News

Photo courtesy: Facebook By Ali Elias Amid rising political tensions and a flurry of allegations within Nigeria’s multiparty landscape, former Bayelsa State Governor and Senator, Henry Seriake Dickson, has issued a strongly worded response to what he describes as “misguided and sponsored propaganda” against the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). The statement, directed at political associate Umar Ardo, offers a detailed account of the NDC’s registration process, its legal battles with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and a broader defense of the party’s legitimacy and growing influence. Framed as both a rebuttal and a declaration of intent, Dickson’s address underscores the fragile state of Nigeria’s opposition politics while positioning the NDC as a rising f...

By Rareview As the global community gathered on May 3, 2026, to commemorate World Press Freedom Day under the UNESCO theme, “Shaping a Future of Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development, and Security,” the atmosphere in Nigeria remained decidedly somber. While official speeches touted democratic ideals, the reality on the ground tells a story of a profession under siege, caught between the pincer moves of legislative weaponization and physical brutality. The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has sounded a piercing alarm, calling for "urgent reforms" to halt the backsliding of media independence. In a blistering statement, CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, reminded the government that a free press is not a decorative appendage...

By Rareview The quiet omission of Wale Edun from President Bola Tinubu’s public birthday messages this week raised eyebrows in political circles. Within 24 hours, the speculation gave way to confirmation: the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy had been relieved of his duties. For insiders within the Presidential Villa, however, the development was neither sudden nor surprising. Rather, it marked the culmination of months of waning influence, internal disagreements, and mounting political pressure. “The president asked Edun to leave honourably in October last year, but he lobbied to keep his position,” a senior source familiar with the matter said. “Even when he stayed, the president had already moved on.” A Gradual Diminution of Authority Follow...

By Rareview ABUJA — Nigeria’s media and civil society landscape was roiled last week as leading professional bodies and rights groups demanded an immediate investigation into a controversial remark by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, directed at Seun Okinbaloye, a prominent anchor with Channels Television. The Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) issued strongly worded statements condemning Wike’s comment during a recent media chat in Abuja, where he reportedly said, “If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” in reaction to a question about the trajectory of Nigeria’s 2027 elections. The minister’s remark followed Okinbaloye’s o...

By Ali Elias United States President Donald Trump has sparked fresh diplomatic controversy after mocking French President Emmanuel Macron and questioning the reliability of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during an ongoing conflict involving Iran in the Middle East. Speaking at a private lunch on Wednesday, Trump ridiculed Macron in remarks captured in a video that was briefly uploaded to the White House’s YouTube channel before being taken down. The US leader also criticised NATO allies for what he described as their reluctance to support Washington’s military efforts in the Gulf. “We didn’t need them, but I asked anyway,” Trump said, referring to overtures made to France for military assistance. In a controversial aside, Trump took a personal swipe at Macron...

By Rareview JOS, Plateau — The Plateau State Government has imposed a 48-hour curfew on Jos North Local Government Area following a deadly attack in Angwan Rukuba community that has intensified concerns over Nigeria’s worsening security situation and drawn reactions from both local and international actors. The curfew, announced by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, took effect from midnight of March 29 to April 1, 2026, after what officials described as a “tragic security incident” that left multiple residents dead and several others injured. “Following the tragic security incident that occurred at Gari Ya Waye community, Angwan Rukuba… resulting in the loss of lives, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries, the Plateau ...

Japan has deployed long-range missiles in a southwest region near China, its defence minister said Tuesday, at a time when ties with Beijing are at their lowest in recent years. The missiles were installed in Kumamoto, in the southern region of Kyushu, as Japan attempts to shore up its military capacity amid China’s stepped-up naval activity in the East China Sea. “Standoff defence capabilities enable us to counter the threat of enemy forces attempting to invade our country… while ensuring the safety of our personnel,” said Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. “This is an extremely important initiative for strengthening Japan’s deterrence and response capabilities,” he added. The surface-to-ship guided missile system has a range of around 1,000 kilometres (620 miles), putting par...

By Rareview When Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived at Windsor Castle to a full ceremonial welcome hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla—complete with a 42-gun salute—the optics were unmistakably grand. The reception, facilitated by senior royals including Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, projected continuity and diplomatic warmth between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The Presidency has framed the two-day visit as a strategic effort to deepen bilateral relations, unlock partnerships, and formalise memoranda of understanding. For Nigeria, grappling with economic reforms, currency instability, and an urgent need for foreign investment, such engagements are not merely symbolic—they are strategic imperatives. Yet, beyond the pageantry lies a more complex—and for so...

By Ali Elias Four suspected bandits have been arrested in the vicinity of Akure Airport, Ondo State, following a coordinated security operation involving multiple agencies, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has disclosed. According to a statement issued on March 15, the suspects were apprehended after a distress alert reported the presence of suspicious individuals behind the airport perimeter, near the Eleyewo community. The alert triggered a rapid response from a joint security team comprising FAAN’s Aviation Security (AVSEC), the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and local security outfits. “The arrest followed a distress alert that suspicious individuals were sighted behind the airport perimeter,” the agency said, a...

By Rareview News Report “We must continue to work together — governments, civil society, and international partners — to build societies where accountability and justice are the foundation of our future.” Former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party in Nigeria’s 2023 election, Peter Obi, has recounted how governance reforms and a commitment to transparency persuaded the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to resume development collaboration with Anambra State during his administration. Obi made the remarks during his participation at the UNDP Community of Practice for Governance and Peacebuilding Conference in Banjul, The Gambia, where discussions focused on strengthening governance systems across Africa through digital transforma...