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 Telling Anambra people to Repaint their houses is utterly irresponsible, wicked, insensitive and sadistic‎----Mahdi Shehu ‎ ‎In a recent statement via his official X account, human rights activist and political commentator, Mahdi Shehu, has criticised Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State over a recent directive issued to residents. ‎ ‎Governor Soludo had reportedly instructed homeowners in Anambra to repaint their houses or face government action. ‎ ‎Reacting to the directive, Mahdi Shehu described the governor’s action as harsh and insensitive. ‎ "‎This is utterly irresponsible, wicked, insensitive and sadistic at the time of open hunger, declining economic activities, that when you are telling people to repaint their houses. Some of them have not been able to bury their dead relations for months because they have no means. This Soludo is real soludo," ‎ ‎Shehu expressed concern over the economic hardship faced by residents.‎He said many people in Anambra are struggling...

 59 die in Borno, Kano, Kebbi, Pleteau attacks NO fewer than 59 people were killed in four separate attacks in Borno, Kano, Kebbi and Plateau states on Friday and Saturday. While 30 people were killed in Kebbi State, 12 persons, who were identified as wedding guests were murdered in Plateau State. In Borno State, 12 persons died in a suicide bombing carried out in a fish market by a woman, while in Kano State, a military mortar bomb went off along the Eastern Bypass in Kano, the State capital, on Saturday, killing five persons in the process. 12 die in Borno suicide bombing Local sources in Konduga LGA of Borno State told one of our correspondents on Saturday that the suicide bomber was burnt beyond recognition. Sunday PUNCH also gathered that those who were injured in the incident were rushed to a nearby hospital. “It is a busy joint where people come together, buy food and eat. There were passersby and others. “Everything was going normal until a loud sound was heard. It was a de...

 ARREST OF WANTED VICIOUS AND NOTORIOUS HIRED KILLER AND HEAD OF KILLERS GANG IN THE HISTORY OF LAGOS STATE IN RECENT TIME AND RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS The Lagos State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of a significant breakthrough in its relentless fight against crime of violence and other criminalities in Lagos State. On June 20, 2025, Tactical Squad operatives of the Command successfully in a well-coordinated special operation, trailed and arrested one Wasiu Akinwande aka Olori Eso, a 44-year-old notorious hired killer and head of killers gang and cultist kingpin who along with his multiple gangs and hoodlums have been terrorizing Mushin area of Lagos State and its environs. This serial killer suspect is the most wanted suspect in Lagos history in recent time. His arrest marks a huge success in the ongoing fight against violent crimes that are threats to security and safety of residents in Mushin and some other parts of Lagos State. Wasiu Akinwande was arrested in h...

 STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE NIGERIA, BENIN SIGN INTEGRATION AGREEMENT AS PRESIDENTS TINUBU AND TALON LEAD CALL FOR REGIONAL REFORMS   Nigeria and the Republic of Benin signed an agreement on Saturday to deepen bilateral integration and serve as a model for broader regional cooperation within ECOWAS.   The signing ceremony, witnessed by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Benin Republic President Patrice Talon, occurred at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja.   Nigeria's Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, signed the agreement, alongside Benin's Minister of Industry and Trade, Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Shegun Adjadi Bakari.   President Talon declared that the move signified a bold step toward real, actionable regional integration.   "President Tinubu and I have agreed on full integration...

 PRESS RELEASE.  FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXPANDS DISTRIBUTION OF LIFE JACKETS TO KWARA STATE TO BOOST WATERWAYS SAFETY.  The Federal Government today delivered a consignment of life jackets to Kwara State, expanding its ongoing nationwide initiative to reduce fatalities and enhance safety on Nigeria's inland waterways. The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, stated that Kwara State is a crucial beneficiary, recognizing the state's reliance on water transportation in areas like Patigi, Edu, and Kaiama, where the River Niger and its tributaries are vital for commerce and daily life.  The Minister who was represented the Director, Maritime Services Department, Dr. Mercy Ilori, highlighted that boat accidents, often due to the absence of life jackets, are a recurring tragedy the Ministry is actively combating. The government’s strategy is multifaceted: enforcing the Inland Waterways Transportation Regulations 2023, conducting public safety...

 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE IOM Applauds Nigeria's Migration Reforms, Disaster Preparedness * *As VP Shettima calls for collaboration to tackle migration, ecological disruptions The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has commended Nigeria's significant strides in migration governance and disaster preparedness. This is just as Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for enhanced partnership to address the humanitarian challenges facing crisis-affected regions across the country. He said there was an urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address the interconnected problems of climate change and migration across Nigeria, as they are directly linked to the economic well-being of the population. Speaking on Friday during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the IOM led by its Chief of Mission in Nigeria, Sharon Dimanche, at the Presidential Villa, the Vice President called for practical and inclusive solutions to the complex intersection of migration, poverty, con...

 PRESS RELEASE  NIGERIA PARTICIPATION IN THE BRICS MINISTER'S OF HEALTH MEETING HELD AT BRASILIA, BRASIL. In January this year, in recognition of the strategic position of Nigeria and demonstration of confidence in the government of PBAT, Nigeria was admitted as a partner country of BRICS. BRICS (now BRICS+) was formed 16 years ago and consists some of the most populous and influential nations in the world (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Indonesia etc) who are cooperating to reform global governance and advocating for the interest of global south. BRICS+ represents 46% of the world's population, and 25% of the world's landmass. Nigeria delegation led by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako participated in the BRICS Minister's of Health Meeting, which took place in Brasilia, Brazil for the first time. The delegation also took part in a high level event on promotion of adequate and healthy eating practices and their cont...

 Senator Ned Nwoko Moves to Prosecute Social Media Influencer for Defamation Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, has announced plans to pursue legal action against social media influencer Timothy Gabriel, alias Tuma, for alleged defamatory and misleading statements targeting him and his wife, actress Regina Daniels. The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Ned Nwoko Media Directorate and shared with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday. According to the statement, Gabriel’s provocative remarks, which included baseless accusations against the couple, were accompanied by a public dare for Nwoko and Daniels to respond or take legal action. Senator Nwoko stated that he has accepted the challenge and is moving forward with prosecution. “No individual has the right to hurl baseless and vulgar accusations against another citizen and then hide behind social media antics or street protests to evade accountability,” Nwoko said. He described ...

 SERVICE PROVIDER SEEKS COLLABORATION WITH LAGOS STATE AHEAD OF 2026 HAJJ A Saudi Arabian based pilgrims services provider, Mashariq Al Dhahabiah Company (Sana) has sought a mutual working relationship and collaboration with Lagos State Government, ahead of the 2026 Hajj operation.  This was the highpoint of a meeting at the expense of the company in its office in Makkah, on Friday.  Represented by the Assistant Chief Executive Officer (ACEO) of Nigerian Pilgrims Sector, Zuheir Abdullatif Banjabi and Dr. Tanko Aliyu, the company sought to know areas where there were challenges at the Mashaer (Mina and Arafah) as well as Musdalifah and the Jamarat, during the just concluded 2025  exercise, with a view to providing necessary improvement ahead of the next year's spiritual exercise.  In response, the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Amir-ul-Hajj, Hon. Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode, listed the areas of challenges that needed urgent attention and improvement before next ...

 STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE   PRESIDENT TINUBU: WEST AFRICA MUST TURN DEMOGRAPHIC STRENGTH AND MINERAL WEALTH INTO JOBS AND INDUSTRY   President Bola Tinubu on Saturday urged West African leaders to harness the region's youthful population and abundant natural resources for economic transformation through industrialisation, education, and innovation.   Delivering the opening address at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja, President Tinubu described the region's vibrant, youthful population as its greatest asset.   "However, this demographic promise can quickly become a liability if not matched by investments in education, digital infrastructure, innovation, and productive enterprise," he warned.   The president emphasised the need for regional cooperation, citing Nigeria's investments in skills development, digital connectivity, and youth empowerment.   "No one country can do this alone. Our prosperity depends on regional supply cha...

 The golden glasses of Akan chiefs.  Long before shutter shades became a thing in popular culture, chiefs of the West African tribes wore barred up lenses made from solid gold.  Their purpose wasn't for vision or sight but it was rather a social structure that symbolized the hierarchy. The purpose of the glasses was that nobody could look the chief in the eyes. Highlighting the significance and power dynamic within the ethnic group 🇬🇭 🇨🇮.  More photos below. 

 Coronation Pictures of Governor Chukwuma Soludo as he was officially Honored with the title of "Oluatuegwu"  by the Anambra North Traditional Leaders during Anambra North flag off Campaign. Oluatu-egwu 1 of Anambra. More photos below. 

 Alao-Akala Family Feud Deepens as First Daughter Seeks DNA Test, Exhumation of Late Governor’s Body Over Estate Dispute The family of the late former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, has plunged deeper into crisis as his first daughter, Mrs Oluwatoyin Alao-Aderinto, has approached an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, seeking an order for a Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test on seven individuals claiming to be Biological children of the deceased, as well as an application for the exhumation of the late governor’s body to carry out the DNA test. In a suit filed before Justice Taiwo of Court 12 at the state high court, ring road, Ibadan, with Motion Number I/443/2024, Oluwatoyin Alao-Aderinto, through her counsel, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Oladipo Olasope, is praying the court to direct that the DNA tests be carried out on herself, including Olamide, Adebukola, Olamipo, Olamiju, a serving member of the House of Representatives, Tabitha and Olamiku...

 How we survived herdsmen attack that claimed 200 lives in Benue community – Residents By Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi The intensity of attacks on Benue communities by suspected herdsmen took a turn for the worse last Saturday with the killing of no fewer than 200 inhabitants of Yelewata, a community at the border between Benue and Nassarawa states situated in Guma Local Government Area. Like other Tiv communities, the inhabitants of Yelewata are predominantly farmers. The rich and fertile land is good for cultivation of different kinds of crops, including maize, rice, millet, yams and cassava, to mention a few. A farmer in Yelewata, Thomas Iorya, who currently lives in a temporary camp opened for displaced persons at the International Market, Makurdi, the Benue State capital, told our correspondent that Yelewata came into existence more than 100 years ago. “Our great grandfathers lived in this town and gave birth to us. So, this is our ancestry home. We have nowhere else to go,” he said ...

 Admitting all kinds of defectors a costly mistake by APC – Obono-Obla Former presidential adviser and a stalwart of the national ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla has stated that the random acceptance of defectors from other opposition parties, especially the PDP, is a very costly mistake. In the last few months, there have been influxes of defectors to the APC. In a statement, Obono-Obla expressed fears that the newcomers who were never grounded in the original ideals that founded the APC were those that had come and would continue to cause crises in the party. “These same latecomers stand at the forefront of efforts to fracture the party. “Their maneuvers, though unsuccessful thus far, underscore a deeper identity crisis within the APC. “Since assuming power in 2015, the APC has made the costly error of embracing every Tom, Dick, and Harry, often at the expense of its founding ideals. “In doing so, the party has sidelined loyal foundation member...

 Tiwa Savage opens up on balancing motherhood, career, industry pressures Award-winning singer Tiwa Savage has opened up about motherhood and career challenges in an exclusive interview on Afrobeats Intelligence, hosted by Joey Akan.  Savage discussed the challenges of balancing her career and family life, particularly during the lockdown when her home studio blurred the lines between work and personal time. She revealed that she often found herself working late into the night, compromising precious moments with her son. “During lockdown, I had a studio (at home) and I was actually trying to learn how to record myself and then I realized that I was always there. 2 a.m. in the morning, and sometimes I’m not even recording, I’m just listening to music, watching something. Initially I was not spending time with my son especially, and it wasn’t good for me ‘cos I couldn’t separate work from home ‘cos work was in my home. And I didn’t like that; I wanted to be able to leave work an...