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The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), the apex socio-political youth group in the South East geopolitical zone, has described the former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as a distinguished figure in Nigeria’s political landscape. In a statement issued on Sunday by the President General (PG) of COSEYL, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, […]

In continuation of his consultations with party leaders in the state, the governorship hopeful under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has shifted his visits to traditional rulers and key stakeholders in the state. Starting with the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Aremu Osuolale Akiolu, Hamzat […]

The Federal Government says it has so far disbursed over N18.7 billion to 751 million vulnerable families in Akwa Ibom State in three tranches of the Household Prosperity and Empowerment-Cash Transfer Programme (HOPE-CT).

The amount is out of the N60 billion earmarked for the South-South region under the programme.
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Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, who disclosed this over the weekend in Uyo, the during a Stakeholders’ Engagement and Interaction with Beneficiaries of HOPE-CT, said Akwa Ibom was the highest recipient.

Doro said the ministry intentionally organized the interface with beneficiaries and other stakeholders to obtain genuine feedback and ensure that accountability was upheld.

He added that government has to assess whether the support is reaching intended households and improving livelihoods, or otherwise.

According to him, “The essence of this visit is to personally engage beneficiaries of the HOPE-CT programme and obtain firsthand feedback on interventions already delivered.

“The ministry is working towards a One Humanitarian One Poverty Response System where interventions are coordinated, transparent, and effective.”

He also urged the beneficiaries to speak out sincerely, saying their feedback will help to guide future policy decisions and strengthen programme delivery across the country.

‎Speaking earlier, the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno represented by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Princess Emem Ibanga, thanked the minister for undertaking the tour personally rather than sending a representative, saying it demonstrates a deep commitment and genuine passion for matters concerning the vulnerable and underserved.

She described the Conditional Cash Transfer as a strategic social investment tool designed to lift the poorest households out of extreme poverty by providing direct financial support to vulnerable families and stimulating local economies through support for small businesses.

‎At the interactive sessions, the beneficiaries who were selected randomly to speak, thanked President Bola Tinubu for the lifeline but urged him to ensure the sustainability of the program as well as increase of the N25,000 transfer.

Abel Enang, one of the beneficiaries said given the impact of the stipend to vulnerable homes especially in setting up of small scale businesses, it would be ideal for the program to be sustained so that more poor families would be captured.

He said he had received a total of N75,000 for the three tranches which he invested in vegetable farming adding that increase in amount would help beneficiaries to do more.
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Akwa Ibom receives N18.7bn FG’s Cash Transfer

Nigerias political landscape is gradually heating up ahead of the 2027 general elections. Yet, beyond permutations of power, recent personal encounters have exposed a deeper concernhow dangerously our national discourse is drifting toward divisive narratives of religion and ethnicity. Recently, I confronted a disturbing social media post by a purported Northern Muslim denigrating Jesus over […]

Manchester City have reduced Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 win on Sunday.

The Gunners came to the Etihad with a six-point lead, having lost 2-1 at home to Bournemouth.

City capitalized with a 3-0 drubbing of Chelsea.

Ryan Cherki opened the scoring for the hosts with a sublime solo goal, but Kai Havertz equalized straight from kick-off.

Havertz pounced on Gianluigi Donnarumma’s hesitation to force the ball into the net.

Erling Haaland grabbed the winner in the second half after a sustained period of Arsenal dominance.

City can now go top of the table if they win at Burnley next Wednesday.

EPL table: Man City cut Arsenal’s lead to 3 points with 2-1 win

A roadside hawker has been killed in a tragic road accident at Okokomaiko area of Lagos, while seven other persons sustained injuries in a separate crash at Ogudu inward Toll Gate.

The incidents were confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the spokesperson of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, which said the agency’s officials responded promptly to both emergencies.

According to the statement, the fatal crash at Okokomaiko involved a Lexus Jeep with registration number SMK 674 HY. The impact led to the death of an adult male hawker at the scene.

LASTMA officials were said to have arrived swiftly after receiving a distress call, securing the accident scene and evacuating the remains of the deceased from the roadway to prevent further disruption to traffic.

Officers of the Nigeria Police Force from Ketu Division subsequently conveyed the body to Badagry Mortuary for necessary procedures.

In a separate incident, LASTMA personnel also responded to a collision at Ogudu inward Toll Gate involving a Mazda commercial bus with registration number MUS 231 YA and a Lexus Jeep marked FKJ 23 HL.

The crash resulted in injuries to seven passengers, all of whom were rescued at the scene by emergency responders.

Security operatives from the Ogudu Police Division supported the rescue efforts, while officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) evacuated the injured victims to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention.

LASTMA disclosed that all vehicles involved in both accidents have been handed over to the police for further investigation to determine the causes of the crashes.

Reacting to the incidents, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, reiterated the agency’s call for increased road safety awareness among motorists.

He urged drivers to adhere strictly to traffic regulations, maintain safe speeds and exercise heightened vigilance, especially during late-night hours when visibility and alertness may be reduced.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and ensuring efficient traffic management across Lagos State.

Lagos Hawker Killed In Road Crash is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Oyo State Government has taken a decisive step toward transforming its tourism sector with the inauguration of

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has described the ongoing tensions involving the United States and Israel against Iran a

A coalition of stakeholders, Concerned Niger Delta Patriots for Transparency and Resource Justice, CNDPTRJ, has asked President Bola Tinubu to terminate the multi-billion naira pipeline surveillance contract over concerns bordering on alleged conflict of interest.

The contract, meant to curb oil theft and boost Nigeria’s oil production capacity, is being handled by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, owned by a former Niger Delta militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.

In a statement on Sunday, signed by Comrade Maxwell Efe, the coalition, comprising community leaders, youth groups, environmental advocates and other stakeholders from oil-bearing communities across the Niger Delta, argued that Tompolo’s dual role as both pipeline protector and alleged beneficiary of an oil well creates a conflict of interest.

“At the heart of this scandal is the disturbing fact that the very man entrusted with protecting Nigeria’s oil pipelines and facilities is himself allegedly linked to ownership of an oil well,” the statement said.

According to the coalition, the development could lead to compromises in surveillance efforts, to favour personal and business interests.

The coalition faulted the way the pipeline protection contract was structured, noting that it concentrated enormous power and funds in the hands of a single individual, creating what it described as a dangerous monopoly that sidelines broader community participation and genuine stakeholders.

Despite billions of naira spent, the coalition said oil theft, illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism have persisted, while host communities continue to suffer environmental degradation and exclusion.

The Concerned Niger Delta Patriots for Transparency and Resource Justice urged President Tinubu to act without delay by directing the immediate termination, or non-renewal, of the contract. The coalition also asked the President to order a comprehensive forensic audit of all expenditures and performance.

In the same vein, the President was asked to convene a broad-based Niger Delta Security Summit to design a truly inclusive, transparent, and sustainable surveillance framework involving multiple ethnic nationalities and local groups.

“The eyes of the region and the entire nation are on you, Mr. President.

“History will judge whether you stood on the side of entrenched interests or chose the path of bold reform needed to secure our oil assets for the benefit of all Nigerians,” the statement added.

Alleged conflict of interest: Niger Delta coalition seeks termination of pipeline contract

As reported cases of cancer increases across Nigeria, a food scientist in Akwa Ibom State, Mrs Idara Emmanuel Okon, has cautioned against consuming random food and drinks, noting that eating unwholesome items can lead to the disease.

Speaking at the 2026 graduation ceremony id Batch ‘A’ Students of IDYJAY Kitchen Culinary School in Uyo, over the weekend, Mrs Okon said cancer related aliments in the country are mostly caused and worsened by random eating of bad food and drinks.

“I am urging Nigerians and indeed the general public to try as much as possible not to eat food randomly, even water because what you take in will either make or destroy you.

“Increased incidences of cancer issues, such as cancer of the head, cancer of the lung, cancer of the eyes, etc, that are being reported in the hospitals are simply because of what you take into your system.

“If you eat unhealthy foods or drink unhealthy drinks, you will end up fast forwarding your death by having a whole lot of health issues as a result of destroying your system.

“It is not actually costly to eat a healthy food or drink a healthy drink but its costly, even more to be in the hospital to treat yourself of one ailment or the other. So you can save yourself all that by eating and drinking what is healthy,” she said.

Mrs Okon, who is the Managing Director of IDYJAY Kitchen Culinary School, said that the vision of establishing the institute was not only to train people to become entrepreneurs but to produce and serve what is healthy for the society.

“Here we have enough skills that we train our students in a lot of things. We train them on food safety, we train them on food hazards, we train them on food presentations, we train them on food quality and standards so that when they go into the labour market they can independently produce what is healthy for the society.

“In this field, certificate do not really count, it is what you can do on your own when you graduate that counts most because if you go for a job interview, you will be interviewed practically on what you can do,” she added.

Cancer: Expert warns against random eating, drinking