Washington, Jan.14, 2026 – President Donald Trump said he would announce his nomination to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell within “the next few weeks” despite the backlash over a Justice Department probe into the remodeling of the central bank’s headquarters that has threatened his ability to secure a confirmation. Trump was asked about his plans during a factory tour in Michigan, and indicated he planned to push ahead despite concern expressed by key Republican lawmakers. The president also criticized Senator Thom Tillis, a retiring North Carolina Republican and …
NELFUND disburses N161.97bn in loans to 864,798 students
Abuja, Jan. 13, 2026 – The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELfund) has disbursed N161.97 billion in loans to 864,798 students across the country since the launch of its student loan portal. Akintunde Sawyerr, its Managing Director, disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday. He said that out of the N161.97 billion loan disbursed, N89.94 billion was paid directly to 263 tertiary institutions to cover tuition and institutional charges, while N72.03 billion was paid to students as upkeep allowances. “As of today. 1,361,011 applications have been received, …
Fidelity Bank supports quality education delivery in Makoko
Lagos, Jan. 13, 2025 – Fidelity Bank Plc, a tier-one lender, has reaffirmed its commitment to community development and educational empowerment with the donation of essential learning materials to schoolchildren in Makoko Community, Yaba, Lagos under its Fidelity Helping Hands Program (FHHP). The outreach, which was facilitated by the bank’s Legal Services Division, saw the presentation of school bags, notebooks, mathematical sets, writing materials, and other learning materials to pupils of Makoko Anglican Nursery and Primary School; Aiyetoro Nursery and Primary School, and Adekunle Anglican Nursery and Primary School …
Ondo State opens payment window for political campaign permits
Akure, Jan. 13, 2025 – The Ondo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OSSAA) has opened a payment window for political campaign permits for political aspirants to deploy any form of campaign materials within Ondo State. The Agency announced this in a statement signed by Yòmí Oyékàn, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Signage and Advertisement It specifically listed affected politicians as Senatorial aspirants, House of Representatives aspirants, and House of Assembly aspirants. According to the statement, all political aspirants are strictly directed to approach the Agency to …
NDLEA arrests 157 suspects, seizes 134,483 kg illicit drugs in Enugu
Abuja, Jan, 12, 2026 – The operatives National of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ebonyi have arrested 157 suspects and seized 134.483kg of illicit drugs in the state. Jude Ahamefule, the state Commander, disclosed this tin Abakaliki on Monday. He said the arrests and seizures were made between October and December 2025 adding that the they included 123 males and 34 females. The state Commander said six out of those arrested had been convicted. Ahamefule said the drugs seized included cannabis sativa, heroin, methamphetamine, tramadol, diazepam and …
Africa 2026: Elections without viable option, jobs
By Alex Vines Lagos, Jan. 2026 – Africa’s political and economic outlook in 2026 is defined less by crisis than by contradiction. Fewer elections are scheduled than in 2025, yet democratic choice continues to narrow where voters do go to the polls. Economic growth is set to accelerate in pockets, even as debt, unemployment and inequality tighten their grip. The continent’s global relevance is rising just as internal fragmentation deepens. Ballots under strain Across the continent, 10 national polls are scheduled in 2026, including Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda …
Ondo State revamps abandoned MKO Garden/Park in Akure
Akure, January 12, 2026 – The Ondo State government has commenced rehabilitating the long-abandoned MKO Garden/Park in Alagbaka area of Akure. The Ondo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OSSAA) disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. It said the project is in line with the urban renewal and urbanisation plan of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and also represented a strategic intervention by the state to reclaim and restore a neglected public space, improve urban aesthetics, and reposition the park for functional and economic use within the state capital. It …
Venezuela’s new leader is oil industry’s long-time ally
Washington, Jan. 7, 2026 – As the US threatened Nicolás Maduro’s grip on power in recent months, a cadre of executives, lawyers and investors tied to the oil industry made their case to anyone who would listen — the Trump administration, congressional aides: His familiar No. 2 Delcy Rodríguez should fill his shoes in Venezuela. An oil minister herself, Rodríguez has long been the go-to contact for senior executives, whom she impressed by navigating Venezuela’s industry through international sanctions, economic pressures and internal mismanagement. Her loyalty to the Maduro …
2025: An anti-climax for governance, democracy in Africa
By Paul Ejime Abuja, Jan. 6, 2026 – As Africa continues to experiment with electoral democracy, 2025 was among the busiest election years on the continent. But apart from Malawi, where an incumbent lost to a former and older opponent, political power remained largely in the same hands, with a resurgence of military incursions. The danger signals have always been there, coupled with warnings from concerned experts that liberal democracy is in decline worldwide, particularly in Africa. However, incurable optimists remain in denial, while the beneficiaries of the anti-democratic …
Tinubu nominates Magnus Abe, Adegbite Adeniji to head NUPRC, NMDPRA boards
Abuja, Jan. 5, 2026 – President Bola Tinubu has nominated Senator Magnus Abe and Adegbite Ebiowei Adeniji as Chairmen of the Boards of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), respectively. Their nominations were contained in two separate letters sent to the Senate by the presidency for their confirmation. The letters also contained names of 21 others whose appointments are to be confirmed. For the NUPRC board, the president is also seeking confirmation of appointments Paul Yaro Jezhi, and Sunday …