Author: Atoyebi Adenike
By Atoyebi Nike The internal conflict within the Peoples Democratic Party intensified on Tuesday as the factional National Executive Committee aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced the expulsion of Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara. Also removed from the party were former Board of Trustees Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, former National Vice Chairman Bode George, and the newly elected National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, SAN. This sweeping action follows last Saturday’s contentious national convention in Ibadan, where Wike and his associates were themselves expelled, setting off fresh…
By Atoyebi Nike Tension rose around the Peoples Democratic Party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday as supporters of the Nyesom Wike-backed faction occupied the surrounding streets, demanding the removal of National Chairman Tanimu Turaki, SAN. The crowd, made up largely of women and youth groups, displayed placards bearing messages such as “No to Turaki” and “Turaki must go.” Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, was elected National Chairman at a contentious convention on Saturday, which the Wike faction refused to attend. Both camps had scheduled separate executive meetings for Tuesday, but the Wike-aligned bloc moved…
By Atoyebi Nike President Bola Tinubu has applauded the Super Eagles for their spirited showing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, even as Nigeria fell to DR Congo in a tense playoff decided by penalties on Sunday. Nigeria’s qualification hopes collapsed at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, after both sides played out a 1-1 draw across 120 minutes before Congo secured a 4-3 victory in the shootout. Frank Onyeka had given Nigeria an early lead in the third minute, but Meschack Elia levelled for DR Congo half an hour later. Extra time saw missed opportunities from…
By Atoyebi Nike The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has expressed satisfaction with the ongoing construction of the Bilingual School in Kiru, Kano State. UBEC’s Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Razak Olujuwon Akinyemi, gave the assessment during an inspection visit, according to a statement by the Kano SUBEB Director of Social Mobilization, Balarabe Jazuli. The visit formed part of preparations for the school’s commissioning, with UBEC reviewing facilities and overall project quality. Akinyemi commended the Kano State Government for strict oversight and urged community members to support and protect the school once completed. In a separate visit, UBEC’s Director of Physical…
By Atoyebi Nike The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has appealed to African governments to expand cooperation between the public and private sectors in order to strengthen the continent’s oil and gas value chain. PETAN Chairman Wole Ogunsanya made the call in Lagos in a statement issued on Sunday, November 16, 2025. He was quoted as speaking during the 4th Conference and Exhibition on Local Content in the African Oil and Gas Industry (CECLA), organized by the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) in Kintélé, Brazzaville, Congo. Ogunsanya was represented at the forum by the association’s Secretary, Kevin Nwanze. He…
By Atoyebi Nike At least 42 Umrah pilgrims are feared dead after their bus smashed into a diesel tanker and went up in flames early Monday near Muhras on the Makkah–Medina highway. The crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. (IST), when most passengers were believed to be asleep. The fire, intensified by the tanker’s fuel, completely burned the bus, complicating efforts to identify victims. Preliminary information indicates that the dead may include women and children, though final confirmation will rely on forensic checks. Only one person is believed to have survived the incident. Saudi Civil Defence and Red Crescent teams described…
By Atoyebi Nike Panic has swept through the Zuru Emirate in Kebbi State after armed bandits launched a violent assault on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area, killing the vice principal and abducting many students. The attack, carried out late Thursday night, claimed the life of the vice principal, Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku, who was reportedly gunned down while trying to shield students from the gunmen. The number of abducted students remains unclear, as authorities have not yet provided an official count. A resident, Murjanatu Hassan Gishiri, who confirmed the incident, said…
By Atoyebi Nike The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Education and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to suspend plans to introduce Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the 2026 school examinations. Lawmakers said the decision was necessary to avert a potential “massive failure” among students, particularly those in rural areas where schools lack the infrastructure and technical capacity to conduct computer-based exams. WAEC had earlier announced plans to conduct the 2026 May/June examinations using computers, after a partial rollout for private candidates in 2024. However, following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Kelechi Wogu…
By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Government has suspended the proposed 15 percent ad-valorem import duty on petrol and diesel. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) announced this in a statement on Thursday, assuring Nigerians that fuel supply across the country remains stable despite increased demand during the peak season. “It should be noted that the implementation of the 15% ad-valorem import duty on imported Premium Motor Spirit and Diesel is no longer in view,” the regulator stated. President Bola Tinubu had approved the import duty last month in a letter dated October 21, 2025, addressed to the…
By Atoyebi Nike The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake, expired, and substandard products worth over ₦20 billion in Ibadan, Oyo State. The exercise took place on Thursday at the Moniya dumpsite in the state capital as part of the agency’s effort to safeguard public health and prevent unsafe products from re-entering the market. NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by Mrs. Florence Uba from the agency’s Pharmaceutical Division, said the destroyed items included falsified medical products, expired drugs, contaminated food, and unsafe cosmetics. She noted that the products were seized from manufacturers,…