Hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants in Spain are breathing a sigh of relief as the government unveils a plan to grant them legal status.  The move is being hailed as a " game-changer " by migrants who have lived in limbo for years, working without residency documents and facing exploitation. " I've been forced into occasional work instead of pursuing my tourism career ."  " Working without documents is hard, you're vulnerable to exploitation and it's stressful ," said Diana, a 40-year-old Peruvian migrant. The government's regularisation scheme, open from April to June, could benefit up to 1.1 million migrants who have spent at least five months in Spain with no criminal record.  READ ALSO : Gunfire Hits Rihanna’s Beverly Hills Home, Suspect Arrested Reports insisted that successful applicants will receive a one-year renewable residency visa. The policy is driven by humanitarian issues and economic necessity, says the Socialist-l...

Nigerian actress-turned-evangelist Tonto Dikeh has responded defiantly to criticism following her decision to conduct a deliverance session on a student. In a social media post on Monday, she insisted that her spiritual mission cannot be derailed by public opinion.   The Nollywood star, who has in recent days embraced evangelical work, came under fire after footage circulated of her praying over a young student during a religious gathering.  Critics questioned both the appropriateness of the act and her authority to perform such rites.   In the post, Dikeh dismissed the backlash, declaring that her calling was “ too important to get distracted .” READ ALSO : Lawyer Threatens Legal Action Against Tonto Dikeh Over Viral ‘Deliverance’ Video  She wrote:   “ My eyes are on Jesus and he needs no one to defend his name. I, Evangelist Tonto Dikeh, would rather be mocked, ridiculed, or even slain than silence the name of the one who saved me. I refuse to ...

A swift decision to evacuate a school building in Lagos saved the lives of hundreds of pupils and staff shortly before the structure collapsed.   The four-storey block at 11 Adudatu Street, behind County Hospital in the Aguda area of Ogba, housed Yemco Nursery, Primary and Comprehensive College. According to reports, the building came down around midday on Monday, only minutes after teachers and students had been ordered to leave.   Witnesses said a local resident raised the alarm after noticing signs that the building might be unsafe.  READ ALSO : Mojtaba Khamenei Succeeds Father as Iran’s New Supreme Leader His warning prompted school authorities to act quickly, ushering children and staff out before the collapse.   Emergency officials from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) later secured the site and restricted access to the area.   Part of the property, which was used for r...

Aliko Dangote has once again been named Africa’s richest man, according to the latest Forbes Africa Billionaires ranking, released in 2026.   Dangote, the Nigerian industrialist, whose fortune is anchored on cement production, saw his wealth rise by $4.6 billion over the past year to reach an estimated $28.5 billion.  The surge was largely driven by the strong performance of Dangote Cement on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).   Telecommunications tycoon Mike Adenuga also retained his place among the continent’s wealthiest.  The founder of Globacom and chairman of Conoil Producing continues to wield influence across telecoms, oil and gas, and banking, cementing his reputation as one of Nigeria’s most diversified entrepreneurs.   Femi Otedola, chairman of Geregu Power Plc, remained on the list despite a slight decline in his fortune.  READ ALSO : NNPCL Increases Petrol Price to N1,082 Per Litre Forbes estimates that Otedola lost about $200 m...

Residents in Borno State are raising alarms after a video circulating on social media appeared to show underage children dressed in military-style camouflage in a remote forest. The footage shows about 18 children lined up in full combat attire, chanting and celebrating in what appears to be an isolated woodland.  Although the precise location has not been verified, residents say the language spoken in the clip points to the Ngoshe axis of Gwoza Local Government Area (LGA) in Borno South. In a Facebook post, Junaid Jibril Maiva, secretary of the Coalition of Borno South APC Youth Group, described the images as a serious warning sign and urged authorities to intervene swiftly to prevent further escalation. Another social media user, Muhammad Abdulrahman, suggested the children may not be fighters but captives, arguing that their presence could explain why the Nigerian military has struggled to launch decisive air strikes in the area.  Responding to inquiries, Borno State Commis...

Police in Los Angeles have arrested a woman after gunfire was reported outside the Beverly Hills home of pop star Rihanna, authorities said on Sunday. Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department responded to reports of shots fired at around 13:15 local time (21:15 GMT). Investigators later confirmed that the property targeted belonged to the singer. According to a police official who spoke to CBS News, officers recovered assault rifle casings at the scene.  No injuries were reported, though a law enforcement source told the Los Angeles Times that Rihanna was inside the mansion at the time of the incident. Police said the suspect, described as a woman in her 30s, briefly stopped her vehicle outside the property and fired seven rounds before driving away. READ ALSO : Lawyer Threatens Legal Action Against Tonto Dikeh Over Viral ‘Deliverance’ Video Authorities later tracked the vehicle to a location roughly eight miles (12km) from the singer’s home, where the woman was arrested....

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has increased the pump price of petrol to N1,082 per litre at its retail stations in Abuja. According to reports, the latest increase represents a N115 jump from the previous price of N967 per litre and follows an earlier upward review from N960 to N967 per litre.  In total, the state oil firm has raised its retail price by N207 per litre in less than a week. Checks on Sunday showed the new rate already implemented at NNPCL outlets along Kubwa Expressway as well as in Gwarimpa, Wuse Zone 6, Wuse Zone 4 and Lifecamp in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The adjustments come after the Dangote Petroleum Refinery increased its petrol gantry price, pushing up supply costs for marketers.  It was said that the refinery recently raised its ex-depot price by N121, from N874 to N995 per litre, following a surge in global crude oil prices. Industry operators say such increases at the depot level often trigger higher pump prices na...

Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader, succeeding his father, Ali Khamenei, following a vote by the country’s powerful Assembly of Experts. The announcement was made shortly after midnight in Tehran on Monday, with the clerical body stating that Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei had been chosen as the third leader of the Islamic Republic. The Assembly of Experts, an 88-member council of senior clerics responsible for appointing the country’s supreme leader, said the decision was reached by a decisive vote. Mojtaba Khamenei, a cleric believed to wield great influence within Iran’s security establishment and economic networks, had long been considered a leading contender to succeed his father. The position of supreme leader holds ultimate authority in Iran, with power over the military, judiciary and key state institutions. His appointment comes amid a rapidly escalating conflict involving Iran, the United States (US) and Israel.  READ ALSO :  Trump ...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has elected new executives across its eight local government areas after party congresses held over the weekend. Party officials announced the exercise, conducted at local government headquarters across the state, proceeded peacefully and relied largely on consensus arrangements to select new leaders. Speaking at the congress in Ogbia Local Government Area on Saturday, the Bayelsa PDP caretaker chairman, George Turnah said the turnout of delegates demonstrated continued loyalty to the party, which he noted has historically produced key leaders at both state and national levels. Turnah warned that the party was mobilising ahead of the 2027 Nigerian General Election and the state’s 2028 off-cycle governorship poll, insisting that those who defected to rival parties should expect a political challenge. He cited what he described as the party’s long-standing influence in Bayelsa politics, pointing out that PDP members from the state had p...

Rival camps within Nigeria’s ruling party are locked in a fierce struggle for influence ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention later this month, with governors divided over how key party offices should be shared. The convention, scheduled to take place in Abuja, is expected to confirm or restructure the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), the body responsible for the APC’s day-to-day administration.  However, internal negotiations have become increasingly tense as competing blocs push for control of strategic positions seen as crucial ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to Daily Sun, at least two closed-door meetings of the Progressives Governors’ Forum in Abuja ended without agreement, reflecting deep divisions over zoning arrangements and nominations for top offices. Party sources revealed the dispute centres on which geopolitical zones should hold specific NWC posts and which political leaders within those regions should nominate candid...

Former Anambra State governor Peter Obi has said the 2027 general election will be a contest between Nigerians and poor governance, as he formally registered as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Anambra State. The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) made the remarks on Saturday while flagging off the ADC’s membership registration exercise in the state. Obi, who has indicated his intention to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, urged Nigerians to participate actively in the party’s ongoing online registration. “ With the agreement of all national leaders, some of whom are here where we are flagging off today, I am urging everybody to go and register, obtain your card and sign up online. We want to register as many Nigerians as possible ,” he said. He believed that the 2027 polls would be driven by public demand for accountable leadership. “ The election in 2027 will be Nigerians against bad leadership. I assure you, th...

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a former Lagos councillor and intercepted several illicit drug consignments across multiple states as part of intensified operations against trafficking. The NDLEA disclosed the suspect, 45-year-old Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, was arrested at his residence in Ilado, in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State.  Olalekan previously served two terms as councillor representing the Orimedu community at the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Council and is currently a legislative aide. According to the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, officers acting on intelligence raided the residence and discovered 40 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, stored in one of the rooms. During questioning, Olalekan reportedly admitted ownership of the drugs and the property where they were found. In a separate operation in Abuja, officers intercepted a 32-year-old businessman, Emeka Hyginus Okwor, travelling from Obollo-Afor in Enugu State to Zuba ...

Electricity distribution companies in Nigeria generated N207.49 billion in revenue from customers in December 2025, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). According to NERC, the figure was realised from a total billing of N258.66 billion issued to electricity consumers during the month. NERC said the amount collected in December represented a marginal decline of 0.02 per cent from the N208.78 billion recorded in November 2025. The report also showed that overall electricity billing fell by about four per cent, compared with the N269.43 billion billed in the previous month. Despite the drop in billing, the commission disclosed a slight improvement in collection efficiency.  Distribution companies recovered 80.22 per cent of billed revenue in December, up from 77.49 per cent in November, indicating a modest gain in payment recovery. READ ALSO : Google Adds Yoruba, Hausa to AI Search Tools In its Commercial Performance Factsheet, NERC revealed, the total v...

Daniel Bwala, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on media and policy communication, has mounted a forceful defence of the administration following backlash over his recent interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan on Al Jazeera. In a statement issued on Saturday, Daniel Bwala dismissed the criticism that followed his appearance on the programme Head to Head as “ temporary excitement ” driven by political opponents who, he said, had neither the “ vision nor mission ” to govern Nigeria. The presidential aide said defending the Tinubu administration was part of his duty and declared he was prepared to do so “ anywhere in the world, any day, any time .” The interview, which circulated widely on social media after its broadcast, featured a combative exchange between Bwala and Hasan over Nigeria’s security situation, economic policy and corruption allegations.  Clips from the programme prompted sharp reactions online, with critics pointing out Bwala’s previous public criticisms of Tinu...

The Nigerian Army has dismissed a report claiming that more than 40 soldiers were killed during recent terrorist attacks in parts of Borno State, describing the account as misleading and based on unverified sources. The reaction followed a report by the news platform Sahara Reporters alleging heavy military casualties during coordinated assaults on several communities in the state. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Media Information Officer for Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Col Sani Uba, said the report presented what the army described as a distorted account of the incident and failed to acknowledge the actions of troops who defended communities against the attackers. According to the army, the assaults were carried out by remnants of Boko Haram fighters who had previously been forced out of the Sambisa Forest during sustained military operations. “ The attacks on multiple communities occurred when remnants of Boko Haram terrorists, who had earlier been dislodged from the Sambisa Fores...