The All Progressives Congress (APC) congress in Delta State, convened on Tuesday in Asaba as a platform to project unity ahead of the 2027 elections, instead laid bare deepening divisions within the party following the absence of several heavyweight figures. The meeting, held at the Cenotaph in the state capital, was shunned by former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, Senator Ned Nwoko, and House of Representatives member Eritake Ibori-Suenu, alongside other influential stakeholders. Their non-attendance cast a pall over the exercise and sharpened speculation about widening fault lines within the Delta chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress. Although no official explanation was offered for the boycott, party sources told newsmen the absent leaders felt marginalised during the planning and execution of the congress and opted to stay away with their supporters. Despite the high-profile absences, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his allies pressed ahead, producin...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed tax policy expert Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance, replacing Doris Uzoka-Anite, in a cabinet reshuffle announced on Tuesday. The development was disclosed in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.  According to the statement, Uzoka-Anite has been redeployed to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning as Minister of State, making her third portfolio in the Tinubu administration. President Tinubu has formally transmitted Oyedele’s nomination to the Senate for confirmation in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. Until his nomination, Oyedele chaired the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which has led a wide-ranging overhaul of Nigeria’s tax framework.  READ ALSO :  Dangote Refinery Raises Petrol Price to N874 Per Litre He hails from Ikaram in Akoko, Ondo State, and is regarded as a leading voice on fiscal policy, taxa...

A British mother has warned parents about the potential dangers of accidental exposure to topical hormone treatments after her daughter began showing signs of puberty at just three years old. Samantha Ashworth, 52, said her fears were initially dismissed when she sought medical advice after noticing unusual mood swings and physical development in her young daughter, who is now five. Drawing on her background as a newborn hearing screener and trained nursery nurse, Ashworth said she recognised the signs early but struggled for more than a year to get a diagnosis. “ I knew what I was seeing, but I didn’t feel like I was being listened to ,” she said. After repeated General Practitioner (GP) visits, missed school days and mounting medical appointments, the child was diagnosed with precocious puberty in February last year, a rare condition in which puberty begins unusually early. Doctors later concluded that the condition may have been triggered by accidental contact with Ashworth’s hormon...

Veteran Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has given thanks following the Lagos premiere of Mothers Love, her first feature film as a director, unveiled on Sunday night. The premiere, held at Alliance Francaise in Ikoyi, Lagos, drew a strong turnout from across the entertainment and political spheres.  Guests included Rita Dominic, Toke Makinwa, Nosa Rex and former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, among others. The film also served as a personal milestone for Omotola, who used the occasion to celebrate 30 years in the film industry.  Taking to Instagram after the event, the actress credited God for the success of the night and thanked colleagues and fans for their support. READ ALSO : Netflix Ends Support For PlayStation 3 “ What a night. God did ,” she wrote, describing the film as “ a gift everyone felt tonight ,” while confirming that Mothers Love will open in cinemas nationwide from March 6, 2026. Starring Olumide Oworu, Noray Nehita, Ifeanyi Kalu, Lilian Afegb...

Nigeria’s largest refinery, Dangote Petroleum Refinery, has increased its ex-depot price for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by N100 per litre. The development lifted the gantry rate to N874 from N774, setting the stage for higher pump prices nationwide. A senior official at the refinery confirmed the adjustment on Monday, attributing the review to recent volatility in global crude oil markets and rising replacement costs.  The new price has already taken effect, according to industry tracking site petroleumprice.ng, implying a shift in downstream pricing benchmarks. READ ALSO : Nigeria to Receive Breakthrough HIV Prevention Drug Lenacapavir Notably, the increase followed the refinery’s suspension of petrol loading operations from midnight on 2 March after international crude prices surged past $80 per barrel.  Industry data showed that PMS loading and the issuance of proforma invoices were temporarily halted, while Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) continued to load without interruption...

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a man it describes as the mastermind of a recent attack targeting the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Benin City, Edo State. Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, was in Benin on 24 February alongside former Edo State governor Chief John Oyegun and other figures linked to the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) when armed men opened fire at a political meeting with no casualties reported. Security sources say the arrest followed online posts in which a suspect claimed responsibility for the incident and issued further threats directed at Obi.  The messages, published shortly after the attack on an X account, prompted an investigation by the Department of State Services. According to a senior security official, operatives carried out covert inquiries and digital forensic analysis to identify and locate the suspect who was later taken into custody. READ ALSO :  INEC Vows ‘Best Poss...

Nigeria’s House of Representatives has begun legislative work on a bill to establish a Nigerian Fintech Regulatory Commission (NFRC), aimed at creating a single authority to license, supervise and regulate financial technology operators nationwide. The proposal was examined at a public hearing on Monday, convened jointly by the House Committees on Digital and Electronic Banking; Banking Regulations; Communications; Science and Technology; and Capital Market and Institutions.  Lawmakers and industry figures used the session to assess the legal and institutional consequences of consolidating oversight in one body for a sector that has expanded rapidly in recent years. Opening the hearing, the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, said the bill seeks to end regulatory fragmentation, eliminate overlapping mandates and give investors and consumers clearer rules in Nigeria’s increasingly complex digital finance ecosystem. He described fintech as a major engine of financial inclusion, youth employment...

Nigeria is set to take delivery of Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable drug shown to be fully effective in preventing HIV infection during clinical trials, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has announced. In a statement issued on Monday, NACA’s Head of Public Relations, Toyin Aderibigbe, said the agency had secured regulatory approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), clearing the way for the drug’s introduction into the country. Lenacapavir, administered by injection twice a year, is expected to offer a practical alternative to daily oral HIV prevention pills.  The drug will be made available in Nigeria and 119 other low- and middle-income countries at an estimated cost of $40 per person per year under voluntary licensing agreements with generic manufacturers. According to NACA, the Federal Government has begun preparations for the rollout of Lenacapavir as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), describing the move as part...

Five men have been arrested in Bayelsa State in connection with the alleged killing of a 38-year-old man following an accusation of rape in Otuoke community, police have said. The suspects were picked up after officers from the Kolo Divisional Headquarters responded to a distress call on Kakatar Road, Otuoke, at about 3.30pm on 22 February.  A lifeless male body was found at the scene and later deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Otuoke. In a statement on Monday, the Bayelsa State Police Command said the deceased, identified as Samuel Ofiri, a native of Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area, was allegedly taken to an apartment on Kakatar Road where he was tortured by a group of men, leading to his death. READ ALSO :  Disu Confirmed by Police Council as Substantive Inspector-General Police named the suspects as Stanley Inemugha, 21; Ipagaro Memidin, 21; Kingsley Taribo, 25; Boye Easter, 22, all from Otakeme community in Ogbia LGA, and Preye Timbiri, 40, of Otuoke community...

FIFA has quietly reopened ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup, just days after its president, Gianni Infantino, said that every match at the tournament was already sold out. Fans who had previously entered FIFA’s ticket lottery received emails advertising an “ exclusive additional chance to purchase ,” with the world governing body warning that availability was “ extremely limited .” However, supporters reported being able to buy tickets for at least 64 of the tournament’s 104 matches, according to information and screenshots shared with The Athletic. The unexpected sales window came less than a week after Infantino claimed global demand had exhausted supply, citing more than 508 million ticket requests. Ticketing experts say the move suggests not a lack of interest, but difficulties selling certain fixtures at current prices. “ When they say there’s incredibly high demand, that’s true. But that doesn’t mean every game will sell easily at those prices ,” said ticketing analyst Jim McC...

The National Police Council has confirmed Olatunji Disu as the substantive Inspector-General of Police (IGP), with his name set to be transmitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation. President Bola Tinubu appointed Disu as acting Inspector-General on 25 February 2026, following the resignation of his predecessor, Kayode Egbetokun.  In a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the President said a meeting of the Police Council would be convened to formally consider the appointment before forwarding it to the Senate. Disu, 59, assumed office last Wednesday and took over formally at a brief ceremony at the Louis Edet House, shortly after being decorated as acting IGP by the President. READ ALSO : Nigeria Police Tighten Security Nationwide amid Middle East Tensions Before his appointment, he served as Assistant Inspector-General in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex in Alagbon, Lagos.  Promoted to the rank of AIG last year, Disu h...

Netflix has confirmed that its streaming service will no longer run on Sony’s PlayStation 3 from today, 2 March, 2026, ending a near two, decade partnership with the ageing console.   RoundReports reports that users attempting to access the app are being met with a notification stating, “ Unfortunately, Netflix will no longer be available on this device after 2 March 2026. Visit netflix.com/compatible devices to see a list of supported devices .”   The decision has sparked a wave of nostalgia and frustration online as one user on X termed the move as an “ end of an era ,” and that “ PS3 really carried streaming and gaming before it was cool. Respect to the OG ”  Another quipped: “ Netflix survived three console generations and said I’m tired boss .”  On Reddit, longtime viewers voiced their disappointment. One wrote: “ Netflix on PS3 was the only way I could still share Netflix to my dad even though we live in different countries .”  READ ALSO : Radioh...

The United States (US) has confirmed that three of its service members have been killed during ongoing military operations against Iran, as the crisis in the Middle East deepens and fears of a wider regional war intensify. Iranian authorities earlier on Sunday announced the appointment of senior cleric Alireza Arafi as interim Supreme Leader, following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on Saturday. Arafi, 67, is expected to oversee the leadership transition as Iran presses ahead with retaliatory attacks.  According to the US Central Command, five other American military personnel were injured in the latest strikes. Iranian state media reported that more than 200 people have been killed since hostilities escalated, while Israeli authorities said at least nine people have died following sustained missile attacks. READ ALSO :  Nigeria Police Tighten Security Nationwide amid Middle East Tensions The United St...

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan, has said the commission will work to deliver Nigeria’s “ best possible ” general election in 2027, while cautioning that a flawless process remains unrealistic. Speaking on Sunday at a Citizens’ Town Hall on the Electoral Act 2026, Amupitan acknowledged widespread public expectations for a perfect election but urged Nigerians to be pragmatic about the limitations facing electoral management bodies. He confirmed that INEC has the capacity to transmit results electronically and intends to do so in 2027, but raised questions over public demands for instantaneous, real-time transmission from every polling unit. " INEC will strive as much as possible to give this country the best election. But we will not be able to achieve a 100 per cent perfect election for now.  READ ALSO :  Why Collagen Supplements Offer Modest Skin Benefits but Fail to Erase Wrinkles "As far as electronic transmission o...

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has moved to reassure the public that security across the country remains stable, despite heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and fears over possible global repercussions. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, said the Force had strengthened intelligence-led operations nationwide to ensure the continued protection of lives, property and public order. Disu stressed that Nigeria’s internal security situation is firmly under control, but confirmed that commissioners in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been instructed to intensify surveillance and intelligence gathering.  Particular attention is being paid to the North West, North East and North Central zones, where officers have been directed to increase patrols and visibility around worship centres and other public spaces. The IGP also ordered closer engagement with traditional and religious leaders, warning that ...