Author: The Whistler Newspaper

A former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said his experience in governance and infrastructure development positions him to address Nigeria’s challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Amaechi, who spoke on The Morning Brief, a programme on Channels Television on Friday, said he understands the country’s problems and has the capacity to solve them.

“I don’t care who else is running. I’m running because I’m a Nigerian candidate. Because I know the Nigerian problem. And I can solve the Nigerian problem,” he said.

The former Rivers State governor cited projects executed during his time in office, including rail lines and port development, as evidence of his capacity.

He also claimed to have tackled insecurity while serving in government, adding that his record sets him apart from other contenders.

Amaechi, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, criticised the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu, saying the economic situation had worsened.

According to him, many Nigerians are experiencing hardship and are dissatisfied with the state of the economy.

“Everybody is suffering, everybody is looking for food to eat. People can’t buy fuel, can’t travel. The airlines are threatening to increase the cost of transportation; everything is skyrocketing.

“For Christ’s sake, President Tinubu does not have the right to speak, he doesn’t. He promised power and said if he doesn’t give power, they should not vote for him. Nigerians are waiting to vote him out,” he said.

Amaechi also alleged attempts to weaken opposition parties, urging that institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission and the judiciary be allowed to operate independently.

“Whether free, fair or not free, if we [ADC] are on the ballot, President Bola Tinubu will lose the election. The problem is he does not want a strong candidate on the ballot,” Amaechi stated.

Amaechi is among several prominent figures in the ADC positioning for the 2027 presidential race.
Other key figures in the opposition coalition include Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Nasir El-Rufai and Rauf Aregbesola.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential election.

The commission also scheduled party primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026, during which political parties are expected to select their candidates.

I Can Solve Nigeria’s Problems In 2027, Says Amaechi is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to a Nigerian entrepreneur, Linus Williams Ifejirika, popularly known as BLord, in an ongoing impersonation case involving social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM). BLord had been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre since April 1, 2026, spending 16 days in […]

Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has told the Presidency that over 200 million Nigerians, not power grabbing, will determine the fate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. His remark was in response to the assertion of the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, that […]

Ola Aina has reflected on Nottingham Forest’s UEFA Europa League victory over FC Porto, DAILY POST reports.

The Tricky Trees booked a place in the semi-final of the competition following a 1-0 victory over the Francesco Fariolli’s side at the City Ground on Thursday night.

Vitor Pereira’s side won the quarter-final tie 2-1 on aggregate.

Morgan Gibbs-White scored the winning goal in the 12th minute.

Porto played the majority of the game with 10 men after Jan Bednarek was sent off early.

Aina insisted that they made things difficult for themselves in the game.

“We never made it easy for ourselves, but I cannot complain. We’re into the semifinals of the Europa League, so I’m happy with it,” Aina told Forest TV.

Forest will face Aston Villa in the semi-finals.

Europa League: Aina reacts to Nottingham Forest’s win over Porto

“That is why UNICEF is proud to stand with the Republic of Korea and the Government of…”

Airtel Nigeria has announced the temporary suspension of its airtime and data credit services, becoming the second major telecom operator in the country to halt such offerings following new regulatory requirements for digital lending.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its Director of Corporate Communications and CSR, Femi Adesina, the company said the affected services previously enabled eligible prepaid subscribers to borrow airtime or data and repay on their next recharge.

The development comes barely 24 hours after MTN Nigeria Communications Plc announced a similar suspension of its Xtratime service, citing compliance with the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025.

The new regulations introduce a comprehensive licensing and compliance framework for providers of digital or alternative consumer credit services in Nigeria—categories that now include airtime and data advance offerings by telecom operators.

Airtel Nigeria noted that despite the suspension, customers would continue to enjoy uninterrupted access to airtime and data purchases through its existing channels. The company added that the move is not expected to materially impact service delivery.

Commenting on the decision, Airtel Nigeria’s Director of Marketing, Ismail Adeshina, said the action was necessary to ensure regulatory compliance.

“This is a necessary and responsible step as we align our operations with evolving requirements. Airtel Nigeria remains committed to the highest standards of compliance, transparency, and consumer protection, while continuing to innovate responsibly within Nigeria’s digital ecosystem,” he said.

Earlier, MTN Nigeria had informed investors that the suspension of its Xtratime service used by subscribers to borrow airtime or data would not significantly affect its earnings due to the service’s relatively small contribution to overall revenue.

Industry analysts say the parallel actions by Airtel and MTN signal a broader sector-wide adjustment to the new rules, which are expected to tighten oversight of digital credit products and enhance consumer protection.

The regulations, introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, build on earlier guidelines for digital lending issued in 2022. Under the new framework, all digital lenders including telecom operators offering airtime and data advances are required to register with the Commission.

This brings major telecom players such as Airtel, MTN, Globacom, and 9mobile under a unified regulatory regime for digital lending services.

Operators granted provisional approval under transitional arrangements have been given until April 2026 to complete their registration. According to the FCCPC, failure to comply within the stipulated period could attract regulatory sanctions.

The Commission had earlier set October 31, 2025, as the initial deadline for registration, with a N100 million penalty for defaulters. However, the deadline was later extended to January 5, 2026, to allow more operators to comply.

The temporary suspension of airtime and data credit services is seen as a precautionary step by telecom operators to avoid sanctions while finalising compliance with the new regulatory requirements.

Airtel Suspends Airtime, Data Credit Services Over New Rules is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Sokoto State Executive Council has approved a series of infrastructure and social development projects across education, healthcare, transportation, religion, and security to boost service delivery. The decisions were reached at the Council’s first meeting of 2026, with commissioners briefing journalists on the outcomes. Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Isa Mahishanu, said ₦336.6 million was […]

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has told its newly elected state executives and other officers not to assume office now until the transition is formally completed. Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of ADC, stated this in a statement on Friday titled “ADC: Newly Elected Executives Assume Office Only After May 12 Inauguration”. The […]

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that no political group can claim to be a true opposition party without first winning elections.

Wike made the comment on Friday during a visit to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat, Wadata House, in Abuja, where he met with members of the party’s new National Working Committee (NWC).

According to him, credibility in opposition politics is earned at the ballot box, not through political statements or coalition arrangements.

“You cannot become an opposition party without winning an election. Those who say they are leading the opposition have not contested any election successfully,” he said.

He insisted that electoral performance remains the true measure of political relevance in any democracy.

Wike also used the visit to restate his support for the PDP leadership, saying his presence was to show solidarity with the new NWC as the party works to recover from internal challenges.

“My coming here is to reassure you of my support. I have come to pledge my loyalty to the National Working Committee,” he said.

He acknowledged that the party had faced an internal crisis but said efforts were ongoing to rebuild unity and stability within the PDP.

“Yes, we have crisis, and we have almost come out of it. It will require hard work and sacrifice to move the party forward,” he said.

Wike urged the PDP leadership to focus on reconciliation, especially reaching out to members who had left the party, noting that many still have an interest in returning.

“Reach out to them. Most are concerned about opportunities, including tickets. You know what to do,” he advised.

He also encouraged the leadership to remain focused despite ongoing political and legal challenges, expressing confidence in the party’s future.

“We have defeated them at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. The same God will see us through. Stay focused and work as a team,” he added.

In response, the PDP National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, said the new leadership was committed to repositioning the party and regaining public trust ahead of future elections.

You cannot become opposition party without winning election – Wike

Arise TV anchor, Reuben Abati has criticised the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar over a recent comment about former president, Goodluck Jonathan.

DAILY POST reports that Atiku, had in an interview on Wednesday, described Jonathan as a “decent” but “inexperienced” leader, attributing some of the challenges during his administration to lack of adequate leadership preparation.

Atiku’s words, however, did not go down well with some supporters of the former president, who claimed the comments disrespected Jonathan.

Reacting during the Arise TV Morning Show, Abati, who was a Special Adviser on Media to Jonathan during the administration, slammed Atiku.

“He said Atiku’s comments were “condescending and very rude. Jonathan was president of this country, a position that Atiku didn’t even get to.

“He is still aspiring to get there 30 years after his initial aspiration. He is aspiring to become what the former president has already achieved”, he said.

Atiku was rude, condescending – Arise TV’s Abati fires back over comments on Jonathan