Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike At least 60 people have been confirmed dead and 11 others remain missing following a devastating fire at the Corniche Hypermarket in al-Kut, eastern Iraq, late Wednesday night. The hypermarket, which had opened just a week earlier, went up in flames, prompting a massive emergency response. According to Iraq’s Interior Ministry, most victims died from smoke inhalation while trapped in bathrooms. Fourteen charred bodies remain unidentified, and 45 people were rescued from inside the building. Firefighters battled the blaze for hours, with videos on social media showing dramatic rooftop rescues and flames engulfing multiple floors. Regional governor…

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Executive Council will hold a special session on Thursday, July 17, 2025, in memory of Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died on July 13 in London. The commemorative meeting, scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Council Chambers in Abuja, will be led by President Bola Tinubu and attended by ministers, aides, and senior government officials. The session will include tributes reflecting on Buhari’s decades of public service, from his time as a military ruler in the 1980s to his two-term tenure as civilian President from 2015 to 2023. President Tinubu will deliver a formal…

By Atoyebi Nike Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has flagged off a conditional cash transfer programme targeting 8,225 secondary school girls across all 14 local government areas, aimed at boosting school retention and educational outcomes for vulnerable households. Speaking during the official rollout held Wednesday in Gusau, Governor Lawal said the initiative supports girls from low-income families with ₦60,000 per academic session, disbursed in three terms. A total of ₦322 million has been earmarked for the first phase of the programme. The initiative, executed in collaboration with the ACReSAL and AGILE projects, is part of Lawal’s broader push for social…

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Government has paused the ongoing recruitment process into its paramilitary agencies, with the application portal set to reopen on Monday, July 21, 2025. This was disclosed in a public notice by the Civil Defense, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), signed by its Secretary, Maj Gen AM Jibril (rtd), and dated July 16. The suspension, according to the board, is aimed at enhancing the portal’s capacity to handle the overwhelming volume of applications and to ensure a smooth, transparent, and equitable selection process. “We acknowledge the high interest among young Nigerians seeking to serve…

By Atoyebi Nike Rural communities in Rijau LGA of Niger State were thrown into chaos on Monday after armed bandits launched a violent daylight assault, killing at least six people, abducting over 20, and stealing more than 1,000 cattle. The attack, which lasted for over two hours, saw the gunmen looting shops, destroying farmlands, and wiping out vital livestock and grain reserves. Residents described the scene as devastating, with families losing everything from food stores to sources of income. “We’re left with nothing no cattle, no harvest, and some of our people are still missing,” said Hamza, a herder who…

By Atoyebi Nike A fresh perspective on agriculture emerged at the 2025 World Agritourism Festival in Lagos, where key government officials and stakeholders championed farming as more than food production positioning it as a driver of innovation, tourism, and inclusive development. Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, praised the event for aligning with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that the initiative bridges creativity with farming, giving agriculture a broader relevance in national development. Ogun State First Lady, Dr. Bamidele Abiodun, applauded recent international partnerships with Brazil and Karta, saying they reflect growing…

By Atoyebi Nike The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced plans to appeal the court judgment that discharged and acquitted former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, of N6.9 billion money laundering and fraud charges. Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos upheld a no-case submission filed by Fayose’s legal team, ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case requiring the former governor to enter a defence. Reacting, EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) said the agency would obtain a certified copy of the ruling and begin preparing its appeal. Fayose and his…

By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has begun a two-day performance review with licensed gas distribution companies, as part of its oversight functions under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). In a statement on Wednesday, the Authority said the review is aimed at monitoring regulatory compliance, operational performance, and adherence to Health, Safety, Environment, and Compliance (HSE&C) standards in the gas distribution sector. This regulatory check comes amid growing national concerns over Nigeria’s chronically low electricity output, which hovers around 5,000 megawatts (MW) for a population exceeding 200 million. Weighing in on the issue, President…

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Government has dismissed reports of a new terrorist group operating in Nigeria, following warnings by the Turkish government over the alleged presence of the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) in the country. Turkey’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, had on Tuesday alleged that the group, tied to the late cleric Fethullah Gulen, was using education and healthcare platforms to conceal its activities in Nigeria. Poroy made the claims at an event in Abuja marking Turkey’s Democracy and National Unity Day. He described FETO’s presence as a threat and called on Nigerian authorities to remain vigilant. In…

By Atoyebi Nike Veteran journalist and former presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu, has formally resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleging the party has been overtaken by antidemocratic forces. In a resignation letter dated July 17, 2025, addressed to the PDP Ward 4 Chairman in Ihievbe, Owan East LGA of Edo State, Momodu described the party as a “carcass” manipulated by internal and external actors. He said his departure takes immediate effect. “Our party has been unarguably hijacked by antidemocratic forces in broad daylight,” he wrote, adding that it was “honourable” to walk away and align with the newly formed…