Author: Lawan

I won’t die anytime soon, Obasanjo declares at 89 Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that at 89 years, he won’t die anytime soon. He condemned those circulating a fake letter in which he was purportedly speaking about his death, saying they were only wasting their time because “I dey Kampe.” The former president disclosed this on Wednesday while delivering a colloquium titled “Burden and Blessing of Leadership: Reflections from Global Africa to the World” held as part of the ceremonies lined up to mark his 89th birthday in Abeokuta. Obasanjo was born on March 6, 1937. The former…

Interested individuals are already jostling for the seat of the Minister of Power, as the current minister, Adebayo Adelabu, prepares to contest the Oyo State governorship election, The PUNCH has learnt. This is even as stakeholders urged President Bola Tinubu to appoint a technocrat as his replacement. Barring any last-minute change of plans, Adelabu is expected to resign his appointment in the coming weeks to vie for the Oyo governorship ticket under the All Progressives Congress. According to the new Electoral Act 2026 and the revised timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the conduct of party primaries, including…

Newly sworn-in Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, on Wednesday inaugurated a committee on the establishment of state police. As part of ongoing discussions on policing reforms, President Bola Tinubu, had, last Wednesday, during the breaking of fast with senators at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, urged the leadership of the 10th Senate to initiate constitutional amendments to provide for the establishment of state police. The President said decentralised policing would strengthen security at the grassroots and improve rapid response to threats within states, noting that the current centralised structure required constitutional review to accommodate the proposed reform. Speaking during the inauguration,…

—Crude oil prices leap further to $84 per barrel —Dangote refinery, oil marketers adjust prices —Expect more increases and hard times LAGOS — Nigerian homes, businesses and others are in for harder times following sharp increases in the retail prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, also known as cooking gas; Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, known as diesel, and petrol, as a consequence of the Middle East crisis. Gas price increased to N1,200 per kilogram from N1,000 per kg and diesel, N1,300 per litre from N1,200 per litre, respectively. Also, the price of fuel or Premium Motor Spirit, PMS rose to…

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has established a prima facie case of medical negligence and professional misconduct in the death of Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege, the 21-month-old son of acclaimed author Chimamanda Adichie. The findings follow an investigation initiated after a formal complaint was lodged with the Council on January 16, 2026. Medical practitioners from Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital and Atlantis Paediatric Hospital responded to the complaint, submitting affidavits and presenting oral testimony before the MDCN Investigative Panel. At the conclusion of its 25th session held in Abuja on February 17–18, 2026, the Panel determined that a prima facie…

Dollar to Naira exchange rate today The Nigerian Naira experienced a period of controlled volatility against the US Dollar on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, as the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) reflected ongoing price discovery. Real-time data shows the local currency navigating the mid-week session with a slight easing, following a month of sustained stability and high liquidity. Official Market Performance (NFEM) In the official window, the Naira opened at 1,379.05 per dollar. Early morning trading sessions saw the rate fluctuate within a narrow range, reaching a low of 1,376.02 before rebounding slightly. By 7:30 AM WAT, the exchange rate…

•As Company Income Tax grows 48% to N7.72trn Nigeria’s revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT) and Company Income Tax (CIT) recorded strong growth in the first nine months of 2025, reflecting improved non-oil revenue performance and enhanced fiscal capacity. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that VAT collections rose year-on-year (YoY) by 34 percent to N6.4 trillion in 9M’25 from N4.77 trillion in the corresponding period of 2024. Quarterly analysis indicated mixed but improving momentum. VAT declined marginally by 1.4 percent to N2.03 trillion in Q2’25 from N2.06 trillion in Q1’25. However, collections rebounded in Q3’25, rising…

Fasting in Islam is a divinely regulated act of worship that combines spiritual intention with disciplined physical restraint. Its validity rests on clearly defined conditions and pillars (arkān), which ensure that fasting remains both spiritually meaningful and legally sound. Reflecting on these elements during Ramadan deepens a believer’s appreciation of fasting as a conscious act of obedience rather than a mere cultural routine.The conditions for the obligation of fasting include Islam, sanity, maturity, physical ability, and residency. A person must also be free from legal impediments such as menstruation or postnatal bleeding. These conditions reflect Allah’s mercy and justice: fasting…

Stakeholders Petitions Tinubu Over Alleged Diversion Of 50 FG-Donated CNG Buses, Accuses Minister, Aide, Ex-NANS Leaders Of Criminal Infiltration A group of concerned stakeholders within Nigeria’s student movement has written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alleging large-scale corruption, diversion of public assets and criminal infiltration within the leadership structures of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). In a letter obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday the group accused the Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande Wisdom, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Asefon Sunday Dayo, and two former NANS leaders — Akinteye Babatunde…

Telecommunications operators in Nigeria will now be required to give subscribers a minimum of 14 days’ notice before deactivating their SIM cards over inactivity or post-paid churn, following a fresh proposal by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The proposal is contained in a consultation paper, signed by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, and which was titled Stakeholders Consultation Process for the Telecoms Identity Risks Management Platform, dated February 26, 2026, and published on the Commission’s website. Under the proposed amendments to the Quality-of-Service (QoS) Business Rules, the Commission said operators must…