News

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...

By Ono Yima In a move aimed at strengthening newsroom competitiveness and enhancing digital storytelling capacity, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, in partnership with Lifestyle Hues and the Adobe Express Team, has trained 100 journalists in Abuja on digital media and content creation skills. The one-day capacity-building programme, held on Monday, brought together journalists drawn from public and private media organisations across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), exposing participants to emerging tools for multimedia storytelling, visual design, digital content production and online audience engagement. Declaring the training open, Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Ms. Grace Ike, said the initiative forms part of the council’s broader commitment to ens...

By Ali Elias The United Nations has expressed deep concern over renewed attacks on schools in Nigeria following recent coordinated assaults on educational institutions in Oyo State that left dozens of pupils and teachers abducted and at least one teacher dead. Speaking at the UN headquarters, spokesperson to the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, said the world body was worried by the recurring targeting of children and schools by extremist groups, warning that such attacks carry severe consequences for affected communities. “We’re, of course, very concerned. We have seen the continued attacks on children, on places of education in Nigeria by extremist groups,” Dujarric said. “As you can imagine, these have devastating impact on the communities.” The UN reaction follo...

By Ali Elias Mr. Peter Obi, has congratulated Nigerian football star Victor Osimhen after he fired Galatasaray S.K. to the Turkish Süper Lig title with a match-winning performance. Osimhen scored twice in the crucial victory that sealed the championship for Galatasaray, further cementing his reputation as one of the hottest strikers in world football. Reacting in a post on his X account, Obi described the Super Eagles forward as an inspiration to millions of young Nigerians chasing their dreams against difficult odds. “I want to join other fans in congratulating one of Nigeria’s many talented exports, Victor Osimhen, for successfully leading Galatasaray S.K. to the Turkish Süper Lig title with a brilliant performance,” Obi wrote. “Your resilience, discipline, and talent ...

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...