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The Oyo State House of Assembly on Wednesday passed a unanimous vote of confidence in Governor Seyi Makinde and Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin, dismissing reports of an alleged impeachment plot in the state. The resolution followed plenary in Ibadan, where lawmakers reaffirmed their support for both the executive and legislative leadership. Moving the motion, the Majority Leader, Sanjo Adedoyin, described the rumours as baseless and politically motivated. In his submission, he characterised the allegations as “baseless, distracting, and politically motivated.” He said, “The Assembly remains united and committed to its constitutional responsibilities, and no formal communication or process suggesting impeachment had been initiated within the chamber.” The lawmakers also noted recent political speculations, including claims linking Makinde, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, and some legislators to alleged plots against one another, describing them as unfounded. There h...

President Bola Tinubu has approved new appointments across key education agencies, including the National Examinations Council and the National Board for Technical Education. According to a statement on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the appointments are part of efforts to strengthen institutions under the Federal Ministry of Education. The President appointed Prof. Modupe Adeola Adelabu as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Examinations Council, while retaining the Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi. He also named Prof. Babatunde Salako as Chairman of the National Board for Technical Education, while earlier reappointing the Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, for a second and final term of five years. In the polytechnic sector, Tinubu appointed Dr Bongfa Binfa as Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, N’yak-Shendam, Plateau State, for a single term of five years. Binfa succeeds the pioneer recto...

The Lagos State Government has provided further details on the reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise, set to resume on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with movement restrictions and enforcement measures in place. In a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said, “The exercise will hold every last Saturday of the month between the hours of 6:30 am and 8:30 am. During this period, there will be controlled movement across the state to allow residents to carry out thorough cleaning of their homes, surroundings and drainage frontages.” He stated that enforcement teams comprising officials of the ministry, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Kick Against Indiscipline, Lagos Waste Management Authority, and local government sanitation inspectors would “conduct physical inspections during and after the sanitation window to ensure compliance,” warning that “defaulters will be sanctioned in accordance with the L...

The Federal Government has announced the death of Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Algeria, Mohammed Mahmud Lele, who died at the age of 50. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa. According to the ministry, Lele died in the early hours of April 19, 2026, in Ankara, Türkiye, after a protracted illness. The ministry described the late diplomat as a dedicated officer who served the country with distinction. “The late Ambassador Lele, until his death after a protracted illness, was the Director in charge of the Middle East and Gulf Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Ambassador Lele, a career diplomat, was recently appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Ambassador-designate to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, following the Nigerian Senate’s confirmation of his nomination,” the statement said. Born in Gamawa, Bauchi State, in 1976, Lele studied Economics at Bayer...

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has attributed the rising insecurity in the country to the forthcoming 2027 elections.  Speaking at the official launch of the Nigerian Revenue Service Corporate Headquarters  in Abuja, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Akpabio said President Bola Tinubu is performing so well and those opposed to him do not know what to do than to sponsor insecurity.  He said immediately after the election, insecurity will be a thing of the past. “Insecurity is increasing because election is coming, because people don’t know what to do again. Immediately after election, two weeks after election, the insecurity will stop. The insecurity is being sponsored by people,” he said.  Mocking the opposition for being in disarray, Akpabio aimed a dig Peter Obi, candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential election. “Opposition is in disarray, someone got six million votes and abandoned the party, abandoned the six million votes and went shopping fo...

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed April 22 for the hearing of appeals arising from the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party. The appeals were filed by a faction of the party led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, challenging earlier judgments of the Court of Appeal delivered on March 9. A five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Mohammed Garba, fixed the date on Tuesday after granting an application for accelerated hearing. The court also abridged the time within which parties are to file their briefs, directing respondents to file their responses within five days, while the appellants were given two days to file any reply. The appeals stem from decisions of the appellate court, which affirmed earlier rulings of the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining the PDP from conducting its planned national convention pending compliance with statutory provisions, including the Electoral Act and party regulations. The Fed...

The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has criticised supporters of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, describing them as “monsters” and warning that their conduct could undermine his political ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections. In a series of posts on X on Sunday, Dabiri-Erewa said Obi bears responsibility for the actions of his supporters, popularly known as Obidients. “@PeterObi has actually raised monsters. By God’s grace @officialABAT will win the 2027 elections. When it’s the turn of the South-East and who knows, if the lot falls on him, I hope he knows that these obingos/Obi-dients will ironically be his downfall. He needs to call them to order,” she wrote. The NiDCOM chairman reiterated her position in subsequent posts, insisting that the behaviour of Obi’s supporters could ultimately harm his political prospects if not addressed. “😀😀@obidients obingos. They will eventually be @PeterObi ‘s downfall if he d...

President Donald Trump on Sunday ordered a US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in response to Iran’s “unyielding” refusal to give up its nuclear ambitions during peace talks in Islamabad. While acknowledging that the marathon negotiations in Pakistan had gone “well” and “most points were agreed to,” Trump said Tehran had refused to concede on the issue of its nuclear program. “Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” US Vice President JD Vance left Pakistan without a deal after weekend talks with a team led by Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf — the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Tehran’s delegation also included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. “We l...

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 Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee has dismissed reports claiming that the Minister of State for Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, admitted errors in Nigeria’s new tax laws. In a statement posted on Sunday via Oyedele’s X handle, the committee described the reports as “misleading” and a misrepresentation of the minister’s comments. “Our attention has been drawn to misleading media reports claiming that the Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele has ‘finally admitted errors in the new tax laws.’ “These publications misrepresent the Minister’s statements, falsely alleging that he urged Nigerians to await the outcome of a ‘legislative probe’, a process that has long been concluded and the gazetted copies certified by the National Assembly published since early January 2026,” the statement said. It warned that such narratives could distort public understanding of the reforms. The committee said the minister, while speaking at a fireside chat dur...

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...

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...

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...

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...