India has declined to accept one of Nigeria’s newly nominated ambassadors, citing diplomatic policy that restricts approval of envoys from administrations with less than two years left in office.   Ambassador Muhammad Dahiru, a career diplomat nominated by President Bola Tinubu to serve in New Delhi, is among those affected.  Sources within Nigeria’s Presidency and the foreign service confirmed that India has indicated reluctance to grant agrément for his posting.   “ They don’t accept an ambassador from an administration that has less than two years in office. So they are giving us that body language already ,” a Presidency source said.   READ ALSO : Nigeria’s Trade Surplus Reaches N5.17tn in Q1 The development incited fears that other countries may adopt similar positions, potentially delaying Nigeria’s plan to restore ambassadorial representation across its foreign missions.   Under diplomatic protocol, host nations must grant formal appro...

The Federal Government has begun evacuating willing Nigerians from Iran, escorting them across the border into Armenia as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East. The operation was confirmed on Tuesday by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), in a post on X, formerly Twitter. According to Dabiri-Erewa, officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran are coordinating the movement of citizens who have indicated their readiness to leave, ensuring their safe and orderly passage into Armenia. " The willing Nigerians in Iran are being safely escorted across the Armenia border by officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran, ensuring smooth and secure passage for those wishing to leav e,” she wrote. READ ALSO : Nigeria Monitors Middle East Crisis for Economic Impact She stated that embassy officials are escorting evacuees to the border and remain stationed there to receive and assist Nigerians as they cross into Arm...

The Bayelsa State government has reaffirmed its commitment to working with stakeholders to build an inclusive blue economy that expands opportunities for women, coastal communities and participants across the maritime value chain. The pledge was made on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the African Women in Maritime (WIMAfrica) Nigeria Chapter to the state Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in Yenagoa. Receiving the delegation, the Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Faith Izibenua Zibs-Godwin, said the ministry remained open to strategic partnerships that advance sustainable maritime development and social inclusion. She insisted that an inclusive blue economy extends beyond the extraction of ocean and marine resources, stressing the need for gender balance, community participation, skills development and sustainable livelihoods, particularly for people in coastal and riverine areas. READ ALSO :  Tinubu's Daughter Launches Scholarship for 1,000 Students a...

Nollywood filmmaker and entrepreneur Kunle Afolayan has warned that surging diesel prices are putting severe strain on his businesses, saying the rising cost of fuel is becoming unsustainable. Afolayan, 51, disclosed that he spends about N11 million on diesel every four to five weeks, despite investing heavily in solar power to reduce dependence on generators. In a video shared on his Instagram page on Tuesday, the director said the recent jump in diesel prices had left him struggling to keep operations running. “ I’ve been sad because I can’t cope with the ₦1,500 per litre of diesel. In one of the businesses that we run, the KAP Village, we spend about ₦11 million in four or five weeks on diesel. And we have solar power, but we’re still spending about ₦11 million ,” he said. READ ALSO : Dangote Refinery Cuts Petrol Price After Days of Hikes Afolayan, who owns and operates the KAP Film Village and Resort, explained that while renewable energy has helped to an extent, his facilities sti...

The federal government has said it is monitoring escalating tensions in the Middle East, warning that the crisis could affect Nigeria’s economy through higher oil prices, volatile capital flows and rising inflation.   In a statement on Tuesday, the Ministry of Finance said the conflict may impact the economy via crude market volatility, disruptions to capital inflows and rising logistics costs, which could feed into higher domestic fuel and consumer prices.   “ Volatility in global energy markets is already driving increases in domestic prices, including fuel, diesel, cooking gas, and fertiliser ,” the ministry said.   The Economic Management Team, chaired by Finance Minister Wale Edun, met to review the possible impact of the crisis and discussed developments in the domestic energy market, including the naira-for-crude policy aimed at supporting local refining and easing pressure on foreign reserves.   READ ALSO :  Mojtaba Khamenei Succeeds ...

Mujidat Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, has launched a scholarship scheme for more than 1,000 indigent students. The scholarship is open for students seeking admission into Havilla University, Nde 3-Corner, Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, for the 2025/2026 academic session.   Tinubu-Ojo stated that the fully-funded award, worth N400,000 per student, coincides with her second anniversary as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the institution.   Speaking after the anniversary ceremony, she announced that the initiative was a demonstration of her commitment to youth empowerment and educational advancement.   READ ALSO : Gumi Backs Talks with IPOB, Insurgents “ Education is the only leveler between the rich and the poor in society. Every Nigerian youth deserves access to quality education to secure a brighter future for the nation ,” she said.   She also thanked the Governing Council, led by C...

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced its ex-gantry petrol price to N1,075 per litre, ending a run of three successive increases that had pushed costs sharply higher. According to the refinery’s latest pricing template released on Tuesday, the reduction indicates a N100 drop from the previous rate of N1,175 per litre.  Petrol supplied via coastal distribution will now sell at N1,050 per litre. Diesel prices have also been revised downward, falling to N1,430 per litre, a N190 reduction from the previous rate of N1,620 per litre, offering relief to consumers and businesses reliant on fuel. READ ALSO :  Dangote Refinery Raises Petrol Price to N874 Per Litre The company clarified that the quoted gantry prices exclude statutory charges levied by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. On Monday, petrol prices rose to N1,175 per litre, up from N995 on March 7 and N874 on March 2.  The hikes were linked to surging global crude oil prices amid t...

Apple’s latest iOS update has drawn criticism from iPhone owners after users reported a series of glitches, including one described as “ sloppy ” by a Reddit poster.   A contributor to the r/iOS forum, writing under the name Super-Alchemist-270, stated that the time and battery percentage on their device were obscured by the top of the Reddit app following installation of iOS 26.3.  “ I can’t believe how downgrading it has been from iOS 17.  "It looks like a cheap Android skin that doesn’t even have a good processor to render basic apps ,” they wrote. The post prompted a wave of responses from fellow users, many of whom complained about similar frustrations.  One commenter remarked: “ Every few days I see something that makes me roll my eyes. I agree it’s really sloppy. I also think we need to accept that this is the new Apple .”  Another added: “ And if you bring it up, a ton of people get defensive about it, instead of calling an apple an apple .” ...

Nigeria recorded a trade surplus of N5.17 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, as export growth outpaced imports, according to the latest Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The data show total merchandise trade valued at N36.02 trillion between January and March, a 6.19 per cent increase on the same period in 2024.  However, trade activity eased slightly compared with the preceding quarter, falling by 1.58 per cent from N36.60 trillion. Exports accounted for N20.60 trillion, representing 57.18 per cent of total trade with a 7.42 per cent rise year on year and a 2.92 per cent increase compared with the final quarter of 2024. Although imports stood at N15.43 trillion during the period and this was 4.59 per cent higher than a year earlier, it represented a sharp 7.02 per cent decline from the previous quarter, contributing to the stronger trade balance. Crude oil continued to dominate Nigeria’s export profile, valued at N12.96 tril...

Kyle Walker has announced his retirement from international football after being left out of England’s squad by head coach Thomas Tuchel ahead of this summer’s World Cup. The 35-year-old right-back brings down the curtain on a 14-year international career that yielded 96 caps, placing him 10th on England’s all-time men’s appearance list. Walker made his senior debut in November 2011 and went on to serve under four managers, spanning the eras of Fabio Capello, Roy Hodgson, Gareth Southgate and Tuchel. His final appearance came in March 2025, a 2–0 World Cup qualifying win over Albania.  He was replaced by Reece James for the subsequent fixture against Latvia and has not returned to the England set-up since. In a statement, Walker described representing his country as “ the greatest honour ” of his career, adding that the decision to step aside would “ allow the next generation of players to come through .” He disclosed the memories made in an England shirt would stay with him “...

Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has said he would support the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other armed groups, including jihadist factions and bandits, if they are prepared to abandon violence and enter negotiations with the Nigerian government. Speaking in a recent interview, Gumi revealed his engagement with armed groups is premised on dialogue rather than force, insisting that talks offer a pathway to peace if combatants are willing to lay down their arms. He insisted that this willingness extended to the (IPOB), which seeks secession from Nigeria, as well as to Islamist militants and criminal gangs operating across parts of the country. “ Dialogue can bring peace, and we are men of peace. Even IPOB, which wants secession, if they are ready to put down their arms and come to a round table to discuss, I am ready and would support them. What we do not want is violence ,” he said. The cleric also claimed that federal authorities are aware of the identities and location...

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...