Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has expressed shock and confusion over reports that his U.S. visa has been revoked, saying he has no criminal record or history that could warrant such an action. “I’m still looking into my past history… I don’t have any past criminal record or even a felony or misdemeanour to qualify for the revocation,” Soyinka said. “Have I ever misbehaved toward the United States of America? Do I have a history? Have I gone against the law anywhere?” PM News earlier reported on September 10, 2025, that Soyinka had declined an invitation by the…

By Atoyebi Nike The Executive Vice President of Downstream, NNPC Limited, Dr. Mumuni Dagazau, says Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas sector is undergoing a structural transformation driven by deregulation, foreign exchange reforms, and strategic industry partnerships. Speaking on Monday, October 27, 2025, at the 19th Africa Downstream Energy Week in Lagos, themed “Energy Sustainability: Growth Beyond Boundaries and Competition,” Dagazau said recent policy reforms had unlocked new opportunities, fostering innovation and integration across the energy value chain. “We are witnessing strategic measures, supply partnerships, and joint investments that signal a shift from siloed operations to integrated ecosystems. These developments are…

By Atoyebi Nike The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) says its newly created Financial Investigation and Fraud Analysis Unit (FIFAU) has reviewed over 500 asset declaration forms as part of efforts to strengthen transparency in the public sector. CCB Chairman, Abdullahi Bello, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, noting that the investigation uncovered discrepancies that would support enforcement actions against defaulting officials. According to Bello, asset declarations of nine ministers, 43 permanent secretaries, and 40 federal directors have been verified so far, adding that the exercise is ongoing. He said the Bureau has also launched an online asset declaration…

By Atoyebi Nike Digital health educator Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, has cautioned Nigerians against spending too much time on the toilet while using smartphones, warning that it can lead to haemorrhoids, commonly known as piles or “Jedi-Jedi.” In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Egemba explained that scrolling through social media while sitting on the toilet for long periods increases pressure on veins in the lower rectum, causing swelling and irritation. He advised that toilet time should not exceed ten minutes, adding, “That 30-minute private time you’re spending scrolling Instagram or watching TikToks is the…

By Atoyebi Nike The Nasarawa State Government has ordered the immediate closure of the Lafia Modern Market due to worsening sanitary conditions within the facility. Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Margaret Elayo, led ministry officials and security personnel to seal off the market on Tuesday. She said the move followed repeated warnings to traders to maintain hygiene, which were largely ignored. “The market will remain closed until the traders’ leadership mobilises members to clean and sanitise the premises to make it fit for business operations,” Elayo stated. While some traders expressed disappointment over the closure, many pledged to cooperate…

By Atoyebi Nike The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has passed a bill to establish a comprehensive policy framework for integrating climate change actions across the state. The legislation, passed on Monday during plenary in Lafia, aims to mitigate the environmental and socio-economic impacts of climate change while promoting sustainable development. Speaker Dr. Danladi Jatau said the bill, once signed by Governor Abdullahi Sule, would create a Climate Change Advisory Committee, chaired by the governor, and a Climate Change Agency to drive policy formulation and implementation. He commended the bill’s sponsor, Mr. Mohammed Omadefu (APC–Keana), and lawmakers for their support…

By Atoyebi Nike Amazon is set to lay off as many as 30,000 corporate employees starting Tuesday, marking its largest round of job cuts since 2022. The move is part of CEO Andy Jassy’s strategy to reduce costs, streamline operations, and offset the effects of overhiring during the pandemic. According to a Reuters report, the layoffs represent about 10 percent of Amazon’s 350,000 corporate workers but only a small portion of its global workforce of 1.55 million. The cuts will impact several divisions, including human resources, operations, devices, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The HR department, known internally as the…

By Atoyebi Nike Media entrepreneur and Ovation International publisher, Dele Momodu, has urged the Federal Government to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. In a post shared on his X handle on Tuesday, the former presidential candidate said Nigeria must address the root causes of separatist agitation in the South-East, which he described as stemming from “decades of marginalisation and deprivation.” Momodu accompanied his statement with a clip of one of Kanu’s broadcasts recorded shortly before his arrest in Kenya, noting that many critics failed to understand the historical and political context behind…

By Atoyebi Nike U.S. President Donald Trump and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi have signed a landmark agreement to boost cooperation on rare earths and other critical minerals  resources vital for electric vehicles, defense systems, and renewable energy technologies. The framework deal, signed during Trump’s first visit to Japan since returning to office, aims to diversify global supply chains and reduce dependence on China. Trump hailed Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, as a “great leader” and “strong partner for America,” emphasizing closer economic and strategic ties. Takaichi described the partnership as the start of a “golden age” in U.S.–Japan…

By Atoyebi Nike A small passenger plane travelling from Kenya’s coastal town of Diani to the Maasai Mara National Park crashed early Tuesday morning, with all 12 people on board feared dead. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed that the aircraft went down around 5:30 a.m. local time while heading to Kichwa Tembo, a private airstrip in the popular wildlife reserve. Government rescue and investigation teams have arrived at the crash site to determine the cause of the accident. The crash comes just months after a similar tragedy in August, when a light aircraft operated by the medical NGO…