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No fewer than 5,000 households have benefited from empowerment programmes by a female aspirant for

No fewer than 3,000 delegates have arrived at the Rainbow Event Centre, Abuja, for the ongoing African Democratic Congress (ADC) national convention.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegates, dressed in colourful attires, were drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, showcasing unity and diversity within party ranks.

NAN also reports that security personnel conducted thorough checks on all the delegates before being granted access, as accreditation commenced under the supervision of the accreditation subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Austin Akobundu.

The National Organising Secretary, Chinedu Idigo, explained that delegates’ allocation across states was determined by the size of the state to ensure equitable representation in the convention proceedings.

Idigo, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the challenges faced by the party in securing a befitting venue, alleging that several private business owners declined hosting ADC due to what he called external pressures and threats.

“We wrote to use the Eagle Square but received no response, and our request for the Velodrome (at the national stadium) was also denied without explanation.

“We approached several venues, including hotels and event centres, but once they realised it was ADC, they declined, citing fear of possible repercussions.

“Even this Rainbow Event Centre initially attempted to cancel after alleged threats, but we insisted on proceeding since payments had already been made,” he stated.

“I do not understand why businesses in Nigeria cannot operate freely without intimidation, as this situation is causing significant financial losses to private operators,” he said.

According to Idigo, the convention will conclude the party’s congresses, ratify a new constitution and set the stage for the party’s primaries. (NAN)(

The post Accreditation begins as 3,000 delegates arrive at ADC national convention venue appeared first on Vanguard News.

Nigeria’s mobile network operators are grappling with mounting financial losses following a surge in the theft of critical telecom infrastructure, raising fresh concerns over the resilience of the country’s digital backbone.

Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that more than 650 power-related assets were stolen in 2025 alone.

The stolen items include generators, batteries, and other essential equipment required to power base stations nationwide.

With Nigeria’s unreliable electricity supply, telecom operators rely heavily on off-grid power systems such as diesel generators and battery backups to maintain network uptime. The loss of these assets has significantly disrupted operations across the sector.

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) warned that the scale of the theft has escalated beyond routine operational challenges, describing it as an existential threat to the industry.

ATCON President Tony Emoekpere said operators are increasingly adopting defensive strategies to mitigate the impact of the theft.

“Operators are responding, but largely in a defensive mode,” he said. “What you’re seeing now is a combination of increased physical security, technology deployment, and changes to how sites are designed and powered.”

According to him, measures being implemented include the deployment of security guards, collaboration with local vigilante groups, reinforcement of base station enclosures, and the use of remote monitoring systems capable of detecting tampering in real time.

Operators are also redesigning infrastructure by moving away from easily removable components such as standalone batteries toward integrated and hybrid power systems.

However, ATCON noted that even solar-powered and hybrid installations are increasingly being targeted by vandals.

Industry stakeholders, including ATCON, the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, the NCC, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have intensified collaboration to improve intelligence sharing and response mechanisms.

Despite these efforts, ATCON expressed concern that operators are diverting substantial resources toward protecting infrastructure rather than expanding network capacity, raising questions about long-term sustainability.

“We are spending more to protect infrastructure than we should, and that is not sustainable,” Tony said.

The operational impact is already evident, with operators reporting frequent site shutdowns leading to deteriorating service quality nationwide.

“When you lose generators and batteries at that scale, what it means in practical terms is that sites go down,” Tony said. “And when sites go down, you immediately see increased call drops, poorer voice quality, and slower or completely unavailable data services.”

While operators sometimes reroute traffic in urban centres, this often results in network congestion and reduced service quality. In rural areas, the loss of equipment can lead to complete outages.

ATCON noted that subscribers are already experiencing the consequences, even if the root cause is not always apparent. It added that the financial burden of the theft runs into billions of naira annually.

“These losses run into billions of naira annually. While operators are absorbing a lot of it for now, it inevitably feeds into the overall cost structure of the industry,” Tony said.

The association warned that consumers may ultimately bear the cost through declining service quality, increased pricing pressures, and reduced investment in network expansion.

Although telecom infrastructure has been officially designated as Critical National Infrastructure, ATCON stressed that enforcement remains weak.

The group called for stricter measures, including treating telecom asset theft as economic sabotage, alongside stronger collaboration with security agencies.

It also urged authorities to ensure visible deterrence through arrests, prosecutions, and convictions, as well as clamp down on informal markets where stolen telecom equipment is allegedly resold.

ATCON warned that without decisive enforcement, the ongoing cycle of theft, service disruption, and rising costs will continue to undermine Nigeria’s telecommunications sector at a time of growing demand for digital connectivity.

Telecom Infrastructure Theft Deepens Losses For Operators is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The most educated countries highlighted in this article invest heavily in research to foster innovation across fields such as science, medicine, technology, finance, and engineering.

MultiChoice on Thursday unveiled the full plans for the 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) sponsored by Don Julio tequila, confirming May 9, 2026, as the date for the ceremony, naming veteran actress Joke Silva as Head Judge, bringing decades of industry experience to the role.

The event will also include key pre-award activities, including Icons Night and Cultural Day, leading up to the main ceremony.

The 12th edition has introduced a deliberate focus on craftsmanship, recognising the writers, directors, editors, designers, and technicians whose dedication builds African cinema behind the scenes. It is a theme that aligns naturally with Don Julio’s ‘por amor’ philosophy.

This comes after the recently held special edition of The Don’s Table hosted by the tequila brand to honour Nollywood actors and filmmakers who dedicate their lives to their craft with precision, passion and devotion, further deepening its investment in African storytelling.

As the official spirits partner, Don Julio will elevate the celebration through a seamless blend of luxury, craftsmanship, and cultural storytelling—bringing its premium tequila experience to life through curated serves, signature toast moments, and refined brand integration, while shaping key moments of connection and ensuring the experience lives on through high-quality, culturally relevant content.

Atinuke Babatunde, Executive Head of Content and Channels, MultiChoice West Africa, said: “The AMVCAs have always celebrated the best of African film and television.

We are celebrating culture in all its richness and authenticity. “From Lagos to Nairobi, from Dakar to Johannesburg, African stories continue to reflect who we are, how we live, and how we connect with the world.

As we step into this new era, Don Julio brings a spirit of global excellence that perfectly mirrors the artistry of our filmmakers, actors, and storytellers.

Together, we are reimagining what it means to honour African talent.

“It is the first time a luxury spirits brand is the headline sponsor of the AMVCA, with Johnnie Walker and Singleton supporting the ceremonies alongside Don Julio. As Segun Ogunleye, Head of Marketing, Africa Partner Markets, Diageo, noted at the press conference:

“This partnership reflects not only the strength and diversity of our brands but also our commitment to showing up for consumers in moments of celebration, recognition, and shared cultural pride. It is rooted in shared values of passion, craftsmanship, and luxury, qualities that define both brands.

“This edition will feature 32 award categories, including 18 jury-decided categories, 11 audience-voted categories, and three special recognition awards for Lifetime Achievement and the Trailblazer honour.

Further details on nominees, activations, and exclusive event experiences will be announced in the coming weeks.-END-About Don Julio TequilaFounded on the devotion and craft of Don Julio González in 1942, Don Julio Tequila is the world’s original luxury tequila. Crafted in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, the brand remains committed to the highest quality standards, resulting in a portfolio that includes Don Julio Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and the ultra-premium 1942. Don Julio celebrates the moment of earned achievement, recognising the effort that leads to extraordinary success.

About AMVCAThe Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards have honoured African film and television excellence since 2013.

Broadcasting to audiences across more than 50 countries with over 400 awards presented to date, the AMVCA is the continent’s most authoritative celebration of creative talent.

Don Julio Tequila steps up as 12th AMVCA kicks off, ceremony set for May 9

The endorsement of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola as the consensus governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 elections by Governor Dapo Abiodun marks more than a routine political milestone; it signals a quiet but consequential shift in the grammar of succession politics in Ogun State. In a political landscape where transitions have too often been defined by friction, this moment suggests the possibility of order—deliberate, structured, and purposefully achieved.

For decades, succession in Ogun State has carried the weight of contestation, frequently unfolding as a zero-sum struggle among entrenched interests. The resulting tensions have, at various points, strained party cohesion and cast long shadows over governance. It is against this history that the present development must be understood—not as an isolated endorsement, but as a conscious departure from a pattern that has proven both costly and unsustainable.

Governor Abiodun’s role in shaping this outcome invites more than casual acknowledgment; it warrants considered commendation. By steering the All Progressives Congress toward a consensus position, he has done what many incumbents, faced with similar circumstances, have either avoided or mishandled. He has chosen coordination over chaos, consultation over confrontation, and institutional clarity over political improvisation. In doing so, he has demonstrated that the management of succession need not be an arena of attrition, but can instead be an exercise in statesmanship.

What lends this initiative particular weight is its grounding in the constitutional provisions of the party. Consensus candidacy, as provided for within the framework of the All Progressives Congress, is neither an anomaly nor an expedient invention; it is a legitimate instrument of internal democracy when properly applied. By operating within this framework, the process gains not only procedural validity but also a measure of institutional dignity—an often-overlooked but essential ingredient in sustaining political legitimacy.

Analytically, this moment can be read as a transition from unmanaged rivalry to structured agreement—a movement from the volatility of open-ended competition to the stability of negotiated alignment. It is, in essence, an example of conflict not merely suppressed, but thoughtfully resolved. The distinction is important. Where suppression breeds resentment, resolution creates the conditions for continuity.

Yet, beyond strategy and structure lies an equally important layer of meaning. The invocation of the Omoluwabi ethos situates this political act within a moral universe that resonates deeply with the sociocultural fabric of Ogun State. It frames the decision not simply as a matter of political convenience, but as an expression of fairness, restraint, and responsibility to the collective. In this sense, the governor’s approach bridges the often-wide gap between political necessity and ethical expectation.

To commend this development, therefore, is not to ignore the complexities inherent in consensus politics, but to recognize a genuine effort to recalibrate them. It is to acknowledge that, in a system where disorder has too often been normalized, the deliberate construction of order is itself an achievement.

If sustained, this model has implications that extend beyond the immediate electoral cycle. It offers a template—however imperfect—for managing succession in a way that reduces systemic tension, strengthens party cohesion, and enhances predictability in governance. These are not merely desirable outcomes; they are essential to the maturation of democratic practice.

In the final analysis, Governor Abiodun’s intervention stands as a measured but meaningful redefinition of political possibility in Ogun State. It resolves, with notable clarity, a succession process that has long bordered on the combative, and replaces it with one that is constitutionally anchored, politically coordinated, and normatively resonant. In a political culture often animated by contest, this turn toward consensus is both striking and significant—and, indeed, worthy of recognition.

Timothy Odedina: Ending the era of political warfare: Consensus and the future of Ogun succession politics

A former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Saheed Oladele, has formally declared his entry into the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He described the move as both “profoundly personal and historic” while positioning himself as a key contender in the state’s 2027 political landscape. Addressing party leaders, stakeholders, youths, […]

Ghanaian President John Mahama has said he prays for Nigeria’s success, stressing that the prosperity of Africa’s most populous nation is crucial to stability in the region and would reduce migration pressure on Ghana.

Speaking at the 4th edition of the African Heritage Awards in Accra on April 11, Mahama underscored the deep historical and cultural ties between both countries while making a broader case for economic reforms across Africa.

“If Nigeria does well, Ghana does well,” he said. “I mean, when you have cousins, 250 million of them, you want them to do well so that 1 million of them don’t come drifting towards a small country like Ghana.

“So every day I wake up, I pray for Nigeria, I say God let Nigeria get their act together.”

Mahama described Nigeria as vital to Ghana’s security and well-being, citing longstanding migration patterns and shared ancestry. “A lot of the people in Ghana migrated from Nigeria. They find their roots in the Yoruba kingdoms and all that… and so, Nigeria is of keen security interest to us,” he said.

Highlighting the close relationship between both nations, he added, “Ghana and Nigeria are twins of the same mother, except when we fight over Jollof and football. Otherwise, you know we are the same people.”

Beyond bilateral relations, Mahama used the platform to call for a shift in how African countries manage their natural resources and economic priorities.

“We need to make a paradigm shift in how we have considered investments, how we’ve considered our natural resources and everything in Africa,” he said.

“The world is changing, the global order is changing, and we must adapt to the changes. After the Second World War, we all agreed that we had a multilateral system and each was his brother’s keeper.”

He warned that declining humanitarian support and changing global priorities require African nations to rethink their strategies. “After the arms race came to an end, we said there was going to be a dividend, a nuclear dividend which would make sure that everybody on this earth enjoys a decent standard of living. I mean, clearly, things are shifting from what we all anticipated. Humanitarian assistance is dwindling, countries are reducing their ODA and using it more for defence purposes and all that.”

Mahama also criticised longstanding economic arrangements that favour foreign interests, warning that such practices must end.

“Africa cannot sit with a cup in hand and go begging. One of the major assets we have is what nature gave us. We didn’t put the gold in the ground, we didn’t put the lithium in the ground, we didn’t put the oil and gas in the ground.

“God gave it to us, and so like I’ve said in many places, those days of huge concessions gifted to foreign companies and set up huge you know rich enclaves next to African poverty where there’s no clean drinking water, those days are coming to an end,” he said.

He pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area as a positive step toward boosting intra-African trade and prosperity, despite initial challenges.

“We must take advantage of what God has gifted us to make sure that we’re able to create prosperity for our people, and we can do it.

“We started with the African continental free trade area, we do have teething problems, but I’m sure that it’s a good sign. Already, we can see that trade between our countries is increasing, and so we do have the capacity to be able to create prosperity for our people and dignity.”

Concluding, Mahama emphasised the importance of leadership and collaboration in shaping Africa’s future.

“We continue to fight and represent our countries. We want to show that leadership can make a change because I believe that if we get proper leadership in Africa and we work together, we have some of the best brains, we have wonderful people, we’ll be able to make a change in the lives of our people,” he added.

Among dignitaries at the event was Akinwumi Adesina, who received the African Lifetime Achievement Award.

The post I pray Nigeria thrives so citizens don’t run to Ghana — Mahama appeared first on Vanguard News.

“I decided to join the governorship race in 2027 under ADC to rescue Zamfara people from…”

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted an accelerated hearing in a legal dispute involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), underscoring the urgency of the matter due to its implications for Nigeria’s democratic process. The apex court, which began hearing of the appeal by the Turaki-led PDP against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, approved […]