Author: The Whistler Newspaper

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Governing Board and Intellectual Property Steering Committee to enhance transparency, improve investors’ confidence, and stimulate economic growth.

Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, inaugurated the board on Wednesday in Abuja.

Oduwole described CAC as the legal framework of Nigeria’s economy, playing a vital role in business registration, governance, and economic stability.

She noted that the appointment of the board members reflected careful consideration by President Bola Tinubu, given the importance of the commission to national development.

She expressed optimism that the new board would strengthen Nigeria’s business ecosystem and enhance the country’s global reputation.

According to her, CAC plays a critical role in registering businesses, managing records, and ensuring compliance nationwide.

She urged the board to drive reforms that would promote transparency, attract investment, and support infrastructure and job creation.

The minister also charged the board to prioritise digital innovation, improve financial growth, and simplify processes for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

She emphasised the need for integrity, stakeholders’ collaboration, and great measurable results during the tenure.

She revealed that CAC processes had been largely automated, assuring Nigerians of continued improvements, strong oversight, and sustained efforts to strengthen the commission.

She commended the board members, management of the ministry, and other relevant stakeholders for their roles in strengthening Nigeria’s business environment and supporting institutional development.

Oduwole also expressed confidence that their expertise would elevate CAC’s performance.

Responding, Sen. Ibrahim Ida, Chairman of the governing board, said that the committee’s priority would be to identify challenges in technology, timelines, and trust, and fix weaknesses while strengthening existing systems for improved service delivery.

According to him, the board will play a strategic role, not operational. We will provide direction and ensure management delivers efficient and effective services.

“We seek an open-door policy from the minister to support reforms requiring policy backing and coordination.
“We are committed to working to boost investment inflows.

Ida thanked the president and the minister for the trust reposed in the committee, while pledging to deliver under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We appreciate the minister and the entire ministry. We are inheriting a strong institution.

“To Nigerians and global stakeholders, we pledge to discharge our duties effectively and ensure that business registration is faster, cheaper, and more transparent,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Chris Isokpunwu, urged the board to strengthen synergy in border management and prioritise modernising registration processes to support industrialisation and trade.

He assured that the ministry would provide policy guidance, emphasising digital transformation, regulatory compliance, and strong corporate governance as key to ensuring that the commission delivered effectively for Nigerians and the business community.

Strengthen Nigeria’s Business Ecosystem, FG Tells CAC Governing Board is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Celebrity lawyer and human rights activist, Chukwuma Daniels, has said that the recent wedding of Adaobi Alagwu has rekindled public discussion around her past dispute involving businessman Tunde Ayeni.

Alagwu recently held her wedding ceremony on April 4, 2026, an event that attracted significant public attention and social media reactions.

She is now married to Honourable Akarachi Amadi Etinosa, whose presence at the ceremony also drew interest from observers.

Speaking on the development, Daniels said the renewed attention reflects how public figures often remain subjects of discussion long after major personal controversies.

He noted that Alagwu first came into the public spotlight during a widely reported dispute involving Ayeni, which generated extensive media coverage and legal exchanges at the time.

According to him, the recent wedding has now brought those past events back into public discourse.

“A few years ago, Adaobi Alagwu was at the center of a widely followed public controversy involving businessman Tunde Ayeni,” Daniels said. “Her recent wedding has, however, reopened conversations about that period and how individuals evolve beyond public disputes.”

He added that the situation highlights how social and media narratives often resurface when individuals involved in past controversies experience new life milestones.

“It also shows how public perception can shift over time, especially when people move into new phases of their personal lives,” he said.

Daniels further observed that while public interest is expected, caution should be exercised when revisiting past events, especially where accounts remain contested.

“Adaobi dusted herself off, she kept her head high even when the smear campaigns were at their worst.

“This piece is not just about one woman’s wedding. This is a loud reminder to every young girl currently “managing” an old uncle with money: the bill always comes due. The public disgrace, the court cases, the late-night tears are real. But so is the possibility of redemption. Adaobi didn’t stay down. She didn’t become bitter. She became better. She chose growth over grudges, and the universe rewarded her with a younger, richer, prouder man who isn’t afraid to show her off.

“So yes; congratulations, Adaobi, you took the worst chapter of your life and turned it into the plot twist nobody saw coming.”

Paternity scandal: Nobody saw it coming – Lawyer Daniels reacts to Adaobi’s wedding after dispute involving Ayeni

The Senate has condemned recent attacks by Boko Haram insurgents on military formations in Borno State, which led to the deaths of several soldiers, including senior officers.

Among those killed were Brig.-Gen. Oseni Braimoh, Col. Mohammed Isya, Capt. A.M. Esmat, Lt. Kelvin Festus, and several other personnel.

In response, the Senate directed the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, and other service chiefs to conduct a comprehensive operational and logistical audit of the incidents.

The upper chamber said the audit should examine the circumstances surrounding the attacks in Benisheikh and Monguno, assess equipment adequacy, review rules of engagement, and identify gaps requiring urgent attention.

It also urged the Armed Forces to strengthen compliance with rules of engagement and international humanitarian law, enhance training on civilian protection, and investigate any allegations of civilian harm during operations to ensure accountability.

The resolutions followed a motion titled “Urgent Need to Curb Attacks on Military Formations by Boko Haram Insurgents,” sponsored by Senate Whip, Tahir Mohammed Monguno, and co-sponsored by Ali Ndume and Shehu Kaka.

Also expected to act on the directive are the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, and heads of other intelligence agencies.

Speaking during deliberations, Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed confidence that the insurgency would eventually be defeated, while emphasising the need for coordinated efforts to strengthen national security.

The Senate reiterated its commitment to supporting measures aimed at protecting military personnel and restoring stability in affected communities.

Senate condemns Borno attacks, orders audit of military operations

A former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Senator Tony Nwoye, has been named the new Minority Whip of the Senate….

The post Tony Nwoye emerges Senate minority whip appeared first on Tribune Online.

Justice Oyeyemi Ajayi of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, on Wednesday adjourned the trial of alleged members of the One Million Boys gang until 11 May 2026….

The post Court adjourns trial of ‘One Million boys’ till May 11 appeared first on Tribune Online.

American rapper Fat Joe has sparked controversy after claiming that Afrobeats originated from Jamaica.

The rapper made the statement during a recent episode of the Joe And Jada podcast, which featured Jamaican dancehall artist Buju Banton as a guest.

“Jamaica started Afrobeats. Even though everything comes from Africa,” he claimed.

During the discussion, Banton did not directly challenge the claim, instead speaking about how Panamanian rapper El General influenced the development of reggaeton and other related genres.

However, Afrobeats is widely recognised as originating from West Africa, with strong influence from Afrobeat pioneered by Nigerian music legend Fela Kuti.

In the past, Buju Banton has also criticised Afrobeats artists, accusing them of borrowing heavily from Jamaican reggae and dancehall without proper credit. In a 2024 appearance on the Drink Champs podcast, he described Afrobeats as lacking substance and predicted it would fade over time.

American Rapper Claims Jamaica Started Afrobeats is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Residents of Kano State took to the streets in spontaneous celebration on Wednesday following the nomination of Murtala Sule Garo as Deputy Governor by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

Several parts of Kano metropolis and surrounding local government areas turned into scenes of chants, music, and political excitement shortly after the announcement was made in a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad.

In videos that went viral, youths were seen riding motorcycles and driving through major roads, chanting “Sai Abba” and “Sai Garo” while carrying portraits of both the governor and the nominee.

The celebrations remained largely peaceful despite the large crowds, with excitement in some areas continuing into the early hours of Thursday, particularly in Garo town.

Yusuf transmitted Garo’s name to the Kano State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation following wide consultations with key political stakeholders, with his administration stating the move is aimed at strengthening governance and ensuring continuity in service delivery.

The nomination came after the resignation of former Deputy Governor Abdussalam Gwarzo on March 27, 2026, creating a vacancy the governor moved to fill in line with constitutional provisions.

Garo, 48, is a long-time political figure with over two decades of experience across elective and appointed positions.

He has served as State Organising Secretary, Special Adviser to the governor, Chairman of Kabo Local Government, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in Kano, and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

He also ran as the All Progressives Congress deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections.

The Kano State House of Assembly has since formally invited Garo for screening as the next step in his confirmation process.

Kano Erupts In Celebration As Yusuf Nominates Garo Deputy Gov is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, stated this in a statement on Wednesday following the symbolic flag-off of the exercise along the Mushin, Agege Motor Road corridor on March 14.

The post Lagos govt clarifies modalities for monthly environmental sanitation exercise appeared first on Tribune Online.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, Tuesday, met with the newly elected South-East chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu.

The meeting, attended by all the newly elected ADC chairmen from the South-East alongside the party’s National Vice-Chairman for the zone, is part of efforts to strengthen internal party structures and consolidate regional political alignment ahead of the 2027 elections, THE WHISTLER gathered.

Our correspondent reports that among those in attendance are Professor Uche Akubue, the Enugu State Chairman-elect, alongside his counterparts from Imo, Abia, Anambra, and Ebonyi states.

A statement issued by the ADC Media Team, signed by Martins Chiedozie Ugwu, said the meeting was aimed at strengthening party cohesion, promoting internal democracy, and aligning leadership priorities across South-East.

The statement added that the meeting discussed issues affecting the political future of the South-East within Nigeria’s super structure.

It read in part, “The meeting was an opportunity for all of us to meet and discuss issues that affect Ndigbo’ political endeavours in the Nigerian project. It was a resounding success, to God be the glory!”

A member of ADC in the state, Chief Jude Onah, has however advised Mr Peter Obi to find always to unite various members of the party in Enugu State and South-East in general.

Onah, a House of Assembly aspirant, said the officials that met with Obi were factional.

“We have at least two factional chairmen of ADC in Enugu State. The group led by retired Maj Gen Chris Eze is even more formidable and pro-Obi than any other group. I expect Obi to engage the two factions to avoid imploding. Achieving this will position him as a political father of the East. Otherwise, he should expect the gradual mistrust among his organic followers.”

Meanwhile, Obi has decried the neglect of the education sector by various government all levels in Nigeria. He therefore called for urgent reforms and stronger collaboration between government, the private sector, and academia to reposition the sector for national growth and global competitiveness.

Obi stated this while delivering a lecture entitled “Repositioning Nigeria’s Education Sector Through Private Partnership for National Growth and Global Competitiveness” at Coal City University, Enugu.

He said no nation rises above the quality of its education system, adding that Nigeria’s future would be determined by the strength of its educational sector.

He identified the challenges facing the sector to include underfunding, inadequate infrastructure, outdated curricula, and weak linkage between education and industry.

Citing UNESCO’s global standards, Obi said Nigeria allocates less than 7% of its national budget to education, which is far below the recommended 15–20%.

He said the development had contributed to youth unemployment and underemployment exceeding 30%, as well as a widening gap between graduates’ skills and labour market needs. He called for stronger government support across all tiers of education, questioning the limited scope of interventions by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

He questioned why TETFund does not assist private universities. Quoting him, “Nigeria’s problem is not a lack of talent, but a failure of alignment, investment, and partnership. Repositioning the education sector is fundamental to achieving sustainable development and global competitiveness.

“Weak education systems often translate into poor health awareness, lower life expectancy, and reduced economic output.”

Obi called for increased investment in education and healthcare, curriculum reforms aligned with industry needs, expanded research and innovation funding, and stronger emphasis on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship. He also urged the private sector to view investment in education as a strategic necessity for national stability and economic growth.

The vice-chancellor of the university, Prof Icha Ituma, and the chairman of the occasion, Prof Chinedu Nebo, described Obi’s presentation as timely and thought-provoking, urging stakeholders to act on the issues raised.

Peter Obi, ADC South-East Chairmen Hold Meeting In Enugu is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has insisted that zoning of the governorship seat must be maintained among the three senatorial zones in the state.

The governor made the assertion while receiving the report of the Imo Elders Council, set up to review the Charter of Equity on the rotation of the governorship seat among the three zones, Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri.

Uzodinma said the state will not witness any form of hostile takeover, stressing that justice, inclusion, and consensus remain key to sustaining peace in the state.

Addressing the Elders Council at the Government House Banquet Hall in Owerri, the governor added that lessons from the 2020 crisis when he came into office underscored the dangers of political exclusion.

“Anyone denied justice may not be committed to peace. We will eliminate any type of hostile takeover by building consensus among ourselves,” Uzodinma maintained.

He described the Elders Council as the conscience of the state, explaining that it was established by law to guide governance beyond any political coloration.

The state’s number one citizen disclosed that there are plans to amend the law establishing the council to strengthen its authority, including sanctioning members who resort to misconduct.

Uzodinma reiterated that the Charter of Equity takes into consideration the fair distribution of key political offices across the three senatorial zones, urging stakeholders to respect zoning arrangements and avoid divisive politics.

He also reaffirmed that the state is aligned with the federal government, acknowledging the support of President Bola Tinubu.

The governor expressed optimism that adherence to equity and justice would guarantee stability and a smooth political transition in the state.

“Charter of Equity has come to stay. Listen to the voice of reason and believe in the Charter of Equity. Work with the federal government and support the president. And go home and pray and allow God to do the remaining,” Uzodinma added.

He promised to consult further with stakeholders from all three zones to deepen the consensus that will lead to political stability, which, according to him, has eluded the state over the years.

He assured the elders that their job will not end with his administration, as the body will continue to advise future governors in the state.

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Elders Council, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, commended the governor for promoting unity in the state, noting that sustainable development can only be achieved when all regions progress together.

Ilomuanya urged that the Imo Charter of Equity should go beyond rhetoric and be implemented through fair appointments, balanced project distribution, and equal opportunities across the state’s zones.

He described the charter as a commitment to building an inclusive Imo where no area feels marginalised and every citizen can aspire to leadership without discrimination.

Eze Ilomuanya advised the governor to remain guided by the principles of fairness, justice, and peace embedded in the Charter.

Charter of equity: Governorship seat must rotate among the three zones in Imo – Uzodinma