Author: damazah@gmail.com

…As minister presents three-year scorecard, unveils first national policy By Godwin Oritse The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has disclosed that agencies under the ministry generated ₦1.83 trillion in 2025, representing a 160 per cent increase from the ₦700.79 billion recorded in 2023. Oyetola attributed the growth to regulatory reforms, stronger revenue assurance, digitisation and efforts to eliminate financial leakages, saying the development reflected the transformation taking place in Nigeria’s maritime sector. Presenting the ministry’s three-year scorecard, the minister said the reforms had delivered gains in revenue generation, port infrastructure, maritime security, regulation, indigenous shipping, human…

US President Donald Trump speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, on Aug. 24, 2026. Jim Watson | AFP | Getty ImagesThe U.S. struck a deal with Venezuela to get majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of oil reserves as the war with Iran roils the global crude trade, President Donald Trump announced Friday.Trump said in an evening social media post that the agreement — which he touted as “THE BIGGEST OIL DEAL IN WORLD HISTORY” — comes “at no cost to” U.S. taxpayers. The agreement more than doubles the U.S. oil reserve,…

Women working in the arts believe they do not have equal opportunities for roles, especially as they get older, according to a report saying that the industry is fixated with “young and emerging” talent.Nearly all (95%) women working in the arts thought gender inequality persisted, while three-quarters (75%) reported experiencing unconscious bias or sexism, according to a survey of 76 arts professionals. More than two-thirds (69%) felt that age negatively affected their career success – a figure that rose to 100% among those working in artistic rather than managerial roles.The research said that gender discrimination and ageism were being exacerbated…

By Olayinka Ajayi President Bola Tinubu has filed a challenge in a US court to prevent the Department of Justice, FBI and DEA from releasing records linked to allegations of drug trafficking. 16-page court documents shared by his legal team, Christopher W. Carmichael, Victor P. Henderson, and Oluwole O. Afolabi, according to Channels Television yesterday, argued that the release of the records could infringe on his privacy. “Submission in that proceeding did not reveal the details of a possible criminal investigation (or its results) involving Intervenor. Other than by speculation or labels, Plaintiff does not point to an existing public record that…

Two people have been confirmed dead after a machete-wielding man attacked two security guards at the car park of Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX in Lekki, Lagos, in the early hours of Saturday. The Lagos State Police Command disclosed that one of the security guards was stabbed to death, while the suspected attacker was later mobbed and died. The police spokesperson, Adebisi Abimbola, noted that another security officer was injured in the attack. “Two people have been confirmed dead,” Ms Abimbola said. She stated that the suspect appeared to be destitute and that the police were still trying to establish exactly what…

Everton have called off a proposed deal to sell midfielder Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest following a backlash from the club’s supporters.Forest made a bid of £40m plus a potential sell-on clause for the England Under-19 international, who is regarded as one of the brightest prospects to emerge from Finch Farm in recent years.The news enraged Everton supporters, who sang Armstrong’s name throughout Saturday’s draw at Bournemouth and said there would be a “riot” if he was sold.The Toffees board have now unanimously decided that the 19-year-old will remain at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Hamza: African Birds of Prey7pm, BBC One“I’m like a kid who’s just been shown their Christmas present!” It’s always a delight to see Hamza Yassin in the wild. He starts this new series about incredible but endangered birds in Kenya, where the martial eagle – huge yellow eyes, terrifying talons, thighs of steel – blows him away. Then, he makes a case for why we should love vultures more, and somehow pulls it off. Hollie RichardsonModern Classics at the Proms8pm, BBC FourCurated by Guardian columnist Tom Service, here is an exciting collection of new music at this year’s Proms to…

 Why have media outlets focused almost exclusively on the recurring fuel subsidy debate while paying little attention to the broader and more fundamental concerns raised by Atiku Abubakar? It is now a matter of public record that the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has promised to restore the fuel subsidy if elected president in the 2027 presidential election. His argument is that Nigerians have yet to see benefits commensurate with the economic pain caused by the removal of the subsidy. The removal of the petrol subsidy resulted in a significant increase in the price of…

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Debt Management Office (DMO) has explained that the federal government did not pledge oil revenues or strategic assets, such as ports or airports, as collateral for the $5 billion Total Return Swap (TRS) facility between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC (FAB).According to the debt management agency, Nigeria pledged Naira-denominated Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Bonds, which are domestic securities it can manage through its own fiscal and monetary policy tools. The agency promised that all drawdowns and collateral of the $5 billion will be disclosed quarterly in its…

Red-hot Edo Queens FC will put their impressive run in the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU-B qualifiers to another stern test on Sunday as they face Ghanaian champions, Ampem Darkoa Ladies, in a mouth-watering semi-final clash in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The crucial encounter is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Stade Municipal Stadium, with Edo Queens going into the contest full of confidence after an explosive start to their campaign. The Nigerian champions have been one of the standout teams of the competition so far, opening their Group B campaign with a stunning 7-0 demolition of AS Garde Nationale…