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The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has urged greater integration of rail infrastructure with ports to boost efficiency in the country’s freight and logistics system.

Managing Director Dr. Kayode Opeifa made the call during a Nigerian Ports Consultative Council meeting, warning that maritime reforms and deep seaports would deliver limited benefits without effective rail connectivity.

Opeifa acknowledged progress under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing ongoing collaboration between the NRC and port authorities. However, he stressed the need for deliberate measures to improve cargo movement from ports, particularly in Lagos and along the eastern corridor.

He announced that the Kaduna–Kano rail corridor is nearing completion, while new lines are planned to connect Lekki Deep Sea Port, Tin Can Island Port, Warri Port, Port Harcourt’s Onne Port, and Baro Port. The Lagos–Ibadan standard gauge will also be extended to Tin Can Island.

“The government has approved plans, including extending the Lagos–Ibadan standard gauge from Apapa Port to Tin Can Island Port.

“On the central line, the Warri–Itakpe line will connect Warri Port to improve cargo movement.

“On the eastern flank, the narrow gauge will link Port Harcourt Port at Onne, while Lagos–Kano will connect to Baro Port,” he said.

He urged stakeholders, including truckers, to support the initiative, noting their continued role in moving raw materials and distributing imports. He also called for more freight yards across narrow and standard gauge lines to expand cargo handling capacity.

Opeifa added that the Federal Government is pursuing high‑speed rail development through private sector participation, with a committee already set up by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to drive implementation.

The post NRC calls for stronger rail links to ports appeared first on Vanguard News.

The Executive Chairman of Kosofe Local Government Area, Moyo Ogunlewe, has condemned the conversion of a toilet facility into spaces used for a food shop and a hair salon at the Onabanjo Street market in Oworoshoki, Lagos.

Ogunlewe expressed concern over the unsanitary condition during an unannounced inspection of the market, which also formed part of a monitoring visit to ongoing road construction projects in the area.

During the visit, the council chairman toured the busy market and engaged traders and officials on the public health risks associated with the practice.

He described the situation as unacceptable, questioning how commercial activities involving food and personal services could be carried out within a toilet facility.

Video from the inspection showed exposed plumbing, PVC piping, and unfinished concrete structures within the space being used for the businesses.

In a social media post accompanying the footage, Ogunlewe said: “Why do you have a food shop and salon in a toilet in a local market?”

Lagos Kosofe Chairman Raises Alarm Over Shop, Salon Inside Toilet is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Taraba State chapter of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) has announced a shift in its political ideology, pledging to abandon godfatherism in favour of a system rooted in service, merit, and accountability.

The declaration was made on Saturday during the official unveiling of the YPP secretariat in Jalingo, the state capital.

Speaking, the party’s state chairman, Alhaji Sahadu Hassan Abubakar, said the new direction underscores the party’s commitment to transparent governance and competence-driven leadership.

According to him, the move is aimed at restoring public confidence in the political process and ensuring that leadership positions are attained through ability, dedication, and service rather than political patronage.

“The focus now is on the people,” he said, adding that accountability and performance would remain key benchmarks for anyone seeking or holding public office under the party’s platform.

Abubakar further described the newly inaugurated secretariat as more than a physical structure, noting that it represents a hub for political transformation in the state.

“We are establishing a command centre for change, a home for the common man, and a sanctuary for every Taraban who believes that purposeful leadership is the only path to a progressive future,” he stated.

Also speaking, the party’s national chairman, Bishop Emmanuel Amakiri, urged residents of Taraba State to align with the party’s vision.

He stressed the need for unity and inclusiveness, assuring that the party would carry everyone along regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation.

The party leadership also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure a level playing field for all registered political parties and candidates, emphasising the importance of fairness in the democratic process.

Party officials said the development marks a deliberate effort to redefine politics in Taraba State, with a focus on promoting inclusive development and responsible governance.

Taraba YPP renounces godfatherism, adopts merit-driven politics

Vice President Kashim Shettima has visited Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to commiserate with the Nigerian Army and the state government following a deadly attack on military personnel in Benisheikh.

The visit, carried out on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, was disclosed on Saturday in a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President).

Shettima described the fallen soldiers, including Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, as patriots who paid the ultimate price in service to the nation.

“These men wore the uniform for all of us. They stood to protect our communities, our families, and the future of our children. Their courage reminds us that peace and security often come at a very heavy cost,” he said.

He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling insecurity, assuring that criminals would not escape justice under the current administration.

The condolence visit follows a midnight assault on a military base in Benisheikh, Borno State, where suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, fighters reportedly launched coordinated attacks on multiple military positions around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday.

According to accounts from surviving soldiers, the attackers advanced in large numbers, striking at least three military formations before moving into nearby civilian areas in what was described as one of the most intense attacks in recent months.

However, the Headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai has dismissed reports claiming that 17 soldiers, including a brigade commander, were killed.

The Media Information Officer of the Northeast Joint Task Force, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, stated that only two officers and two soldiers died during the engagement, describing higher casualty figures as false and misleading.

Borno attack: Shettima visits Maiduguri, mourns slain soldiers

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved the appointment of Victoria Egunjobi as the Executive Secretary of the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA.

The appointment was formally communicated in a letter dated April 10, 2026, signed by the Head of Service, Bode Agoro, and is scheduled to take effect from April 13.

According to the letter, the governor expressed confidence in Egunjobi’s capacity to lead the agency, urging her to demonstrate commitment, professionalism, and integrity in the discharge of her responsibilities.

Egunjobi brings over 20 years of experience in public health service to the role. Prior to her appointment, she served as Director of Disease Control at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, where she played a key role in coordinating responses to both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Her professional background covers a wide range of areas, including health data management, malaria control, maternal and child health, family planning, gender-based violence, and broader health system strengthening initiatives.

She has also held several strategic positions within the ministry, such as Health Management Information System Officer, Knowledge Management Focal Person, Secretary of the Health Research Committee, and Reproductive Health Coordinator.

An alumna of the University of Lagos, Egunjobi holds degrees in Physiology as well as Medicine and Surgery, in addition to a Master’s degree in Public Health. She also obtained a postgraduate certificate in Health Economics from the University of Aberdeen.

She is a member of the West African College of Physicians and an associate member of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.

Her appointment is expected to further strengthen regulatory oversight and improve healthcare service delivery standards in Lagos State.

Sanwo-Olu appoints Victoria Egunjobi as HEFAMAA Executive Secretary

Residents of Igushin and Ilado in Akure North Local Council Area of Ondo State on Saturday trooped out in their numbers protesting against the attacks and killings in their communities in the past few days.

The protesters, who barricaded the popular Shoprite intersection a few metres from the governor’s office, expressed dismay over the brutal attacks that occurred in the communities which led to the death of residents.

On Thursday, suspected bandits stormed Igushin in an attempt to kidnap some residents. In the process, the owner of a poultry farm and her daughter were shot dead.

Less than 24 hours after the Igushin incident, the gunmen invaded Ilado, where a popular youth was abducted. He was macheted and shot while trying to escape from the abductors.

Speaking during the protest, one of the youth leaders in the community, who identified himself as Kunle, lamented how gunmen had been operating unchecked in the state, particularly within Akure, the state capital.

The youth leader, who queried how the security vote of the state is being expended, emphasised that the impact has not been felt in the state going by the spate of insecurity.

“We are protesting due to the incessant killings and kidnappings day in, day out at Imafon, Igushin and Ilado. A mother and daughter were killed two days ago, and another guy was brutally macheted yesterday,” he said.

Ondo residents protest, query Aiyedatiwa on security votes amid killings

Outgoing Manchester United midfielder, Casemiro has been offered a two-year deal to join Inter Miami.

According to football transfer expert Nicolo Schira, Inter Miami is talking with the Brazil international for a possible transfer this summer.

The Major League Soccer, MLS, side wants to bring the 34-year-old to the United States as a free agent from July.

Inter Miami offered Casemiro a contract until December 2028, and the veteran midfielder is yet to make a final decision.

Casemiro will leave Man United at the end of the season after recently announcing his departure from Old Trafford.

The former Real Madrid star has been linked with Inter Miami and other top clubs in Saudi Arabia.

Casemiro receives two-year offer to join new club

Libya’s rival eastern and western legislative bodies have signed a US-mediated agreement to unify public spending across the divided country for the first time in over a decade, the central bank said Saturday.

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The north African country has struggled to recover from the chaos that erupted following the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that toppled longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

It remains divided between a UN-recognised government led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah based in Tripoli and an eastern administration in Benghazi backed by military leader Khalifa Haftar.

“This step reflects real progress toward unifying fiscal policy and strengthening the good management of public spending,” the central bank said of the new budget, calling the agreement “the first consensus on unified spending across Libya in over 13 years”.

The agreement was signed by Issa Al-Arebi, a representative of the Benghazi-based House of Representatives, and Abdul Jalil Al-Shawish, a representative of the High Council of State in Tripoli.

Despite generating $22 billion in oil revenues last year — up more than 15 percent compared to the year before — Libya faces a foreign currency deficit of $9 billion, according to the central bank.

Last January, the bank devalued the dinar by nearly 15 percent for the second time in less than a year, citing a host of issues including the lack of a unified state budget.

The central bank said the new agreement would bolster financial stability in the country, commending the “positive role of the United States in supporting mediation efforts” between the two sides.

Libya holds Africa’s largest oil reserves at around 48.4 billion barrels, and currently produces about 1.5 million barrels per day while seeking to increase output to two million.

Dbeibah also thanked Trump’s senior adviser on Arab and African affairs Massad Boulos for “supporting the mediation efforts that led to this agreement”.

“This is a step that carries promising signs, but the true test remains the serious commitment of all parties, so that it translates into tangible results for citizens in their daily lives,” Dbeibah wrote in a statement.

Vanguard News

The post Libya approves first unified budget in 13 years after US intervention appeared first on Vanguard News.

Russia and Ukraine carried out a major prisoner-of-war exchange on Saturday, with each side releasing 175 servicemen in a rare display of cooperation amid the ongoing conflict.

The swap was facilitated by the United Arab Emirates and comes just ahead of a temporary 32-hour ceasefire agreed for Orthodox Easter.

Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed the exchange, stating that 175 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by Kyiv. In return, 175 prisoners of war from the Ukrainian armed forces were handed over to Ukraine.

The ministry described the operation as a humanitarian effort, with the United Arab Emirates playing a key mediating role.

“On April 11, 175 Russian service members were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. In exchange, 175 prisoners of war from the Ukrainian armed forces were handed over,” the statement read, posted on Kremlin-backed channels.

In addition to the military personnel, Russia returned seven Russian civilians who had been detained during Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region. Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova noted that these were believed to be the last remaining Kursk residents held in Ukrainian captivity.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the successful return of 175 Ukrainian servicemen along with seven civilians.

Among those freed are defenders who fought in high-profile battles, including the defence of Mariupol, the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and various fronts such as Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kyiv oblasts, as well as in Russia’s Kursk region. Zelenskyy added that some of the returnees are wounded, and many had been held since 2022.

The freed Russian servicemen were transported to Belarus, where they are receiving initial medical checks and psychological support before being moved to Russian facilities for further rehabilitation.

This exchange is one of the few ongoing humanitarian initiatives between the two sides, even as intense fighting continues on multiple fronts.

It occurs as both countries have agreed to observe a 32-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Easter, set to begin at 4:00 p.m. Moscow time (13:00 GMT) on Saturday, April 11, and last until the end of Sunday, April 12.

The truce was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin and confirmed by Zelenskyy, who stated that Ukraine would honour the pause.

The UAE has played an increasingly prominent role in facilitating such swaps in recent months, contributing to the release of thousands of captives overall through humanitarian mediation efforts.

Analysts see the exchange as a positive step that could help build momentum for broader negotiations, though deep divisions remain over territorial issues and long-term peace terms.

Russia, Ukraine Exchange 175 Prisoners Of War Each is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State in the 2027 elections, Chief Saheed Oladele, had dumped the party.

Oladele who hails from Ibadan North Local Government Area, announced the development on Saturday in Ibadan, the state capital.

The alumnus of University of Ibadan while speaking with DAILY POST on Saturday said that his decision to dump APC is an indication that his generation is unstoppable.

Oladele explained that he has submitted his resignation letter to the APC chairman in his Ward 4 in Ibadan North LGA.

He explained that he is trying to serve as a bridge builder between the old and the young generations.

Noting that he had worked for the APC in many ways, Oladele however lamented that recent developments indicate that the party is not ready to allow the young generation to occupy decision-making positions.

The resignation letter reads, “I write to formally tender my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party I have loved, believed in, and diligently served since its inception.

“My journey within the party has been one of commitment, sacrifice, and an unwavering dedication to its ideals. As a gubernatorial aspirant.

“I worked tirelessly, not just in pursuit of personal ambition, but in fostering unity, strengthening structures, and building bridges across different interests within our great party. My footprints in promoting cohesion and harmony remain evident in the many efforts made to bring stakeholders together under a shared vision of progress for Oyo State

“However, recent developments and party positions have made it increasingly clear that, within Oyo State, the APC is not yet prepared to give young people a seat at the decision-making table, but rather prefers to engage them as instruments without corresponding influence. This reality stands in contrast to the values 1 hold and the future I envision for our people.”

DAILY POST reports that Oladele’s decision is coming few days after another aspirant left the party.

Kunle Olatunji, an indigene of Ona Ara and a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of APC, dumped the party few days ago and joined Action Democratic Congress, ADP.

2027: Another Oyo guber aspirant, Oladele, dumps APC