The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has firmly denied reports circulating on social media that its Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, endorsed a partisan post on X (formerly Twitter).   In a statement issued on Saturday, the Commission described the allegation as " entirely baseless " and " a figment of the imagination of its purveyors ." It stressed that Amupitan does not own or operate any personal account on X and has never engaged in partisan commentary.   INEC warned that the fabricated post was a deliberate attempt to undermine the Chairman’s integrity at a time when the Commission is focused on electoral reforms and preparations for upcoming polls.   The Commission also revealed that cybercriminals have previously created fake accounts in the Chairman’s name to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.  READ ALSO : Nigeria Orders Withdrawal of Passports from Ex-Citizens It confirmed that several of these fraudulent accounts had been repo...

House of Representatives has confirmed the death of Mohammad Danjuma Hassan, member representing Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency of Kano State.   House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi Jr announced that Hassan passed away on Friday evening in Abuja after a brief illness.  Rotimi disclosed that the late lawmaker will be laid to rest on Saturday in accordance with Islamic rites.   READ ALSO : Shettima Visits Maiduguri after Deadly Terror Attack Hassan, elected in 2023 under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), served as Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary and contributed to several other key committees.   Speaker Tajudeen Abbas described the lawmaker’s death as " shocking and painful ," commending his dedication to public service and praying for Allah to grant him Jannatul Firdaus.  

" Next step, Mars ," President Donald Trump declared as NASA’s Artemis II astronauts returned safely to Earth on Friday night. In a late-night post on Truth Social, Donald Trump congratulated the crew of Artemis II after their capsule completed what the space agency described as a " textbook touchdown " in the Pacific Ocean. " We’ll be doing it again and then, next step, Mars! " he wrote. The mission concluded at 8:07 pm EDT on Friday when the Orion capsule splashed down off the coast of California following a ten-day journey that included a flyby of the far side of the Moon. " What a journey ," said mission commander Reid Wiseman shortly after landing.  Artemis II saw its four-person crew travel further from Earth than any humans before, reaching a maximum distance of 248,655 miles from the planet. The re-entry phase, widely regarded as the most dangerous part of the mission, took around 13 minutes.  During that time, Orion slowed from approxim...

The United States (US) government has urged people skilled at video games to consider careers as air traffic controllers, as aviation authorities attempt to address persistent staff shortages in the sector. In a new recruitment campaign, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is explicitly appealing to gamers ahead of a hiring window set to open next week.  One promotional video begins with the Xbox logo before transitioning to fast-cut scenes of people playing computer games alongside air traffic controllers, including women, working at radar screens inside control towers. " You’ve been training for this ," the advert states, drawing a parallel between gaming and the rapid decision-making required in air traffic control.  The campaign also promotes the financial incentives of the role, saying that controllers can earn up to $155,000 (£115,000) after three years. US Transportation Secretary Sean P Duffy said the agency needed to rethink how it attracted new talent.  He...

The Nigerian Navy says it has arrested its personnel involved in a public altercation with fellow military officers in Bayelsa State during President Bola Tinubu’s visit on Friday. RoundReports learnt that the incident, which has circulated widely online, was captured in a 53-second video showing a heated confrontation between uniformed personnel along the presidential convoy route. Footage shows the driver of a Hilux vehicle labelled " Naval Police " stepping out to exchange words with another driver.  Moments later, a soldier carrying a rifle approached and struck the Naval Police driver, triggering a scuffle. Quickly, the confrontation escalated into a broader brawl, with personnel attached to both vehicles exchanging blows as civilians nearby looked on.  READ ALSO : Tinubu Commissions 60MW Gas Power Plant, New Road in Bayelsa The clash occurred as the President was leaving the venue of an official engagement in the state. As of press time, the precise cause of the alterca...

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Saturday made an unscheduled trip to Maiduguri to console the Nigerian Army and the Borno State Government following a fresh terrorist assault that killed Brig Gen Oseni Braimah alongside several officers and soldiers. The visit was carried out on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha. Addressing troops and state officials, Shettima described the fallen personnel as emblematic of the heavy price paid to keep the country secure. He praised their courage and commitment to duty, adding that their service would remain etched in the nation’s memory. " These men wore the uniform for all of us. They stood to protect our communities, our families, and the future of our children ," the Vice President said. READ ALSO : Wike Announces N500m Fund to Sustain Late Senator Mpigi’s Legacy He assured the m...

The Federal Government has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to immediately withdraw or deactivate passports belonging to individuals who have formally renounced their Nigerian citizenship.   Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior issued the directive in Abuja, stressing that some former citizens continue to hold on to Nigerian passports despite their renunciation being approved by the President.   In a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Alao Babatunde, the Minister explained that the order is backed by Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which stipulates that once a declaration of renunciation is registered, the individual ceases to be a Nigerian citizen.   READ ALSO : INEC Postpones Nationwide Voter Revalidation Until after 2027 Polls Tunji-Ojo stated that such persons are no longer entitled to sovereign documents, including passports. He emphasised that the move aligns with ongoing reforms in passport and visa admi...

The four astronauts of NASA’s Artemis II mission have splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean, completing a record-breaking journey to the far side of the Moon.   After a tense six-minute blackout during re-entry, the Orion capsule pierced Earth’s atmosphere at speeds approaching 23,839 mph (38,365 kph).  Nearly a dozen parachutes deployed to slow the 21,000-pound spacecraft to around 20 mph before it touched down off the coast of San Diego.   READ ALSO : Ancient ‘Octopus’ Fossil Reclassified as Nautilus Relative Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen spent 10 days in deep space, travelling 252,756 miles from Earth, further than any crew in history.  Their successful return is a great milestone in NASA’s bid to establish a sustainable human presence beyond low-Earth orbit.   The mission tested Orion’s systems under extreme conditions, paving the way for future Artemis flights that aim to land astronauts on the lunar surfac...

Chelsea head coach, Liam Rosenior has confirmed that Enzo Fernandez will again be excluded from the match-day squad for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Manchester City. Rosenior said Fernandez's exclusion was due to the ongoing disciplinary action over the midfielder’s comments about Madrid. Speaking on Friday, he disclosed the Argentina international remains subject to a two-match internal ban imposed after comments made during the recent international break. In a media interview, Fernandez admitted he “ really liked ” Madrid and said he would consider living in the Spanish capital, comments that quickly fuelled transfer speculation linking him with Real Madrid. READ ALSO : Widow of Joe Thompson Reveals Pregnancy Through IVF The punishment began last weekend, when Fernandez was left out of Chelsea’s squad for their emphatic 7–0 FA Cup victory over Port Vale, and will now extend to the visit of the reigning champions. Chelsea head into the match under pressure, having lost th...

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has urged political associates of the late Barinada Barry Mpigi to rally around his family, unveiling a N500 million support fund to secure the lawmaker’s legacy. Wike made the announcement at a Night of Tribute held in Port Harcourt in honour of the former senator, stressing that tangible support for the bereaved family mattered more than ceremonial praise. According to the minister, the intervention, facilitated through the Rivers State Rainbow Coalition, would be channelled into establishing a foundation for the Mpigi family. READ ALSO : Tinubu Commissions 60MW Gas Power Plant, New Road in Bayelsa The foundation, he said, was designed to provide sustained assistance and institutionalise the late senator’s contributions. He described Mpigi as a resolute and dependable ally who remained steadfast during challenging political periods, arguing that loyalty and courage are most evident in moments of pressure. Wike stressed the i...