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Former Vice President and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to reinstate the fuel subsidy regime if he is elected president of Nigeria in 2027. Atiku argued that the removal of the fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration has not yielded any benefit for Nigeria. Tinubu announced the removal of the subsidy during his inaugural presidential address in May 2023, a decision that immediately exacerbated the economic difficulties faced by citizens, with the prices of goods and services soaring to unprecedented levels. Nevertheless, the current administration maintains that it has since…

The United Nations Human Rights Office has denounced the United States decision to impose fresh sanctions on officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC). High Commissioner Volker Turk said the “unacceptable” new sanctions — affecting ICC President, Judge Tomoko Akane, and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye — must be lifted. Turk urged countries to stand in defence of the institutions they created to uphold and defend human rights and the rule of law, and to “protect court officials targeted by such reprisals”. The European Union, however, declared “unwavering support” for the Hague-based court, saying it deeply regrets the latest action…

The Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in Ogun State, CN Tijjani Rabe, has fired back at popular human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, over his criticism of the agency’s anti-drug operations. Rabe asserted that leadership cannot be built on insults against institutions that “sacrifice daily for this country.” Recall that Sowore, in a post on X on Tuesday, faulted the agency for destroying cannabis farms, describing it as an economically viable crop. He asked the government to legalize and regulate the cultivation of the plant to harness its…

The naira recorded its first depreciation against the dollar at the official foreign exchange market on Wednesday. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that the local currency weakened for the first time this week, closing at N1,350.41 per dollar on Wednesday, compared to N1,343.32 exchanged on Tuesday. This means that the naira depreciated by N7.09 against the dollar on a day-to-day basis. Meanwhile, at the black market, the naira remained unchanged at N1,405 per dollar on Wednesday, the same rate recorded on Tuesday. This comes as the country’s foreign reserves stood at $52.32 billion as of August…

Emmanuel Ugwu has bid farewell to Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, side Bendel Insurance following his exit from the club. Ugwu has completed a move to Maltese side Mosta FC. The defender expressed gratitude to the club’s faithful for their support throughout his time in Benin City. Ugwu made 46 appearances for the Benin Arsenals. “Can a city, a dressing room, and a team become your home?” Ugwu wrote in his farewell message. “Yes.” “That’s what Benin City was for me. That’s what Bendel Insurance was for me.” “From the first minutes at the club, to settling in, to the…

The defence team of Nnamdi Kanu has challenged the Nigerian government to stop running from the courtroom and face the appeal filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, against his conviction. Kanu is serving a life sentence in Sokoto Prison following his conviction on terrorism charges filed against him by the Nigerian government. The agitator has, however, filed an appeal to challenge the conviction. The defence team, which spoke in a statement by a lawyer, Barrister Christopher Chidera, Esq., a member of the Global Legal Consortium to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday, also backed the Okwu-Kanu…

The members of Umunenweze village, Okaiuga Nkwoegwu autonomous community, Umuahia North LGA of Abia State, have appealed to the Abia State government to urgently save them from land grabbers. The community members who made the appeal during a protest at the disputed Okpuijikara land on Wednesday, said the community may slide into hunger and violence if no urgent intervention comes from the Abia State government. The spokesperson of Umunenweze village, Onyekachi Igbojionu, who presented the position of the community, expressed concern that ancestral land preserved for farming and future housing needs of the community, has been donated to some private…

At least 24 suspected bandits were reportedly killed on Tuesday after troops of the Nigerian Army, operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, and vigilante personnel foiled an attempt to abduct residents of Gidan Bawa village in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State. A report by security expert, Zagazola Makama, said the operation was carried out in Kandarawa Ward after security agencies received intelligence about a planned attack on the community. The report said about 40 gunmen loyal to suspected bandit kingpin, Isiya Kwashen Garwa, were preparing to invade the village and abduct residents, particularly women and children. The planned…

Arsenal are set to carry out a double raid on Manchester United as they target James Scanlon and Habeeb Ogunneye. The UK Telegraph reports that the Gunners are currently working on transfers for the two youngsters. Scanlon is a 19-year-old winger, while Ogunneye is a 20-year-old defender. Arsenal have embarked on an aggressive youth recruitment drive and are understood to be confident that deals for both players can be agreed this summer. Scanlon joined United from Derby County in 2021 and has already made 24 international appearances for Gibraltar, the country of his mother’s birth. He spent the second half…

A protest rocked the Ministry of Defence in Abuja on Wednesday as military retirees demanded the implementation of consequential adjustments to their pensions. Armed soldiers reportedly blocked the ex-servicemen from protesting at the Defence Ministry over the non-implementation of the pension adjustments. Speaking at the protest ground, one of the ex-servicemen said President Bola Tinubu approved a salary increase for military and paramilitary personnel in November last year, but the adjustment was yet to be implemented. “Since November last year, the President approved a salary increase for the military and paramilitary personnel, and it has been in the news everywhere. “The military…