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The People’s Republic of China, the Nigerian government and the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ have called on Nigerians to take advantage of the Chinese language, being among the six international languages recognised by the United Nations, UN.

Mr Yang Jianxing, the Cultural Counselor of Chinese Embassy and Director of CCCIN, stated this at the International Chinese Language Day held in Abuja on Monday.

According to China, this language would build bridges between cultures and advance business ideas and adventures.

He noted that Chinese language is the genetic link that carries the torch of 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.

According to him, the Chinese language is a shared treasure of humankind, adding that in today’s world, Chinese is not only a “gift across time,” but also a “golden bridge” connecting people’s hearts.

“More than 190 countries and regions worldwide have implemented Chinese language teaching, with over 200 million international learners and users,” he said.

“When we read famous Chinese philosophical ideas such as ‘the world belongs to all’ and ‘do not do to others what you would not have them do to you,’ we feel a resonance that transcends civilizations.

“These ideas resonate deeply with Nigerian culture, which also values harmony.

“China will further promote high-quality economic and social development, strengthen cultural exchanges and cooperation with other countries, and share development opportunities with the world.

“Learning Chinese is undoubtedly an important shortcut to fully understanding China and realizing one’s dreams through participation in mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Nigeria in various fields.

“We hope that this ‘International Chinese Language Day’ event will serve as an opportunity for everyone to experience the unique charm and contemporary vitality of the Chinese language.

“We hope that more and more Nigerian friends will learn Chinese, understand China, and enhance exchanges.”

Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, represented by by the Director of News, Mr Suleiman Musa, said the Chinese language stands as one of humanity’s most enduring cultural treasures, with its rich tapestry of characters and timeless expressions.

“In today’s interconnected world, the role of language as a tool for diplomacy, trade, media exchange, and cultural understanding cannot be overemphasized,” he said.

“The Ni Hao China programme is part of the benefits of the agreements signed between Nigeria and China, during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s State visit to China in September 2024, aimed at boosting trade, tourism, and communication between Nigeria and China.

The Chinese language continues to open new frontiers for storytelling, knowledge sharing, and mutual respect among
nations.

Also speaking, Grace Ike, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, FCT Council, harped on the importance of the Chinese language in present Nigeria.

“This event underscores the power of language as a bridge for cultures, fostering deeper understanding between Nigeria and China, two great nations bound by shared aspirations for progress, innovation, and mutual prosperity,” she said.

China, FG, NUJ task Nigerians learning Chinese language

A fresh political dispute has emerged in Osun State as the campaign organisation of Bola Oyebamiji accused the administration of Ademola Adeleke of planning a sustained propaganda campaign.

This is as the governor’s camp countered with a series of accountability allegations against the opposition candidate.

Bola Oyebamiji is the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the August 15, 2026 election in the state.

The AMBO Media Fronts, in a statement signed by its coordinator, Adebayo Adedeji, alleged that the Osun State Government was preparing to deploy negative narratives across media platforms ahead of the election.

The group claimed the alleged plan involved the dissemination of falsehoods and malicious narratives through newspapers, radio, television, and social media to damage the image of Oyebamiji, the APC candidate.

“The objective is to tarnish the image of a gentleman politician whose governorship aspiration continues to gain remarkable momentum,” the statement said.

It further alleged that attempts to link the candidate to wrongdoing had failed, prompting what it described as a coordinated smear campaign intended to persist until election day.

The group urged residents of Osun State to remain vigilant and disregard what it termed “baseless publications and broadcasts,” describing the alleged strategy as misleading to the electorate.

Adedeji also called on the state government to focus on its performance in office, raising questions about the utilisation of certain federal funds and broader economic conditions in the state.

“These are the issues that matter to the people—not contrived propaganda against a credible alternative,” the statement added.

However, the Adeleke Campaign Organisation rejected the allegations, stating that no amount of propaganda could alter what it described as Oyebamiji’s past record in public office.

In its response, the organisation said residents of Osun were aware of the candidate’s previous roles in government, including his tenure in state agencies and as commissioner.

“We have been flaunting Governor Adeleke’s achievements across major towns in Osun State and across sectors,” the group said.

The organisation also issued what it described as 30 accountability questions directed at Oyebamiji, covering issues such as asset management, financial decisions, and administrative actions during his time in office.

Among the concerns raised were allegations relating to the sale of state assets, management of public funds, pension obligations, and decisions taken during his tenure in various capacities.

It also questioned his role in past economic policies, as well as his leadership positions at state and national levels, including oversight of waterways.

“We urge Mr. Oyebamiji to be man enough to own up to his past. Voters should assess candidates based on their records,” it said.

Osun guber: Gov Adeleke, Oyebamiji campaign teams clash over propaganda claims, accountability questions

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has appointed Mr Sunday Adebayo as the new Sector Commander for Osun State.

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Osogbo by the command’s spokesperson, Mrs Agnes Ogungbemi.

Ogungbemi described Adebayo as a seasoned officer with extensive experience in road safety administration, traffic management, and stakeholder engagement.

She noted that his dedication to the corps’ mandate earned him the confidence of the FRSC Corps Marshal, Mr Mohammed Shehu, who approved his posting to the state.

According to her, the new Sector Commander is committed to ensuring effective service delivery in the state.

NAN reports that Adebayo takes over from Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Leye Adegboyega, who was promoted and redeployed as Zonal Commanding Officer in Bauchi.

FRSC appoints new Sector Commander for Osun

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) witnessed a polarised start to the new academic session on Monday, characterised by a mix of high student turnout in some quarters and forceful closures in others, as a newly declared Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) strike threatens to disrupt upcoming national examinations. The Mandate Secretary for the FCT Education […]

The Court of Appeal sitting in Kano on Monday issued an order to the Nigerian Correctional Service to produce Sheikh Abduljabar Kabara before the court for the hearing of his appeal.

The Islamic scholar is in custody following a judgment by a lower court, an Upper Shari’a Court, which sentenced him to death by hanging for alleged blasphemy.

When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Lawal-Shuaibu, ordered that since the appellant filed the appeal personally and not through counsel, he should be produced to appear before the court and argue his case.

The two other judges who sat alongside Justice Lawal-Shuaibu are Justice Abubakar Muazu-Lamido and Justice Ahmad Ramat-Mohammed.

“In view that the appellant filed the appeal in person and not through counsel, he is to appear personally.

“Also, in view of the fact that the appellant is in custody, it is hereby ordered that the Correctional Service produce him on the next adjourned date, April 23, 2026, for the purpose of prosecuting his appeal.

“The matter is adjourned to April 23, 2026, for hearing at the instance of the defence counsel,” he said.

Earlier, when the case was called, both parties were absent and had no representation.

At this point, a man who identified himself as Usman Malam-Hussaini stood up to inform the court that the Islamic scholar had sent him with a letter requesting his transfer to Kano from Kuje Prison in order to have unrestricted access to his records.

The presiding judge, however, summoned the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru-Maude (SAN), to appear before the court and stood the matter down.

Later, when the matter was recalled, the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions in the Kano State Ministry of Justice, Barr. Zahradeen Kofar-Mata, told the court that the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice was indisposed and had called him to tender an apology for his inability to appear in person.

Kofar-Mata said the matter was assigned to a private lawyer and attributed the hiccup to a mix-up at the registry.

The presiding judge, however, cautioned the attorney general over what he described as disrespect to the court for failing to appear and subsequently adjourned the matter.

Appeal Court orders prison to produce Sheikh Abduljabar Kabara

The Kogi State Executive Council has ratified a series of strategic infrastructure projects, reaffirmed progress in security, and aligned more closely with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of efforts to deepen development across the state. The decisions were reached at the State Executive Council meeting held on Monday in […]

The Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has urged residents to comply with the reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise, set to resume on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

In a statement shared on its official X platform on Monday, the agency announced that the exercise would take place statewide between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

LAWMA emphasised that the designated period is intended for residents to clean their surroundings and ensure proper waste disposal, as part of broader efforts to maintain environmental hygiene.

“Monthly sanitation exercise commences on Saturday 25th April from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. across the state.

“This is a reminder that sanitation is everyone’s responsibility. Residents are encouraged to clean their surroundings, dispose waste properly, and support efforts to keep our environment clean and safe.

“Together, we can achieve a cleaner and more livable Lagos,” the statement read.

The Lagos State Government had earlier announced the return of the exercise in March, nearly ten years after it was discontinued.

Confirming the development, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the sanitation programme would now hold on the last Saturday of every month within the same time frame.

“I am pleased to inform all Lagosians that the monthly environmental sanitation exercise will resume effective Saturday, 25th April 2026, holding on the last Saturday of every month from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m,” he stated.

The initiative, which was previously conducted between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., was suspended in November 2016 following a court ruling that restricted the enforcement of movement limitations during the exercise.

Its reintroduction has been welcomed by several residents, who believe it will help curb indiscriminate waste disposal, mitigate flooding, and improve overall cleanliness across the state.

However, some residents have expressed reservations regarding enforcement, cautioning that movement restrictions could be misused by security personnel.

They also stressed the need for sustained public education on proper waste management practices, noting that long-term behavioural change should complement the monthly sanitation exercise.

Lagos govt urges compliance as monthly sanitation resumes April 25

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have shifted focus from policy alignment to real time fraud detection with the launch of a shared data initiative aimed at curbing SIM related financial crimes.

At the heart of the new agreement, signed Monday in Abuja, is the proposed Telecom Identity Risk Management Portal a centralised system designed to give banks, fintechs, and telecom operators instant visibility into the status of mobile numbers used in financial transactions.

The platform will flag high-risk numbers, including those recently swapped, recycled, or blacklisted, allowing service providers to block suspicious transactions before fraud occurs.

CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso described the initiative as a decisive move toward proactive fraud prevention rather than reactive enforcement, noting that the financial system must evolve alongside increasingly sophisticated digital threats.

“This is about staying ahead of the curve,” Cardoso said, emphasising that real-time data sharing would significantly reduce vulnerabilities exploited by fraudsters.

On its part, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida said the integration would close longstanding gaps between telecom and financial systems, particularly in verifying the authenticity of phone numbers linked to transactions.

The portal could be a game changer in tackling fraud schemes that rely on SIM swaps or recycled numbers issues that have led to rising consumer complaints and financial losses in recent years.

Beyond fraud prevention, the agreement is also expected to improve dispute resolution. With clearer data trails, cases involving failed airtime or data purchases where customers are charged without receiving service can be resolved faster under a unified framework.

The partnership introduces joint oversight committees to coordinate implementation and ensure compliance with data protection standards, including encryption and user consent protocols.

The move signals a broader regulatory shift toward tighter integration of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, as authorities seek to build trust in electronic payments and expand financial inclusion.

With mobile numbers increasingly serving as the gateway to banking and digital services, the success of the initiative may hinge on how effectively both sectors can maintain accurate, secure, and up-to-date subscriber data.

CBN, NCC Unveil Platform To Track SIM Fraud is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Value Rebirth/Human Rights Advocate, VRHRA, has decried the plight of the people of Okuama community.

The Coordinator of VRHRA, Amb. Edewor Egedegbe, stated this while speaking on the situation in Okuama during a TV programme, ‘Niger Delta Today,’ on Advocate Broadcasting Network (ADBN).

Speaking on concerns that Okuama community leaders and others have remained in military detention for more than two years, he blasted the federal and Delta State governments, as well as the National Assembly, for abandoning them, especially as there has been no feedback from the institutions of government responsible for their detention.

According to him, all attempts they have made to reach out to the Governor of Delta State to express their concerns have been futile.

“That is the most worrisome to me. The truth is, government and leadership are about empathy. As the situation of Okuama people remains pathetic, we need to talk to those in charge of government because we are under the government.

“As bona fide citizens, if there are issues, just as we have in Okuama, to whom do we cry? Is it not the government? But as it is now, we don’t have access to our government as I speak. If you journalists can help us gain access to the government, please offer us that help.”

He appealed to the Governor of Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to grant them an audience, stating that failure to do so would amount to undermining the plight of the people of Okuama.

“We are saying to the governor: grant us access to talk to you. Our people are in detention, and we don’t have access to them. The army, which by law does not have the right to continuously hold Okuama people in detention facilities, just as it does not have the right to prosecute them, is perpetually keeping our people in detention and does not grant us the privilege to see them. It is right to say that if the governor can have access to them, let him tell us what the authorities are saying about this matter.

“On the other hand, if there is prima facie evidence against our people—Prof. Arthur Ekpekpor, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Dennis Amalaka, and Mabel Owemu (one of them, James Oghorokor, reportedly died in detention)—let the army produce them in court to face their charges and allow the rule of law to take its course in this lingering matter.

“So, what I am saying is that we need an update on our people, but we are not getting it. We are really worried about this development. There is not much we can say other than to tell the public, through your platform, the true plight of our people who are living in a pitiable condition in Okuama community. In short, our people are living in trenches; there is no doubt about that.

“It will surprise you to hear that a hall with more than 40 rooms, built by the Governor of Delta State in collaboration with the chairman of Ughelli South LGA, is where over a thousand people are resting their heads. You can imagine the horrible situation they are facing. I candidly request that you visit the Okuama community to see the state of things.

“Let me re-emphasise that apart from the thatched houses standing in the community, which serve as homes for some people, the rest of the Okuama people are residing in that one hall built by the government. The primary school that has been built has no chairs to commence teaching, so the children of Okuama have not gone to school in the past two years, through no fault of theirs, and we say we are in a democracy?

“I do know that things can be done better. I am calling on the governor of Delta State and other arms of government to understand that the essence of governance is to protect lives and property, not the other way round. Anything less than that is unacceptable in a democratic setting.

“We are not under military rule where dictatorship is the order of the day. We are crying out to the Nigerian government, headed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Governor of Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the senators, and members of the House of Representatives, that they have not done well by us, to say the least. They may have tried their best, but it is not good enough for us.

“In short, we are taken aback that our people are languishing in military detention facilities for 20 months over a matter that is already in court. Even court orders have been issued and served on the relevant government agencies, yet they have remained adamant. Such disregard for court orders leaves much to be desired in a democratic system.”

When asked about the current situation in Okuama and the immediate expectations of the people, he said:

“Simply put, the expectations of the people of Okuama are to see the government come to their aid. Today, Okuama is almost becoming history—a narrative we strongly reject. The people are calling on the government to rebuild Okuama. First and foremost, the Okuama leaders in military detention should be released, as they know nothing about the allegations. However, if the army has proof that they are complicit, let them be tried through the appropriate legal channels—not kept in detention indefinitely.

“One person has died, and another was at the point of death before being released to Senator Ede Dafinone. We do not know the condition of the others. So, we want them released as soon as possible, or if they are to be tried, let the police take over the case and prosecute them in a competent court of law.

“At this juncture, let me set the record straight: out of the five persons in detention, two are not connected to Okuama. One of them, Dennis Amalaka, is a tenant of the late President of Okuama, James Oghorokor. Dennis was arrested alongside him at his residence. Also, Mabel Owemu was arrested alongside Prof. Arthur Ekpekpor. Those from Okuama are the President-General of the Ewu Clan Development Forum, Prof. Arthur Ekpekpor, Chief Belvis Adogbo, and James Oghorokor, now deceased.”

Okuama crisis: Rights group decries detention of leaders, seeks gov’s intervention

The Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, has reiterated his commitment to sustained engagement aimed at advancing mutually beneficial development between Grenada and Taraba State in Nigeria.

Mitchell made the remarks during a courtesy visit to the Aku Uka of Wukari, Dr Ishaku Adda Ali, alongside other traditional rulers in Taraba State.

His visit took place during the just-concluded annual Nwonyo fishing festival held in Ibi Local Government Council of the state.

Expressing admiration for the region’s cultural heritage, the Grenadian leader said he was impressed by the richness of traditions in Taraba State and expressed optimism about future cooperation between both sides.

“I am deeply impressed by the rich traditions here and look forward to strengthening ties that will benefit both Grenada and Taraba State,” he said.

On his part, the Aku Uka of Wukari described the visit as a landmark moment in strengthening international friendship and cultural exchange, noting that the people of Wukari and Taraba State at large were honoured to host the Caribbean leader.

Also speaking, the Secretary to the Government of Taraba State, Barrister Gebon Kataps, said the state government remained committed to using culture as a diplomatic and developmental tool.

“We are leveraging culture as a tool of diplomacy, and this engagement will open new opportunities for collaboration and development,” he stated.

Kataps further disclosed that cultural troupes from Taraba State are scheduled to visit Grenada in May, as part of ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral relations and promote cultural exchange between both regions.

Grenada’s PM Dickon Mitchell pledges cultural, developmental ties with Taraba