News

By Ali Elias LAGOS — Calls for renewed efforts to address the consequences of Nigeria's cession of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon resurfaced in Lagos on Monday, as stakeholders urged legal and strategic action to protect the interests of affected communities. The issue came to the fore during the presentation of Uruan: The Oboku People of Geographical Southeastern Nigeria and Their Bakassi Economic Zone, authored by renowned economist and public policy analyst, Mr Efiong Akan. Akan, a former Group Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), challenged legal practitioners from the Iboku ethnic group in Akwa Ibom State to explore avenues for redress, arguing that communities living in the ceded territory have endured years of hardship si...

By Rareview The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered a stay of execution of a Federal High Court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, setting the stage for what may become one of the most consequential electoral and judicial disputes ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections.The affected parties are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action People's Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Accord.In a strongly worded ruling delivered on Tuesday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Abbah Mohammed, suspended the enforcement of the Federal High Court judgment and sharply criticised the lower court for proceeding with the case despite an earlier appellate court order ...

By Ali Elias Following fresh concerns over security in parts of Lagos a public warning has been issued by the Chairman of Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Comr. Lasisi Ayinde Akinsanya, urging residents to take extraordinary precautions amid growing fears of kidnapping and related criminal activities. The warning comes days after a viral security alert circulated across Alimosho communities, cautioning residents to be vigilant when boarding commercial vehicles, particularly Korope mini-buses, following reports of alleged kidnappings along routes connecting Pako, Baruwa, Iyana Ipaja, Ikotun, Egbeda and Moshalasi. In the latest advisory, Akinsanya called on residents to prioritize personal and family safety, warning that criminal elements appeared undeterred ...

By Ali Elias Residents of Alimosho Local Government Area have been urged to exercise heightened vigilance when boarding commercial vehicles following the circulation of a security notice warning of alleged kidnapping incidents across several communities in the Lagos area. The notice, widely shared on social media platforms over the weekend, cautioned residents to carefully observe commercial vehicles, particularly the popular "Korope" mini-buses, before boarding them. It specifically referenced reports of alleged kidnappings around Pako and Baruwa, extending through the Iyana Ipaja and Ikotun axis, as well as Egbeda Gate Bus Stop, Moshalasi and adjoining neighbourhoods. The alert, titled "Alimosho Alert," described reports of kidnappings in the area as "alarming" and advised r...

Israel hit a petrochemical plant in southwestern Iran early on Monday, the first direct energy strike on Iranian territory since the April 8 ceasefire, as hostilities in the Middle East rapidly escalated during the weekend. Israel and Iran traded missile strikes on Sunday, with Iran targeting Israel and Israel retaliating on Iranian targets. The escalation swiftly led to a 5% spike in oil prices early on Monday in Asian trade amid market fears that a U.S.-Iran deal is becoming increasingly elusive. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday confirmed they had launched airstrikes on Iranian petrochemical facilities in southwest Iran. The Israeli Air Force struck “several targets” at the petrochemical complex in the Mahshahr area, the military said in a brief statement, despite U.S. ...

By Rareview MARSEILLE, France — The publisher of The New York Times, A.G. Sulzberger, has launched one of the strongest attacks yet on the artificial intelligence industry, accusing leading AI firms of building lucrative businesses on journalism they neither created nor paid for. Speaking at the 77th World News Media Congress in Marseille, France, Sulzberger warned that companies behind today's most powerful AI systems are systematically using copyrighted news content without permission, threatening the economic foundations of journalism and, by extension, democratic societies. In a speech that resonated with media executives from more than 60 countries, the New York Times publisher described the practices of major AI developers as a form of industrial-scale appropriation. ...

By Ali Elias Tamunosoye Karibi-George, representing Bayelsa State, has emerged winner of the Miss World Nigeria 2026 pageant, defeating 20 other finalists to clinch the coveted crown at the grand finale held in Lagos over the weekend. The 26-year-old beauty queen, who hails from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was crowned at the end of a keenly contested event themed “Pride, Power, and Purpose,” which featured contestants from across the country competing in talent presentations, interviews, leadership assessments and evening wear rounds. With her victory, Karibi-George will represent Nigeria at the 73rd Miss World Festival scheduled to take place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from August 9 to September 5, 2026. The grand finale, held at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace...

By Ali Elias The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has expressed concern over the Senate's passage of a bill seeking to reform Nigeria's Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax regime, warning that the measure could exacerbate existing challenges confronting the country's manufacturing sector. The Senate last week approved amendments to Nigeria's SSB tax framework, replacing the existing excise duty of ₦10 per litre with a percentage-based levy tied to retail prices. The legislation also provides for the establishment of a dedicated health fund to support the fight against non-communicable diseases and strengthen healthcare delivery. Reacting to the development, LCCI Director-General, Dr. Chinyere Almona, said while the chamber supports government efforts to address pub...

By Ali Elias IBADAN — Yoruba Nation agitator and activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has threatened to publicly identify politicians he alleged are sponsoring criminal gangs responsible for a wave of kidnappings and insecurity in Oyo State, including the recent abduction of dozens of schoolchildren in Oriire Local Government Area. Igboho made the allegations while receiving the newly elected leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by Akinteye Bàbàtunde, at his residence in the Soka area of Ibadan. In a video of the meeting that has since gone viral on social media, the activist claimed he possessed information on political figures allegedly backing criminal elements operating in parts of the South-West and warned that he ...

By Ali Elias The Executive Chairman of Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Snr. Comr. Lasisi Ayinde Akinsanya, has called on residents of the council area to actively participate in the monthly environmental sanitation exercise scheduled for Saturday, May 30, 2026. Akinsanya said the exercise is aimed at promoting a cleaner, healthier and safer environment across communities within the LCDA, stressing that environmental cleanliness remains a collective responsibility. In a statement issued ahead of the exercise, the council chairman urged residents, traders, shop owners and road users to take the sanitation exercise seriously by cleaning their surroundings, clearing blocked drainages and ensuring proper disposal of waste materials. According to him, maintai...