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The Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, led by US billionaire Elon Musk, has announced the termination of an additional 179 wasteful contracts worth $1.87 billion. DOGE disclosed this in a statement released via its X account on Tuesday night. According to the department, among the cancelled contracts is a $1.8 million US Trade and Development Agency agreement for energy and climate advisory services. The agency noted that the cancellations have resulted in savings of $280 million for the country. “In the last two days, agencies terminated 179 wasteful contracts with a ceiling value of $1.87B and savings of $280M, including a $1.8M US Trade & Development contract for ‘energy and climate advisory services’, a $207k HHS consulting contract for a ‘grant writing workshop’ and an $89k Treasury contract for a country programme manager in Namibia,” DOGE stated on X. This development comes just days after DOGE announced the cancellation of 226 wasteful contracts worth $1.03 bi...

A young man has been arrested for allegedly stealing a generator in the Welfare Quarters area of Makurdi, Benue State. The incident occurred on the morning of Tuesday, 29 April 2025. Residents of the area reported that generator thefts have become increasingly frequent, often going unnoticed until power is unexpectedly cut off. In many instances, locals initially assumed their generators had simply run out of fuel, only to later discover they had been stolen. “One more thief was caught this morning in Welfare Quarters, Makurdi, for stealing a generator,” a resident said. “Fortunately, the vigilante group intervened. He’ll face serious consequences, but unlike others before him, he’ll get a proper trial instead of jungle justice.” The suspect is expected to be handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation and prosecution. Suspected generator thief arrested in Makurdi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has announced the commencement of an investigation into the sum of $86,500, SAR305,150, and €200 confiscated by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, said the money was discovered in an unaccompanied bag suspected to have been smuggled into the country. He stated that the money was intercepted on Sunday, 27 April 2025, when a clearing agent, Sale Bala, attempted to retrieve the bag. Upon physical inspection, customs officers uncovered the foreign currencies concealed within bedspreads (duvets) and date packs tucked inside the luggage. Further investigations led to the arrest of Bala and a second suspect, Abdullahi Tahir, who was reportedly tasked with receiving the bag after clearance. He added: “The money was handed over to the EFCC by Chief Superintendent of Customs, CSC Abdulahi Hashim, and received o...

The Adamawa State Government has commenced a process to recruit job-seeking indigenes into its civil service. The government stated in a notice issued on Monday that a portal for this purpose would open on Tuesday, 29 April 2025. Issuing the notice headed ‘Vacancy Advertisement for Online Recruitment’, the Adamawa State Civil Service Commission said the commencement of the exercise follows the approval of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri. Signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Civil Service Commission, Abubakar Maiha, the notice said the commission is accepting online applications from interested candidates for various job openings. “Applicants who are Adamawa State indigenes must be between the ages of 18 and 50 years,” the commission stated. It said the recruitment portal would open from Tuesday, 29 April 2025, and close on Tuesday, 13 May 2025; and provided the portal address as www.csc.ad.gov.ng. Adamawa begins civil service recruitment exercise

Enyimba defeated holders Rangers 2-1 in a keenly contested oriental derby at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, on Sunday. The visitors scored twice in the first half through Innocent Gabriel and Ekenne Awazie. Chiedozie Okorie reduced the deficit for Rangers in the 66th minute. The win boosted Enyimba’s chances of securing a continental ticket. Abia Warriors returned to third position courtesy of a 3-1 home win over Shooting Stars. Adejoh Ojonugwa opened the scoring for Imama Amapakabo’s side after seven minutes, while Anthony Ijoma added a second for the hosts 12 minutes later. Sunday Megwo scored his side’s third goal five minutes after the break. Nasarawa United defeated Heartland 1-0 at the Lafia City Stadium. Anas Yusuf scored the winning goal for the home team late in the first half. It was Yusuf’s 15th league goal of the campaign for the Solid Miners. In Ilorin, Kwara United thrashed Lobi Stars 4-0. Junior Aimufua grabbed a brace, with Wasiu Alalade and Adeshina Gat...

The Abia State Government has directed the Local Organising Committee, LOC members for the 2nd Abia State Governor’s Secondary Schools Games, to respect the roles of sports administrators and to desist from in-house fighting among themselves. The Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Nwaobilor Ananaba, gave the directive in Umuahia during a meeting with the local government LOC members for the 2nd Abia State Governor’s Secondary Schools Unity Games. He stated that the secondary school competition, covering all 17 LGAs and designed to discover and develop future sporting champions for Abia State and Nigeria, will hold from 12th to 14th May 2025, while the state finals will take place in June. The commissioner commended the various chairmen and their members for effectively carrying out their activities towards achieving the goals of the forthcoming Governor Alex Otti’s Secondary School Unity Games and charged them to consolidate on the gains recorded during the maiden editi...

Operatives of the Ogun State Police have arrested three suspects for the unlawful possession and trading of human body parts in the state. The suspects are Sunday Akintobi, 36, Oladimeji Olaniran, 40, and Isaiah Tijani, 38. DAILY POST learnt that the prime suspect, Akintobi, a resident of the Itoku area in Abeokuta, was arrested following credible intelligence, which subsequently led to the arrest of the other two individuals. Confirming the incident to DAILY POST on Friday, the police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, stated: “On April 22, 2025, at about 8 am, operatives of the Ogun State Police Command, through its SWAT unit, acted on credible intelligence and apprehended one Sunday Akintobi, a resident of Itoku area in Abeokuta, suspected of trading in human body parts. “Further investigation led to the arrest of two additional individuals, Oladimeji Olaniran and Isaiah Tijani. A search of their residences led to the recovery of body parts believed to be human remains.” She added...

The Abia State Government has assured investors and the diaspora community that the state is open and safe for them. The assurance was given by the Executive Secretary of the Abia State Diaspora Commission, Rev. Annie Onu, during an interactive meeting with members of Nzuko Ndi Abia N’ Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom. She emphasised the resolve of the administration of Governor Alex Otti to explore and identify key areas of collaboration that will yield mutual benefits for the state and its diaspora community. Onu explained that security, infrastructure, education, and other areas of development have been prioritised by the state government. She informed the diaspora community that security has improved across the Abia landscape, urging them to come home and invest, and adding that the image of Abia State has improved. Speaking earlier, the chairman of Nzuko Ndi Abia N’ Aberdeen, Ugochukwu Iheukwumere, expressed gratitude to Governor Otti for improving the image of the state a...

A series of coordinated attacks by suspected bandits across parts of Zamfara State on Tuesday, have left several residents dead, others injured, and many abducted. According to intelligence sources who spoke with Zagazola Makama, the armed assailants struck multiple locations in Zurmi, Tsafe, and Talata Mafara Local Government Areas in the early hours of the day. In the first incident, the attackers reportedly stormed Kaiwa Namba Village at about 5:30 a.m., killing multiple residents and kidnapping several others whose number remains unknown as of the time of filing this report. Later, at approximately 9:15 a.m., over 100 armed bandits on motorcycles launched another assault on Bawa Ganga Village. Officers from the Police Mobile Force (PMF), deployed under Operation Restore Peace, engaged the attackers in a fierce gun duel. During the confrontation, Inspector Sunday Joel from MOPOL 10, Bauchi, sustained gunshot injuries and was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment. Secu...

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has warned of possible prosecutions of former senior advisers who were dismissed during a probe into leaks of Pentagon information to the media. Hegseth stated that evidence would be submitted to the Department of Justice once the investigation is over. Dan Caldwell, one of the top advisers to the defense chief, and two others were fired after being escorted out of the Pentagon. However, they denied any wrongdoing and said they had been told nothing about any alleged crimes. Hegseth himself is facing growing calls to resign after coming under fire for using the messaging system Signal to discuss plans to attack Yemen’s Houthi group. He told Fox News, “If those people are exonerated, fantastic. We don’t think, based on what we understand, that it’s going to be a good day for a number of those individuals because of what was found in the investigation.” Hegseth said there had been a number of leaks that triggered the investigation: “We said eno...

Nollywood veteran Joke Silva has revealed why she did not adopt her husband, actor Olu Jacobs’ surname, after they got married. She shared that it was her husband who advised her to retain her maiden name in order to maintain her professional identity. The 62-year-old actress disclosed this while featuring in a recent episode of the Leadership podcast hosted by Stephen Akintayo. The host asked: “Is there a reason you didn’t change your last name after getting married?” Silva replied: “He [Olu Jacobs] was the one who actually advised that I don’t. Because he understood the importance of branding. He was like, my brand has started building as Joke Silva and changing brands several years after one has been using that brand, as far as he was concerned, could cause problems for me. “So, we kept the name Joke Silva as the brand but within the circles, there was nobody who didn’t know I was Mrs Jacobs. It [changing last name] really didn’t matter.” My husband discouraged me from adopti...

The Catholic Broadcast Commission of Nigeria, CBCN, has stated that only one cardinal from Nigeria is eligible to participate in the election of a new Pope. According to an unsigned statement posted on the CBCN Facebook page on Monday, His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Okpaleke (62), is the only Nigerian Catholic cardinal, out of four currently eligible to participate (vote) in a papal conclave. CBCN cited their age as the reason for the ineligibility of the remaining three. The statement read: “His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Okpaleke (62) is the only Nigerian Catholic cardinal out of four cardinals currently eligible to participate( vote) in a papal conclave, being under 80 years of age—both to vote for a new pope and to be voted for as Pope. “Other Nigerian cardinals who cannot vote: Francis Cardinal Arinze – 92 Anthony; Cardinal Okogie – 88 Cardinal John Onaiyekan – 81 “Why can’t cardinals over the age of 80 vote in a conclave? The Church excuses them from voting out of concern fo...

The senior pastor of The Second Coming of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, on Sunday said God won’t instruct preachers and religious leaders to centre their messages on prosperity. Pastor Giwa said it is a lie from the pit of hell for any preacher to claim that God instructed him to centre his messages on prosperity. He disclosed this while addressing members of his church in Akure, the Ondo State capital. According to Pastor Giwa: “Easter should be considered the most important and joyful celebration, and not Christmas or the New Year. Why? It’s because it has to do with the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; without resurrection, there is no salvation. If there is no resurrection, then our faith is of no use, and it plays a significant role in strengthening our faith. It also gives us the opportunity as believers to publicly proclaim the gospel to sinners. “Why did I say so? You could recall that when Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead, that gave the apostl...

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, on Saturday, April 19, 2025, conducted an inspection of two critical road construction projects within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). The projects inspected include the 10.5-kilometer Kabusa/Ketti road, which connects the Kabusa, Pyakasa, and Ketti districts, and the 9.8-kilometer Kabusa/Takushara road, linking Kabusa, Takushara, and Wasa districts. During the inspection, Wike reiterated the administration’s determination to extend infrastructure development beyond Abuja’s city centre into the satellite towns, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive. “We’ve been to Ketti and the road from Kabusa to Takushara. The emphasis Mr. President has always made is that we should not only concentrate in the cities. We should take development to the satellite towns. You can see how happy the residents were in Ketti in particular, which is a heavily populated area,” he stated. The Minister als...

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised alarm over the widespread abuse of drugs in Kano State, revealing that the state now ranks second in the country in terms of drug-related cases. This was disclosed by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Muhammad Buba Marwa (Rtd), during the commissioning of a newly built accommodation and rehabilitation centre for NDLEA personnel in Kano. Marwa expressed deep concern over the scale of drug abuse in the state, stating that the menace cuts across different segments of society. He called for stronger collective action to combat the challenge, emphasizing that no single institution can address the issue alone. As part of the agency’s effort to boost staff welfare and operational efficiency, the newly commissioned facility is expected to provide improved accommodation and a supportive environment for rehabilitation initiatives. Describing the development as a major step forward, Marwa note...

Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL champions, Rangers, have promoted youngster Olisaemeka Nwoye to the senior team. Nwoye has also signed his first professional contract with the Flying Antelopes. The youngster has been highly rated by youth team coach Felix Nwosu. “Ball Playing centre Back Olisaemeka Nwoye (Ramos) Promoted to the Senior Team from the U-19. Congrats son,” Nwosu stated at the player’s unveiling ceremony. Nwoye has already commenced training with the first team ahead of Saturday’s clash with Lobi Stars. DAILY POST recalls that Anoruo Chukwudi and Ogbonna Christian were promoted to the senior team at the start of the season. NPFL: Rangers promote youngster Nwoye to first team

Three officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have been hospitalised with gunshot injuries sustained after coming under attack by armed men during a raid operation in the Jahi area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Thursday night. This was made known in a statement by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja. Babafemi disclosed that the incident occurred when a team of NDLEA operatives, acting on intelligence and surveillance reports, raided an uncompleted building in the NNPC area of Jahi. During the operation, 74 bottles of codeine, 10 litres of codeine syrup, 48 grams of tramadol 225mg, 4.9 kilograms of skunk (a strain of cannabis), and five Android phones were recovered. As the NDLEA team was exiting the location, they came under gunfire. Three of the NDLEA personnel involved in the raid sustained gunshot injuries: one was hit in the rib, while the other two were wounded in the back and leg. The injured officer...

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has hailed Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé, describing the Frenchman as the best current striker in the world. He named Argentine superstar Lionel Messi as the greatest striker of all time. Scholes, in an interview with The Overlap, selected the best current player and the greatest player ever in five different positions. Since joining Real Madrid in the summer, France national team captain Mbappé has played in the No. 9 position. However, Mbappé prefers to play in the left-forward role. At Los Blancos, the 26-year-old has netted 33 times and provided five assists in 49 appearances across all competitions. Asked to name the best striker of all time, the former England international chose Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi. “We’ve got Messi as a striker, have we? False 9 have we? Yeah, I’m gonna say Messi,” said Scholes. He went on to name Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker as the best current goalkeeper, and Peter Schmeichel as the greatest g...

Bank of Canada on Wednesday said inflation in Canada would spike and the country would enter a deep recession if US tariffs trigger a global trade war. The central bank, while citing the high level of uncertainty, did not issue its regular quarterly economic forecasts. The apex bank instead provided two scenarios as to what might happen. DAILY POST reports that in the first scenario, most tariffs are negotiated away, and Canadian and global growth weaken temporarily. Canadian inflation falls to 1.5% for a year and then returns to the bank’s 2% target. In the second scenario, the tariffs prompt a long-lasting global trade war. Canada enters a significant recession, inflation spikes above 3% in mid-2026 before returning to 2%. The apex bank stressed that many other scenarios were possible, estimating that annualized first quarter GDP was 1.8%, down from the 2.0% it forecast in late January. US tariffs could trigger deep recession – Bank of Canada

US Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, on Wednesday attacked President Donald Trump, saying he lacks “fidelity to the law”. Schumer vowed to block Trump’s nominees for US Attorney for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Trump had nominated Jay Clayton as the US Attorney for the Southern District and Joseph Nocella Jr. as the lead prosecutor in the Eastern District. Posting on X, Schumer wrote: “Donald Trump has no fidelity to the law, and his intentions for the Justice Department and US Attorney offices have been made clear. “I will not return the blue slip for his nominees for US Attorney for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.” However, the Iowa Republican senator who leads the Judiciary Committee, Charles E. Grassley, said that he intends to respect the blue slip tradition. Speaking with newsmen, Grassley said given Schumer’s stance, that means the two high-priority nominations of Trump are on track to die in the committee witho...

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has blamed persistent insecurity for the state’s underdevelopment and economic retrogression. Speaking during a visit to Kwall District in Bassa Local Government Area which was recently attacked by gunmen—the governor lamented the loss of lives and destruction of property in Zike and Kimakpa communities of Iregwe Chiefdom. The Sunday night attack left multiple people dead and homes in ruins. “We made significant investments in security technology immediately after taking office,” Mutfwang stated. “But insurgency and terrorism have slowed our developmental strides. Our people can’t go to their farms or engage in meaningful economic activities.” He vowed that his administration would not relent in its efforts to end the cycle of violence and bring the perpetrators to justice. He commiserated with grieving families and appreciated President Bola Tinubu for supporting Plateau State during these trying times. He also called on security agencie...

Crypto scammers on Tuesday hacked the X account of a British minister, Lucy Powell, to promote a fraudulent “House of Commons” cryptocurrency. A spokesman for the minister said his principal’s personal X account was hacked on Tuesday morning. “Steps were taken quickly to secure the account and remove misleading posts,” he added. The spokesman said the verified account, followed by nearly 70,000 people, was used early Tuesday to spread a series of messages promoting the “House of Commons Coin” cryptocurrency, allegedly linked to the lower house of the British parliament. According to him, the scammers attempted to inflate the value of a crypto coin before selling it to secure a profit, crashing its value in the process. This is not the first time that cybercriminals have impersonated public figures, notably by taking control of their social media accounts to promote fraudulent crypto projects. DAILY POST reports that Ghanaian President John Mahama’s X account was hacked last mont...

In response to a series of deadly attacks in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, which resulted in multiple fatalities, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has visited the state to assess the situation and express solidarity with the victims. Accompanied by top police officials—including AIG Funsho Adegboye (Police Mobile Force), AIG Zachariah Fera (Zone 4), and AIG Nwonyi Polycarp Emeka (Commandant, Police Staff College Jos)—the IGP arrived in Plateau State to evaluate the security landscape and offer assurances of justice and safety. During a meeting at the Plateau State Government House in Jos, the police boss met with Governor Caleb Mutfwang and conveyed heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force. “The attacks are both unacceptable and deeply troubling,” said the IGP. “We are here to not only grieve with the people of Plateau but to take concrete actions. The Nigeria Police will pursue the perpetrators relentlessly and ...

The streets of Lagos Island are set to come alive this Easter Sunday, 20 April, as the historic Lagos Fanti Carnival returns, celebrating over a century of Afro-Brazilian heritage and the cultural identity of the Lagos Island community. First held in 1890, the Fanti Carnival is one of the longest-running cultural processions in Nigeria, established by Afro-Brazilian descendants who settled in Lagos after returning from Brazil in the 19th century. The event has since evolved into a public display of music, dance, and traditional art forms tied to the city’s unique history. This year’s edition, according to organisers, will feature three major attractions: an Afro-Brazilian Food Showcase, a Heritage Art Exhibition, and the main Lagos Fanti Carnival Parade. The event will also include performances from local musicians, dancers, and cultural groups. Traditional masquerades, elaborate costumes, and samba-inspired drum ensembles will take centre stage in a display that highlights the lo...

Heartland head coach Emmanuel Amuneke has reflected on his side’s stunning away win over Rangers. The Naze Millionaires defeated the title holders 2-0 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, on Sunday. Suraju Lawal and Isaac Nassy scored both goals for the Owerri club. It marked Heartland’s second away win of the 2024/25 season. The victory has significantly boosted the Owerri club’s chances of maintaining their top-flight status. “I think the important thing is that we’ve come to believe in what we’re doing,” Amuneke said. “We’ve been creating lots of chances, but unfortunately haven’t always been able to convert them. But today, in such a big game against the defending champions, Rangers—a team with great potential and achievements—it was very, very important that we took the two chances that came our way and managed the game well. That’s exactly what we did.” Heartland have now moved to 15th position on the table with 41 points. The former champions will host Kwara United in ...

The Niger State Police Command has effected the arrest of four suspected kidnappers in possession of two locally made pistols and a Dane gun in Rijau, Rijau Local Government Area of the state. The state command, through the Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, stated that the suspects were apprehended on 12th April 2025 by police operatives attached to the Rijau Division. The suspects were identified as Shehu Mohammed, 35; Mamman Sani; Daudu Mohammed, 37; and Jibrin Ahmodu, all from Rijau LGA. According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects had kidnapped a female victim from Angwan-Gwanda village in Rijau within the past month, but she managed to escape from captivity. The victim was able to identify one of the suspected kidnappers, which subsequently led to the arrest of the remaining suspects. “The suspects confessed to the crime and they are under investigation. All will be charged in court for prosecution after the investigations,” Abiodun disclose...

Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Jr. has declared his team’s readiness to face Arsenal in their Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday. The Brazilian fired up Los Blancos’ fans with a message of hope ahead of the game at the Santiago Bernabéu. The attacker shared the message after his side secured a narrow 1-0 win over Deportivo Alavés in La Liga on Sunday. Los Blancos will face the Gunners for the second leg of the encounter, looking to overturn a 3-0 deficit from the first leg. The Brazilian said Ancelotti’s side are fully focused, adding that they will give everything. Vinicius posted a picture of himself on Instagram with the caption: “Already thinking about Wednesday! We’re ready and looking forward to it. We’ll wait for you at the Bernabéu and we’ll try everything. WE ARE THE REAL! HALAMADRID!” Carlo Ancelotti’s men have a huge mountain to climb, with Arsenal already 3-0 up heading into the second leg. The Spanish giants will need to secure a four-goal lead i...

The monthly award ceremony of the Nigeria National League, NNL will be held in Abuja on Tuesday. The event is scheduled to take place at the West Point Hotel, Zone 7, Wuse. The award categories include Best Behaved Team of the Month, Best Coach, Best Goalkeeper, Highest Goal Scorer, Best Goal, Best Referee, and Most Valuable Player. According to NNL, the award is put together to recognise and encourage excellence across various categories in Nigeria’s second-tier league. Former chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Sani Lulu, and ex-international Tijani Babangida, now serving as the President of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria, PFAN, are expected to grace the occasion. The initiative, launched in December 2024, has gained traction for spotlighting talent and professionalism within the league. NNL holds monthly award ceremony in Abuja

The Benue State Local Government Elections Petition Tribunal, sitting at the NBA House in Abuja, on Sunday nullified the election of Melvin Ejeh as the Executive Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area. The tribunal instead declared Napoleon Otache as the duly elected chairman of the council. The tribunal’s ruling followed a petition challenging the legitimacy of the local government election in Agatu, one of the 23 LGAs in Benue State. In a statement issued shortly after the verdict, Ejeh described the tribunal’s decision as a “total miscarriage of justice” and reaffirmed his commitment to contesting the ruling through the legal process. “My fellow citizens of Agatu Local Government, you are aware of the total miscarriage of justice done to me on a matter of the same facts and evidence across the 23 local government areas of Benue State at the tribunal,” Ejeh stated. Despite the ruling, he maintained that he remains the legitimate chairman until the outcome of the appeal, urging...

Arsenal have once again squandered the chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool, following a 1-1 draw with Brentford on Saturday. Gunners boss, Mikel Arteta, made five changes to the starting XI that thrashed Real Madrid 3-0 in the Champions League. It was a lacklustre performance from the hosts as the first half ended goalless. However, Arsenal went ahead in the second half, through Thomas Partey’s first-time finish. Partey got on the end of a Declan Rice pass following a quick counter-attack, to rifle the ball home. But Brentford ensured they earned a share of the points, thanks to Yoanne Wissa’s improvised finish. The result means that Arsenal now have 63 points, 10 adrift of Liverpool, who take on West Ham on Sunday. EPL table: Arsenal fail to close gap on Liverpool after 1-1 draw with Brentford

The Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, BIPC, has taken delivery of 20 electric and solar-powered vehicles to commence its modern, eco-friendly taxi service across Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo. Speaking during the handover, BIPC Managing Director Raymond Asemakaha, stated that the initiative is intended to reduce transportation costs, provide greater value for residents, and create employment opportunities for local youth. He revealed that the company is aiming for a fleet of 100 electric vehicles for the Green Wheels taxi service. “This initiative aims to provide efficient and cost-effective transportation, create jobs for local youth, and offer citizens better value for their money by reducing emissions and contributing to a cleaner environment. “The cars are zero-emission cars and are eco-friendly, have a control system and a geofencing technology that can show the location and an in-built CCTV to track movement, monitor and ensure security of passengers. “We are goin...

Despite widespread criticism over the appointment of Sole Administrators for the twenty-three local government areas of Rivers State, the state’s Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has officially sworn in all twenty-three appointees. The swearing-in ceremony took place on Friday at the Government House in Port Harcourt. Videos circulating on social media show jubilant scenes involving the newly appointed administrators, many of whom are believed to be loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. A human rights group, Pilex Center for Civic Education, had on April 7 approached the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt seeking to halt the appointments, challenging the legality of the move. The court has summoned the Sole Administrator to appear and explain why an interim injunction should not be granted to restrain him from proceeding with the appointments. The suit was filed by the Coordinator of the Pilex Center, Courage Nsirimovu. ...

The United States has officially transferred 12 armoured vehicles to the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire, part of a broader support package originally designated for Niger before the July 2023 military coup disrupted bilateral ties. In total, 36 armoured vehicles were reallocated to Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Ghana, following Washington’s suspension of military cooperation with Niger. The handover ceremony took place on April 10, 2025, signaling continued U.S. commitment to partnering with democratic and stable West African nations. The shift in military aid comes amid Niger’s growing isolation under its ruling junta, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), whose populist posture and fractured international relations have coincided with a worsening security crisis and rising terrorist control across parts of the country. U.S. officials have reaffirmed their focus on supporting nations upholding democratic values, with Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Ghana now position...

President Donald Trump has announced his intention to retain the services of the Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE. The President made this known on Thursday at the White House during a meeting with members of his cabinet. In attendance were Secretary of State Marco Rubio, departmental secretaries, and special government employee and tech billionaire Elon Musk, who heads DOGE. President Trump stated that he was impressed by the work DOGE has been doing and expressed his desire to retain its staff. After Musk’s comments, Trump said: “Your people are fantastic, hopefully, they’ll stay around for the long haul. We’ll like to keep as many as we can. They ‘re great, smart, sharp, finding things that nobody thought of, and very computer savvy.” Trump to retain Elon Musk-led DOGE

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice’s two free-kick goals against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League were extremely easy. This was disclosed by Inter Milan legend Wesley Sneijder. Recall that Rice’s two free-kick goals, along with a strike from Mikel Merino, gave Arsenal a 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. The England international broke the deadlock in the second half with an exceptional free-kick from range. He then followed it up just 12 minutes later with an even better effort that arced into the top corner. “I don’t think the free kick(s) were that impressive,” Sneijder revealed on Dutch TV channel Ziggo Sport. “This may sound strange, but it’s extremely easy to curve a ball like that as long as you know how to take a shot, and I know all about this. The wall was at fault here. “The same for the second free kick, you saw Courtois moving to his right just before Rice took it, a mistake by the goalkeeper...

The National Industrial Court in Makurdi, Benue State, has ordered the state government to pay more than N6.8 million as death benefits to the widow of a deceased official of the state. Judge Isaac Essien ordered the payment of death benefits, which had been due since May 2017, to the widow of Linus Otigbo on Tuesday. The deceased passed away on 20 February 2016, in active service as a Grade Level 10 officer in the state’s Ministry of Lands & Survey. He had served the state government for nearly 29 years at the time of his death. His widow, identified as Mrs Otigbo, who is the next of kin and Administrator of the Estate of his estate, filed her suit after waiting to no avail for the state government to pay her the deceased’s death benefits. She sued the Government of Benue State, the state’s Bureau of Pensions and the Attorney General. In the suit, she recalled that her late husband was employed by the Benue State Government on pensionable appointment dated 11 March 1987. S...

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that Iran could expect tighter sanctions if it does not reach an agreement with President Donald Trump on its nuclear program. Wright made this statement in an interview with reporters on Tuesday. “So absolutely, I would expect very tight sanctions on Iran, and hopefully drive them to abandon their nuclear program,” he said. Wright is reportedly set to begin an almost two-week tour of three Middle Eastern countries on Wednesday, including Saudi Arabia—marking his first visit as a U.S. official to the de facto leader of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The Energy Secretary also defended Trump’s executive order, expected later on Tuesday, aimed at boosting the coal industry. He described it as essential for powering artificial intelligence data centers, as well as supporting steel production and other industrial activities. “We need a growing supply of electricity to meet the AI boom and also to support the re-in...

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has stated that he wants Matheus Nunes to develop into a right-back, as he believes the player is “not clever enough” to play the midfield role he has held throughout his career. The 26-year-old joined City from Wolves in August 2023 for £53 million. Since then, Nunes has made 62 appearances for the club, most of them in midfield. However, with Guardiola still searching for a replacement for Kyle Walker at right-back, Nunes has been deployed in that position. Following Nunes’ performance in the 0-0 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Guardiola expressed his view that the player does not possess the necessary qualities to play in midfield. “He [Nunes] can become a good right-back due to his physicality,” Guardiola told reporters. “I think he’s not a player suited to midfield because he’s not clever enough in terms of composure, but he has incredible skills and is learning a lot. “The biggest mistake for full-backs is when they don...

The European Union has extended a zero-for-zero tariff offer on industrial goods to the United States, signalling its readiness to engage in negotiations with the administration of former President Donald Trump. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, made this known in a widely circulated video released by Libs of TikTok on Monday. According to her, the EU remains committed to fair trade and is prepared to respond to any punitive tariffs with appropriate countermeasures in defence of its economic interests. “We stand ready to negotiate with the United States. We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods, as we have successfully done with many other trading partners because Europe is always ready for a good deal. “So we keep it on the table. We are also prepared to respond through countermeasures and defend our interests,” she stated. Her remarks come in the wake of President Trump’s firm rejection of negotiations with the EU, insisting inst...

Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, on Saturday released a video showing two Israeli hostages alive in Gaza, in what appears to be a response to ongoing Israeli military operations. In the footage, the two men, seated side by side, speak directly to the camera, describing their survival following an alleged Israeli strike. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an Israeli campaign group, confirmed that the family of Maxim Herkin identified him as one of the captives in the video. Israeli media named the second hostage as 21-year-old Israeli soldier Bar Kuperstein, a resident of Holon, who was abducted while helping festival goers during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on the Nova music festival. Herkin, who also holds Russian citizenship, was 35 at the time of his abduction and had emigrated from Ukraine to Israel with his mother. He is the father of a young girl. Just before he was captured, he had texted his mother saying, “All is well. I’m coming home.”...

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday condemned the latest bandit attacks in Plateau State, stating that attacks on defenceless citizens are unacceptable to his administration. Tinubu, in a statement by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, assured that the gunmen would be met with severe consequences. Recall that violence broke out again in Plateau, leading to the killing of many people in Ruwi, Hurti, and Tadai communities in Bokkos Local Government Area. The development, which the President described as saddening, prompted a statement condoling the victims’ families. In doing so, the President commiserated with the Government of Plateau State and Governor Caleb Mutfwang, urging the affected communities to cooperate with the authorities and security agencies by volunteering information to apprehend the perpetrators and secure their communities. “I extend my condolences to the families of the victims in Ruwi, Hurti, and Tadai communities in Bokkos Local Government, and those from Manguna an...