PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 SHOOTING STARS CLUB COACH SLUMPS, DIES Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) assistant coach, Akin Olowokere, is allegedly dead.  The newly-appointed assistant coach reportedly slumped and gave up the ghost during the team's training session on Monday.  The Ibadan-based team members rushed Olowokere to a nearby hospital where he was reported dead on arrival.  The deceased was a former player at Sunshine Stars of Akure in Ondo State before becoming a certified coach. He served as assistant coach at 3SC under head coach Edith Agoye.

Katsina Crash Kills Newlyweds, Three Others A fatal accident has claimed the lives of a newly married couple and three others  in the Abattoir area of Katsina metropolis. The incident happened along the Kurfi–Katsina road on Monday and threw the community into mourning. The victims identified as Abdulsalami Yusuf Kankara, 37, and his wife, Malama Zainab, were reportedly on their way back from Kurfi Local Government Area, where they had gone to console another couple who had suffered a miscarriage. The couple were on their way home when the tragic incident occurred, killing them and three others. Authorities are yet to release full details of how the accident happened, but residents described the loss as “a huge tragedy” for the community.

 ADC appoints Jackie Wayas as deputy national publicity secretary In a significant milestone for inclusive governance, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has appointed Jackie Wayas as its new deputy national publicity secretary, marking a transformative step toward greater youth and female participation in Nigerian politics.  The appointment was said to have reflected the party’s deliberate strategy to empower vibrant, competent young leaders as it positions itself to challenge the ruling party in the 2027 presidential elections. Wayas, a seasoned strategic communicator and advocate for inclusive democracy, will lead the ADC’s conventional media engagement efforts—an influential role in shaping public perception and promoting the party’s vision for good governance.  Her appointment has been regarded as both a symbolic and practical move toward ensuring that women and young people play central roles in Nigeria’s political future. Her journey into this position underscor...

 Passenger Remanded in Kirikiri for Assaulting Ibom Air Staff Comfort Emmanson, a passenger accused of assaulting airline officials aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, has been remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre following her arraignment in court on Monday. The incident, which occurred during a recent flight, reportedly involved Emmanson engaging in a physical altercation with Ibom Air staff, disrupting the safety and order of the flight. Details of the assault remain under investigation, but authorities confirmed that the charges stem from her alleged aggressive behavior toward crew members. Emmanson was brought before a Lagos court, where she faced charges related to the assault. The presiding judge ordered her detention at Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending further hearings. The court has yet to announce a date for the next session. Ibom Air, in a statement, condemned the incident, emphasizing its commitment to ensuring the safety of passengers and staff. The ai...

 Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has warned that any existential conflict with India could trigger a nuclear response with global consequences.  Speaking at a private black-tie dinner in Tampa, Florida, on August 10 during his U.S. visit, Munir reportedly said Pakistan would “take half the world down” if pushed to the brink. According to ThePrint, Munir threatened to target any future Indian dams on the Indus River, in light of New Delhi’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty after the recent Pahalgam terror attack. He warned that such a move could endanger up to 250 million people. “We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does, destroy it with 10 missiles… we don’t have a missile shortage,” he allegedly said. Phones and recording devices were banned at the event, which was hosted by businessman Adnan Asad. Munir also used vivid analogies to describe the India-Pakistan equation, likening India to a “shining Mercedes” and Pakistan to a “dump t...

 I WANT TO EXPERIENCE DATING A RICH GUY - TIWA SAVAGE Singer Tiwa Savage said she had dated poor guys a number of times and would like to experience what it feels like to date a rich person. According to the superstar, she used to think that money does not matter if love is present. But she has come to a stage in her life where she thinks that money is as important as love. “I’ve tried dating men without money,” Savage said, “but at this stage in my life, I want to experience what it feels like to be with someone financially stable. “I want to try dating someone who’s wealthier. I have tried the other way for so many years. Let me try what it’s like dating someone financially stable.”

 TENI DEMANDS $1M FROM DANGOTE FOR MISSING AMALA Singer Teni said billionaire industrialist, Aliko Dangote, would have to compensate her with $1 million for making her miss Amala at Davido's wedding in Miami, Florida. "Dangote you have to pay me $1 million for disturbing me from eating Amala at Davido's wedding," Teni stated.  "I still can't believe I made such a huge mistake at Davido's wedding after spraying $100k. I didn't eat Amala at Davido's wedding yesterday. I was on my own ooh, going to collect Amala and I saw Dangote. I immediately left the Amala and went to explain my life story to Daddy Dangote.  After I was done discussing with Daddy Dangote, I saw my other Daddy, Saraki, and immediately went to go meet him. Then I just talked with my new daddies all through the wedding party and forgot to eat Amala. Daddy Dangote and Daddy Saraki will have to pay for my Amala." 

 ANAMBRA POLICE SECURITY UPDATE: MISSING BOY ALLEGEDLY ABDUCTED IN IMO STATE FOUND IN ANAMBRA _As the Command seeks the assistance of members of the media to share this publication for the possibility of reuniting him with his family_ The Anambra State Police Command wishes to inform the public, especially the good people of Ideato Local Government Area of Imo State of the safe custody of one Anayo Stephen aged 13 years, from Ubaha-Akparu Community. The young boy was allegedly abducted in Imo State but was found at Ideani Junction in Anambra State.  According to the boy, on 9th August 2025, at about 3.00 p.m., while on his way to fetch grass for goats, four young men in a Hilux vehicle stopped him. They initially asked him for directions to a certain place in his area. However, unknown to him, they allegedly abducted him and took him to an undisclosed location. The boy further stated that while his captors were asleep with him in the bush, he managed to escape. While walking a...

   BENUE: GUNMEN ABDUCT NYSC MEMBER ON KATSINA-ALA, TAKUM HIGHWAY  11th August, 2025     Gunmen have reportedly kidnapped a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from a commercial vehicle travelling along the Katsina-Ala–Takum highway in Benue State. The incident occurred over the weekend when a Toyota Carina II, with registration number KLD 108 AA, was en route from Takum, Taraba State, to Katsina-Ala, Benue State. The vehicle was said to be carrying seven passengers at the time of the attack. Witnesses said the assailants ambushed the vehicle, forcing it to a halt before whisking away the corps member to an unknown location. The identities of the victim and other passengers have not yet been disclosed. Authorities in the area are yet to issue an official statement, but security operatives have reported launched a search operation to rescue the abducted corps member and apprehend the perpetrators. Cr: citizen tv. 

 US tourist fatally shot in Puerto Rico after traveling for Bad Bunny concert, police say A 25-year-old U.S. tourist visiting Puerto Rico for Bad Bunny’s concert residency was fatally shot early Sunday in La Perla, a seaside neighborhood in Old San Juan, according to police. Authorities identified the victim as Kevin Mares of New York. The shooting occurred in the predawn hours at a nightspot called “Shelter for Mistreated Men,” when an argument broke out among several people near Mares. One person pulled out a gun and opened fire, striking at least three individuals. Police said Mares was an innocent bystander and was in Puerto Rico with three friends for one of Bad Bunny’s 30 scheduled shows. He suffered a gunshot wound to the left side of his abdomen and died at the island’s largest public hospital. Two other men from La Perla were also wounded and remain hospitalized. Investigators have not determined the motive for the dispute and have no description of the shooter. La Perla, ...

 Bobby Whitlock of Derek and the Dominos dies at 77 Bobby Whitlock, cofounder of Derek & the Dominos, passed away early Sunday morning at his home in Texas after a brief illness, according to his manager. He was 77. Surrounded by family, Whitlock took his final breath at 1:20 a.m. His family is currently working to identify a charity where fans can send donations in his memory. Whitlock’s wife, Coco Carmel Whitlock, paid tribute to his remarkable journey from poverty in the South to great success in music and art. She described him as a man who viewed life as an adventure, guiding her through a world filled with music, poetry, and painting. She recalled his warmth and expressed that he lived by the motto, “Life is what you make it, so take it and make it beautiful.” Whitlock was best known for cofounding the blues rock band Derek & the Dominos in 1970 with Eric Clapton and for his significant contributions to the landmark album Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs. His mus...

 Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and four journalists killed in Israeli strike outside Gaza City Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif and four colleagues were killed in an Israeli strike on a tent used by reporters outside al-Shifa Hospital near Gaza City, according to the network. The attack claimed seven lives in total, including correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa. The strike was confirmed by the Israeli military and multiple news organizations. Israeli officials accused the 28-year-old al-Sharif of being a Hamas operative involved in rocket attacks, a claim rejected by Al Jazeera. Al-Sharif was a prominent correspondent for Al Jazeera Arabic, reporting extensively from northern Gaza since the conflict began. Moments before his death, he posted a video on X showing intense Israeli bombardment in Gaza City’s eastern and southern areas, with explosions audible in the background. In a final post, he wrote, “If...

Shootout at Ecuador nightclub kills 8 amid rising violent crime, police say A shooting at a nightclub in Ecuador’s rural Santa Lucía area on Sunday left eight people dead and three others injured, authorities reported. The incident occurred in Guayas province, one of the country’s most violent regions. Seven victims, aged between 20 and 40, died at the scene, while the eighth succumbed to injuries at a hospital. Officials said heavily armed assailants arrived on motorcycles and two vehicles, though the motive for the attack remains unclear. This shooting follows a deadly assault on a boat near El Oro province two days earlier, where four people were killed and several remain missing after suspects used explosives. Recent months have seen a surge in violence across Ecuador’s coastal provinces—El Oro, Guayas, Manabí, and Los Ríos—all under a state of emergency. Authorities attribute the spike in killings to rivalries among organized crime groups tied to transnational drug cartels, especi...

 Man holds onto high-speed train in Austria after it departs without him, officials say A man survived after holding onto the outside of a high-speed train in Austria on Saturday, reportedly after the train departed while he was taking a cigarette break. The incident occurred at the station in Sankt Poelten, west of Vienna, according to railway spokesman Herbert Hofer. The unidentified man grabbed onto the train as it began leaving the platform. Hofer called the act “irresponsible,” warning that such stunts often end tragically and put not only the individual but also emergency responders at risk. The train made an emergency stop, and the man was taken onboard safely. The train was traveling from Zurich, Switzerland, to Vienna. Though it departed Sankt Poelten on time, it arrived in Vienna about seven minutes late. According to a passenger cited by Austrian tabloid Heute, the man jumped into the gap between two carriages as the train started moving. He had been smoking on the platf...

Colorado prison evacuated as wildfire becomes one of the largest in state history A Colorado prison was evacuated as one of the state’s largest wildfires continued to expand, prompting officials to warn residents in remote areas to be ready to leave as gusty winds and low humidity fueled the fire. Evacuation orders are already in place for mountain communities as the Lee Fire has burned more than 167 square miles across Garfield and Rio Blanco counties, with containment still at just 6%. No injuries or structural damage have been reported so far. All 179 inmates were safely evacuated from the Rifle Correctional Center on Saturday as a precaution and temporarily moved about 150 miles away to the Buena Vista Correctional Complex, according to the Colorado Department of Corrections. The Lee Fire, burning through dense forest about 250 miles west of Denver, is now ranked as the sixth-largest single wildfire in Colorado’s history, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Co...

Colombian senator Miguel Uribe dies two months after rally shooting Colombian senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay, whose shooting at a June political rally evoked memories of the nation’s most violent years, died Monday in Bogota. Uribe, 39, succumbed to injuries sustained more than two months earlier when he was shot three times—twice in the head—while delivering a campaign speech in a park. Since the June 7 attack, he had remained in intensive care, experiencing only brief periods of improvement. His wife, María Claudia Tarazona, confirmed his death in a heartfelt social media post, pledging to care for their children and asking for God’s guidance in facing life without him. Authorities arrested a teenage suspect at the scene in a working-class neighborhood of Bogota and later detained several others, though the mastermind and motive behind the assassination remain unknown. The attack, captured on video, shocked Colombians unaccustomed to seeing presidential candid...

Supreme Court petitioned to overturn landmark same-sex marriage decision Ten years after the Supreme Court recognized nationwide marriage rights for same-sex couples, the justices will this fall weigh whether to hear a case directly challenging that precedent. The petition comes from Kim Davis, the former Kentucky county clerk who spent six days in jail in 2015 for refusing, on religious grounds, to issue marriage licenses to a gay couple. She is appealing a $100,000 jury award for emotional damages, along with $260,000 in attorneys’ fees, arguing that her actions were protected under the First Amendment’s guarantee of free exercise of religion. In her filing, Davis claims the landmark 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges—which extended marriage rights under the Fourteenth Amendment—was “egregiously wrong” and should be overturned, likening the matter to the court’s 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade. Lower courts have rejected her claims, with a federal appeals panel ruling she cannot use th...

 Model’s husband isolated for years before being found dead in NYC apartment, friends say Jacob Zieben and Jacob Paulson formed a close friendship in 2013 after moving to New York City, bonding over their shared name and experiences as young gay men fresh out of college. For two years, the two were inseparable, but that changed when Zieben began dating model Donald Hood. Paulson recalled how his friend “just vanished,” cutting off contact as he focused on his new relationship. Despite the loss, Paulson moved on, unaware of many details until news broke two weeks ago that Jacob had been found dead in his Harlem apartment. Authorities discovered Zieben’s body on July 31 after Hood called for help, finding him slumped over a toilet with a head wound and multiple stab wounds to his leg. Charging documents describe a history of alleged abuse beginning in 2022, including felony charges against Hood for strangulation and menacing. Hood, a model with a large social media following, was arr...

 North Korea warns of ‘negative consequences’ from US-South Korea military drills North Korea’s defense chief on Monday condemned the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea, warning of “negative consequences” if the drills proceed. Defense Minister No Kwang Choi sharply criticized the allies for what he called provocative actions that escalate military tensions on the Korean Peninsula and threaten regional security, according to a statement carried by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency. The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, scheduled from August 18 to 28, involves live field maneuvers, computer-based command simulations, and civil defense drills with approximately 21,000 personnel participating. No described the drills as a direct military provocation and a threat that could increase unpredictability in the region. He warned that Pyongyang will exercise its sovereign right to self-defense if provocations cross it...

 Man arrested for using eternal flame at Tomb of Unknown Soldier to light cigarette A man accused of desecrating a World War I memorial in Paris is facing the loss of his residency status and imminent deportation from France, officials announced Wednesday. The individual reportedly used the eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located beneath the Arc de Triomphe and dedicated to fallen soldiers, to light a cigarette. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau confirmed that the man was taken into custody Tuesday evening and admitted to the act. A video widely shared on social media shows the man leaning over the flame with a cigarette in hand. Authorities identified him as a 47-year-old Moroccan national. Patricia Mirallès, the minister for veterans and remembrance, condemned the act as a grave disrespect, stating on social media that the flame “doesn’t light cigarettes: it burns for the sacrifice of millions of our soldiers.”

Torrential rains cause flooding, mudslides, and travel disruptions in southern Japan  Heavy downpours swept across Kyushu, Japan’s southern main island, on Monday, triggering flooding and mudslides that injured several people and disrupted travel during the Buddhist “bon” holiday week. Authorities issued evacuation advisories, and multiple individuals were reported missing as rescue efforts continued. A persistent low-pressure system has lingered over the region since last week, unleashing intense rainfall over Kagoshima Prefecture and northern Kyushu. The Japan Meteorological Agency initially issued its highest-level warning for Kumamoto Prefecture after recording more than 40 centimeters (15.7 inches) of rain in 24 hours, with further rain expected through Tuesday afternoon. Though the alert for Kumamoto was later downgraded as the storm moved east, a lower-level warning remained in place for western Japan, where up to 20 centimeters (7.8 inches) of rain were forecast by midday T...

 Australia to officially recognize Palestinian state Australia will officially recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Monday. “A two-state solution remains humanity’s best hope to end the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring lasting peace and relief to Gaza,” Albanese said in Canberra. “Until both Israeli and Palestinian statehood are permanent, peace will remain temporary. Australia will recognize the right of the Palestinian people to their own state and collaborate with the international community to realize this right.” The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which erupted after the militant group’s attack on October 7, 2023, has renewed international efforts to support Palestinian statehood. According to an AFP tally, at least 145 of the 193 U.N. member countries currently recognize or intend to recognize a Palestinian state, including France, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “There is ...

 Two Horrific Murders Shock Nkuzana Village Nkuzana village was left reeling on Saturday afternoon, 09 August 2025, after two horrific incidents of murder unfolded at Nkuna Kraal Mall at around 15h00. According to reports, a female police sergeant was out with two adults and her six-year-old child when her estranged husband, from whom she had been separated for about seven months, approached her. An argument is alleged to have erupted between the two, during which the husband drew a service firearm and shot the woman in the upper body. As he attempted to run to his vehicle to flee, members of the community who had witnessed the incident chased him down, assaulted him, and set him alight next to his vehicle. The vehicle was also burnt beyond recognition. Police later confirmed that both the male and female deceased were sergeants, the man attached to the Thohoyandou K9 Unit, and the woman stationed at the Beit Bridge port of entry. The police have opened murder cases and are calling...

 Female Fraudster Convicted on 80 Counts of Corruption and Money Laundering Polokwane Specialised Commercial Court has convicted 37-year-old Thoko Evelyn Ndlovu on 80 counts of fraud and one count of money laundering, following a lengthy investigation into a multimillion-rand scam. The conviction was handed down on Friday, 08 August 2025. According to court records, between 2015 and 2020, Ndlovu defrauded Old Mutual Marble Hall clients of approximately R2.5 million. She misled clients into believing they were investing or buying shares through the company, but instead instructed them to deposit the money into her personal Nedbank account. The funds were then used for her personal benefit, bypassing Old Mutual entirely. Clients only discovered the fraud after years of waiting for maturity notifications from Old Mutual. Upon inquiry, they were shocked to learn that their details were not recorded in the company’s system. Old Mutual’s internal investigation confirmed the irregularitie...

 ADC Chairman David Mark Vows to Uphold Party Constitution, Signals Robust Political Reforms The Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has reaffirmed his commitment to strictly adhering to the party’s constitution while promising zero tolerance for anti-party activities. Speaking through Senator Abubakar Sadiq Yar’adua, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) representative for Katsina Central, during a Coalition Partners meeting in Kaduna over the weekend, Mark emphasized the ADC’s dedication to fostering internal democracy to address Nigeria’s governance challenges. Mark, a former Senate President, hailed the Kaduna State chapter’s leadership for setting a commendable example for other states. He assured members and coalition partners of a level playing field, urging them to remain united and proactive. “It will not be business as usual,” he declared, signaling a shift towards greater transparency and accountability within the party. On ...

 Abia State Government Demolishes Unauthorized Residential Structures at Former Umuahia Main Market The Abia State Government, through the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), demolished several residential buildings at the site of the former Umuahia main market on Monday, citing unauthorized construction. The action is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to transform Umuahia into a modern capital city. According to a statement by UCDA General Manager, Mr. Kingsley Agomoh, the land was originally allocated to a private investor by the previous administration under a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) agreement to construct an event center. However, the investor repurposed the site without approval, developing residential duplexes and apartments instead. Agomoh revealed that the state government had been in discussions with the investor for over a year, offering an ex-gratia settlement to reclaim the land for a planned modern transportation hub integrating a bus terminal, t...

 Senate President Akpabio Alive and Well, Dismisses Hospitalization Rumors – Senator Gbenga Daniel Senator Gbenga Daniel (APC, Ogun East), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, has strongly debunked a media report claiming that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was hospitalized in a London medical facility. The senator described the report as baseless and misleading, affirming that the Senate President is alive, healthy, and actively carrying out his duties. In a statement issued on Monday, Senator Daniel urged the public to disregard the false report, emphasizing that Akpabio remains in good health and is committed to his responsibilities as the nation’s number three citizen. “The Senate President is hale and hearty. These rumors are unfounded and appear to be the work of mischief-makers attempting to cause unnecessary panic,” Daniel said. The senator called for responsible journalism and urged media outlets to verify information before publication to avoid spreading falsehood...

 PRESS RELEASE RIVERS STATE POLICE COMMAND ARRESTS SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERY AND KIDNAPPING SYNDICATE — RECOVERS FIREARM, VEHICLE, AND OTHER EXHIBITS The Rivers State Police Command has recorded another major breakthrough in its ongoing fight against violent crimes, following the arrest of four suspected members of an armed robbery and kidnapping syndicate. On 8th August 2025, at about 11:30hrs, a team of operatives from Bori Division, while on routine patrol along Nkpee Street, Bori, acted swiftly upon receiving a distress call regarding the suspicious activities of unknown persons in the area. The operatives apprehended the following suspects:  1. Solomon Chris (Male, 26 years)  2. Fabulous John (Male, 26 years)  3. Wisdom Kalongo (Male, 30 years)  4. Wisdom Samuel (Male, 33 years) Items recovered from the suspects include:  • One locally-made revolver pistol  • One live ammunition  • Quantity of hard drugs (loud)  • Criminal charms  • O...

 RIVERS STATE POLICE COMMAND PRESS RELEASE: POLICE DISMANTLE INTERSTATE CAR SNATCHING SYNDICATE; RECOVER 22 VEHICLES, ARREST 12 SUSPECTS In a major intelligence-led operation, the Rivers State Police Command successfully dismantled a sophisticated car theft syndicate operating across multiple states in Nigeria. The operation led to the arrest of twelve male suspects and the recovery of twenty two (22) stolen vehicles. The case began in September 2024 after a report by Mr. Enoch Daniel, who was dispossessed of his Toyota Hiace bus at Trailer Park, Onne. Swift investigations by the Command’s C4i Strikeforce/Octopus team led to the arrest of: John Amadi 40 years from Ogu/Bolo LGA Nna Goodluck 45 years from Khana LGA Both ex-convicts confessed they were hired by one Godspower Okpa to snatch the vehicle using hammers and were paid ₦90,000 each. Further investigations extended to Obibo, Kano, and Akwa Ibom, resulting in the arrest of key suspects including: Yakubu Abdullah 'm' 35 yea...

PRESS RELEASE Ministry Debunks Viral Video on Alleged “Revolutionary Diabetes Drug”: Nigerians Urged to Disregard Fake News The attention of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has been drawn to a video circulating on social media claiming that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pated announced a “revolutionary drug” that will “save everyone from diabetes,” to be delivered free to homes. The video also purports to show chaotic scenes at pharmacies and police intervention to manage crowds seeking this alleged drug. The Ministry categorically states that this video is false, misleading, and maliciously manipulated. The footage features altered clips of a Channels TV news broadcast and digitally doctored segments of the Coordinating Minister’s public appearances. The claims therein do not originate from the Ministry and do not reflect any official position, announcement, or programme of the Federal Government. The Ministry wishes to cl...

 MAN WEDS TWO FRIENDS SIMULTANEOUSLY IN ABIA  An Igbo man has married two friends at the same wedding ceremony on Saturday in Abia State.  The groom, Chinedu, married Blessing and Kelechi as wives in a traditional wedding ceremony that was agog with merriment and food surplus.  The double wedding held at Umuacha/Amuzu Primary School in Isiala-Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State.  The idea of marrying two or more wives in a single wedding ceremony is not alien in Africa, but it still piques people's fascination anytime it takes place. More photos below. 

 Niger Suspends Exports of Precious Stones and Meteorites The aim of the ban, according to a decree signed by President Abdourahamane Tiani, is "to preserve national natural resources, promote their processing, and ensure the traceability of their exploitation." While the duration of the suspension has not been specified, the decree also includes semi-precious stones, Sputnik reported. However, exemptions may be granted "on a case-by-case basis, in the interest of the country." At the end of July, Nigerien authorities opened an investigation into the sale of a Martian meteorite for $5 million at an auction in New York. The 24.5-kilogram meteorite was discovered in Niger's Agadez region in 2023.

  K1'S AIRPORT CONDUCT IS EQUAL TO TERRORISM - NCAA The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has revealed that the conduct of Fuji maestro, Wasiu Ayinde, in preventing a airplane from takeoff is tantamount to hostage-taking and terrorism.  NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mike Achimugu, said on Arise TV on Sunday that if the musician did that in other countries, he would have been slammed with terrorism charges.   “What he did in most climes is considered terrorism," Achimugu stated. "You cannot stop an aircraft from taking off. There is nothing that excuses it.” He said the NCAA is investigating the issue and that the probe will involve K1, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Aviation Security Service (AVSEC), and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

 STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES NAFDAC ON MAINTAINING WHO MATURITY LEVEL 3 FOR REGULATION OF MEDICINES AND VACCINES President Bola Tinubu congratulates the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on retaining the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Maturity Level 3 (ML3) status for the regulation of medicines and vaccines.   The global health regulatory body conducted a re-benchmarking exercise from May 28 to May 30, 2025, assessing NAFDAC against globally recognised standards for regulatory performance.   NAFDAC attained ML3 status in 2022, becoming Africa's first National Regulatory Authority to achieve this milestone in regulating medicines and vaccines (non-producing). In consonance with the WHO policy, periodic reviews are conducted to ensure sustained compliance.   The latest evaluation followed a formal re-benchmarking in November 2024 and five Institutional Development Plan (IDP) review meetings between Feb...

 A Tale of Two Reforms – Why Nigeria Must Not Blink By O’tega ‘The Tiger’ Ogra Economic reform is never painless. Every nation that has had to correct profound distortions has faced the same choice: take the hard medicine early, or delay and pay much more later. In times of public frustration, it is tempting to reach for the “gentle” option (the idea of gradual change), being pushed by some opposition elements in Nigeria, begins to sound reasonable. Peter Obi says, “Keep subsidies for a while.” For Atiku Abubakar, it is “Guide the currency quietly from behind the curtain.” Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir El-Rufai want to “Push the tough structural work into another year.” On the surface, it feels safer. But history is clear on where that road leads. When Bulgaria began its transition from communism in 1990, its leaders were afraid of the shock that rapid liberalisation might cause. They freed some prices but kept politically sensitive subsidies in place, just as Peter Obi proposes. The su...