Author: damazah@gmail.com

Chiemelie Ezeobi The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has handed over 18 bags of suspected cannabis sativa weighing about 756 kilograms to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), following a series of intelligence-led operations across its area of responsibility in Lagos. The exhibits were formally transferred to the NDLEA Marine Command during a handover ceremony held at NNS BEECROFT, Apapa, on Friday. Speaking during the event, the Commander of NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said the seizure marked another milestone in the command’s sustained efforts to combat drug trafficking and other maritime crimes. He disclosed that the 18 bags…

The Imole Campaign Council, the group leading the re-election campaign of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to avoid the lapses witnessed during some recently conducted off-cycle elections. Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Monday, the Director-General of the campaign council, Lere Oyewumi, alleged that during off-cycle and by-elections in Ogun, Oyo, Jigawa and Ekiti states, individuals suspected to be mercenary voters were issued Permanent Voter Cards shortly before voting. Oyewumi, who also raised concerns over the deployment of insufficient ballot papers and other sensitive materials, alleged that already thumb-printed ballot papers were distributed during…

• Says solution to insecurity lies in political will, intelligence gathering, improved welfare for security personnel, greater public participation  •Hints they’ll hold talks with terrorists Funmi Ogundare Former Kano State governor and vice presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, yesterday, disclosed that he and the party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, had signed an agreement committing to a single four-year presidential term, after which power would return to the north in 2031. Speaking in an interview on   Channels Television’s Politics Today, Kwankwaso explained that the understanding was reached following extensive discussions between both leaders and their…

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) will hold the commercial bid conference for its 2025 Licensing Round on Tuesday. The conference will mark the next stage in the allocation of 50 oil and gas blocks across the country. The commission, in a statement issued on Monday, said only prequalified companies invited to the exercise would be allowed to attend the conference at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. According to the NUPRC, the licensing round covers 50 oil and gas blocks spread across diverse terrains, including 16 onshore blocks in the Niger Delta, 18 shallow water blocks, one deep…

… Spotlight financial inclusion, others as sectors poised for exponential growth Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has hosted another impactful edition of its quarterly UBA Business Series, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, innovators and business leaders to explore how customer insights and technology is shaping Africa’s next generation of high-growth businesses. Held at the Bank’s corporate headquarters in Lagos under the theme, “Building for Africa’s Realities: Turning Consumer Feedback into Technology-Driven Solutions,” the event examined how African entrepreneurs are leveraging data, consumer behaviour and innovation to build scalable businesses tailored to the continent’s unique realities. A major…

What will European leaders make of Andy Burnham, the seventh UK prime minister they have had to deal with in a decade of chronic political instability in London unleashed by the fateful 2016 referendum vote to leave the European Union?The “king of the north” is largely an unknown quantity in continental Europe and has given priority to a domestic agenda of devolving powers to regions and cities and extending state control of vital industries rather than to foreign policy. He may initially spend less time on diplomacy than his predecessor, Keir Starmer, whom critics branded “never here Keir” for his…

Science correspondent Nicola Davis investigates the strange story of Tam O’Braan and his attempts to grow tea in Scotland.In episode one of this mini-series first broadcast in October 2025, Nicola looks back on her first meeting with O’Braan while working on a feature about tea plantations in the UK. He was selling his award-winning Scottish-grown tea to some of the UK’s finest hotels, but something didn’t quite add up. And Nicola wasn’t the only person taking an interest in his story

Sadie Sink‘s role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day remains a mystery ahead of the film’s premiere. A new video teased Sink revealing three things about her character in the Sony Pictures production, but left audiences with the same doubts. “Since the trailer dropped, I’ve seen so many theories about who I’m playing,” Sink said in the Instagram clip. “To match your incredible energy, I’ve decided to give you three exclusive, confirmed answers right now.” Starting off the video, Sink said, “I can confirm I am not Spider-Man.” She continued to joke and said, “I am not Aunt May,” the character…

Mary Nnah The 9th Lagos Leather Fair closed recently with a clear roadmap for the continent’s leather industry: comply with global standards, adopt artificial intelligence, and build for export. Over two days, LLF2026 positioned Lagos as the center of African leather, bringing together international buyers, policymakers, tech innovators and artisans to confront the barriers limiting growth. The fair opened on Saturday June 27th with a focus on regulation. In a panel on exportation and compliance, legal experts and CITES auditors explained why African brands have been shut out of Western and Asian markets. Their message was direct. Traceability, ethical sourcing…

Says FG generated N21.6trn tax revenue in six months, external reserves hit 17-year high Senators raise concerns over rising debt, poor budget implementation despite higher revenues•Monguno warns failure to implement Appropriation Act could amount to impeachable offence Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, yesterday mounted a robust defence of President Bola Tinubu’s borrowing record, insisting that contrary to widespread public perception, the administration had not borrowed anywhere near the N75 trillion to N80 trillion being attributed to the present administration. Instead, he explained that the sharp increase in Nigeria’s…