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 STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU ON A THREE-STATE VISIT; TO SPEND THE END-OF-YEAR HOLIDAY IN LAGOS President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday to visit Borno, Bauchi and Lagos States.   While in Borno State, President Tinubu will commission some projects undertaken by Governor Babagana Zulum and the Federal Government.   He will also attend the wedding ceremony of Sadeeq Sheriff, son of the former Governor of the State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, and his heartthrob, Hadiza Kam Salem.   From Maiduguri, the President will move to Bauchi to condole with the Government of Bauchi State and the family of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, the late renowned Muslim cleric and leader of the Tijjaniyya Muslim Brotherhood.   The Sheikh died on November 27.   After the condolence visit, President Bola Tinubu will leave for Lagos, where he will spend the upcoming end-of-year holidays.   He is expected to be the guest of honour at the Eyo Festival schedule...

NAFDAC orders recall of Indomie brand noodles (Vegetable Flavour Product) due to the presence of undeclared allergens (milk and eggs).  Public Alert No. 041/2025. Recall of Indomie brand noodles (Vegetable Flavour Product) due to the presence of undeclared allergens (milk and eggs) #NAFDACAlerts https:/bit. ly/4aXP QuQ NAFDAC is informing the public that the French authority (Rappel Conso of France) has issued a notice regarding the recall of the Indomie brand Noodles Vegetable Flavour. This recall is due to the presence of undeclared allergens, specifically milk and eggs, which may pose a significant health risk to consumers with allergies or intolerances. Although the official risk of these products entering Nigeria is low due to the Federal Government's ban on noodle importation, there remains a need for heightened vigilance to prevent possible illicit entry or circulation of the implicated Indomie brand. NAFDAC has commenced vigilance actions to guard against possible entry of ...

 Nawfia community suspends "Igu Aro" festival over increased gunmen attacks The Nawfia community in the Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State has announced the suspension of the major Igbo cultural festival, “Igu Aro,” until further notice due to a rise in gunmen attacks. According to a statement, this decision was made to prevent further loss of life, as the perpetrators of these acts continue to devise new ways to inflict harm on innocent residents of the town. The statement, signed by the traditional ruler of the community, His Royal Highness Igwe Daniel Obelle, emphasised that the decision was reached after extensive consultations with stakeholders and the traditional council of the Nawfia kingdom.Obelle said  “following the series of insecurities experienced between September 9th, 2024, 5th October, 2924 and the recently attack in December 7th, 2925 that tragically claimed four promising young men in our community, the Igwe in Council and the entire people of Na...

 Sudan: More than 50,000 flee Kordofan fighting, UN says More than 50,000 people have been newly displaced in Sudan's Kordofan regions since late October as fighting intensifies, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned on Friday, saying civilians are fleeing in fear rather than by choice. "People in Sudan are not moving by choice, they are running just to find safety," said Mohamed Refaat, chief of mission in Sudan for the International Organization for Migration, speaking from Port Sudan to journalists in Geneva. Refaat said displacement in the Kordofan is being driven by escalating violence, with residents fleeing towns including Babanousa, Kadugli and El-Obeid. He cited reports that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied fighters from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North shelled residential buildings in Dilling, South Kordofan, over the past 48 hours. Women and children The RSF has been at war with the Sudanese army since A...

 South Sudanese soldiers arrested over death of UN worker A United Nations staff member was found dead in South Sudan days after being taken into custody by security personnel, the world body said in a statement. Army Lt. Lino Mariak Chol and two other soldiers were arrested after admitting to the killing and disclosing the whereabouts of the body, said Saninto Udol, a police spokesman. The body was found in a residential area on Thursday. Bol Roch Mayol, a South Sudanese national, was taken from a UN vehicle by five South Sudanese soldiers Monday following a routine patrol to a displacement camp on the outskirts of the northern town of Wau. Mayol’s UN vehicle had stopped on the side of a road after getting a flat tire, Udol said. “We are devastated by the loss of our colleague,” Anita Kiki Gbeho, the head of the UN mission in South Sudan, said in a statement Friday. Army detention facilities Mayol was a language assistant who had worked with the UN mission in South Sudan, or UNMIS...

 Burundi 'overwhelmed' as tens of thousands flee eastern DRC violence Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has sent over 84,000 refugees fleeing into neighbouring Burundi this month in the second major influx this year, overwhelming the country's ability to respond, the UN refugee agency said on Friday. A US-brokered peace deal was signed in June between the DRC and Rwanda, yet fighting between the M23 rebels and ⁠the DRC army has continued around ​the eastern town of Uvira. Rwanda denies supporting M23 and has blamed Congolese and Burundian forces for the renewed fighting. A report by a United Nations group of experts in July assessed that Rwanda exercised command and control over the rebels. "Thousands of people crossing the border on foot and by boats each day have overwhelmed local resources, creating a ‍major humanitarian emergency ‍that requires immediate global support," UNHCR said in a statement, Reuters reported. Long queues UNHCR's ‍Bur...

 SANWO-OLU CONGRATULATES BABAJIDE KOLADE-OTITOJU ON APPOINTMENT AS TVC'S DIRECTOR OF NEWS The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated renowned and award-winning journalist, Mr Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, on his new appointment as the Director of News of Television Continental (TVC).     He described Kolade-Otitoju's appointment as deserving, considering his experience, commitment and long years of service in the media industry, particularly at TVC.   Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile, said Kolade-Otitoju, as an award-winning journalist and seasoned media practitioner with over 30 years of experience in the sector, has what it takes to deliver effectively in his new assignment.   He said: “On behalf of my family, the government and the people of Lagos State, I congratulate Mr Babajide Kolade-Otitoju on his new appointment as the Director of News of TVC....

 Nigerian Pilots and Crew Released in Burkina Faso, Head to Portugal Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has announced the release and departure of the pilots and crew of the Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft (NAF 913) that had been detained in Burkina Faso. In a statement issued on Thursday, Ambassador Tuggar confirmed that  following  engagement in Burkina Faso, the pilots and crew of NAF C-130 (913) have been formally cleared to depart and are currently en route to Portugal via Accra. The minister highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to dialogue and regional cooperation, stating that these efforts continue to yield positive outcomes. Ambassador Tuggar paid glowing tribute to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary leadership and steady guidance which he said proved decisive in resolving the matter through constructive diplomacy and peaceful engagement.

 2026 BUDGET SPEECH "BUDGET OF CONSOLIDATION, RENEWED RESILIENCE AND SHARED PROSPERITY"   Presented by: His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, At the Joint Session of the National Assembly, Abuja, Friday, 19 December 2025   PROTOCOLS o     Distinguished Senate President, o     Rt. Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members of the House of Representatives, o     Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the National Assembly, o     Fellow Nigerians, 1.            I am here today to fulfil an essential constitutional obligation by presenting the 2026 Appropriation Bill to this esteemed Joint Session of the National Assembly for your consideration.   2.            This budget represents a defining moment in our national journey of reform and transformation. Over the last two and a half years, my go...

 Romanian court hands US rapper Wiz Khalifa nine-month sentence for drug possession  An American rapper has been sentenced to nine months in prison by a Romanian court more than a year after a high-profile incident at a summer music festival along the country’s Black Sea coast. Wiz Khalifa, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, was convicted Thursday of illegal drug possession stemming from his appearance at the Beach, Please! Festival in Costinesti in July 2024. Authorities said the artist was stopped by police after allegedly smoking cannabis on stage during his performance and was found to be carrying more than 18 grams of the drug. Prosecutors argued that part of the substance was consumed publicly while he was performing, an act that drew widespread attention at the time. The ruling overturned a lighter penalty imposed earlier this year, when a lower court issued Khalifa a criminal fine of 3,600 lei, roughly $830. Prosecutors appealed that decision, seeking a harsher ...

 Warner Bros. board urges shareholders to reject Paramount bid and back Netflix offer Warner Bros. Discovery’s board of directors has unanimously urged shareholders to reject a takeover bid from Paramount Skydance, throwing its full support behind an earlier offer from Netflix. In a statement released Wednesday, the board said it had completed a detailed review of Paramount’s recently launched tender offer and determined that it failed to deliver sufficient value while exposing shareholders to substantial risks and potential costs. Board chair Samuel A. Di Piazza Jr. said the assessment led directors to conclude that the Paramount proposal was not in the company’s or investors’ best interests. The board emphasized that Netflix’s bid represents a superior and more certain option for shareholders, citing clearer value and fewer risks compared with the competing offer. Market reaction reflected investor caution, with Warner Bros. Discovery shares dipping in early trading while Netflix...

Oscars set to move to YouTube after more than 50 years on ABC  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday that the Oscars will move from ABC to YouTube starting in 2029, ending more than 50 years of broadcasts on the network and marking a major shift for the streaming TV industry. Under the new agreement, YouTube will hold exclusive global rights to the Oscars from the 101st ceremony in 2029 through 2033. The show will stream live worldwide on YouTube’s free app, with U.S. viewers able to watch via YouTube TV. YouTube will also provide a red carpet pre-show, behind-the-scenes coverage during the ceremony, the Oscars nomination announcement, the Governors’ Awards, the Oscars nominees luncheon, and other related content. The Oscars first aired on NBC in 1953, moved to ABC from 1961 to 1970, briefly returned to NBC from 1971 to 1975, and then remained on ABC from 1976 until the upcoming 100th ceremony in 2028. The move to YouTube will make the ceremony accessi...

Former Harvard morgue manager sentenced to 8 years for selling body parts Cedric Lodge, 58, the former morgue manager at Harvard Medical School, was sentenced to eight years in prison for stealing and selling human body parts in a nationwide scheme. His wife, Denise Lodge, 65, received a sentence of 12 months and one day in prison for her role in the operation. Prosecutors said Cedric Lodge took organs, brains, skin, and dissected heads from cadavers donated to Harvard between 2018 and March 2020 without the knowledge or consent of the donors, their families, or his employer. The couple transported the remains from the Boston morgue to their home in Goffstown, New Hampshire, before shipping them across state lines to buyers. Some of the remains reportedly sold for thousands of dollars, including payments labeled for specific body parts. Harvard Medical School condemned Lodge’s actions as “abhorrent and inconsistent with the standards and values” expected by the institution and donor fa...

 Trump approves 'no-cost' marijuana products for Medicare recipients  President Trump signed an executive order Thursday initiating a pilot program that allows Medicare to cover cannabis products for seniors, marking a significant policy shift in federal support for medical marijuana. The move could provide older Americans with alternative treatments for common ailments, at a time when marijuana use among adults 65 and older is rising sharply. A 2023 NYU study found that 7% of adults in that age group reported using marijuana in the past month, up from 4.8% in 2021 and 5.2% in 2022, representing nearly a 46% increase in two years. Under the order, marijuana will be reclassified as a Schedule III drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration, placing it alongside medications such as Tylenol with codeine, rather than Schedule I drugs like heroin and LSD. The pilot program will specifically cover cannabidiol (CBD) products for Medicare beneficiaries, with coverage expected to begin...

 Again, Law Enforcement Agencies, Traditional Rulers Pledge Support for EFCC in South-East Law enforcement agencies in Enugu State and His Royal Majesty, Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu,  Chairman of South-East Traditional Rulers Council have reaffirmed their unalloyed support to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in its ongoing efforts to combat corruption, economic and financial crimes The show of support came when the Zonal Director, Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, Commander of the EFCC, CE Daniel Isei paid courtesy visits to Humphrey Ohikhuare, Director, Department of State Services, Enugu; Nkechi-Enobong Enete, Controller of Immigration, Enugu; Favour Bodunde, Customs Area Controller, Enugu/Anambra/Ebonyi Commands; Franklin Agbakoba, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Enugu; Joseph Adekunle Owuputa, Commander of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Enugu; Hilary Umanna, Regional Manager, South-East Airports; Major General Oluremi Fa...

 ABA DETAINEE VANISHES INTO PRISON AFTER 13 YEARS WITHOUT TRIAL, FAMILY STILL SEARCHING  19th December, 2025    A man identified as Sunday Anyim, a native of Ebonyi State, has spent 13 years behind bars at the Aba Correctional Centre without trial after being mistakenly accused of murder. Reports say Anyim was arrested in 2012 at Ehere Market, Aba, where he was selling okirika (second-hand clothing). He had travelled from Ebonyi to Aba to purchase the goods and reportedly had no mobile phone at the time of his arrest. Police allegedly detained him on the grounds that he resembled a suspect wanted in connection with the murder of a woman in Obingwa Local Government Area. Despite maintaining his innocence, Anyim was charged with murder and has never been tried. His case worsened after his case file was reportedly destroyed during the EndSARS protests, leaving his legal process stalled indefinitely. In a heartbreaking revelation, Anyim says none of his family members kn...

 NIGERIA LAUNCHES 3RD NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON PEACE & SECURITY Nigeria has taken a bold step in advancing women’s inclusion in peace and security with the launch of its Third National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The plan reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting women and girls, while positioning women as key drivers of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Speaking at the launch, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, represented by Laila Barau, wife of the Deputy Senate President, said the initiative marks a new chapter toward a safer, more inclusive nation where women and girls can thrive. Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described the plan as a historic milestone that places women, children and vulnerable groups at the heart of national stability, calling for collective action to ensure its success. The event also featured the inauguration of a National Technical Working Committee to drive implementatio...

 ALLEGED SALE OF ARMS TO BANDITS , POLICE ARMORER COMMITS SUICIDE IN MINNA  A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Isah Abdullahi, attached to the armoury of  12 Police Mobile Force in Minna, the Niger State capital, has allegedly committed suicide after suspicion  of being involved in illegal dealing of arms and ammunition. The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the incident in a press release, stated that the late DSP Abdullahi Isah was initially arrested on December 15, 2025, on allegations of illegal sale of arms and ammunition to bandits. The PPRO highlighted that during  investigation an arms audit conducted on December 16, 2025, to establish missing rifles and ammunition, DSP Isah reportedly shot himself in the head with a pistol and died instantly.  SP Abiodun added that the officers detailed for the audit and investigation have been arrested for negligence by allegedly allowing the suspect to  sh...

 PRESS STATEMENT NIGERIA POLICE FORCE AND THE MOTOR VEHICLE TINTED GLASS PERMIT POLICY: UPHOLDING THE RULE OF LAW, SAFEGUARDING PUBLIC SAFETY, AND RESPECTING DUE PROCESS The Nigeria Police Force has observed recent public commentary attributed to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, concerning the Motor Vehicle Tinted Glass Permit Policy. In the overriding interest of public order, institutional clarity, and national security, the Force finds it necessary to place the facts on record, correct material misrepresentations, and reaffirm its unwavering commitment to the rule of law, public safety, and judicial authority. At all times, the Nigeria Police Force remains a law-abiding institution operating strictly within the framework of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, extant statutes, and valid orders of courts of competent jurisdiction. Under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, the F...

    House of Representatives Mandates Real-Time Electronic Transmission of Election Results to IReV Portal The House of Representatives has approved amendments to the Electoral Act 2022, with a key provision making real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal mandatory, addressing long-standing concerns over transparency in Nigeria's elections. During clause-by-clause consideration of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, lawmakers ratified Clause 60(3), which states: “The presiding officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IReV portal in real time, and such transmission shall be done after the prescribed form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the presiding officer and/or countersigned by the candidates or polling unit agents, where available at the polling unit.” This change removes previous ambiguities, as the 2022 Act left transmission discretionary to INEC guidelines. The move ...

 INEC Hosts PDP Factions The Independent National Electoral Commission,  INEC has met with the two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party,  PDP at its headquarters in Abuja. The meetings aims at resolving the lingering leadership crisis within the PDP.  Chairman of the Commission Prof. Joash Amupitan says INEC has the responsibility in line with its mandate to resolve issues within political parties especially ahead of the FCT area councils election, Ekiti and Osun off cycle governorship elections. On the entourage of the kabiru Turaki led national working committee is BoT chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara,  former Governor of Niger state Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, among others.  The Abdulrahaman Mohammed-led national working committee is accompanying by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Captain Umar Bature and a host of others. More photos below. 

 IPMAN Directs Members to Prioritize Dangote Refinery Fuel Purchases, Eyes Own Refinery Ventures Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has issued a nationwide directive to its members to prioritize buying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, exclusively from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, citing the facility's competitive pricing and its role in bolstering domestic refining. In a statement, IPMAN National President Abubakar Maigandi Shettima emphasized the importance of this move in reducing Nigeria's dependence on imported fuel. "I am calling on all IPMAN members nationwide to prioritise patronising the Dangote Refinery in their purchase of PMS products, as they already offer the best affordable price for all marketers today," Shettima said. The directive comes amid an upcoming enhancement in supply logistics: Starting January 2026, Dangote Refinery will begin direct supplies of PMS to registered IPMAN members, including fre...

Yesterday, the House of Representatives raised the limits on campaign spending for candidates running for elective positions: - Presidential: Initial - N5 billion | Amendment - N10 billion - Governorship: Initial - N1 billion | Amendment - N3 billion - Senatorial: Initial - N100 million | Amendment - N500 million - House of Representatives: Initial - N70 million | Amendment - N250 million - State Assembly: Initial - N30 million | Amendment - N100 million - LG Chairmanship: Initial - N30 million | Amendment - N100 million - Councillorship: Initial - N5 million | Amendment - N10 million - An individual or entity cannot donate to a candidate more than 500 million naira.

 19th December, 2025 PRESS RELEASE DELTA POLICE ARREST FEMALE SUSPECT WHO SOLD HER BABY: ARREST OF SUSPECT PRODUCING FAKE DRINKS, DRUG DEALERS AND RECOVERY OF ILLICIT SUBSTANCES. ARREST OF CHILD TRAFFICKERS AND RESCUE OF TRAFFICKED INFANT 1. On 15th December 2025 at about 1840hrs, one Rita Ughale, female, of Kokori, Ethiope East Local Government Area, reported at the Ekpan Police Division that her two-month-old baby was snatched from her during a robbery incident while transiting in a tricycle. Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ekpan Division, CSP Labe Joseph, immediately mobilised operatives of the Division and coordinated a swift search and rescue operation. During the course of the investigation, inconsistencies and suspicious conduct observed in the complainant’s narrative prompted further interrogation. The complainant subsequently confessed that the report was staged, and revealed that she had sold her child aged two (2) months old to one Osas O...

 Egypt’s Sisi, Sudan’s Burhan call for activating joint defense pact Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi and Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al Burhan have called for activating a joint defence agreement to confront regional challenges, according to the Sudanese Foreign Ministry. This came as the war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues. Burhan was on a one-day visit to Egypt and met with the Egyptian president on Thursday. Muawiya Osman Khaled, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry undersecretary, said the two leaders explored ways to strengthen and advance cooperation, according to Sudan’s state news agency. Khaled said Burhan expressed appreciation for Egypt’s “firm and unwavering support for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and Cairo’s unconditional stance against threats to Sudan’s national security.” Boost economic coordination He added that the two presidents directed state institutions in both countries t...