Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, which aims to translate Nigeria’s macroeconomic reforms into real, grassroots benefits across all 8,809 wards nationwide, has received the backing of the World Bank. The federal government initiative also aims at stimulating economic activity, boosting food security, generating jobs, and reducing poverty by directly supporting at least 1,000 economically active individuals per ward. The new Country Director, World Bank, Mr. Matthew Verghis, gave the commendation during a meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, in Abuja, yesterday. Bagudu in his remarks, intimated his guests that the groundbreaking ward initiative…
Author: Reporter
IBADAN Former Oyo State governor, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja has been installed as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadan. The Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, also declared that the Olubadan traditional system and succession process are sacrosanct and must continue to be upheld. The governor stated this on Friday, while presenting the staff and instruments of office to the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa I, at the Mapo Hall Arcade, Ibadan. He maintained that all challenges associated with the Olubadan Chieftaincy System in recent years are over, even as he prayed that the reign of Oba Ladoja would…
ABUJA The opposition coalition has directed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, to fully join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which it adopted as its platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027. The directive was announced in Abuja on Thursday by the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, following a caucus meeting attended by senior party leaders and prominent political figures. He added that all issues concerning the African Democratic Association (ADA) had been settled. “The coalition has rested everything concerning the ADA. That means, they are not interested in the registration…
IBADAN President Bola Tinubu has commended Nigerians for their resilience and patience in the face of recent economic and social challenges, assuring the nation that their sacrifices are not in vain and are already yielding progress and growth. He spoke on Friday at the coronation ceremony of the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, held at the historic Mapo Hall in Ibadan, the President acknowledged the perseverance of citizens through difficult times, while promising better days ahead. “I know the times have been hard, but your suffering is not without purpose. The path we are on is already bearing…
OGUN The Ogun State Government has announced that the Gateway International Airport, Iperu, will receive its first commercial flight on October 7, 2025, as Nigerian carrier ValueJet commences scheduled operations from the newly commissioned aerodrome. In a statement on Friday, the government confirmed that ValueJet will operate twice-weekly flights on the Ogun–Abuja route. Departures from Gateway International Airport are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 am, arriving in Abuja at 9:45 am. Return flights will leave Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 4:00 pm, landing in Iperu by 5:15 pm. The airport, commissioned on August 15, 2025, with an…
Nigeria’s carrier, Air Peace, has refuted reports suggesting that the British government stopped the airline from operating the London route for seven years. In a statement on its X page, signed by the management on Thursday, the airline described the reports as “deliberate falsehood” aimed at creating bad blood between it and the British people. “Our CEO never made such a statement accusing the British authorities. Instead, he praised and commended the British authorities for their cooperation in making Air Peace operations in the UK easy and seamless,” the management said. The clarification followed social media reports claiming that Air…
France international and PSG winger, Ousmane Dembele has been crowned the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual award. The announcement was made on Monday night at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, where the world’s biggest stars gathered to celebrate the best players of the past year. Dembele, 28, pipped Barcelona and Spain teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to the prize and succeeds Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri, who won the trophy in 2024. The former Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona winger, who was part of the France team that won the World Cup in 2018, scored…
Billionaire businessman and Chairman First Bank Plc, Mr Femi Otedola, yesterday waded into the ongoing fuel supply disagreement between the Dangote Refinery and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), advising the association to innovate or perish. The philanthropist stressed that he had followed the debate around the fuel supply issues between both parties recently, the billionaire entrepreneur noted that he felt compelled to provide some perspective, especially as it relates to the future of the country. In a statement on recent issues in the oil and gas sector, especially in the downstream, Otedola also congratulated Aliko…
Veteran actor and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has declared that the African Democratic Congress will win the 2027 elections and take over from the President Bola Tinubu-led administration. Okonkwo expressed this while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise programme on Monday. Recall that the party said it should not be judged by the results of the August 16 by-elections held across 16 constituencies. According to the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the ADC failed to secure any seat as the ruling All Progressives Congress won 12 of the 16 seats across nine states. Asked whether the ADC stood a…
Indications emerged on Tuesday that the impasse between the embattled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, PDP, Kogi Central and the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, may,may be coming to an end as the Sergeant at Arms of the National Assembly, along with combined personnel of security organisations, have unsealed her 205 office of the Senate wing. With her office now unsealed, Akpoti-Uduaghan can access the National Assembly premises, potentially paving the way for her to resume her legislative duties. According to reports, the move to open her office prior to resumption is to enable Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to be in the…