Author: Tribune Online

Several Social Security Administration (SSA) offices across the United States (US) are facing closures and service disruptions, affecting in-

There was a heavy police security presence around the residence of a former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and the venue for the planned BATOGD Community Assessment…

The post Police block planned venue of BATOGD community assessment rally in Ijebu-Ode appeared first on Tribune Online.

A Federal Capital Territory High Court has approved alternative service of court documents via email on Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh in a fundamental rights suit seeking N200m in damages over an alleged exorcism ritual involving a minor.

Human rights lawyer Barrister Ikechukwu Obasi filed the case on behalf of a Junior Secondary School 1 pupil from Durumi II in Abuja, originally from Rivers State. The suit alleges that Dikeh subjected the child to degrading treatment during a religious deliverance session on March 6, 2026.

According to court filings, the incident which was recorded in a video and photographs later shared on the actress’s Facebook page involved the child being placed on bare ground and pressed against a rough surface. The plaintiff claims this resulted in public humiliation, stigma, psychological trauma, and a breach of the child’s rights to dignity and privacy under the 1999 Constitution and the Child Rights Act 2003.

The case is being heard at High Court No. 3 in Maitama before Justice Maryann E. Anenih. On Tuesday, the court granted the request for substituted service after personal service on the defendant proved difficult. The court ordered that documents may be served via two email addresses or through publication in a national newspaper.

Counsel C.E. Okoro told the court that efforts to serve the defendant personally had been unsuccessful. Justice Anenih ruled that sufficient grounds had been established and granted the application.

The suit was filed in March under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009. An ex parte motion for substituted service was submitted on March 31.

The matter is scheduled for hearing on May 11, 2026.

Court Grants Email Service On Tonto Dikeh In N200m Exorcism Suit is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Federal Government has signalled growing investor confidence in Nigeria following the successful hosting of the UK–Nigeria Trade and Investment Mission in Abuja, where top government officials, business leaders and international partners explored fresh opportunities for capital inflows and stronger economic cooperation.

The two-day mission was organised by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) in collaboration with DMA Invest, the UK Department of Trade and the British High Commission, alongside representatives from both the public and private sectors.

The event served as a major platform for showcasing Nigeria’s improving investment climate, ongoing economic reforms and readiness to attract global investors seeking opportunities in Africa’s largest economy.

Participants at the mission engaged in ministerial roundtables, sector-specific discussions and strategic Business-to-Government (B2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings designed to move beyond policy conversations and deliver practical investment outcomes.

According to organisers, several bankable opportunities were identified during the engagements, with a focus on accelerating investment inflows, expanding partnerships and deepening trade relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

The government said the mission sent a clear signal to international investors that Nigeria remains committed to reforms, competitiveness and creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

A key highlight of the event was the commendation received by NIPC from DMA Invest, which reportedly described the Commission as “the best it has ever been,” a remark seen as recognition of the agency’s recent reforms, improved service delivery and stronger investor engagement processes.

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NIPC, Aisha Rimi, played a central role in driving the mission’s engagements and strategic direction.

Speaking during the programme, Rimi said the government’s objective was to convert diplomatic and business engagements into measurable economic gains for the country.

She noted that the momentum generated from the recent state visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the United Kingdom, as well as other bilateral engagements, should translate into concrete investments that create jobs and stimulate growth.

“This Mission is not just about conversations—it is about conversion,” she said.

“Our priority is to ensure that strategic engagements lead to real projects and partnerships that create real impact on Nigeria’s economy.”

Observers said the successful outing reflects increasing efforts by the Tinubu administration to attract foreign direct investment, diversify the economy and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s long-term prospects.

The UK–Nigeria Trade and Investment Mission is being seen as another important milestone in expanding bilateral economic ties and positioning Nigeria as a competitive destination for international capital.

As interest from global investors grows, the NIPC said it would continue to facilitate investments, unlock new opportunities and promote sustainable economic growth through strategic partnerships.

FG Signals Strong Investment Momentum At UK–Nigeria Trade Mission is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Nollywood actress Ini Dima-Okojie has announced that she and her husband are

The post Actress Ini Dima-Okojie, husband announce pregnancy appeared first on Tribune Online.

Former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has expressed satisfaction with his tenure, stating that he is proud of the progress by the Nigerian economy recorded while in office.

Edun spoke a day after President Bola Tinubu announced his removal and appointed Taiwo Oyedele as his successor.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Edun thanked the President for the opportunity to serve in multiple roles since the administration began in May 2023, including as head of the Presidential Transition Committee, Special Adviser on Monetary Policy, and later Finance Minister.

“It has been an honour to contribute to the implementation of the administration’s economic agenda at a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s journey,” he said.

Reflecting on the state of the economy at the outset, Edun acknowledged that the government inherited significant challenges but noted that reforms undertaken during his tenure had begun to deliver results.

He cited improvements in economic growth from about 2 percent to over 4 percent and a decline in inflation from 35 percent to 15 percent, attributing the gains to efforts aimed at stabilising the macroeconomic environment and boosting investor confidence.

Edun said the progress recorded was a collective effort involving members of the Federal Executive Council, state governors, and stakeholders across the public and private sectors.

“I am proud of what we achieved alongside colleagues and the many dedicated professionals whose work continues to support the nation’s economic transformation,” he added.

While acknowledging that challenges remain, the former minister expressed optimism about Nigeria’s economic trajectory, describing reform as a continuous process. He also extended goodwill to his successor and reaffirmed his commitment to national service.

I’m proud of my achievements as Finance Minister – Wale Edun opens up after sack

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has taken decisive administrative action against officers on the Directorate Cadre, SGL 15-17, who failed to comply with recent deployment directives for Procurement Officers.

Following an earlier query issued to the affected officers, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, has directed that all non-compliant officers return to the Bureau Headquarters with immediate effect to await further administrative sanctions.

In the meantime, the most senior Procurement Officers in the affected Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have been instructed to assume responsibility for overall procurement activities within their respective departments to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

According to a statement issued by BPP’s Head of Press and Public Relations,
Zira Zakka Nagga, the measure was taken to enforce strict compliance with the posting instructions.

“This measure is taken to enforce strict compliance with posting instructions and to uphold discipline and professional ethics within the procurement cadre.

“The BPP maintains that a procurement system is only as strong as the professionalism and integrity of the officers who operate it.

“The Bureau reiterates its commitment to building a competent, ethical, and globally competitive procurement workforce in line with the objectives of the National Procurement Certification Programme and SPESSE Centres of Excellence. Non-compliance with official postings undermines career progression, accountability, and the standardised practice required for complex procurements”, the statement stated.

The statement quoted the BPP’s DG as emphasising that deployment of officers is a strategic tool for capacity distribution, knowledge transfer, and prevention of collusion.

“Willful disregard of posting directives will not be tolerated, as it compromises transparency, efficiency, and value for money in public expenditures”, he said.

He urges all Procurement Officers to adhere strictly to extant rules and directives governing the cadre.

“The Bureau will continue to monitor compliance and apply necessary sanctions to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s public procurement system”, the DG stated.

BPP Moves Against Defiant Officers, Orders Recall is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Economic and agricultural experts have urged the Federal Government to subsidise production to boost output and cushion inflationary pressures in the economy.

The experts made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Lagos.

Dr Femi Oke, Secretary-General of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, said increased government intervention in agriculture would help moderate rising food prices.
He noted that the sharp increase in the cost of farm inputs and equipment was discouraging production.

“The cost of agricultural inputs has risen significantly. Items that previously sold for about N5,000 now go for as high as N45,000.
“This increase is undermining affordable food production and discouraging farmers,” Oke said.
He added that rising fuel costs were further driving up food prices and urged the government to engage farmers’ associations before introducing new import policies.
According to him, such consultations would help protect farmers who have accessed credit facilities for expansion.

Also, Dr Ayo Teriba, Chief Executive Officer of Economic Associates, said the current inflation rate was moderate, given prevailing global conditions.

He said the impact of recent geopolitical tensions had been limited, noting that the nation’s domestic refining capacity had helped cushion potential shocks.
Teriba, however, ruled out the reintroduction of fuel subsidies, describing current economic challenges as temporary.
He recommended targeted support measures, such as conditional cash transfers, to cushion the impact on vulnerable groups.

Similarly, Dr Muda Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), said inflation in Nigeria was largely driven by production and logistics costs.
Yusuf called for sustained investment in transportation infrastructure, particularly rail systems, to reduce the cost of moving goods across the country.

He also urged the government to address insecurity in farming communities and improve infrastructure such as storage facilities and road networks to reduce post-harvest losses.
According to him, these measures are critical to boosting food production and stabilising prices.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 15.38 per cent in March 2026 from 15.06 per cent in February, ending an 11-month disinflation trend.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that food inflation increased to 14.31 per cent in March from 12.12 per cent recorded in February.

However, on a year-on-year basis, food inflation declined from 25.22 per cent in March 2025 to 14.31 per cent in March 2026.

Subsidise Production To Curb Inflation, Experts Urge FG is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Nigeria has increased its domestic solar panel manufacturing capacity to 300 megawatts (MW) from 120 megawatts two years ago.

Dr Abba Aliyu, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) , made this known during a Webinar, organised by the African Association of Energy Journalists and Publishers (AJERAP) on Wednesday in Lagos.

He said that the agency is targeting a total of 3.7 gigawatts (GW) in the pipeline, aiming to establish itself as the renewable energy hub for West Africa.

Aliyu said that Mozambique, Benin, Niger are among nations adopting REA power access model.

He noted that the growth is driven by deliberate government policies under President Bola Tinubu aimed at creating an enabling environment for private sector investment.

“We have moved from about 120 megawatts of local manufacturing capacity to roughly 300 megawatts today, with 3.7GW in the pipeline.

“This is based on a deliberate strategy to build investor confidence and attract private capital into the sector,” he said.

He added that Nigeria recorded about 425 million dollars in investments in 2025 for the establishment of eight renewable energy manufacturing facilities.

According to him, locally manufactured solar panels are now being exported from Lagos to Accra, Ghana, signalling Nigeria’s emergence as a regional manufacturing hub.

“For the first time, Nigeria is producing solar panels locally, and they are already being exported.

“This shows the direction we are heading and the leadership role Nigeria can play in West Africa,” Aliyu said.

The REA MD emphasised that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s 2026 Mini-Grid Regulations, which increase the allowable capacity for interconnected mini-grids to 10MW, have significantly boosted investor confidence and rank among the most effective regulatory frameworks in Africa.

He noted that recent policy changes have increased allowable mini-grid capacity from 1MW to 5MW, and up to 10MW for interconnected systems—opening the door for larger-scale renewable projects.

According to him, the regulations clearly define how mini-grids interact with the main grid, simplify licensing, and streamline environmental and social impact assessments.

Aliyu further noted that the expansion in mini-grid capacity could enable cross-border electricity trade, especially in border communities.

“If we deploy large solar farms in border towns, we can sell electricity across countries and deepen regional integration,” he said.

Highlighting the role of the West African Power Pool in integrating on-grid systems across the sub-region, Aliyu called for the development of a complementary off-grid electricity market to drive broader energy access across Africa.

“We may not need to fully integrate national grids immediately, but we can build an integrated off-grid market across border communities,” he added.

According to Aliyu, Nigeria’s electricity access model is increasingly being adopted across Africa, with several countries seeking to replicate its approach.

“Countries like Mozambique, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Mauritania, and Mauritius are engaging with us to understand our framework,” he said.

He emphasised that regional electricity access initiatives will be critical for improving energy security and expanding access across the continent.

Aliyu described Nigeria’s Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) programme as the largest publicly funded renewable energy access initiative globally.

The programme aims to provide electricity to 17.5 million Nigerians by connecting over 2.5 million households and deploying 1,350 mini-grids, including 250 interconnected systems.

“The project is designed around the private sector using a results-based financing model. Developers must mobilise their own capital before accessing incentives,” he said.

He added that the $750 million funding is expected to catalyse an additional 1.1 billion dollars in private sector investment.

“We are already seeing strong traction. Financial institutions and development partners are committing funds, demonstrating confidence in the model,” Aliyu noted.

He cited financing partnerships involving institutions such as Citibank Nigeria, Lotus Bank, and the International Finance Corporation, alongside support from development finance and impact investment organisations.

“The structure of this programme has unlocked significant private financing and is setting a benchmark for renewable energy deployment across the region,” he said.

Nigeria Targets 3.7GW Solar Capacity To Lead W’Africa is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday reserved judgment in an appeal filed by David Mark, challenging the

The post BREAKING: Supreme Court reserves judgment in ADC leadership crisis appeared first on Tribune Online.