Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Government has issued a flood alert for 38 locations across 11 Nigerian states, warning of heavy rainfall from Wednesday, July 16, to Sunday, July 20, 2025, that could trigger significant flooding. The alert, released by the Federal Ministry of Environment through its National Flood Early Warning Centre, listed high-risk areas in states such as Adamawa (Mubi), Akwa Ibom, Borno, Bauchi, Plateau, Yobe, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Cross River, and Zamfara. The notice, signed by Director of the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, Usman Bokani, urges residents and local authorities to take necessary precautions to…

By Atoyebi Nike Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has officially resigned from the opposition party, citing deep internal crises and a divergence from its founding ideals. In a letter dated July 14, 2025, addressed to his ward chairman in Jada 1, Adamawa State, Atiku described the decision as painful but necessary, given what he termed “irreconcilable differences.” He also confirmed his alignment with the emerging Alliance Democratic Congress (ADC), a coalition platform taking shape ahead of the 2027 elections. The resignation letter, shared by his Special Assistant on Media,…

By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will add 49 cutting-edge aircraft to its fleet by the end of 2026, Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, announced on Wednesday at the opening of the 2025 Aircraft Engineering Conference in Abuja. Speaking at the event themed “Enhancing Aircraft Serviceability in the NAF through Strong Maintenance Culture and Strategic Partnerships,” Abubakar highlighted the need for improved maintenance capacity and innovation as the air force modernises. According to the CAS, the planned acquisitions include three CASA 295 transport aircraft, 10 AW-109 Trekker Type B helicopters, 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters,…

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal High Court in Lagos has discharged former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of all charges relating to a ₦6.9 billion money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Presiding Judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, ruled on Wednesday that the anti-graft agency failed to establish a prima facie case linking Fayose to the alleged offences, and therefore no further defense was required. Fayose and his company, Spotless Investment Limited, had been standing trial since 2019 on 11 counts, including the alleged receipt of ₦1.2 billion and $5 million in cash during the 2014…

By Atoyebi Nike Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, to discuss the aftermath of Iran’s recent conflict with Israel and to explore broader cooperation between the two countries. According to a statement issued Wednesday by Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Araghchi provided Wang with updates on the post-ceasefire situation and the evolving security dynamics in the region. The talks occurred on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ summit. The Chinese Foreign Ministry affirmed Beijing’s backing of Iran’s sovereignty and voiced opposition to “power politics and bullying,” a phrase widely interpreted as…

By Atoyebi Nike The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Technical Study Group has unveiled the Best XI from the group stage of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), currently ongoing in Morocco. Nigeria’s captain Rasheedat Ajibade and defender Ashleigh Plumptre were named in the elite squad, following their standout performances for the Super Falcons in the tournament’s opening round. The lineup, arranged in a 4-3-3 formation, highlights top talents from the group stage’s 18 matches, which saw a total of 45 goals. Zambia’s dynamic attacking pair Barbra Banda and Rachel Kundananji lead the forward line, joined by Senegal’s…

By Atoyebi Nike President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has unveiled plans to slash the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and consider direct sales to consumers if current distributors resist price reductions. But the move has sparked concern among stakeholders, who accuse the billionaire of trying to monopolize Nigeria’s LPG market. Speaking during a facility tour at his Lekki refinery with members of the Lagos Business School CGEO Africa group, Dangote said his refinery now produces 2,000 tonnes of LPG daily and is working to make the product more affordable. “LPG is still expensive. If the distributors…

By Atoyebi Nike Agribusiness expert, Mr. Samson Ogbole, has called on Nigerian farmers to move away from cultivating long-gestation crops and instead adopt innovative, fast-yield farming models that guarantee quicker returns on investment. Speaking at the BIC Soilless Concept Master Class on Hydroponics and Agribusiness Management in Ogun State, Ogbole who is the CEO of Soilless Farm Lab emphasized the importance of transitioning to business-driven agriculture. “We must begin to think like entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector,” he said. “Every naira spent should be geared toward sustainable and measurable returns.” He cited greenhouse vegetable production as a highly profitable option,…

By Atoyebi Nike At least 20 suspects were arrested on Tuesday as operatives of the Edo State Special Security Squad, codenamed Operation Flush Out Kidnappers and Cultists, raided multiple criminal hotspots in Benin City. The operation, launched by Governor Monday Okpebholo, swept through areas including Isiohor, Iguosa, Oluku, and Ibiwe/Lagos Street, uncovering dangerous weapons, drugs, and other incriminating materials. John Adewale Eseikhaigbe, a member of the anti-cultism and anti-kidnapping squad, praised the governor’s swift response to the recent killings in the state. “We’re making it clear that criminality has no place in Edo,” he said. Eseikhaigbe added that the squad’s…

By Atoyebi Nike At least 27 people were killed and many others injured during a brutal attack on Jebu-Rahoss community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State late Monday night. The Local Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Mr. Haggai Gankis, confirmed the incident, saying most victims were women and sustained gunshot and machete wounds. He alleged that the attack, which occurred around 9:00 p.m., was carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen. “Our community was invaded. Twenty-seven people were murdered, and many are in the hospital. It was a coordinated attack,” Gankis said. The Coalition for the Protection…