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 BENUE: NO VACANCY FOR DEPUTY GOVERNOR IN 2027, GOV. ALIA WARNS 1st September, 2025     |     5:55 PM Governor Hyacinth Alia has firmly dismissed speculations surrounding the position of deputy governor ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that there is “no vacancy” in the office. Speaking during a the swearing in of new commissioners, Governor Alia cautioned political actors against heating up the polity with premature ambitions, stressing that his administration remains focused on delivering on its mandate rather than being distracted by politics. The governor emphasized that his deputy, Barr. Sam Ode, enjoys his full confidence and support, describing him as a dependable partner in governance. “Let it be clear—there is no vacancy for the deputy governorship position in 2027. We are united in purpose and committed to serving the good people of Benue State,” Alia stated. Cr: citizen tv

 GOV. ALIA LIFTS SUSPENSION ON THREE BENUE OFFICIALS  1st September, 2025 | 7:13 PM  The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has lifted the suspension placed on three public office holders in the state following a decision by the State House of Assembly to reverse its earlier resolution. The affected officials are Maxwell Ogiri, Executive Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area; Grace Adagba, Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB); and Michael Uper, Executive Secretary of the Benue State Lottery Commission. Governor Alia had initially upheld the Assembly’s resolution suspending the officials. However, following recent leadership changes, the lawmakers revisited the matter and called on the governor to lift the suspension. In a statement on Monday, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, confirmed that Alia had acknowledged the Assembly’s latest decision and lifted the suspension accordingly. “In compliance with the resolutions o...

UPDATED Passenger Onboard Enugu Air Was Whisked Away By Ground Staff At The Airport Enugu State-owned commercial airline, Enugu Air, which launched operations on Monday, July 7, has sparked online attention after a passenger was forcibly removed from one of its flights. A video circulating on social media shows officials dragging a male passenger off the aircraft.The reason behind the incident is yet to be clarified. The passenger has not been identified, and neither the airline nor the individual involved has issued a statement explaining what transpired. The plane, clearly marked with the Enugu Air logo, was captured on camera as the passenger was led away amid visible chaos. Unruly passenger onboard Enugu Air is removed by Airport Officials. What's your thoughts on this? More details later and watch video below. 

 2027: Bring back Peter Obi if you want PDP destroyed – Wike tells Bauchi Gov Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has warned Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State against bringing former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, back to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Wike issued the warning during a media parley on Monday in Abuja. He was reacting to comments made by Bauchi governor, who is the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, during an interview on Channels Television. Bala Mohammed said PDP was considering Obi and former President Goodluck Jonathan for its 2027 presidential ticket. Wike said bringing Obi back to the PDP and giving him the presidential ticket in the 2027 general elections would destroy the party. He said, “Bringing Obi to where? You want to kill the party? Obi that was abusing the party, saying it is rotten — so the party is now good enough for him? Ambition can make people even go to Satan’s house.”

 2027: I can bet you Tinubu will win– Wike challenges El-Rufai The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesome Wike said the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, goofed on his calculation on how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would lose the 2027 presidential election. He disclosed this during his Monday media chat. His reaction come as El-Rufai recently predicted that Tinubu would come third in the 2027 presidential election. However, Wike said that El-Rufai’s mathematics is flawed and wrong. Wike said he would agree to a bet with El-Rufai that Tinubu would secure re-election in 2027. “Elrufai is my friend, but he failed in this mathematics. He goofed; since he knows Tinubu will come third, he should also provide who will be first and second. I will place a bet if El-Rufai agrees, if Tinubu doesn’t win the 2027 election securely.”

 2027 Presidency: GEJ legally qualified- Jonathan’s cousin, Azibaola, tells Keyamo, Odinkalu A close relative of Goodluck Jonathan, Azibaola Robert, has claimed that the former president is constitutionally and legally qualified to contest the 2027 Nigerian general elections. This statement comes amid growing calls from stakeholders who view Jonathan as the only opposition figure capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the upcoming election cycle. Jonathan was President of Nigeria from May 5, 2010, to May 29, 2015. He first assumed office as acting president on February 9, 2010, following the illness and death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. The National Assembly later invoked the “doctrine of necessity” to transfer power to him, due to Yar’Adua’s prolonged absence without a formal transmission of power. He then ran for and won the 2011 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, securing 58.89% of the vote against...

 Seshego Doctor Sentenced to 15 Years for Attempted Rape A 29-year-old man, Doctor Papo Chuene, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on August 29, 2025, for attempting to rape a 34-year-old mentally challenged woman in Sengatane village, under the Seshego policing area. On 26 May 2024, the victim was walking to a local spaza shop when Chuene called out to her. She ignored him, but he grabbed her and dragged her to a secluded corner, attempting to rape her. The victim's screams alerted a passing minibus, whose occupants intervened, forcing Chuene to flee. The incident was reported to the Seshego police, who launched a manhunt. Chuene was arrested the next day, 27 May 2024, at a hideout in the same village. The case was handed to the Seshego Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offenses (FCS) Unit, with Constable Rotshidzwa Mafadza leading the investigation. Despite being granted bail and making multiple court appearances at Seshego Regional Court, Chuene was convicted due to...

 Putin, Modi, over 18 World Leaders in China for Summit Chinese President Xi Jinping started on Monday a summit attended by more than 20 world leaders including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Leaders from the ten Shanghai Cooperation Organisation countries posed for a group photo on a red carpet, and Xi, Putin and Modi were seen chatting on live footage. Addressing the gathering, President Jinping criticised what he described as a “bullying behaviour” in the world order as he gathered regional leaders for a summit. He called on the leaders — including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and India’s Narendra Modi — to “adhere to fairness and justice… oppose Cold War mentality, camp confrontation, and bullying behaviour”, in a speech in the northern city of Tianjin. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which is gathering for a two-day summit, comprises China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus — with 16 m...

 Katsina State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs  Press Release  01 - 09 - 2025 Police Intercept Massive Arms Cache, Arrest Gun Runners with GPMG, 1,295 Ammunition    * Two suspects nabbed transporting deadly weapons from Jigawa to Safana  Katsina State Police Command has delivered a crushing blow to criminal networks with the interception of a sophisticated arms smuggling operation that could have wreaked havoc across the state. At approximately 4:35am today, officers from Ingawa Division on patrol along the Ingawa-Karkarku village route intercepted two suspected gun runners attempting to transport a deadly arsenal concealed in a blue Volkswagen Golf (Registration: RSH 528 BY ABJ). The suspects, identified as Abdulsalam Muhammad (25) and Aminu Mamman (23), both residents of Baure Village in Safana Local Government Area, were arrested with a cache of weapons that included:  i. One General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) with breach number Z8826...

 President Mahama sacks Chief Justice Torkonoo  President John Dramani Mahama has made a big shake-up at the top of Ghana’s judiciary.  Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo has been relieved of her duties following recommendations from a disciplinary committee. The Presidency confirmed that the decision was taken after serious concerns about her conduct in office. In her place, Justice Jones Dotse has been appointed as the new Chief Justice of Ghana. This is one of the most significant moves in Mahama’s new coming, and it’s already sparking heated conversations across the country.

 STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU ASSURES COLOMBIA OF SWIFT IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL BILATERAL AGREEMENTS President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to strengthening international partnerships and aligning its foreign relations with evolving global trends in trade, politics, and culture.   The President, who received the Vice President of the Republic of Colombia, Francia Márquez, at the State House in Abuja on Monday, noted that global economic volatility and shifting international policies will necessitate new partners for shared prosperity.   President Tinubu assured the delegation of senior government, business, and diplomatic officials from the South American country that Nigeria will replicate the agreements signed with Brazil on aviation and consular issues with Colombia.   The President stated that the conclusions of all the bilateral meetings and the agreements signed, under the supervision of the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shetti...

 POLICE ARREST 60-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT OVER RAPE OF 24-YEAR-OLD WOMAN The Lagos State Police Command, Gender Unit, has charged to court one Ajayi Femi, ‘m’, aged 60, over the rape of a female victim, aged 24. On 22 August 2025, the case was reported by the victim’s sister Meiran Police Station and was subsequently transferred to the Gender Unit of the Command on the same day for discreet investigation. Further investigation including medical tests by the Gender Unit revealed that on the same day, the suspect spiked the survivor’s drink, rendering her unconscious before having unlawful sexual intercourse with her without her consent. The suspect also made a confessional statement to that effect. He has since been charged to court and remanded in prison custody pending the next adjourned date given by the court The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, assures the public of the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring justice for survivors of sexual offence...

 Kaduna State Will Not Tolerate El-Rufai’s Plot to Destabilize Our Hard-Won Peace  The Kaduna State Government is compelled to issue this unequivocal and final warning to a former Governor of the State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who, through a calculated mix of overt provocation and covert manipulation, is plotting to unleash mayhem across Kaduna State in a desperate bid to destabilize the state and drag it back into its dark and violent past. His actions in recent days are not mere political posturing; they are direct threats to the peace, unity, and development of the state.  In a statement signed by the Honourable Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Suleiman Shuiabu in Kaduna said, that the good people of Kaduna State have endured enough trauma, enough bloodshed, and enough division.  ‘This Government will not fold its arms and allow a discredited former leader, who left the state in ruins, to ignite chaos and plunge the state into another era of eth...

 Odegbami: Super Eagles’ World Cup chances difficult, but not impossible Legendary former football star, Chief Patrick Olusegun Odegbami (MON), has come out with a down-to-earth verdict that the Super Eagles’ chances of reaching next year’s FIFA World Cup are ‘very slim,’ but he also quickly added ‘not impossible.’ Sports247 reports that ‘Mathematical’ Odegbami’s verdict comes barely a week to the September 6th date for the resumption of Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualification quest, with Rwanda visiting Uyo for the reverse fixture of a tie which they lost 2-0 in the first leg. On the other hand, the more crucial of the upcoming games will be on September 9th, away to South Africa, who are currently top of the group with 13 points and, though they face a deduction of three points for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho, would still stay top if they defeat Nigeria. The South Africans snatched an away draw in the first leg, which also gives them a head-to-head advantage over...

 APC deputy women leader calls for adoption of ‘twinning formula’ to boost female political participation   The National Deputy Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Zainab Ibrahim, has urged the party to adopt the twinning formula as a strategy to increase women’s inclusion in politics. Speaking in Abuja during an advocacy programme at the weekend, Ibrahim described the formula as the “lowest hanging fruit” for enhancing women’s political participation. She explained that in several countries, the model reserves positions such as vice president, deputy governor, and vice chairman in party structures and governance exclusively for women. Ibrahim appealed to the APC to lead by example, stressing that if the ruling party had embraced the formula, there would currently be 24 female deputy governors across APC-controlled states. “Apart from the special seat advocacy that we are undertaking, we are also strongly advocating for twinning. The twinning does not eve...

 I want peace – Patience Jonathan rejects return to Presidential Villa Former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, has dismissed suggestions of a return to the Presidential Villa. Mrs Jonathan said she cannot return to the seat of power because of the distress facing Nigeria. The Guardian quoted the former First Lady as saying that she needs peace, and therefore cannot return to the Villa. She said: “The distress of Nigeria is so much that if God manages to bring you out of it, you should glorify Him. “Why do you want to go back there? I need peace. My peace is enough.” Her remarks come as pressure mounts on former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election. Meanwhile, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga recently cautioned Jonathan against listening to those urging him to run, recalling his 2015 election defeat. Speculation is rife that Jonathan may contest under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2027. Amidst these speculations, the former president has yet to d...

 Ndume cries out over fresh Boko Haram killings Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume has expressed deep sorrow over renewed Boko Haram attacks that claimed several lives in two communities of Borno State at the weekend. The lawmaker, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, said the killings in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area, and Mussa in Askira/Uba were “heartbreaking and deeply painful.” Last Saturday morning, suspected insurgents butchered five farmers in Ngoshe while they worked on their farmlands. Later that night in Mussa, gunmen struck again, killing three young people before setting shops and houses ablaze. “These are senseless killings. Our people, whose only pursuit is peace and livelihood, continue to fall victim to cruelty. These young men and women deserved to live, to farm, and to dream, but their lives have been cut short by those who thrive on violence and destruction,” Ndume lamented in a statement on Sunday. He commended the sacrifices of troops of Operation Had...

 Kemi Badenoch faces scrutiny as Stanford University officer disputes claim of pre-med school offer Kemi Badenoch, leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, is facing fresh questions over her past after a former Stanford University admissions officer disputed her claim that she once received an offer to study pre-med in the United States. Badenoch has repeatedly cited the supposed offer in interviews, portraying it as an example of her parents’ financial struggles to secure her the best education despite her strong academic record. In a 2017 interview, Badenoch said her dreams of being a doctor like her parents were cut short at 16 because she went to a “very bad school” in the UK. Badenoch attributed part of her growing up to the US because “my mother worked internationally, so when she travelled, so did the kids”. “I had actually got admission into medical school in the US – I got into Stanford pre-med – and I got into medical school in Nigeria, but I came here (the UK) ...

 Ekiti female gov aspirant unveils seven-point agenda All Progressives Congress female governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Abimbola Olawunmi, has unveiled a seven-point agenda aimed at rescuing, rebuilding, and restoring the state. This is meant to be achieved through economic diversification, job creation, education revival, healthcare reform, and transparent governance. During an interactive session with journalists in Abuja on Sunday, Olawunmi stated that her decision to contest for the governorship of Ekiti State stems from her love for the people and her conviction that the state deserves much better. She decried the fact that, over the years, successive administrations led by career politicians have failed to fully harness the state’s abundant human and natural resources. She stated, “This has left our youths disempowered, our economy underdeveloped, and our people struggling unnecessarily under the hardship that has been brought about to the state because of the intentiona...

 NAFDAC seals illegal Herbal Medicine facility in Kaduna, seizes products worth N5 Million The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC has shut down an illegal herbal medicine manufacturing facility in Mararaba Jos, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The agency in a statement released said following credible intelligence, officers discovered unhygienic and substandard production equipment, confirming that the products manufactured in the facility posed serious risks to public health, as their safety, quality, and efficacy could not be guaranteed. The agency says products valued at N5 million, were seized for destruction while the facility has been sealed pending further investigations. The agency assured the public of its commitment to safeguarding the health of Nigerians by clamping down on illegal operations and bringing violators to justice.

 Zendaya marks her 29th birthday today, and fans across X and Instagram are showering her with heartfelt messages #HappyBirthdayZendaya is trending as tributes roll in.   From Oakland beginnings to Emmy-winning Euphoria and big-screen success in Dune: Part Two and Challengers, the celebration reflects how much her work resonates worldwide.

 Victorious D’Tigress Receives Zenith Bank’s N200m Reward Renowned sponsors of the Nigeria Women Basketball League, Zenith Bank, has redeemed its pledge of N200m, which was promised to D’Tigress as a reward for emerging champions of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament held in the Ivory Coast, according the reports monitored by the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP). Recall that the seven-time African champions were received by the financial institution shortly upon arrival from the Ivory Coast, where they successfully defended their trophy, and were subsequently promised the said sum as a reward for making the country proud. The team posted on its official X account on social media with the words, “Promise made, promise kept. Zenith Bank has redeemed their pledge to the D’Tigress. We extend our sincere gratitude to the management and especially the GMD, Adaora Umeoji, a true pillar for women in sports. Thank you for standing with our Queens.” T...

 LAGOS WATER CORPORATION TAKES STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT TO AKILO COMMUNITY  In fulfilment of its promise to provide water for at least 10,000 households in Akilo Community and environs, the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) has engaged its customers at Akilo Community in the Ikeja area of the State. The engagement was held at the Akilo Waterworks on Saturday, August 30th, 2025. Speaking at the meeting, the Managing Director of Lagos Water Corporation, Engr. Mukhtaar Tijani, represented by the Director, Community Commercial and Customer Relations, Mrs. Adepeju Isola, disclosed that the rehabilitation of the Akilo Waterworks has been completed, and the Corporation is set to commence production and distribution of potable water to every household in Akilo Community and its environs. Engr. Tijani therefore urged members of the community to embrace the efforts of the Corporation, with the support of WaterAid Nigeria, by connecting to the water supply. He further assured that production ...

 ISRAEL ELIMINATES HAMAS SPOKESMAN IN GAZA  Israel launched a air missile on Saturday that eliminated Hamas spokesman, Abu Obeida, in Gaza.  Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that Abu Obeidah was a target, it was Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz that confirmed his elimination. Katz said Obeidah “was sent to meet all the eliminated members of the axis of evil from Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen at the bottom of hell. “Soon, as the campaign over Gaza intensifies, he will meet many more of his partners in crime there — Hamas murderers and rapists.”

 SEATTLE SOUNDERS THRASH LIONEL MESSI'S INTER MIAMI 3-0 Lionel Messi failed to live up to his goal-scoring fame on Sunday when his club, Inter Miami, lost to Seattle Sounders by 3-0.  Although Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup final in 2023 shortly after Messi joined the club, both Messi and other field players were not able to reclaim the trophy again.  Seattle Sounders' Osaze De Rosario, Alex Roldan, and Paul Rothrock scored the team's three goals at Seattle's Lumen Field.

 BURNA BOY IS MY FAVOURITE ARTISTE - TUFACE  Legendary singer, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, revealed that Grammy-winning artiste Burna Boy is his most favourite musician in Nigeria at the moment. While speaking at an interview session at Urban FM in Enugu State, TuFace said there are other brilliant artistes he admires too, but Burna comes tops. “On a personal level, Burna Boy is my number one," he said. "Although I still have other artists that I admire. But personally as an artist, Burna Boy is my number one right now. Among all the others I am referring to, he is the senior."

 UNION BANK ACQUIRES TITAN TRUST BANK  Following procedural approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Union Bank has acquired Titan Trust Bank Limited and both entities will merge as one under the Union Bank brand. Union Bank's Chief Brand and Marketing Officer, Olufunmilola Aluko, said the acquisition deal started in 2021 and that Union Bank has now fully absorbed Titan Trust Bank’s operatons and assets. Union Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Yetunde Oni, commended the acquisition and the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bayo Adeleke, said the bank's 108 existence is now of a better footing.

 #PhotoNews | IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, pens heartfelt tributes to the late 18th Indigenous Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon E. Arase, CFR, whose passing was announced yesterday, 31st August, 2025. The Nigeria Police Force has opened a Condolence Register at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, for the revered former Police Chief, as senior officers and staff pay their respects. In honour of his memory, the Police flag will fly at half-mast in all Commands and Formations nationwide. More photos below. 

 UK closes embassy in Cairo as Egyptian authorities remove security barriers The British Embassy in Cairo has announced the temporary closure of its main building after Egyptian authorities removed security barriers outside its premises in the Garden City district. The embassy confirmed the move in a statement released on its official social media channels, TRT Afrika reported. “On Sunday 31 August security barriers outside the British Embassy in Cairo were removed by the Egyptian authorities. The main Embassy building will be closed while the impact of these changes is reviewed,” the statement read. No date was given for when the embassy will reopen. The Egyptian authorities did not immediately commented on the embassy closure. Despite the closure, the embassy said consular services remain available. Emergency assistance can be reached by telephone, while individuals with pre-scheduled appointments are advised to call for further guidance on accessing the embassy services. The mov...

 PRESS RELEASE MARTINA TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT 11: FG BACKS STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS TO CELEBRATE EDUCATORS AND TRANSFORM SCHOOLS  The Federal Ministry of Education has reaffirmed its commitment to celebrating teachers and strengthening partnerships to uplift the education sector as the 11th Maltina Teacher of the Year Stakeholders Engagement Meeting was held in Abuja. The meeting, which follows an earlier engagement in Lagos, brought together key education stakeholders, government officials, and private sector partners to deliberate on ways to further elevate the teaching profession. Speaking at the engagement, the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described teachers as the “cornerstone of national development” and emphasised that honouring their work must remain a collective priority. She praised the competition for not only rewarding individuals but also providing infrastructural support to schools, which directly improves learning outco...

 PRESS RELEASE NEAP, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION EXPLORE PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND EDUCATION REFORMS The Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, has called on the National Education Awards Programmes (NEAP), a non-governmental organisation committed to promoting education and youth empowerment, to provide a clear and structured framework that will guide potential collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education. She made the call during a courtesy visit by NEAP to her office in Abuja, where she described the initiative as a welcome development. “I need a clear framework of the NGO so as to have a roadmap and a clear picture of how we can come in to support. We are always ever ready to listen and adopt a collaborative approach,” she said. The Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister, Professor Ali Idris, reaffirmed that the Ministry remains open to collaboration, provided such initiatives align with the Renewed Hope Agen...