BILLION

Recently, a rumor has been circulating across social media platforms claiming that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced a new ₦5000 note featuring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The claim gained traction, sparking excitement and confusion among Nigerians eager to know if their wallets might soon contain the highest denomination in the country. However, the CBN quickly put the speculation to rest. Using its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the bank clarified that no such currency has been issued. The statement explicitly debunked the claim, emphasizing that the circulating currency remains unchanged and that the ₦5000 note does not exist. The CBN’s reminder serves as an important lesson on verifying information before sharing it online. Social media rumors about new currency notes are common in Nigeria and can lead to unnecessary panic or misguided financial decisions. For now, Nigerians can continue to transact using existing denominations, and an...

The Abia State Police Command has dismissed as false a viral social media claim alleging that 488 Boko Haram members were recently arrested in the state, warning residents against the spread of misinformation capable of triggering panic. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the command clarified that the video being circulated alongside the claim was an old broadcast recorded over 11 years ago and does not reflect the current security situation in Abia State. The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police. The police described the report as misleading and deliberately designed to incite fear and unrest among members of the public. The statement read “As the lead internal security agency, the command assures residents of its continued commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging citizens to go about their lawful activities without apprehension. “The State Police wants the public to support i...

Commencement Of 2026 Batch 'A' Stream II Orientation Course The Management of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has released a schedule of major activities for 2026 Batch 'A' Stream II Orientation Course. The 21-day exercise will hold in all 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory simultaneously. The Orientation Course will commence with reception and registration of Prospective Corps Members on Wednesday, 22nd April 2026, and end at midnight of Friday, 24th April, 2026. Prospective Corps Members mobilized for the 2026 Batch 'A' Stream II service year will be sworn-in on Friday, 24th April, 2026. Meanwhile, the Orientation Course will come to an end on Tuesday, 12th May, 2026. Management wish Nigerian graduates mobilized for the 2026 Batch 'A' Stream II service year safe trips to the various orientation camps across the country, while reiterating its warning against night journeys. Accordingly, Prospective Corps Member...

The Independent National Electoral Commission has underscored the critical role of broadcast media in safeguarding electoral integrity, urging broadcasters to uphold fairness, professionalism, and accuracy ahead of the 2027 general elections. Addressing the 81st General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja, the INEC chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, stressed that the management of the airwaves under the Electoral Act 2026 would be decisive in shaping public trust and democratic outcomes. Amupitan noted that the growing influence of broadcast platforms has made it central to political communication. He warned, saying, “Your airwaves have become the primary infrastructure of our democracy. If they are clear, the nation sees the truth; if they are clouded by misinformation, the sovereign will of the people is threatened.” Amupitan highlighted key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly those mandating equal access to media platfo...

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has inaugurated the new Open-Mende-Ojota Link Bridge Project and the Multi-agency complex, Alausa, now known as Bola Ahmed Administrative Complex in Lagos State. Akbabio represented President Bola Tinubu, who has been in Lagos for the past few days and is scheduled to embark on a two-day working visit to inaugurate about six key projects executed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. In a video shared on X by Sanwo-Olu’s aide, Jubril Gawat, on Wednesday, the Senate President unveiled the project alongside Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; the senator representing Lagos East District, Tokunbo Abiru; Sanwo-Olu, and some other dignitaries. While cutting the ribbon, he said, “On behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I commission these projects.” Recall that the Special Adviser to Sanwo-Olu on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, in a post on X recently had said that the President would commission “iconic, transformative and legacy projects” delive...

Paris Jackson has accused the executors of her late father Michael Jackson’s estate of bullying her amid an ongoing legal dispute over financial decisions. According to court documents, Paris alleged that the estate’s executors, John Branca and John McClain, have filed legal documents that “mock and belittle” her while dismissing her concerns about how money from the estate is being handled. The dispute centres on payments made to third-party law firms, with Paris questioning the process behind large bonuses and fees issued by the estate. In response, Branca and McClain argued that Paris and her legal team have been spreading inaccurate information and attempting to present routine court proceedings as major rulings in her favour. They also maintained that their management transformed the estate from being heavily in debt into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, from which Paris has significantly benefited. In her latest filing, Paris rejected claims that her concerns are dr...

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday in an 11th-hour bid to avert all-out destruction threatened by US President Donald Trump. Here’s what we know about the truce between two countries, which are set to begin negotiations but remain poles apart in their positions on ending the war: – What has the US said about the truce? – Trump told AFP the ceasefire deal was a “total and complete victory” for Washington. The US will suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks, and Tehran will in turn temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil thoroughfare, according to Washington. Tehran agreed to the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. The US president said the agreement was reached after he spoke to leaders in Pakistan, which has played a key role in mediating the war launched by the US and Israel on February 28. Trump also told AFP that Iran’s enriched uranium would be “perfectly ...

The Ogun State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Femi Soluade, has reaffirmed the legitimacy of the ongoing screening and congress processes in the state, declaring that all party activities are proceeding in line with directives from its recognised national leadership. Speaking on Tuesday at the party’s state secretariat in Abeokuta, the state capital, during a press conference held alongside the congress exercise, Soluade said the National Screening Committee, duly constituted by the party’s national leadership, was currently in the state to screen aspirants ahead of the scheduled congresses. “The National Screening Committee, duly constituted by the national leadership of our party, is presently in Ogun State to conduct the screening of aspirants ahead of the scheduled congresses. The presence of the committee underscores the legitimacy and proper coordination of the congress process”, Soluade said. He stated that the screening of aspirants was ongoing as plan...

Amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and their ripple effects on global energy markets, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has increased the gantry price of petrol and diesel, further tightening pressure on consumers and businesses across Nigeria. A top official at the refinery, who confirmed the development to our correspondent on Tuesday night, said the facility adjusted its pricing in response to prevailing international crude oil benchmarks and market realities. The new pricing template shows that petrol rose by N75 per litre to N1,275, representing an increase of about 5.02 per cent, while diesel jumped by N200 per litre to N1,950. This marks a sharp increase from last month’s prices of N1,200 per litre for petrol and N1,750 for diesel, signalling that diesel is now on track to breach the N2,000 per litre mark at the pump, further intensifying cost pressures across the economy. “The adjustment is in line with global market trends. You are aware of the ongoi...

The Lagos State Government has announced temporary road closures across major corridors in the state ahead of the inauguration of critical infrastructure projects scheduled for April 8 and 9, 2026, urging motorists to plan alternative routes to avoid traffic disruptions. In a travel advisory issued by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation and obtained by The PUNCH, the government said the restrictions are necessary to ensure safety and smooth movement during the commissioning activities. The Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the partial closures would affect key locations in Ikeja, Ojota, Ajegunle and Victoria Island, as the state prepares to inaugurate major projects. “The Lagos State Government wishes to inform the motoring public of partial road closures for the commissioning events of critical infrastructure projects on Wednesday, 8th April, 2026, and Thursday, 9th April, 2026,” the statement read. It added that the temporary traffic restrict...

Popular Fuji musician, Saheed Okunola, popularly called Saheed Osupa, has declared that he truly engages in voodoo to better his life and become successful. Osupa disclosed while performing on stage at the 52nd-year celebration for veteran actor Fatai Odua, popularly known as Lalude, on March 30, 2026. In the now-trending video on Wednesday, the popular Fuji star was seen advising his backup singers to resort to voodoo to aid their remembrance, as they appeared not to be keeping pace with his musical delivery during the stage performance. He then revealed the items expected of them to take while clarifying that the effort does not make them fetish but only aids their well-being. Speaking further, Osupa revealed that someone had even advised him a while ago to deny using supernatural powers, fondly called juju. Still, he shunned the suggestion. “Somebody told me one time to grant an interview, denying that I’m a fetish person, but I told him that I am, and why should I deny ...

Nigeria is positioning itself to benefit from rising global oil prices while managing the associated economic risks, according to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun. Speaking in Abuja at a World Bank presentation on Nigeria’s Development Update, Edun said the Federal Government intends to maximise revenue gains from higher crude oil prices amid ongoing global tensions, particularly the Middle East crisis. He noted that Nigeria, as an oil-producing nation, stands to both gain and lose from rising prices. While increased oil prices boost government revenue, they also raise costs across the economy, especially in energy and food production. Edun explained that higher gas prices are already contributing to inflation by increasing fertiliser costs, which in turn drives up food prices and places additional strain on households. He warned that inflation remains a major concern, especially as global uncertainties persist. He also highlighted...

Donald Trump has agreed to suspend the “destructive force” he previously threatened against Iran, announcing a two-week ceasefire aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the agreement as a “big day for World Peace,” adding that the United States would assist in easing traffic through the strait, which has remained largely closed during the ongoing conflict. The ceasefire was announced shortly before Trump’s deadline for Iran, with the waterway, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, having been effectively blocked over the past month. Trump said Iran had proposed a “workable” 10-point peace plan to help end the war, although he later described the same plan as fraudulent without providing further details. He stated that the decision to suspend military action followed discussions with Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir, who urged restraint, contingent on Iran agreeing to the immediate...

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kano State Command, has arrested 20 foreign nationals in the Danbare area of Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state. Saintbillion  learnt that the suspects, comprising individuals from Sudan, Chad, and other neighbouring countries, were apprehended following credible intelligence and a coordinated operation by corps operatives. The state NSCDC Commandant, Mohammed Agalama, confirmed the arrests while addressing a news conference in Kano on Tuesday. “The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kano State Command, wishes to inform the general public of the successful arrest of 20 foreign nationals in the Danbare area of Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State,” he said. Agalama stated that preliminary investigations indicated that the individuals could not provide valid travel or identification documents, raising concerns over their mode of entry and activities within the state. He added that exhibits recovered fro...

At least three suspects in connection with the murder of a 35-year-old man, Saleh Ibrahim, and the subsequent unrest in Zaki Local Government Area of Bauchi State have been arrested by the Bauchi State Police Command. PUNCH Metro gathered that the incident occurred on March 15, 2026, when Ibrahim, a resident of Sansan Village in Zaki LGA, was attacked and killed with a sharp object, suspected to be a cutlass, by unidentified assailants while riding his motorcycle, which was also stolen. Confirming the arrests in a statement made available to our correspondent on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Nafi’u Habib, said investigations led to the apprehension of three suspects: Muhammad Jauro Haladu Yako, 28; Muhammad Wito, 27; and Ibrahim Muhammad, 19, all from Alagarno Village in Zaki LGA. “The suspects are being investigated for criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and disturbance of public peace in Zaki LGA,” the statement read in part. Habib s...

The Police Command in Lagos State has apprehended an 18-year-old suspect in connection with a N20m threat-to-life and ransom demand case. The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, disclosed during a briefing on Tuesday at the command headquarters in Ikeja. He said the arrest followed a carefully executed decoy operation by police operatives. According to him, the command received a complaint from the Ojokoro Local Council Development Area concerning a threat to life and a demand for N20m. “Acting on the information, operatives were immediately deployed to track and apprehend the suspect. “The suspect was apprehended on March 27 while attempting to collect the ransom during a sting operation. “Items recovered from him include an HP laptop and a flash drive, which are currently being examined as part of ongoing investigations,” he said. The commissioner said the suspect confessed to the crime and also admitted involvement in a previous attempted burglary at a commercial bank....

The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives have arrested a 31-year-old man, Kelechi Wufurum, for allegedly killing a commercial bus driver identified as Ifeanyi Abobo in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state. The 51-year-old victim was said to have been lured to the Ubima community under the pretext of a transport job, unaware that Wufurum had sinister motives. The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this while speaking to newsmen at the command headquarters along Moscow Road in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Iringe-Koko said the suspect and the victim had an initial altercation before the former used a cutlass on the minibus driver near a forest and subsequently sold his vehicle for N2.4 million. She stated, “He hit him on the head, and when the victim tried to resist, he used a cutlass and struck him again on the head. The victim collapsed, and he zoomed off with his minibus and sold both the vehicle and his mobile phone...

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has urged parents and candidates to speak up if they are confident in their Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination scores but are not admitted to their desired institutions. Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said this during an interview on Good Morning Nigeria, a Nigerian Television Authority’s programme. In a video posted by NTA on Tuesday, the registrar explained that many parents still resort to illegal means because they have “climbed the ladder to illegality” and believe no other path exists. He, however, stressed that the system is now transparent and designed to ensure fairness. “People are so daring, and the parents, because they have climbed the ladder to illegality, they believe there is no other way. “I’ve seen many people who sent their children’s scores to me and asked what they could do. I tell them I will do nothing, and the candidate is admitted—and they thank me. I did nothing,” Prof. Oloyede said. He ...

Some state chairmen of the African Democratic Congress on Tuesday claimed they had taken control of the party following the removal of the David Mark leadership by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The chairmen, claimed to be representing 25 states and backed by the ADC 2023 Presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, stated that they constituted the National Executive Committee of the ADC and had taken over the party leadership. The group unveiled the Kogi State Chairman, Kingsley Ogga, as the new chairman, in a move that signals a significant shift amid the party’s ongoing internal crisis. Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Abia State Chairman, Don Obinna, explained that the NEC endorsed Mark’s removal as the party chairman. However, the David Mark-led leadership of the party has dismissed the group, alleging that they are being sponsored by elements of the ruling All Progressives Congress. Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, speaking on C...

Two residents, Kingsley Adieme and Rachel Onyekachi, were sentenced to 3 months in prison for indiscriminate dumping of refuse in Lagos State.  The State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed that the duo was arraigned before the magistrate court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.   They both pled guilty, Wahab added.