RoundReports

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced on Friday that it will conduct a nationwide revalidation exercise of Nigeria’s voter register in 2026, aimed at strengthening the integrity of the electoral process.   According to its social media post, the exercise, scheduled to run from 13 April to 29 May 2026, will involve the removal of ineligible entries such as deceased persons, underage registrants, non-Nigerians, and multiple registrations.  INEC stressed that this was not a fresh registration but a revision for those who registered between 2011 and 2024.   It clarified that the revalidation will be carried out both online and at physical centres across the country.  Online participants can log on to cvr.inecnigeria.org, create an account, and undergo biometric verification before receiving confirmation.  For physical participants, the Commission explained that centres will operate daily including weekends and holidays from 9:00 am...

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has clarified why he addressed a tense crowd from atop an armoured tank carrier following last Sunday’s deadly attack in Jos.   Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the governor said the decision was made for both safety and visibility, allowing him to communicate effectively during a volatile moment.   “ Part of the reason they put me in the ATC was for me to gain height in order to address the crowd ,” he explained.   The unusual scene, widely shared online, sparked speculation that Mutfwang had been under threat.  He dismissed such claims, insisting his interaction with residents was peaceful. “ I was comfortable with the people. I knew they were not going to harm me ,” he said, adding that social media clips misrepresented the situation.   The governor revealed he had been in Abuja for official engagements, including security consultations, when news of the attack reached him.  REA...

Seven construction workers were injured on Friday morning when a two-storey building under construction collapsed in Jikwoyi, within the Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).   According to reports, the incident occurred around 11:00 am while workers were on site.  FCT's Emergency Management Department (FEMD) revealed that 17 workers were on the upper floor when the structure gave way.  The FEMD stated that five sustained injuries, while one man trapped at ground level was later rescued.   “ All the injured workers, including the rescued victim, have been taken to the Sisters of Nativity Hospital in Jikwoyi and are responding to treatment ,” FEMD confirmed.   Rescue teams from FEMD, NEMA, Development Control, FCDA Engineering, Civil Defence, Federal Fire Service, and the FCT Police Command were deployed, the reports added. READ ALSO : Ghana to Roll Out Free Visa Regime for Africans on Africa Day It was further disclo...

Bayelsa State is set to host a 10-kilometre international road race on Saturday, April 4, as Governor Douye Diri positions the state as a centre for sports, youth development and healthy living. The race, which will start at the Opolo Roundabout and finish at Peace Park in Yenagoa, is expected to attract more than 2,000 runners from Nigeria and across Africa. A delegation from World Athletics, led by Nadeem Khan, is already in the state to monitor preparations and ensure compliance with international standards. Speaking at a world press conference held at the Golden Tulip Resort in Yenagoa, Governor Diri said his administration was deliberately investing in sports as a tool for youth engagement, economic stimulation and global visibility.  Represented at the event by the Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, the said the race is an important step in Bayelsa’s ambition to host larger competitions, including the 2028 National Sports Festival, while also promoting community participa...

“ No transformation can be achieved without sacrifice ,” President Bola Tinubu has told Nigerians, urging citizens to remain steadfast in their support for ongoing reforms despite the immediate pressures they impose. In his Easter message to Nigerians at home and abroad on Friday, Tinubu said the administration’s reform programme, though demanding in the short term, was carefully designed to deliver long-term, shared prosperity.  Drawing on the spiritual meaning of Easter, he mentioned resilience, sacrifice and triumph over adversity as principles essential to both faith and nation-building. Tinubu recalled history showed that enduring progress was often forged during periods of difficulty, arguing that the current phase of reforms should be seen in that context. He acknowledged the country’s continued security and economic challenges, praising the Armed Forces for their efforts against terrorists and bandits. The President assured Nigerians that his government was strengthening re...

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has confirmed that Engr Tony Attah, Managing Director of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, will headline the next edition of the Nigerian Content Academy Lecture Series.   Scheduled for Thursday, 9 April 2026, at 10am, the virtual lecture will focus on the theme “ Finding Funds for Effective & Efficient Local Content Initiatives – IPPG Perspective .”   Attah, a seasoned industry leader and former Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Limited and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), is expected to share strategic insights on sustainable funding models and execution frameworks for local content projects.  His track record includes steering the final investment decision for the NLNG Train 7 project and earning the Local Content Icon of the Year award at the 2025 Champions of Nigerian Content Awards.   READ ALSO : 33 Young Engineers Begin Year-long Pipeline Integrit...

Authorities in Arizona have confirmed that a woman who disappeared as a teenager more than three decades ago has been found alive.   Christina Marie Plante, who vanished aged 13 from the small mountain town of Star Valley in May 1994, has now been located at the age of 44.   The Gila County Sheriff’s Office announced the breakthrough on Wednesday, saying her identity had been verified and her missing person status officially resolved.  However, officials declined to reveal how she was found, citing respect for her privacy.   Plante was last seen walking to a stable where she kept her horse before she disappeared “ without a trace .” Despite extensive searches across the rugged terrain and repeated reviews of the case, no leads were established at the time.  READ ALSO : Sharks in Bahamas Found with Cocaine, Painkillers in Their Blood Her disappearance was described as suspicious, and early reports suggested she may have been abducted.  In addi...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed calls for the removal of its chairman, Joash Amupitan, insisting that its leadership and decisions are firmly grounded in the Constitution and the rule of law. In a statement issued late on Thursday in Abuja, signed by the chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, the Commission said it had seen “ recent public statements by political actors ” alleging partisan bias and demanding Amupitan’s removal following INEC’s decision to comply with a Court of Appeal judgment. While acknowledging the right of stakeholders to air their views, INEC stressed that its operations and leadership structure are constitutionally protected. It added that the appointment, tenure and removal of its chairman and national commissioners are governed strictly by Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. “ The Chairman does not hold office at the pleasure of any political party or interest group ,” the Commission said. INEC warne...

Ghana has unveiled plans to introduce a free visa regime for all African nationals, a policy aimed at deepening continental unity and boosting economic integration.   The announcement was made on Thursday by Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, who confirmed that the initiative will take effect on 25 May, Africa Day.   President John Mahama disclosed the policy during the inaugural State Visit of Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa to Accra.  According to Ablakwa, the move is designed to reinforce Ghana’s reputation as the cradle of Pan-Africanism while opening new opportunities for tourism and intra-African trade.   READ ALSO : Jos Attacks: Tinubu Orders 5,000 Surveillance Cameras in Plateau “ This groundbreaking reform will be a component of a new e-Visa policy the Mahama administration is launching next month ,” Ablakwa said in a statement posted on X.  He added that the government is also working to expand visa-free access for Gh...

Around 40 countries joined a virtual meeting on Thursday to consider collective measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran’s blockade of the vital oil route prompted warnings of global economic disruption.   The talks, chaired by Britain’s foreign secretary Yvette Cooper, brought together nations including France, Germany, Canada, India and the United Arab Emirates.  Cooper accused Tehran of “ hijacking an international shipping route to hold the global economy hostage ,” warning that households and businesses worldwide were already feeling the impact of soaring energy costs.   The meeting followed comments by US President Donald Trump, who insisted it was up to countries reliant on the Strait to secure it, saying they should “ just grab it ” and protect their own interests.  European leaders, however, dismissed the idea of a military seizure as unrealistic.  French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking in Seoul, cautioned that such an operation...