Author: Lawan

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted presidential pardon and clemency to 175 persons. The pardon followed the endorsement of recommendations from the National Council of State, which met on Thursday, October 9, in Abuja. According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President granted posthumous pardons to late Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa and nationalist, Herbert Macaulay. He also pardoned former lawmaker Farouk Lawan and three others — Mrs. Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Barrister Hussaini Umar, and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu — after they were found to have demonstrated remorse and readiness…

A cook at a famous Brazilian restaurant tragically di£d after being one of six people trapped in rubble when the restaurant floor collapsed. Suênia Maria Tomé Bezerra, 51, was working at the Jamile restaurant in the centre of Sao Paulo when the accident happened on Wednesday, October 8, with the mezzanine floor giving way. The restaurant is run by chef Henrique Fogaca, who is well known for being a judge on the Brazilian ‘Masterchef’ show, and the victim had been working there for about three years. She became trapped in the debris and di£d from her injuries despite the efforts…

THE Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been named Humanitarians of the Year at a glitzy awards bash. Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, jetted to New York to accept the gong, which recognised their efforts in mental health advocacy, yesterday. The couple appeared arm-in-arm as they were announced as Project Healthy Minds’ Humanitarians of the Year at the glam awards. They were celebrated at the nonprofit’s World Mental Health Day Gala in a flashy ceremony held at Spring Studios. The Duke and Duchess were awarded the accolade for their work in building a safer digital world for families and young…

U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized Barack Obama for receiving a Nobel Peace Prize, as he highlighted his own success in bringing peace to Gaza. ‘He got a prize for doing nothing,’ Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he was joined by the Finland PM on Thursday following the historic US-brokered peace deal between Israel and Hamas. Obama received the prestigious award in 2009, eight months into his first term. ‘They gave it to Obama for absolutely nothing but destroying our country,’ Trump said as he announced that he intends to travel to Egypt for the signing of…

By Moses Dan When Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), assumed the role of interim chairman of the newly launched African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF), many across the continent’s oil and gas sector hailed it as a watershed moment. His elevation was not just a personal milestone but a recognition of Nigeria’s growing influence in shaping the governance of Africa’s energy future. Yet, even as praise pours in, questions linger about capacity, politics, and the sustainability of the project. The launch and charter-signing of AFRIPERF took place on September 18, 2025, during Africa Oil…

The Federal Government says it has commenced the final phase of negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary education unions. The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday, during a meeting of the Technical Working Group on Conditions of Service of ASUU. Alausa expressed optimism that outstanding issues would soon be resolved to prevent further industrial action. He said the group was finalising a counter-offer to be presented to the unions through the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Negotiations Committee. According to him, the committee’s work aligns with…

The Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Muhammad Sanusi II, has commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for its monetary policies over the past year, describing them as decisive steps that have stabilized the economy and reversed years of instability. “I have nothing but positive words for what the Central Bank has done. We are coming from a background of very high instability as a result of loose money and uncontrolled growth in money supply, and the Central Bank has taken the last one year to mop up all that money,” Sanusi said. Acknowledging the impact of recent reforms,…

As he concluded his tenure, the outgoing Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their support and constructive criticisms during his time in office. “I thank Nigerians for their comments, as well as criticisms which encourage rather than discourage us to persevere,” he said. Yakubu made the remarks while presenting two books documenting all INEC activities from 2015 to 2025, covering the decade he served as chairman of the commission.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a four-day extension of the ongoing ward-level Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The decision was made during the Commission’s Third Quarterly Meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held on Tuesday, 7th October 2025, where ongoing electoral activities, including the CVR exercise, were reviewed. With the extension, the exercise—initially scheduled to end today, Wednesday, 8th October 2025—will now continue until Sunday, 12th October 2025. As of 7th October 2025, INEC recorded a total of 55,346 new voter registrations in the FCT, comprising 38,528 online pre-registrations and 16,818…

By Aminu Adamu Aminu The restoration of hope for Nigerians and the effectiveness of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in delivering tangible, evidence-based, and progressive reforms are no longer matters of doubt or mere sloganeering among Nigerians and residents. These are not empty campaign promises but the reality of a new political order—a game-changer reshaping narratives, particularly in the petroleum sector, where the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) is championing transformative reforms. What began two years ago, upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assumption of office, as an ambitious plan has evolved into a practical force, changing lives and transforming…