Author: The Whistler Newspaper

A former Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Ibrahim- Zailani, has formally declared his intention to contest the Kaduna Central Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections, while endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani for re-election.

Zailani, an ally of President Bola Tinubu, made the declaration on Saturday at Rigachikun Primary School, saying his decision followed persistent appeals from constituents, which he described as a “divine call to serve.”

“This is not about personal ambition. I am answering a divine call to serve my people and advance the interests of Kaduna Central,” he said.

The former speaker urged his supporters to embrace what he termed a “joint ticket,” backing his senatorial bid alongside Tinubu’s second-term ambition and Uba Sani’s re-election

“I urge you to support a joint ticket — from the presidency to the governorship and the Senate. Together, we can achieve more for our people,” he added.

Zailani hinged his ambition on the leadership of Tinubu, whom he described as his political mentor, commending the President’s economic policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy.

He claimed that the policy had significantly increased federal allocations to states, especially in the North, enabling governors to meet key obligations.

“Today, governors receive more funds than ever before. The president has done his part by making resources available. These allocations are enough to pay salaries, execute projects, and tackle insecurity,” he said.

He, however, challenged northern governors to translate the increased revenues into tangible development, stressing that the onus now lies on state governments to deliver.

“There is no excuse for failure. Leaders must justify these resources by improving the lives of the people. They must fear God and avoid mismanagement of public funds,” Zailani added.

The senatorial aspirant also called on the federal government to intervene in the rising cost of fertiliser, proposing a subsidy to bring down the price to about ₦15,000 per bag.

According to him, the high cost of agricultural inputs negatively impacted farmers during the last planting season and could threaten food production if not urgently addressed.

“Our farmers suffered greatly due to the high cost of fertiliser. The government must act now to support them and boost food production,” he said.

Zailani reaffirmed his loyalty to Tinubu and Uba Sani, dismissing speculations about any preferred candidate for the Senate seat and expressing confidence in their support for his aspiration.

“There is no anointed candidate. I am confident that the President and the governor will support my ambition,” he said.

Following the declaration, Zailani led a large crowd of supporters on a road show from Rigachikun to the Stadium Roundabout to mobilise grassroots support for his candidacy.

2027: Ex-Kaduna Speaker Declares For Senate, Drums Support For Tinubu, Sani is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, has revealed that the party took the strategic step of amending its constitution to remove the mandatory two-year waiting period for new members seeking elective or party offices. In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Nwosu admitted that the party’s original constitution […]

Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued a statement to mark the anniversary of the Islamic Republic’s creation and the birthday of his late father, Ali Khamenei, scheduled for tomorrow. In the statement shared on Telegram on Saturday, he praised Iran’s military for defending the country against the United States, describing its response as firm […]

Falconets head coach, Moses Aduku, has said his team is firmly focused on the clash with Malawi, DAILY POST reports.

The West Africans will battle Malawi for a place at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup next month.

Aduku’s side set up camp in Abuja for the qualifiers three weeks ago.

Nigeria will host the South Africans in the first leg at a yet to be named venue on Saturday, 2 May.

The return leg in Lilongwe will take place on Saturday, 9th May,

“We have a full squad on ground and everyone is focused on the task at hand. From now, we will concentrate on team planning and tactical work,” Aduku told thenff.com.

The Falconets defeated Senegal 3-1 on aggregate in the previous round.

Malawi hammered Guinea Bissau 6-2 on aggregate.

U-20 WWCQ: Falconets gearing up for Malawi clash – Aduku

A group of four men who vandalize and loot churches and schools have been apprehended in Umuahia, Abia State.

The four suspects were nabbed by the Amuzukwu Vigilante group in Umuahia while they were actively removing the roof of Amuzukwu Primary School.

The suspects who were arrested with some items they stole from the school, were also paraded with some electrical materials they had earlier stolen from a church in the city.

They were paraded at Mbara Ama Amuzukwu together with the items they stole.

However, the suspects who were said to have come from another community, were later handed over to officers of the Abia State Homeland Security Agency by the community security outfit.

Confirming the development, the Public Relations Officer of Abia State Homeland Security Agency, Ezinwanne Alili said the arrest was made in collaboration with Amuzukwu Vigilante group.

He condemned the vandalism of public property, saying that measures were being taken to safeguard government property and other areas of the state.

The Abia Homeland Security Agency PRO said that the apprehended suspects had been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for thorough investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.

Vandalism syndicate smashed in Umuahia after stealing school, church property

The Lagos State Government has called on banks, eateries, filling stations, and other public-facing businesses to make their toilet facilities accessible to members of the public as part of efforts to curb open defecation.

The appeal was made by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a post shared on X on Saturday.

Wahab disclosed that the state currently has 1,710 functional public toilets strategically located across Lagos to serve residents and visitors. He, however, noted that government infrastructure alone is insufficient to meet the sanitation needs of the state’s growing population.

According to him, allowing public access to restrooms in private establishments would significantly complement government efforts and expand sanitation coverage across the state.

“Government cannot do this alone. We are encouraging businesses such as filling stations, banks, eateries, and other public-facing facilities to make their restrooms accessible to the public where possible,” he said.

The commissioner also reiterated the state’s commitment to enforcing environmental sanitation laws, warning that individuals caught engaging in open defecation would be arrested and prosecuted.

He described the enforcement measures as necessary to protect public health, uphold human dignity, and maintain a cleaner environment.

Wahab added that improving sanitation in Lagos requires collective responsibility, urging residents and businesses to support government initiatives aimed at keeping the state clean, safe, and habitable.

“At the same time, we continue to enforce environmental sanitation laws. Individuals caught engaging in open defecation are being arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. These measures are necessary to protect public health, preserve dignity, and maintain a cleaner environment for all.

“Access to sanitation is a shared responsibility. While government continues to expand infrastructure, residents and businesses must also play their part in ensuring Lagos remains clean, safe, and habitable,” he stated.

With a total of 1,710 public toilets that exist in the state, this amounts to roughly one toilet per 14,000 residents.

Between June and July 2025, at least 21 individuals were jailed for open defecation and urination. The jail term ranged from one to three months.

While the state is focused on punishing offenders, public toilets across the state—most of which are run by private individuals—are in highly unhygienic conditions, and users are required to pay to use them.

THE WHISTLER recent investigation revealed that these operators charge users N200 per use. This means that if a person uses the toilet five times in a day, they will pay N1,000.

Open Toilets To Public, Lagos Urges Banks, Eateries is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

… deploys 300 lecturers to tertiary institutions Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has approved the recruitment of 1,910 senior secondary school teachers and the deployment of 300 academic staff to tertiary institutions in a bid to strengthen the state’s education sector. The State Commissioner for Higher Education, Isah Yusuf, disclosed this in Dutse, noting that […]

President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Alex Nwuba, has said the crisis in the Straits of Hormuz is not the challenge of the sector but the global pricing of aviation fuel.

Nwuba made this statement on Saturday during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’.

He was speaking on the scarcity of aviation fuel and the proposed strike threat by the association.

According to him, the Airline Operators’ threat to strike on Monday, was meant to call the Federal Government’s attention to a very dire situation in the aviation sector.

“Airlines have been facing price increases that have tripled, and the airlines cannot raise fares because we are essentially maxed out on what consumers are able to pay.

“Unlike some other nations, our challenges are not as a result of supply shortages thanks to the local refining capacity of the Dangote Refinery but on international pricing,” he said.

Aviation Fuel: Strait of Hormuz not our challenge – Aircraft owners

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has refuted claims that more than 15,000 approved students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, are yet to receive loan disbursements.

According to NELFUND, the institution only submitted 5,237 students for processing.

In a statement by its Director of Strategic Communications, Mrs Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND said the list is the first verified batch received from the university for the current disbursement cycle.

The Fund said the applications have been processed and approved and are currently undergoing final stages of disbursement, including audit and finance checks.

It explained that loan approval does not translate to immediate payment, as each application must pass through verification and financial processing to ensure accuracy and accountability.

According to NELFUND, the approved batch will get N1,571,544,300.

The Fund advised institutions to ensure that public statements on the scheme reflect accurate submission and processing timelines.

It warned that misleading claims could create anxiety among students and erode public confidence.

It reaffirmed its commitment to the timely disbursement of all verified loans and working with institutions to ensure a transparent and efficient process.

NELFUND Refutes LAUTECH Loan Backlog Claim is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Toyin Abraham and her former protégé, Abike Shugaa, are at the centre of one of Nollywood’s most talked-about fallouts in recent years, offering sharply different accounts of their fractured relationship.

In a lengthy YouTube video published Abike born Pelumi Olawuni detailed her experience, tracing the relationship from its beginnings to its eventual breakdown.

“I know this video is long overdue, it’s been over three years. Nobody can tell my story the way I experienced it,” she said.

Recounting her early struggles before entering Nollywood, Abike described balancing survival and ambition through work as a TV presenter, thrift clothing sales, and self-taught fashion design.

According to her, a turning point came when she shared online that she had purchased a sewing machine, a post that went viral and drew Abraham’s attention.

“She said, ‘Hello, I want to be your friend. How much is the machine?’” Abike recalled
She added that the actress later sent her N50,000 in support, clarifying a widely circulated claim.

“She didn’t buy me my machine. I bought it myself… she supported me after seeing the post.”

Their first physical meeting occurred in March 2021 during an audition linked to Scene One TV, owned by Funke Akindele.

Abike said she reached out to thank Abraham and was invited over, marking the beginning of a closer working relationship.

“That was the first time I met her physically,” she said.

Opportunities soon followed, including her casting in Ago Alago, described as her first major acting role. She also appeared in productions linked to Akindele’s platform, including the popular TV series Jenifa’s Diary.

Abike characterised this period as pivotal, noting she remained “genuinely grateful” for the exposure.

As the relationship progressed, she said most visits to Abraham’s residence were work-related, particularly for TikTok content tied to brand deals.

“Anytime you see me in her house, it was to shoot content I’m not a user,” she said.

She disclosed receiving transport support ranging from N10,000 to N15,000 for such sessions and provided details of her acting earnings.

“For Agoalago, I was on set for about two weeks… I was paid N50,000.”

She added that she earned another N50,000 for two scenes in Ijakumo, which she claimed were later removed without her knowledge.
“I didn’t even know my scenes were cut… I found out when the movie came out after I promoted it with my friends for free, I even invited them to the premiere to watch me,” she said.

Despite the setback, Abike said she chose not to speak publicly at the time.

Alongside acting, she said she was building independent income streams through content creation and brand promotions, including collaborations linked to Funke Akindele.

“I was already getting paid in dollars,” she said, citing earnings of $600 and $800 for separate campaigns.

According to Abike, tensions began to emerge as the actress allegedly questioned her social media interactions with colleagues, suggesting she was being drawn into existing disputes.

The relationship, she said, deteriorated further during the promotion of Malaika, where she played a supporting role.

Abike stated she was paid N500,000 for the project and contributed significantly to its publicity. “We shot over 100 promotional videos,” she said.

The situation escalated when she accepted a PR package from A Tribe Called Judah, a project by Funke Akindele, which she said she had communicated in advance.

She alleged that the fallout involved voice notes, accusations of betrayal, and pressure to remove certain posts. In one of the most serious claims, Abike alleged that Abraham made a threatening remark during a private conversation.

“She said if I leave her, she will make sure she ruins my life. “I was scared… I recorded the conversation and sent it to my mum and my manager,” she claimed.
She further alleged losing an acting opportunity after a producer insisted she should not be cast, linking it to the fallout.

“I’m not interested… I don’t want to be involved in any drama… I choose peace,” she said.

Reacting, Toyin Abraham declined to engage in a detailed public exchange, maintaining a restrained stance.

“I have made up my mind never to say anything cos I see her as a daughter… may God bless everyone of us,” she wrote on X.

She, however, disputed parts of Abike’s claims, particularly regarding compensation.
“She was paid 500k for Malaika… nobody will pay an upcoming actress that much,” she said.

In a separate post, she added, “Ever since I made over 1B, I never rest na like this, this level be,” referencing her recent box office milestone.

Abraham’s management also issued a statement, describing some allegations as misleading and insisting that all obligations had been fulfilled.

“Their relationship never degenerated into conflict,” the statement read, adding that the actress “will not be drawn into any form of controversy or manufactured dispute.”

The statement further clarified that Abike had been informed in advance that her Ijakumo scenes would not appear in the final cut, attributing the decision to standard post-production processes.

From a viral moment of goodwill to a mentorship that opened doors, and ultimately a public fallout marked by accusations and denials, the relationship between the two has now effectively ended, with both parties holding firmly to their positions.

Mentorship: Toyin Abraham Responds To Shugaa Allegations is first published on The Whistler Newspaper