Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike Nepal’s Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, stepped down on Tuesday following a violent crackdown on protesters that left at least 19 people dead, marking one of the country’s deadliest clashes in years. In a letter to the president, Oli, 73, said his resignation was aimed at paving the way for “a political solution and resolution of the problems.” The protests erupted on Monday over a controversial ban on social media and mounting corruption concerns, continuing even after access to the apps was restored. Amnesty International reported that live ammunition was used against demonstrators. The unrest highlights growing…

By Atoyebi Nike The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has resolved to press on with its nationwide strike after reconciliation talks with the Dangote refinery ended without agreement. The conciliation meeting, convened on Monday by Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi, collapsed after both parties clashed over whether tanker drivers at the refinery should belong to recognised oil and gas unions. NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, said the refinery’s representative, Sayyu Dantata, walked out of the session, insisting on a parallel association for its drivers. Akporeha, speaking on Arise News, accused the refinery of trying to weaken existing unions,…

By Atoyebi Nike The Senate has stopped Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, from resuming her duties, insisting that her six-month suspension is still valid pending a Court of Appeal ruling. In a letter dated September 4, 2025, Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, said the matter remains sub judice and cannot be resolved administratively until the court delivers judgment. Akpoti-Uduaghan, suspended on March 6, 2025, for alleged insubordination, has argued that her sanction was politically motivated after she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of misconduct. Despite her lawyer’s statement that she planned to return when plenary resumes…

By Atoyebi Nike The Africa Green Economy and Sustainability Institute (AGESI), a pioneering “do-tank” with its first office in Nigeria, is set to play a prominent role at the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) in Addis Ababa, scheduled for September 8-10, 2025. Known for translating climate ambitions into practical outcomes, AGESI will use the summit to unveil its Africa Green Opportunity Index (GOI), an initiative designed to reframe Africa’s transition from climate vulnerability to economic opportunity. The index offers policymakers and investors a roadmap for unlocking renewable energy and critical mineral resources across the continent. At ACS2, convened by the…

By Atoyebi Nike Elon Musk’s SpaceX has purchased $17 billion worth of spectrum licenses from U.S. operator EchoStar, in a move aimed at strengthening its Starlink satellite network, both companies confirmed on Monday. The agreement will allow EchoStar’s Boost Mobile subscribers to directly connect to SpaceX’s Starlink direct-to-cell service, eliminating the need for specialized terminals. SpaceX launched its first direct-to-cell satellites in early 2024. The service now extends beyond text and emergency alerts to include applications, social media, and messaging platforms in remote regions, according to the company. To deliver these services, SpaceX has partnered with ten operators across North…

By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian naira gained further ground in the parallel market on Monday, trading at N1,527/$1, its strongest level in more than a month. This marked an improvement from Friday’s closing rate of N1,530.96/$1. Market records show a steady appreciation trend last week: the naira closed at N1,539/$1 on September 1, held the same level on September 2, eased slightly to N1,538/$1 on September 3, then strengthened to N1,535/$1 on September 4, before settling at N1,530.96/$1 on September 5. In the official window, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data revealed the naira appreciated to N1,511.5/$1 on September 4,…

By Atoyebi Nike Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has condemned what he described as “tariff blackmail” by the United States, after President Donald Trump imposed a 50 percent import charge on Brazilian goods. Speaking at a virtual BRICS summit on Monday with leaders Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Cyril Ramaphosa, Lula accused Washington of using tariffs as a tool of economic coercion and political interference. “Tariff blackmail is being normalized as an instrument for market conquest and to interfere in domestic affairs,” Lula said. The trade measure has hit Brazil’s economy hard, with exports to the U.S. plunging…

By Atoyebi Nike A coalition of civil society organizations under the National Interest Coalition (NICO) has raised concerns over an alleged conspiracy to weaken President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s anti-corruption agenda and discredit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, NICO’s convener, Comrade Bashir Saleh Abdu, accused some senior government officials of sponsoring a coordinated campaign to blackmail the EFCC under its Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede. Abdu alleged that billions of naira in stolen funds were being deployed to derail ongoing investigations, undermine the government, and shield corrupt officials from prosecution. “They want to…

By Atoyebi Nike President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condoled with the family of Chief (Mrs.) Leila Euphemia Apinke Fowler, a lawyer, renowned educationist, and founder of the Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Lagos, who passed away on Monday at the age of 92. In a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the President described Fowler’s death as a major loss to her family, the education sector, and the nation at large. Tinubu commended her pioneering role in girl-child education, noting that through the establishment of Vivian Fowler Memorial College, she laid a strong foundation for academic excellence and…

By Atoyebi Nike The Labour Party (LP) has declared that former presidential candidate Peter Obi will not fly the party’s flag in the 2027 general elections. Speaking on  Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, insisted that the LP would move forward without Obi, stressing that the gains recorded in 2023 were not primarily his doing. “We are going to do our 2027 without Peter Obi; he will not have our ticket,” Arabambi stated. He argued that the surge of support for the LP in the last election was largely fueled by the #EndSARS movement and widespread public anger…