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A Nigerian forward, Victor Udoh, has died at the age of 21 in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

According to the UK Mirror, Udoh passed away “under suspicious circumstances”.

The former Royal Antwerp and Southampton player was found dead but the exact cause of his death remains unknown at this time of reporting.

He recently returned to the country, after his stint with Dynamo České Budějovice ended.

Udoh joined the Czech team after leaving Southampton in 2025.

Before his move to England, he had been with Belgian side Royal Antwerp, where he rose through the ranks after joining from Abuja-based Hypebuzz.

Nigerian footballer, Victor Udoh dies at 21

The Abia State House of Assembly has approved a request by Governor Alex Otti authorising the state’s participation in the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) Receivables Discounting Programme for infrastructure financing.

The resolution was passed during plenary on Tuesday, following a request transmitted to the Abia State House of Assembly by the Executive arm of government.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon Emma Emeruwa, disclosed that the request sought legislative approval to enable Abia State participate in the financing arrangement aimed at supporting infrastructure development across the state.

Leading debate on the motion, the Majority Leader, Hon. Uchenna Kalu, representing Arochukwu State Constituency, urged members to support the request, describing it as critical to sustaining infrastructural development in the state.

“This request, when granted, will improve cash inflow and liquidity for the state, facilitate faster financing of capital projects, and provide a clear repayment structure with lower interest implications,” Kalu stated.

Supporting the motion, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Austin Okezie, said the current administration had demonstrated prudence and commitment in the execution of projects across the state.

“Every patriotic Abian will want to align with the interest of the state government because we have seen that every resource accrued to the state has been judiciously applied,” Okezie said.

Also contributing, Hon. Godwin Adiele of Ukwa West State Constituency clarified that the arrangement was not a conventional loan.

“The fund we want to access is a due fund to the state. The only difference is that the state wants to access it ahead of time, and it does not attract interest,” he explained.

Other lawmakers who spoke in support of the request commended the administration’s developmental strides and expressed confidence that the funds would be properly utilised for capital projects and infrastructure development.

Following deliberations, the Speaker, Rt. Hon Emma Emeruwa, put the motion to vote and the lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the request.

The House also received a request for the confirmation of Mr. Uche Elekwachi as Chairman of the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR).

During the screening, Elekwachi disclosed that he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Babcock University and an MBA from Lagos Business School and Barcelona Business School, Spain.

He further informed lawmakers that he is the Managing Partner of Maximum Value Consulting Ltd, a chartered accounting firm specialising in revenue optimisation, adding that he had consulted for over 28 states and several federal agencies and financial institutions.

Speaking during the screening, lawmakers stressed the importance of revenue generation to support ongoing projects across the state and charged the nominee to justify the confidence proposed in him if confirmed.

The House later confirmed Elekwachi as Chairman of the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue.

Earlier during plenary, the member representing Umuahia South State Constituency, Hon. Obioma Emeka, raised a matter of urgent public importance over severe erosion threatening the Ogbodiukwu Community in Umuopara.

Obioma described the situation as devastating, revealing that a residential building had already been partially consumed by the advancing gully erosion, leaving residents in fear and uncertainty.

“This disaster is threatening lives, homes, roads, economic activities, and critical infrastructure in the community,” Emeka said.

He called on the Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies to immediately conduct an on-the-spot assessment and commence urgent erosion control measures to avert further destruction.

The Speaker subsequently directed the House Committee on Works and Environment to liaise with relevant ministries and agencies to assess the affected area and recommend appropriate intervention measures.

Abia Assembly Approves FAAC Financing Request, Confirms New BIR Chairman. is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A group of some members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the conduct of the party’s presidential primary election in Adamawa State, describing it as a charade in which fictitious figures were fabricated to mislead the public.

The Group of Concerned ADC Members, which addressed a news briefing in Yola on Tuesday, alleged that some party leaders and supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar undermined democratic principles through a fraudulent process.

Leader of the group, Hussain Hamman, a prominent party figure from Yola South Local Government Area, said there was hardly any voting in the state, except in Ajiya Ward of Yola North LGA, where Atiku voted.

“Election results cannot be produced in a vacuum,” he asserted.

He alleged that even in Ajiya Ward, the crowd presented to the public was mobilised to create the impression that a credible exercise had taken place.

“From all available evidence and reports gathered across Adamawa State, there was virtually no voting exercise anywhere except in Ajiya Ward, where former Vice President Atiku Abubakar allegedly mobilised hundreds of supporters to create the impression that an election took place,” Hamman stated.

He contended that democracy had been abused, stressing that it must be anchored in transparency, participation, and the free expression of the people’s will.

He said it was ironic that Atiku, who had criticised President Bola Tinubu for claiming fictitious votes to secure the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), would be involved in ADC’s own questionable primary.

Hamman said, “While Atiku Abubakar himself strongly condemned the APC leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over allegations of inflated and manipulated figures in the APC presidential primary, it must be stated that the APC at least conducted a semblance of an election process.

“What happened under Atiku’s watch in Adamawa is even worse because no election took place in reality, yet imaginary results are being circulated to the public.”

Hamman, however, urged aggrieved members to remain peaceful while insisting on credible democratic practices.

ADC group rejects Adamawa presidential primary, calls it ‘charade’

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday dismissed claims of giving preferential treatment to the judiciary.

Wike insisted that his administration is providing support to all sectors in the capital city.

The minister spoke after inspecting projects being prepared for commissioning ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s third year anniversary celebration in Abuja.

“For the judiciary to be independent, you must provide the necessary infrastructure, welfare and working conditions.

“It is not only about the judiciary. We are also providing water, schools and other basic needs for Nigerians,” he said.

Wike maintained that ongoing projects across the FCT reflected an inclusive development agenda, particularly in rural and satellite communities, which he said were now benefiting from infrastructure for the first time in decades.

FCT projects: No preferential treatment for judiciary – Wike

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed over 56,000 personnel across the country to ensure a

The post Eid-el-Kabir: NSCDC deploys 56,000 personnel nationwide appeared first on Tribune Online.

The Accord Party has officially affirmed Hon. Adewumi Adeyemi, popularly known as Irekandu, as its candidate for the Obokun Constituency in Osun State ahead of the upcoming elections. The affirmation, which was the outcome of a peaceful consensus arrangement, took place in Ibokun, the headquarters of Obokun Local Government Area. The process was officially overseen […]

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The House of Representatives candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ondo State, Omoniyi Akingunola, on Monday, described former Osun State Governor and National Secretary of the ADC, Rauf Aregbesola, as a courageous progressive leader whose ideals of justice, discipline and people-oriented governance continue to shape political consciousness across Nigeria. Akingunola who stated this […]

The post ‘Symbol of justice, discipline’, Akingunola hails Aregbesola at 69 appeared first on Tribune Online.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has described the Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdulwahab Oyedotun, as “a true leader on the front lines,” as he congratulated the monarch on his 23rd coronation anniversary. In a message issued through his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye on Monday, the monarch commended Orangun’s visionary leadership […]

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Nigeria’s economy sustained its growth momentum in the first quarter of 2026, with real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanding by 3.89 per cent year-on-year, reinforcing analysts’ expectations of stronger economic performance through the rest of the year.

The latest GDP report released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the economy grew faster than the 3.13 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, although slightly below the 4.07 per cent growth achieved in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Reacting to the data, analysts at Cowry Asset Management Limited said the performance aligned with their forecast and reflected the resilience of the domestic economy despite prevailing global uncertainties and lingering structural constraints.

According to Cowry Research, the sustained growth trajectory was largely driven by strong performance across key non-oil sectors, particularly Information and Communication, especially Telecommunications, alongside Agriculture, Trade, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Construction, Real Estate and Transportation.

The research firm noted that Nigeria has now maintained GDP growth above the 3.0 per cent threshold since the second quarter of 2024, with average growth estimated at about 3.6 per cent between Q1 2024 and Q1 2026.

Cowry Research attributed the sustained expansion to the gradual impact of ongoing economic reforms, improved stability in the foreign exchange market, rising investor confidence and easing inflationary pressures recorded earlier in the year.

The analysts expressed optimism that economic activities would remain moderately resilient in the coming quarters, supported by continued expansion in Telecommunications, Financial Services, Agriculture, Transportation, Water Supply and selected manufacturing segments.

“Economic fundamentals continue to show signs of gradual strengthening, particularly within the non-oil economy, which remains the major driver of growth,” the report stated.

Based on current economic trends, Cowry Research projected that Nigeria’s real GDP growth would settle between 3.98 per cent and 4.03 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, while maintaining its full-year growth forecast of 4.12 per cent.

The firm, however, cautioned that rising geopolitical tensions and external shocks could pose downside risks to the economy in subsequent quarters. It specifically highlighted concerns surrounding tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting pressure on global energy prices, which could worsen domestic inflationary conditions and weaken economic stability.

Cowry Research also identified elevated energy costs, insecurity, weak infrastructure investment and persistent global uncertainty as major headwinds capable of constraining growth momentum.

Despite these challenges, analysts maintained that the resilience of the non-oil sector, combined with ongoing reforms and relative macroeconomic stability, would likely keep Nigeria on a moderate growth path throughout 2026.

Analysts Project Stronger Growth Despite Energy, Infrastructure Challenges is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Olufemi Oluyede, has ordered the deployment of special forces and aerial surveillance assets to Oyo State following a series of recent kidnapping incidents across the state.

He assured residents that the military would sustain aggressive operations until those responsible are apprehended and security is fully restored in the affected areas.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday during a briefing on the Armed Forces’ operational activities for May, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said the military recognised the growing security concerns in Oyo State and sympathised with affected families, the state government and residents.

“The Defence Headquarters expressly acknowledges the recent kidnapping incidents reported in Oyo State. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, extends his heartfelt sympathy and solidarity to the affected families, the government and people of Oyo State, reaffirming that the Armed Forces of Nigeria consider any threat to civilian peace as an unacceptable challenge to national sovereignty,” Onoja said.

He disclosed that the CDS had directed an extensive security reinforcement across the affected locations through the deployment of advanced aerial surveillance platforms and specialised ground troops working closely with state authorities.

According to him, the ongoing operations have already generated valuable intelligence, while troops have been instructed to maintain sustained pressure on the perpetrators until they are brought to justice.

“In immediate response, the CDS has directed comprehensive security reinforcement within the general area, deploying advanced aerial surveillance assets and specialised ground forces in collaboration with relevant state authorities.

“Operational efforts are already yielding useful intelligence, and troops will continue relentless operations until the criminals are apprehended and normalcy is fully restored,” he added.

The Defence Headquarters also released operational statistics for May 2026, revealing that troops arrested 314 suspects, neutralised 118 terrorists and rescued 221 kidnapped civilians in different operations across the country.

Defence Chief deploys special forces to Oyo over abductions