News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu has strongly condemned the barbaric and cowardly attacks by gunmen in Angwan Rukuba district, Jos, Plateau State. He equally condemned the attacks in Kahir village in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Describing the attack on the community in Jos and the killing and abduction of wedding guests in Kaduna as an affront to all that Nigeria stands for, President Tinubu assured Nigerians that the barbaric acts will not go unpunished. "Anyone who will sneak under the cover of the night and kill defenceless citizens as done in Jos and Kahir village, is a heartless coward. By attacking soft targets in Jos, their objective is not only to cause harm but also trigger a spiral of reprisal attacks and further bloodletting " he said. To this end, he directed security agencies to intensify efforts to pursue the perpetrators and those spreading misinformation that can inflame tensions and further endanger lives. He cautione...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Committed to the fight against corruption, a Non-governmental Organisation, Step Up Nigeria in partnership with the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF) has spotlighted the need for legal protection in support of whistleblowers.  To this end, the foundation has opened entries for Art and Media Competition ahead of the 2026 World Whistleblower Day scheduled  for June 23. Step Up Nigeria is a creative team that builds bridges between government and citizens to tackle corruption and improve the delivery of public services. Addressing the media in Abuja, the Director of Programmes, Step Up Nigeria, Oluwaferanmi Iyanda said that the competition is an opportunity for youths to showcase their creativity and passion for transparency and accountability.  Iyanda noted that the initiative aligned with Article 33 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which encouraged measures to protect individuals who reported...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Sen. Ibrahim Ida as Chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission.  Ida holds an MSc in Banking & Finance from the University of Ibadan (1983) and an LLB from the University of Abuja (2003). Before being elected to the Senate in 2017 to represent Katsina Central, he served as the Commissioner of Finance for Katsina State and as the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Civil Service. This was even as the President nominated seven others to fill vacant positions as Commissioners at the National Population Commission. The Federal Commissioners to represent their respective states in the National Population Commission are:  1. Kolawole Oladipupo Alabi  - Ekiti State 2. Nasiru Mu'azu  - Zamfara State 3. Usman Abubakar Tuggar  - Bauchi State 4. Dr Isaka Alada Yahaya  – Kwara State 5. Prof. Sadiq Isah Radda  – Katsina State 6. Suleiman Umar  – Jigawa State...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Sultan of Sokoto, represented by the Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar, alongside other prominent traditional rulers and Islamic scholars, on Sunday led special prayers for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he marked his 74th birthday at the National Mosque in Abuja. Tinubu arrived at the mosque a few minutes after 3:00 p.m., where he participated in the special prayers and later observed the Asr prayer with Muslim faithful before departing the venue. The prayer session, which drew governors, ministers, politicians, and worshippers from across the country, focused on seeking Allah’s guidance, wisdom, good health, and strength for the President as he steers the nation's affairs.  The Etsu Nupe described the gathering as a solemn spiritual exercise rather than a celebration, emphasising the need for continuous prayers for national peace, unity, and development.  He also appealed for government support towards the maintenance and welfare needs of the N...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu  President Bola Tinubu has established a dedicated support fund for members of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, those wounded in the line of duty, and the families of fallen heroes. This is even as he directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to establish a special account for the fund, which will provide targeted support to injured service members, as well as to widows, widowers, and children of those who lost their lives in service to the country. The President announced the initiative on Sunday, using the commemoration of his 74th birthday, to honour the courage, sacrifice, and service of the nation’s military personnel. As a personal commitment, Tinubu has pledged to contribute all his salaries since assuming office as seed funding for the initiative, reinforcing his resolve to ensure that those who have borne the cost of Nigeria’s peace and security are not forgotten. The President called on State Governors, members of the...

  Bola Tinubu President Bola Tinubu on Sunday delivered a special message to Nigerians as he marked his 74th birthday in Abuja.  Below is the message.  My dear fellow Nigerians, Today, as I clock another year on the journey of life, I'm filled with joy and gratitude for the opportunity to serve this great nation. I want to take this moment to thank Nigerians for their messages, show of love and prayers on the occasion of my 74th birthday. I thank all our citizens for their patriotism, solidarity and support for our administration. To those who have taken space in newspapers or paid for airtime on radio and television to wish me well, I thank you immensely. I must thank my wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, for her kind and loving words. I also thank Vice President Kashim Shettima for all he said about me. Consistent with my tradition of marking my birthday in line with the mood of the nation, I resolved to observe this year's birthday in a low-key manner.  ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Federal Government has fixed March 31, as deadline for the reopening of Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, ending years of intense traffic gridlock on the route.  With the intervention, the Federal Government has proven his stance to upgrade road infrastructure across the Southeast. Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi disclosed this during the inspection of  ongoing projects in Enugu, including the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway and the Eke-Obinagu Flyover. He was confident that the era of consistent fatal accidents, endless traffic, and public frustration along the road will phase-out soon.  "I’m going round the six geopolitical zones assessing what is possibly to be commissioned before May 29th by Mr President. There are mega projects that the President will be available for before May 29th and we mean it,” the Minister said. Once regarded as one of the most dangerous highways in the region, the Enugu–Onitsha road had for years been plagued by ta...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu departed Lagos on Wednesday for Abuja after marking the Eid-el-Fitri, following his historic state visit to the United Kingdom. His plane left the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport at 6.44 pm.  President Tinubu returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom in the early hours of Friday and participated in the Eid-el-Fitr prayers held at Dodan Barracks. As part of his Lagos schedule, Tinubu received 23 governors, including Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji. The President also received Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, an EU delegation and members of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council (GAC). Vice President Kashim Shettima also came to Lagos to brief the President on his trip to Borno State, following the recent suicide bombing.  Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun and the former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, were at the President's residence for the departure...

BY LATEEF O. FAGBEMI The attention of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to media reports attributed to the Atiku Abubakar Media Office, which contain misrepresentations concerning the recent resolution of disputes associated with the OPL 245 oil block. In that publication, the former Vice-President sought to downplay what is, by all objective standards, a landmark achievement of the current administration in brokering the settlement of a protracted dispute spanning nearly three decades. It will be recalled that the block was originally awarded to Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd (Malabu) in April 1998, revoked in July 2001, and subsequently allocated to Shell Nigeria Ultra-Deep Limited (SNUD) in May 2002. These actions gave rise to extensive litigation and public hearings before the National Assembly. The disputes arising from the revocation and reallocation were eventually addressed through the 2011 Resolution Agreement involving the Fed...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu has promised that his administration will intensify efforts in tackling the challenges caused by insecurity across various parts of the country, assuring that the safety and well-being of citizens featured at the meetings held in the United Kingdom.  President Tinubu, who hosted the Vice President Kashim Shettima and 23 governors at his Lagos home for the Eid el-Fitr celebration, said that he had followed up on support for modern security interventions with French President Emmanuel Macron. "Your presence here today and the number show your sincerity, commitment and value for friendship and togetherness.  "The next phase of our struggle is staring us in the face, and that is the challenge of insecurity in the country.  "I am making all the efforts to ensure that we collectively share the joy of our victory over tyranny. Insecurity is an enemy of development, progress, and prosperity. I am glad you are all mindful of...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Russian government has designated the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) as undesirable organisation for supporting, protecting and promoting journalists.  Russia’s Ministry of Justice announced the designation on January 30, 2026, a classification used to suppress independent civil society groups and press freedom organisations. News Rider reports that the official reasons for the designation was not disclosed even as IWMF was not alerted before the declaration.  Launched in 2015, Russia’s 'undesirable organisations' law allows authorities to ban foreign organisations and their materials from the country. The designation, given to organisations deemed threats to national security or constitutional order, exists within a broader crackdown on dissent and independent information. The 'undesirable' label by the Kremlin seeks to silence dissenting voices, restrict access to credible information, and criminalis independent jo...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja     Tony Elumelu President Bola Tinubu has congratulated a foremost economist, banker and philanthropist, Mr Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu as he marked his birthday on March 22.  Elumelu is the chairman of Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa, Transcorp, and the founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation. Tinubu describes Elumelu as an African business icon and a standout advocate of the Nigerian and African enterprise. The President commends the Heirs Holdings chairman for his resilience, the excellence that governs his entire enterprise and his staunch belief in Africapitalism. As an avid believer in investing in the youth, President Tinubu especially lauds the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s entrepreneurship programme, which has so far trained 2.5 million young Africans in 54 countries and empowered over 24,000 budding African entrepreneurs with non-refundable seed capital of $5,000 each. As Elumelu celebrates this special occasion, the President jo...

BY BAYO ONANUGA     Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo  It has become necessary to debunk the raft of misinformation assailing the migration partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, as contained in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two nations on the sidelines of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's historic state visit to the UK. The memorandum on immigration cooperation, like other memoranda signed, aimed to strengthen the partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Nigeria's Minister of Interior and the Secretary of State for the Home Department of the Government of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland signed the Migration MoU.  The MoU establishes a framework to facilitate a regulated and safe migration flow between the two countries and to encourage further bilateral cooperation in the fight against irregular migration and associated acts by citizens of each country, in accordance with their respective immigratio...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The world’s largest pension fund controlled by Norway has dumped Bolloré group over lingering human rights abuses at cocoa and palm oil plantation.  This was contained in a report from the Norwegian Bank Investment Management (NBIM) and made public on 26 February 2026.  Bolloré Group is a major French conglomerate (founded in 1822) controlled by the Bolloré family, with core businesses in transportation, logistics, communication, and energy storage/systems. The report stated that after years of dialogue with Bolloré SE and Compagnie de l’Odet SE on the handling of human rights risks, sexual violence, harassment and labor rights abuses at the plantations of the Luxembourg-based company, Socfin, in which the Bolloré group holds a significant share, NBIM decided to exclude them from its investment portfolio.  Though the violations and abuses have long been denounced by affected communities, the Socfin group controls 370,000 hectares for the ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja As Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid-el-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the Muslim faithful in Nigeria, seeking renewed commitment to the nation and humanity.  He enjoined Nigerian Muslims to rededicate themselves to the noble teachings of the holy month, which emphasise piety, empathy, and unity among humanity. "We have a lot to draw from the noble lessons of Ramadan, especially at a time like this. We must continue to abide by the virtues of piety, selflessness, perseverance, kindness and compassion beyond this period," he said. Tinubu urged all Muslim faithful to extend a hand of kindness to the needy of all faiths, to further show unity and camaraderie. The President tasked Muslim leaders to use the occasion to offer prayers for peace and prosperity to prevail in the country. This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga in ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Aljazirah Nigeria Newspaper has honoured the Minister of Works,  Engr. David Umahi with the 2025 Personality of the Year Award as Infrastructure Transformation Champion.  The organisers said that the recognition followed months of independent scrutiny, investigations, and verification of projects under the Ministry of Works. Umahi received the award alongside  the Permanent Secretary and Directors of the ministry. He said: "I am here with my team, including the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works and all the Directors. I am deeply touched by this award." According to him, what struck him most was not the accolade itself, but the process behind it. "What makes this recognition particularly important to me is the process behind it. I understand that you undertook a thorough review of the Ministry’s operations. What stands out is that this was done independently, without my knowledge, and I have only just become aware of it...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi is in high spirit as staff clinched gold medal at the 2025 Federal Public Service Games (FEPSGA) in Yola, Adamawa State.  This was even as the minister dedicated the award to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.  The trophy and gold medal were formally presented to the minister by the ministry’s sports club during a surprise ceremony on Wednesday at the ministry’s headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja. News Rider reports that the Permanent Secretary, Directors, Union leaders, and other members of staff attended the event.  While receiving the coveted trophy and medal, Engr. Umahi expressed gratitude to God and commended the ministry’s sportsmen and women for their outstanding performance, which earned the ministry recognition among other participating Ministries, extra-ministerial Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), including a gold medal in the March Pass category. He...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has shut Bond Chemicals Industries Limited in Oyo State over environmental infractions.  The agency carried out enforcement exercise following a public complaint that was supported by independent verification on the discharge of untreated effluent into the environment. A compliance inspection carried out by officials from the South West Zonal Office on Wednesday, 18 March 2026,  revealed that the facility had no functional Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and was discharging untreated wastewater with offensive odour directly into the environment in contravention of applicable environmental standards and regulations.  Following the inspection, the facility was duly notified and issued directives to immediately abate the  environmental nuisance by installing and operating an effluent treatment system in line with regulatory requirement, and also to obtain the re...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The British royals, King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Wednesday welcomed President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Remi Tinubu with a blaze of ceremonial grandeur.  News Rider reports that the event attracted vibrant colours, mounted cavalry, horse-drawn carts, a fanfare of trumpets, and a gun salute. The British royal family comprises King Charles III and other members of his family. There is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member, although the Royal Household has issued different lists outlining who is considered part of the royal family.  Members of the Royal family support King Charles III in carrying out public engagements and take part in charitable work and ceremonial duties.

BY CHIKA OKEKE Scene of Monday bomb blast in Maiduguri  President Bola Tinubu has commiserated with the people of Borno over the recent terror attacks in the State.  At least 23 people were killed and 108 injured on Monday night, March 16, when terrorists attacked Maiduguri city, the capital of Borno State.  Security officials had attributed the attacks to Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), in 17 years insurgency in the northeast.  The first explosive detonated at a post office in Maiduguri, followed by another at the popular Monday market, according to security agents and residents.  While one bomb blasted at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, another struck in Kaleri, a community in Maiduguri. Both incidences occurred on Monday evening. The attacks, which targeted crowded areas during the holy month of Ramadan, violated years of fragile peace in Borno, forcing a security crackdown and elevating fears of prolon...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja    Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo  Federal Government has declared Thursday, 19 March, and Friday, 20 March 2026, as public holidays to mark Eid-el-Fitr celebration, which signified the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The declaration was made by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of the Federal Government. In a statement by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Magdalene Ajani, the minister extended warm greetings and heartfelt congratulations to Muslim faithful on the successful completion of the fasting period. Tunji-Ojo encouraged Muslims to sustain the virtues of love, generosity, peace, tolerance, and sacrifice emphasised during the holy month. He called on all Nigerians to use the festive period to pray for the continued peace, unity, and prosperity of the nation. While wishing the Muslim faithful a joyful Eid-el-Fitr celebration, the minister urged citizens to celebrate responsibly and extend acts of kindness to th...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed all political appointees under his administration, who intend to contest elective offices in the forthcoming 2027 general elections to resign their appointments on or before March 31, 2026. The directive is pursuant to the provisions of Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, as well as the timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections. In a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, which was issued by the Permanent Secretary General Services Office, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, the resignation requirement applies to all categories of presidential political appointees who wish to participate in the forthcoming party primaries or seek nomination for any elective office.  They are Honourable Ministers, Honourable Ministers of State, Special Advisers to th...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accompanied by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has arrived in the United Kingdom for a two-day historic State Visit on the invitation of Their Majesties, King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Tinubu’s plane touched down at London Stansted Airport at 3.18 pm.  He was received on behalf of the Royal Family by Mark Bevan, Deputy Lieutenant of Essex, as well as by the acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to the UK, Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu, and other senior officials.  Also on hand to welcome the President to his hotel were some senators, governors and ministers.   President Tinubu and his wife will be hosted at Windsor Castle from Wednesday, March 18, to Thursday, March 19. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations and to explore investment opportunities for businessmen from both nations. This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bay...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja In what appeared to be a flop against wildlife trafficking, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has received pangolins from AkwaIbom and Kano States.  To this end, officers of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Service handed over one dead and two live pangolins suspected to be part of an illegal wildlife trade, to officials of the agency led by an Assistant Director, Mr. Ismaila Thoulut Anamoh. The pangolins were subsequently taken to Kano Zoological Garden by NESREA officials and received by the representative of the Kano State Zoological and Wildlife Management Agency (KAZOWMA), Hajiya Hafsah Bello Adam.  In Akwa Ibom, a local hunter known as Imo Etim, whose traps caught two pangolins instead of the grass-cutters he intended, promptly notified Prof. Olajumoke Morenikeji of the Pangolin Conservation Guild Nigeria (PCGN).  Although one of the pangolins died, Etim handed over ...