The Edo State Government has directed farm settlers living in forested areas in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state to relocate to nearby towns and villages as part of efforts to strengthen security…
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With the introduction of WhatsApp Channels, things have changed, also for small businesses. Over 50 million Nigerians use WhatsApp every month, making it the single most-used communication platform in the country.
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The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed the death of a dispatch rider in a crash at Otedola Bridge inward Secretariat along the Ogudu Toll Gate corridor.
The agency said the incident occurred less than 24 hours after a similar tragedy in the area.
LASTMA, in a statement by its spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, on Tuesday, said the crash involved a Volvo heavy-duty truck and a dispatch motorcycle, with the rider pronounced dead at the scene due to the impact. It added that its operatives on routine patrol responded promptly, securing and cordoning off the area to prevent secondary accidents, especially due to the heavy vehicular movement along the corridor.
“The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) deeply regrets to announce a tragic road traffic incident that culminated in the untimely death of another dispatch rider in less than 24 hours at Otedola Bridge inward Secretariat along the Ogudu Toll Gate corridor.
“The fatal crash involved a heavy-duty Volvo truck and a dispatch rider. The devastating impact resulted in the immediate loss of the rider’s life at the scene, further accentuating the growing concerns surrounding the vulnerability of dispatch riders on major highways,” LASTMA said in a statement.
Taofiq said the remains of the deceased were handed over to officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who were present to support traffic management operations.
Police officers from the Alausa Division were also deployed to maintain order during the evacuation process, while the affected vehicles were subsequently removed by a tow truck.
According to Taofiq, despite the swift response, the incident caused traffic congestion stretching towards the Berger axis before normalcy was restored.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condoled with the family of the deceased.
He called for stricter adherence to traffic regulations and increased vigilance among road users, particularly truck drivers and dispatch riders.
Dispatch Rider Dies In Otedola Bridge Crash is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Hungary’s incoming prime minister, Peter Magyar, has said his government would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters the country, as he moves to keep Hungary within the International Criminal Court.
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The expectations of the management, students, and the public are high for robust and more efficient service delivery as well as improved productivity at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, as the University Librarian and six directors appointed by the Governing Council have assumed office. They were appointed by the university’s Governing Council on Friday, April 17, […]
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An interest group within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Team Rebuild Nigeria, has urged a renowned economist and banker, Dr Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, to join the party’s presidential race.
The group hinged its call on Hayatu-Deen’s track record of financial and economic reforms, stressing that he had demonstrated integrity and credibility throughout his entire career.
At a media conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the leader of the group, Dr Ebekuo C. Ebekuo, said Nigerians have had enough of “trial and error” leaders, adding that the demand for change is growing louder across the country.
The group warned that the next Nigerian president would inherit “an economy in distress, a security architecture in collapse, and institutions that have been systematically weakened.”
It added that addressing these challenges would require more than “goodwill and good intentions.”
According to the group, the country needs “someone who understands how economies are rebuilt, how institutions are strengthened, and how trust between a government and its people is restored.”
The youth group described Hayatu-Deen as a standout among aspirants within the ADC, citing his track record in both the private and public sectors.
“Of all the credible aspirants who have joined the ADC, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen stands apart, not by declaration, but by record,” Ebekuo said.
Highlighting his credentials, the group noted that Hayatu-Deen’s experience spans multiple sectors, including banking, manufacturing, aviation, cement, textiles and hospitality.
It also cited his leadership roles in key institutions such as the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
“These are not ceremonial positions. They are proof of the capacity to build, manage, and deliver,” the group added.
It also referenced his contributions to national economic policy, including his roles as Chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee on the Economy and Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
“When Nigeria needed serious minds in serious rooms, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen was there,” the group said, adding that he “carries no corruption baggage” and “has no political vendetta to prosecute.”
The group further stated that Hayatu-Deen “arrives with one agenda: to fix Nigeria,” urging him to bring his experience to bear at the highest level of leadership.
“We are calling for the most prepared aspirant — a detribalised, competent leader who can unify the opposition, command the confidence of citizens, and do the hard work of national recovery,” it said.
The interest group concluded with a pledge of support should he accept the call to run, warning that “Nigeria does not need another lesson in the cost of choosing wrongly.”
No fewer than four chieftains of the ADC have already declared interest in the party’s presidential ticket.
In the lineup are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Governors Peter Obi (Anambra), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano).
Group Urges Hayatu-Deen To Join ADC Presidential Race is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
The Kano State House of Assembly has summoned the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Yusuf Kabir, to explain how the recent teacher recruitment exercise was conducted following complaints about the process.
Reports from local newspapers indicate allegations that some applicants paid money to obtain teaching job forms, despite the state governor’s approval for the recruitment of over 7,000 personnel.
An investigation reportedly found that at least 90 per cent of applicants purchased the forms with money.
The summons followed a motion raised by Murtala Musa Kore, the lawmaker representing Dambatta, who called for a full investigation and a review of how the exercise was carried out.
The Assembly said it seeks to ensure fairness, transparency and due process in all recruitment processes to prevent favouritism and safeguard the quality of education in the state.
The SUBEB chairman is expected to appear before lawmakers to clarify the issue.
There are concerns that the recruitment exercise could be cancelled over the alleged irregularities.
Kano Assembly summons SUBEB chairman over alleged irregularities in teacher recruitment
Pan-African banking group Ecobank is in advanced discussions with Bank of China to roll out a direct local-currency-to-yuan settlement platform for its customers before the end of the year, a move that underscores a growing shift away from the U.S. dollar in Africa’s cross-border transactions.
The initiative, disclosed by Ecobank Group Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Awori, is designed to facilitate more efficient trade flows between African businesses and China by eliminating the need for intermediate dollar conversions.
The development comes amid intensifying commercial ties between Africa and China, as well as mounting pressure on businesses to reduce foreign exchange costs and improve transaction speed.
Awori said the bank is investing in payment infrastructure that allows customers—particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, to settle trade directly in Chinese yuan.
He noted that many African firms are increasingly turning to China for sourcing, manufacturing, and expansion opportunities, but face margin pressures due to multiple currency conversions.
The planned platform would allow Ecobank’s clients across its network of more than 33 African countries to transact seamlessly with Chinese counterparts, aligning with broader efforts across the continent to diversify settlement currencies.
Industry analysts say such initiatives could significantly reduce transaction costs, enhance liquidity management, and shield businesses from dollar volatility.
The move also reflects a wider trend among African financial institutions and governments exploring alternatives to dollar-based payments.
In South Africa, for instance, Standard Bank has secured approval to process transactions via China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System, positioning the yuan as a primary settlement currency for its clients engaged in Sino-African trade.
Several African economies have also taken concrete steps toward yuan adoption. Kenya has converted portions of its Chinese debt obligations into yuan, while Zambia has introduced the use of the Chinese currency in royalty payments within parts of its mining sector.
These developments coincide with Beijing’s broader push to internationalise the yuan and strengthen its role in global trade and finance.
China’s expanding economic footprint in Africa, particularly in energy, mining, oil, and gas, has further reinforced the rationale for such financial integration.
In parallel, Beijing has introduced zero-tariff trade measures for dozens of African countries with diplomatic ties, creating additional incentives for local businesses to transact directly in yuan.
For Ecobank, the strategy extends beyond payments. The lender is also scaling up its presence in China to capture emerging opportunities linked to trade finance, investment flows, and corporate banking services.
While specific investment figures were not disclosed, the expansion signals a long-term commitment to deepening Africa-China financial connectivity.
The bank’s latest initiative comes on the back of improved financial performance. Ecobank recently announced it would resume dividend payments for the first time since 2022, supported by strong revenue and profit growth in 2025.
Its corporate and investment banking division recorded a 40 per cent increase in pre-tax profit, driven by high-value mandates including sovereign debt restructuring deals in Gabon and Benin, as well as a major financing arrangement exceeding €200m for Uganda in partnership with the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
De-Dollarisation Deepens As Ecobank Targets Yuan Payment Integration is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has mourned the death of two intending pilgrims who lost their lives in a road accident along the Rimin Gado–Kano Road.
The victims, Alkasim Ibrahim Walawa and his mother, Hadiza Garba, were from Walawa village in Kabo Local Government Area of the state.
On Tuesday, the board’s Public Relations Officer, Sulaiman Dederi, confirmed the incident and described it as a tragic loss. He noted that the duo died in a fatal crash while travelling between Rimin Gado and Kano city.
Dederi said the deaths were particularly painful as the victims were preparing for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He added that Alkasim, 48, is survived by two wives and seven children, while his 73-year-old mother left behind five children.
The board, alongside its management, prayed for Allah’s mercy upon the deceased and asked that they be granted eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdaus. It also extended condolences to the bereaved family, urging them to remain strong during the difficult period.
In a separate incident, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the death of a dispatch rider in a road accident at Motorways inward Estate, Alapere, Lagos.
According to LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, an empty NIPCO tanker allegedly travelling at high speed rammed into the rider, causing his immediate death.
Two Kano Pilgrims Killed In Road Crash is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Julius Abure challenging the leadership of the Labour Party and affirmed Nenadi Usman as the party’s leader.
In its judgment, the court also awarded a cost of N10m against Abure, stating that the matter had already been resolved by the Supreme Court.
The lead judgment was delivered by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, with Justices A. B. Mohammed and Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike concurring.
The three-member panel held that the Supreme Court had settled the Labour Party leadership dispute on April 4, 2025, when it nullified the convention that produced Abure as national chairman. The appellate court therefore affirmed the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court.
The court also criticised the decision of a Nasarawa State High Court, which granted an interim order against Usman’s leadership. It held that the court lacked jurisdiction over internal party matters.
It also held that the constitution of the party’s caretaker committee was an internal affair and not subject to determination by a state high court.
According to the panel, the suit before the lower court was filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission and did not directly concern the internal leadership structure of the party.
The appellate court further stated that Abure’s actions amounted to an abuse of court process, noting that the issue had already been determined by the Supreme Court.
The leadership dispute within the Labour Party began after the party’s National Executive Committee removed Abure and constituted a 29-member caretaker committee led by Usman. The decision was contested, leading to multiple court cases and conflicting rulings.
On April 4, 2025, the Supreme Court nullified earlier decisions that had favoured Abure and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise the Usman-led committee.
In January 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja reaffirmed that position, with Justice Peter Lifu recognising the Usman-led committee as the party’s leadership pending a new convention.
Despite the rulings, Abure’s faction continued to challenge the decision in court.
Usman described the ruling as a victory for democracy and commended the judiciary.
LP Leadership: Court Fines Abure, Dismisses Appeal is first published on The Whistler Newspaper