park in Gwagwalada. According to a statement issued on Saturday by FCT Police Public Relations Officer Josephine Adeh, the incident began on May 24, 2025, when officials at the motor park alerted the Gwagwalada Area Command about a man exhibiting suspicious behavior while attempting to travel with a young child. A Police Emergency Response Team was dispatched, leading to the arrest of Isreal Ajah, who was trying to board a vehicle to Owerri, Imo State, with a 7-year-old boy, Muktar Hassan, in his custody. Preliminary investigations revealed that Isr...

 Press Statement  Tinubu Sends Delegation to Niger State Over Devastating Floods President Tinubu has dispatched a high-level Federal Government delegation to Niger State to commiserate with the government and people of the state following the devastating floods that ravaged Mokwa and its environs. The tragic incident resulted in the loss of many lives, displacement of residents, and extensive destruction of property. The delegation comprises the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris and his counterpart in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda. During a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of Niger State, Mr. Yakubu Garba, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Idris, conveyed President Tinubu’s heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the state over the flood disaster. The Minister noted that President Tinubu is deeply saddened by the tragic incident and s...

 22 members of Kano sports delegation to Ogun feared dead in fatal accident Some members of the Kano state delegation to Ogun for the National Sports Festival have been confirmed dead after a fatal accident on their way home. Reports confirmed that 35 passengers were in the vehicle that plunged into a bridge at Kura local government after their games in Ogun state. A survivor from the accident, Ado Salisu Gama who spoke to DAILY POST said some of his colleagues were confirmed dead on the spot, while others were rushed to Kura General Hospital. Speaking from the hospital on Saturday morning, he said: “22 people have been confirmed dead at Dakatsalle bridge, just before Kura. The driver too is dead. As I speak with you, one other member just died.” Ado Salisu who was clearly in shock said others still at the hospital are receiving care. Among the dead are athletes, journalists, medical personnel and administrators. Details are still emerging as some members of the team that won 29 me...

 NSF: Gov. Abiodun Mourns Kano Athletes Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident involving members of the Kano State contingent who were returning home after participating in the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) held in Ogun State. A bus conveying the athletes was said to have been involved in a crash about 50 kilometres from Kano after passing through Kaduna State, claiming the lives of 20 athletes. Abiodun, in a statement issued in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Saturday, said the incident had left him completely traumatized, especially given that the athletes were vibrant young people who were looking forward to a warm reception from their fans and families after proudly donning the colours of Kano State at the just-concluded Gateway Games 2024, and who had a bright future ahead of them. Expressing condolences to the government and people of Kano State over the incident, Abiodun prayed for the repose of t...

 No Landmark Property Demolished in Lagos-Calabar Highway Construction, Says Umahi The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has clarified that no property belonging to Landmark Africa was demolished during the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. Speaking at the inauguration of Phase 1 of the highway in Lekki, Lagos, on Saturday, Umahi addressed claims by Landmark, operators of Landmark Beach, who sought compensation for alleged demolitions worth billions of naira. Umahi informed President Bola Tinubu, who officiated the commissioning, that only Landmark’s encroachments on the shoreline were affected, not its core infrastructure. “Mr. President, I want to state that we did no harm to Landmark Property. In fact, as you will see, this dual carriageway was divided into two by your order to save as much infrastructure as possible, even though they violated the gazetted route,” Umahi said. “The Landmark infrastructure is intact; what was removed was their encroachment on our fro...

 Don’t choose successors because they kneel for you – Akpabio tells Govs Senate President Godswill Akpabio has advised second-term governors to exercise caution in selecting their successors, warning against choosing candidates based solely on displays of loyalty. Speaking on Saturday at the commissioning of the first 30 kilometers of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Lekki, Lagos, Akpabio cautioned that prioritizing subservience over competence could lead to betrayal and poor governance. Addressing governors, particularly those from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akpabio emphasized the importance of visionary leadership. “Do not give power to anybody who is not prepared,” he said. “Don’t choose someone just because they are subservient or their wife is rolling on the floor. If you do that, you are giving power to someone unprepared for governance, and they will disappoint you. This is where betrayals normally start.” Akpabio praised President Bola Tinubu, who was present ...

 Tricycle Union Demands Compensation, Investigation After Fatal Aba Billboard Collapse The Abia State Tricycle Operators Union (ASTOPU), Aba Zone, has confirmed the death of one of its members in a tragic billboard collapse at Salad Junction, Aba, on Wednesday, describing the incident as a "big tragedy." In a statement issued by Aba Zonal Chairman Victor Azubuike, the union called on the Abia State Government to launch a thorough investigation into the accident and provide compensation for the victim’s family. "This is a devastating loss, and we urge the government to act swiftly to ensure justice and support for those affected," Azubuike said. ASTOPU also appealed to health authorities to prioritize quality care for survivors receiving treatment, emphasizing the need for comprehensive medical support. The union further demanded stricter safety measures, urging state agencies and regulatory bodies to enforce rigorous inspections and standards for billboards and simi...

 Imo State Confirms Diphtheria Outbreak in Mbutu, Issues Urgent Safety Guidelines The Imo State Government has officially confirmed an outbreak of diphtheria in Mbutu community, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, following laboratory confirmation of multiple suspected cases. The announcement, made by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Chioma Egu, in a statement on Saturday, has prompted immediate action to contain the spread of the highly contagious bacterial disease. According to Dr. Egu, the Ministry of Health has activated its rapid response mechanisms to address the outbreak. “We understand the concerns this may raise among residents and stakeholders, but we reassure the public that the situation is under control,” Egu stated. She emphasized that surveillance and medical response teams have been deployed to Mbutu to ensure swift identification, isolation, and treatment of cases. The ministry has outlined several response measures, including: - Free treatment and case manage...

 Edo Governor Gifts SUVs to Acting LG Chairmen After APC Defection Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has gifted brand-new SUVs to 17 acting local government (LG) chairmen, three months after their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The chairmen, originally legislative leaders, assumed their roles following the controversial impeachment of elected council chairmen and deputies in early 2025. The Edo State House of Assembly, on December 17, 2024, suspended all 18 elected LG chairmen and their deputies for two months, citing “insubordination and gross misconduct.” The suspension stemmed from a petition by Governor Okpebholo, dated November 16, 2024, titled *Insubordination and Gross Misconduct by the 18 Local Government Chairmen Over Their Refusal to Submit Financial Records for Scrutiny*. Before the suspension period ended, 17 of the 18 councils’ legislative arms, allegedly backed by the APC-led state government, impe...

 NAPTIP Summons Speed Darlington Over Alleged Sexual Abuse Claim, Threatens Further Action The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has issued a summons to Nigerian entertainer Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, following a controversial claim that he slept with a 15-year-old virgin. The agency has threatened “further actions” if the singer fails to appear for questioning at its headquarters in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, on Friday, May 30, 2025, at 9:00 AM. The summons, issued on May 28, 2025, by NAPTIP’s Head of Cybercrime Response Team, Ngamaraju Mangzha, was prompted by a viral video in which Darlington made the admission, sparking outrage on social media. In a statement posted on X on Thursday, NAPTIP reiterated its call for the entertainer to respond to the invitation, warning, “Mr. Darlington Okoye (AKA Speed Darlington) is urged to address the official invitation regarding a viral video and others in which he admitted to sexuall...

 EFCC Hands over Forfeited Properties of Ex-Gov. Nnamani to AMCON in Enugu The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Thursday, May 29, 2025 handed over four  properties forfeited by Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, a company owned by a former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, to the Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON in Enugu State. The properties are; one bungalow, one wire house and three duplexes, all located at No. 3/4 Pocket Estate Independence Layout, Enugu; 12 rooms of one -storey semi-detached building located at No. 35B Abakaliki Road, Enugu; one duplex of six rooms, located at No. 3A Mount Street, Park-avenue, Enugu and one duplex of six rooms, located at No. 3C Mount Street, Park-avenue, Enugu State. Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede who was represented by the Acting Zonal Director, Enugu Zonal Directorate,  Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Aisha Abubakar noted that the Commis...

 Gabon latest African country to halt raw export of critical mineral Gabon will cease exporting manganese from 2029 as part of a plan to transform national industry, President Brice Oligui Nguema said in a government statement published on Saturday, AFP reported. Selling manganese, which can be used in the production of stainless steel and batteries, is one of Gabon's main sources of revenue, alongside wood and oil sales. Speaking on Friday to the council of ministers, Oligui ordered "the formal ban... from January 1, 2029, of the export of raw manganese, a strategic resource of which Gabon is the second largest producer in the world," the government statement said. The move in the country of 2.3 million people, one of the richest in Africa, aims at developing "an ambitious industrial policy based on the local transformation of primary materials, an increase in the national workforce's competence, the mastering of technological value chains and the consolidation ...

 Nigeria floods death toll rises above 150, thousands displaced Flash flooding earlier this week in the central Nigerian town of Mokwa killed more than 150 people, a spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency said on Saturday, warning that the toll could still rise. The figures shared with AFP by Ibrahim Audu Husseini noted a sharp rise from the previous toll of 115 dead, while also showing more than 3,000 people were displaced, 265 houses "completely destroyed" and two bridges washed away. Search-and-rescue operations are ongoing, President Bola Tinubu said, as officials warned the death toll was expected to rise. Torrential rains late Wednesday through early Thursday washed away and submerged dozens of homes in and around the town of Mokwa, located near the Niger River. Bodies swept Bodies were swept into the river and carried downstream, complicating efforts to compile a death toll, Husseini told AFP. Tinubu, in an overnight post on social media, said that s...

 EFCC Commences Investigation of Two Suspects in Kano for Alleged Fake $899, 800 The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC, has commenced investigation of two suspects arrested with counterfeit $899,800 (Eight Hundred and Ninety-Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred  United States Of America Dollars. The suspects, Abubakar Hussaini (42) and Sahabi Adamu (53), were initially intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, along Maiduguri Road, Wudil, Kano State. They were traveling in a commercial Golf 3 Station Wagon car  en route to Kila Village in Gwaram Local Government Area , LGA, of Jigawa State. Upon search, the NDLEA team discovered the suspected fake notes concealed inside a Maggi Star seasoning carton. The suspects and exhibits were subsequently handed over to the EFCC  for further investigation. Preliminary findings revealed that the suspects were transporting the counterfeit currency to Kila Vill...

 Lagos  Courts Jail  15 Foreigners for Cyber-terrorism, Internet Fraud The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentence of  11 Filipinos, two Chinese, one Malaysian and one Indonesian to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud before Justices Yellim Bogoro and A. O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. The convicts were arraigned on Friday, May 30, 2025,  on separate charges bordering on possession of fraudulent documents. The convicts are: Winnie De Jesus, Kayceelynn Remorin, Irish Chna, Darwisa Esmael, Kimberly Nisperos, Savien Cire Renovilla, Zeng Zerong and Guo Bin, Others are: Jessa Sanchi, Jhena Sarmiento, Rain Torida, Rex Jose Dilag (aka Madison), Tan Soon Kar, Fernando Fu Fang and Beverlyin Gumayo (aka Veb Sumayo.)  One of the counts reads: "That you, WINNIE DE JESUS & GENTING INTERNATIONAL Co. LTD, sometime in December 2024...

 ARCON TO INVESTIGATE MOBILE ADVERTISING DEBT OF ONE BILLION NAIRA (N1B): SEEK TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THE NIGERIAN ADVERTISING LAWS 1 The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, (ARCON) has received tuwo petitions against Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (trading as 9mobile), a member of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) relating to its long overdue indebtedness of one billion Naira [N1B) for advertising services.  2 It was also alleged that while 9mobile refused to pay or resolve its indebtedness to the agencies, it has gone ahead to brief other agencies to continue its advertising and advertisement business with impunity. The agencies owed are left in limbo.  3 ARCON will investigate the movement of the account from the agencies owed to the new agencies briefed to ascertain compliance with disengagement protocol as well as possible breach of ethical procedure. 4. By the workings of the advertising ecosųstems, advertising debts a...

 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that the United States will begin revoking the visas of certain Chinese students.  The move will target individuals with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in fields considered sensitive to national security. Rubio stated the State Department will “aggressively” enforce these new measures. This decision could affect thousands of students, as China is the second-largest source of international students in the US. Over 270,000 Chinese students were enrolled in American universities during the 2023–2024 academic year, accounting for nearly 25% of all international students. The crackdown adds to growing concerns among international students. On Tuesday, Rubio also paused the scheduling of new visa interviews while the State Department drafts stricter guidelines, including enhanced surveillance of students’ online activity. These actions come amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to limit forei...

 In a stunning turn of events, Taylor Swift has purchased the rights to her first six albums from Shamrock Capital, ending a six-year saga that began when her masters were sold without her consent in 2019. Swift paid an undisclosed nine-figure sum - described as "exceptionally fair" - for the catalog that includes everything from her debut through "Reputation." The irony? The very controversy that stripped her of her music led to the Taylor's Versions re-recordings, which inspired the Eras Tour concept. That tour's record-breaking $2.2 billion gross gave her the financial power to reclaim her artistic legacy. "All of the music I've ever made... now belongs... to me," Swift wrote to fans, describing herself as "elated and amazed." Both original albums and Taylor's Versions will continue to be available, with "Reputation (Taylor's Version)" and her debut re-recording still planned for future release.

 In a surprising turn during today's press briefing, President Donald Trump responded to questions about potentially pardoning Sean "Diddy" Combs, who is currently standing trial on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges. Trump stated he would "certainly look at the facts" and consider a pardon if he believes Combs was "mistreated" by the justice system. The President noted that while he and Diddy were once friends, their relationship "busted up" when Trump entered politics, but emphasized this wouldn't influence his decision-making on clemency. This comes as Combs faces serious federal charges including two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, and one count of racketeering conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

 The Cardi B and Offset divorce has taken a shocking turn that's left fans stunned by the raw emotion on display. After TMZ reported that Offset filed an amended divorce response requesting spousal support, Cardi B went live on X Spaces with an explosive reaction that revealed the deep pain behind their split. The Grammy-winning rapper didn't hold back, telling her estranged husband she wanted him to "die slow" - words born from frustration over what she calls his absence from their children's lives. The drama escalated when Offset's spokesperson told The Breakfast Club that Cardi was asking for "everything" in the divorce and claimed she's "barely ever with their kids." Cardi fired back, revealing she actually asked for "no child support" in her divorce papers because she just wants to "be done with this marriage." Most heartbreaking? Cardi claims Offset has only seen their youngest child five times and hasn't v...