Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ending months of speculation about his political future. His resignation was announced on Facebook by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, who revealed that the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, and all PDP members in the legislature also resigned. According to The Punch, the governor made the announcement on Wednesday during the weekly State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Yenagoa, and subsequently submitted his resignation letter to the party. It is also believed that all members of the…

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Government has signed a new tax reform law to take effect from the 2026 fiscal year, introducing significant changes to Nigeria’s personal and corporate income tax regimes. Under the new law, individuals earning below N800,000 annually will not be subject to personal income tax, while companies with a turnover under N100 million will be exempt from Company Income Tax. Taxpayers can claim deductions of 20% of rent paid, up to N500,000, along with deductions for contributions to pension, life insurance, housing, and health schemes. However, these deductions will no longer be applied automatically; taxpayers must…

By Atoyebi Nike The naira appreciated against the British pound on Wednesday, closing at N1,945/£ in the official market, as global currency markets experienced heightened volatility. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to float the naira and harmonize multiple exchange rates has boosted investor confidence, keeping the currency in a consolidation phase between N1,920/£ and N2,100/£ in the parallel market this month. Improved foreign exchange inflows and a fifth consecutive decline in inflation have strengthened short-term bullish momentum for the naira. Over the past 12 months, the naira has gained 10.56% against the U.S. dollar and 2.45% in the…

By Atoyebi Nike The World Health Organization (WHO) has appointed Dr. Pavel Ursu as its new Country Representative to Nigeria. He formally presented his credentials to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 14, 2025, in Abuja. Dr. Ursu’s appointment comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to strengthen its health systems and achieve universal health coverage. Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcomed him and expressed hope for deeper collaboration with WHO under his leadership. Before his new role, Dr. Ursu served as Director of the Department of Delivery for Impact at WHO Headquarters in Geneva. He has also…

By  Atoyebi Nike The Kaduna State Government and the Kaduna Mining Development Company (KMDC) have announced the discovery of extensive multi-metallic deposits, including gold, lithium, copper and nickel, in Gidan Waya, Jemaa Local Government Area of the state. According to KMDC, exploration in the pegmatite region revealed inferred resources of 33 million tonnes (MT) of gold and 187 MT of nickel ore bodies, alongside 97 MT of enriched tantalum and niobium ore with associated tin and tungsten. The discovery followed a two-year exploration programme by Kian Smith (kiansmith.com) and Anka Metals (ankametals.africa) under a joint venture with KMDC. In response,…

By Atoyebi Nike The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resolve their dispute and prevent another strike that could disrupt the academic calendar. In a statement on Wednesday, NANS President Olushola Oladoja expressed concern over renewed tensions between the government and ASUU. He warned that students, many of whom rely on education loans, cannot afford further academic delays. Oladoja praised President Bola Tinubu’s education reforms, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, removal of tertiary unions from IPPIS, and reversal of the 40%…

By Atoyebi Nike The U.S. Department of State has revoked the visas of at least six foreign nationals who posted messages online celebrating or justifying the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In a statement posted on X Tuesday evening, the Department declared: “The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans.” The announcement included screenshots of posts from individuals in South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Germany, and Argentina, all of whom have now been barred from entering the U.S. Their comments included insults, mockery, and justifications for Kirk’s killing. The move follows Kirk’s posthumous…

By Atoyebi Nike State chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have disowned a lawsuit aimed at halting the party’s national convention scheduled for November in Ibadan, Oyo State. Speaking on behalf of the PDP Chairmen Forum in Abuja, the forum’s chairman and Edo PDP leader, Tony Aziegbemi, condemned the actions of Austine Nwachukwu (Imo) and Amah Abraham Nnana (Abia), announcing their suspension from the forum. Aziegbemi urged the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) to discipline any member linked to the legal action. “We distance ourselves completely from the suit. We are solidly behind the Damagum-led NWC and will…

By Atoyebi Nike Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has rejected allegations that the Nigerian government is sponsoring Boko Haram, calling them “false, unfair, and lacking credible evidence.” Omokri made the remarks at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday. He appeared alongside Mike Arnold, Republican Mayor of Blanco, Texas, and Prof. Khalid Aliyu, Secretary-General of Jama’at Nasril Islam (JNI). The event followed comments by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who alleged that Nigerian officials may be aiding Boko Haram. Omokri challenged Cruz to provide evidence, saying genocide involves deliberate state-backed actions against a group. “If he knows officials involved, he should…

By Atoyebi Nike A non-governmental organisation, Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA), has officially launched the Farming Justice Project at the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja, an initiative designed to rehabilitate inmates through agriculture while addressing food insecurity in correctional facilities. The project, implemented in collaboration with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), is funded by the European Union through International IDEA under the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, Funke Adeoye, Executive Director of HBBA, described the initiative as a timely response to Nigeria’s changing correctional philosophy. “With the shift from ‘prison’ to ‘correctional…