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Singapore, Feb. 21, 2025 – Oil prices fell on Friday, but were still poised for a weekly gain on supply disruption in Russia while uncertainty looms over a potential peace deal in Ukraine. Brent futures slipped by 73 cents, or 0.95%, to $75.75 a barrel by 1104 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude lost 73 cents, or 1%, to $71.75. Both have gained about 1.4% this week – the largest weekly advance since early January. Brent would be marking a second week of gains after three weeks of declines. …

Jos, Feb. 3, 2025 – More than 200,000 communities in Nigeria are without electricity supply. Abba Aliyu, the Chief Executive of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), disclosed this on Monday during the inauguration of two mini-grid projects in Bakin Ciyawa and Kwande communities in Plateau State. Aliyu, represented by Doris Udoh, the Executive Director of Rural Electrification Fund, said the projects, with combined capacity of 550KWp, were built under the Interconnected Mini-grid Accelerated Scheme (IMAS). He said the projects would supply uninterrupted power supply to over 3,500 households and businesses. …

Lagos, Feb. 14, 2025 – Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a leader of the Afenifere, a Yoruba political group, is dead.  A statement issued by the family said he died at 96 on Friday in Lekki, Lagos State. . The statement reads: “With a heart full of gratitude for a selfless life spent in the service of God, the nation and humanity, we announce the passing on of our beloved patriarch, Chief Samuel Ayodele Adebanjo.  “He died peacefully this morning, Friday, February 14, 2025 at his Lekki, Lagos Nigeria home at the age …

Abuja, Feb. 9, 2025 – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued President Bola Tinubu over his failure to direct Olawale Edun, the Minister of Finance, to name and ensure prosecution of the contractors over N167 billion unexecuted projects. It joined Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as co- defendants. SERAP said it filed the suit number FHC/L/MISC/121/2025 on Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos. In the suit, SERAP is demanding the following from the court: “To compel President Tinubu to …

By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu Lagos, Feb. 9, 2025 – In 1954 Sir John Verity lost his job because he won an argument. It was in his ninth year in office as Chief Justice of colonial Nigeria. Sir John arrived in Nigeria in October 1945 from British Guyana, where he had served in a similar position since 1941. At the time, Nigeria was still a unitary system under colonial rule. Two years before Sir John’s arrival, the Native Courts (Colony) Ordinance of 1943 had created a “Supreme Court of Justice” for …

Abuja, Feb. 7, 2025 – Hon. Abike Dabiru-Erewa, the Chief Executive of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has congratulated Adeshina Akinwunmi, the President of the African Development bank, as he marks another birthday. In a congratulatory message issued by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Head, Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Dabiri-Erewa described Akinwumi Adesina as an astute visionary, role model, an erudite economist and a great leader. She prayed that God should guide and direct his path aright as he continues to pilot the affairs of African globally. Akinwumi Adesina is a Nigerian economist, …

Abuja, Feb. 5, 2025 – The Tinubu Stakeholders Forum (TSF) has commended the Federal Civil Service (FCSC) for its new initiative to employ new staff through its official portal. It described the initiative as a significant development in promoting transparency, equity, and merit in the recruitment process into the federal civil service. TSF made the commendation in a statement issued by its Chairman, Hon Ahmed Sajoh, and Secretary, Afolabi Josiah. The Forum observed that historically, the Nigerian civil service had faced challenges in recruitment practices. Notably, in 2020, the federal …

Jerusalem, Feb. 5, 2025 – Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas “strongly rejected” Wednesday his US counterpart Donald Trump’s proposal to “take over” and “own” the Gaza Strip. “President Mahmud Abbas and the Palestinian leadership expressed their strong rejection of calls to seize the Gaza Strip and displace Palestinians outside their homeland,” Abbas’s office said in a statement, adding that “legitimate Palestinian rights are not negotiable”. Reading the statement on Palestinian public television, Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina stressed that the Gaza Strip “is an integral part of the State of Palestine”. …

Abuja, Feb. 5, 2025 – The Federal Government has reintroduced tolling on federal highways, about 20 years after tolling was abrogated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. David Umahi, the Minister of Works, announced the reintroduction of tolling on Tuesday at the Garaku Toll Station along the Abuja–Akwanga–Lafia–Makurdi Road corridor. He said tolling was being reintroduced to ensure proper maintenance of the roads as well as repay the $460.8 million loan obtained from the China Exim Bank for the road’s rehabilitation and upgrade. The minister, who was represented by Bello Goronyo, …