RoundReports

The Federal Government has accused an embattled mining firm, Jupiter Ltd, of planning a smear campaign against Nigeria during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the United Kingdom (UK). In a statement on Sunday, the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development said the company intends to circulate what it described as false allegations aimed at discrediting Nigeria and undermining ongoing reforms in the mining sector. The ministry’s spokesperson, Segun Tomori, said the alleged move followed a recent rebuttal of claims linked to Jupiter in a publication titled “ Nigeria Seizes British Lithium Project Under Armed Guard .”  Tomori stated that the claims had already been addressed and dismissed as misleading by the minister’s special adviser, Kehinde Bamigbetan with an earlier response titled “ In Nigeria’s Mining Sector, The Law Is No Respecter of Persons .”  He stated that the Federal Government has no legal or contractual relationship with any company known as Jupiter Lithium, ...

The Lagos State Government has taken a step towards tightening oversight of cosmetic products and procedures with the formal presentation of the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health and its implementation plan. The policy was unveiled at the exit meeting of the Lagos State Engagement on the framework, held at the Conference Room of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, bringing to a close a four-day stakeholder session that began on March 10 at the Sojourner Hotel. Addressing participants on Friday, Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, said the engagement was timely, citing a recent cosmetic surgery-related death in Lagos that is currently under investigation by the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA). Ogunyemi said the incident underlined the urgency of stronger regulation across the sector, stressing that patient safety remained a top priority for the state government.  According to her, the authorities were examining the c...

Popular Nigerian satirical skit maker Kevin Arua, widely known online as Governor Amuneke, has spoken candidly about the personal risks and pressure involved in using humour and satire to critique governance and social issues in Nigeria. Appearing on Rubbin Minds on Channels Television, Arua said he embarked on the path fully aware of the potential consequences, describing his decision as one rooted in personal conviction rather than impulse. He told the programme that fear does not influence his creative choices, saying that he had long accepted whatever outcomes might follow his work.  According to him, messages warning him to tone down criticism or predicting political continuity have become commonplace, but they have not altered his resolve. Arua acknowledged that challenging authority through satire can attract backlash, including online intimidation, but said such attempts do little to deter him.  He argued that trying to silence him misses the point of his work and ulti...

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has instructed banks and card issuers to sharply expand the number of Automated Teller Machines nationwide, setting a new benchmark of one ATM for every 7,500 payment cards by 2028. The directive is contained in newly issued Guidelines on the Operations of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in Nigeria, dated March 13, 2026, and signed by Musa I Jimoh. The circular was addressed to banks, financial institutions and payment service providers operating within the country. Under the framework, compliance will be phased over three years, with institutions required to meet 30 per cent of the target in 2026, 60 per cent in 2027, and full compliance by 2028.  The central bank said the gradual rollout is designed to give operators enough time to scale infrastructure. According to the regulator, the revised rules aim to strengthen ATM deployment standards, widen access to cash services and align Nigeria’s payments infrastructure with global best practice, amid...

Nigeria’s emergency authorities have issued a warning over heightened fire risks and heat-related health problems as temperatures continue to rise across large parts of the country. In a statement on Saturday, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the prevailing heatwave has increased the likelihood of fire incidents and medical complications linked to extreme weather conditions. The warning was conveyed by Manzo Ezekiel, the agency’s Head of Press and Public Relations, on behalf of the Director-General, Zubaida Umar.  NEMA said the sustained spike in daily temperatures requires increased vigilance from households, businesses and public institutions. According to the agency, forecasts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency indicate that the heatwave is likely to persist, further amplifying risks associated with high temperatures. Umar advised Nigerians to exercise caution when handling materials that can easily ignite, adding that electrical appliances, gas cylinder...

Veteran Nollywood actress and evangelist Eucharia Anunobi has spoken publicly about a turbulent childhood characterised by her father’s opposition to her education and career choices. Anunobi also included an episode in which she said she was confined to her room for six months. Appearing on The Honest Bunch Podcast, the actress recounted how the dispute intensified after she rejected an office job her father had arranged.  According to her account, the decision was met with severe pressure at home, with employment forms repeatedly slid under her door in an attempt to compel compliance. She said her father’s stance was rooted in a belief that educating girls served little purpose, arguing that women would eventually marry and leave their families without contributing a lasting legacy.  READ ALSO :  Police Say No Proof Broda Shaggi Shot in Ogun That view, she added, shaped his refusal to support her schooling from secondary level. Anunobi explained that the lack of backing...

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has fixed April 14, 2026, for its National Convention, as part of a series of congresses aimed at renewing the party’s leadership structures ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. Ward congresses are scheduled to commence on April 7, followed by local government and state congresses in the days leading up to the national gathering. In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the party’s National Organising Secretary, Prince Chinwdu Idigo, and National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the exercise was in line with the ADC’s constitutional responsibility to periodically reorganise its leadership from the grassroots to the national level. According to the approved timetable, polling unit and ward congresses will hold on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.  READ ALSO : Unconsented Street Filming Could Attract Jail Time - NDPC Local government area congresses are slated for Thursday, April 9, while state congresses will take place on Saturday, April...

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has called on the US Department of State to redesignate Nigeria and 12 other nations as Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs). It cited what it described as serious and systematic violations of religious freedom. In its 2026 recommendations, released this month, the commission said the assessment was based on global religious freedom conditions observed throughout 2025.  The CPC label represents the United States’ most severe classification for governments accused of tolerating or enabling grave abuses linked to belief, including violence, persecution, imprisonment or restrictive laws. According to the report on Saturday, the commission urged the State Department to redesignate the following 13 countries: Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The commission also recommended redesignating six non-state actors as Entities of Parti...

The United States (US) Department of Defense has identified the six Air Force personnel who died after a KC-135 refuelling aircraft crashed over western Iraq earlier this week. In a statement issued on Saturday evening, the Pentagon said the airmen were supporting Operation Epic Fury at the time of the incident.  The aircraft went down in friendly airspace and the crash did not involve hostile or friendly fire, according to US Central Command. The dead were named as Maj John A Klinner, 33, of Alabama; Capt Ariana G Savino, 31, of Washington state; Tech Sgt Ashley B Pruitt, 34, of Kentucky; Capt Seth R Koval, 38, of Indiana; Capt Curtis J Angst, 30, of Ohio; and Tech Sgt Tyler H Simmons, 28, also of Ohio. Three of the personnel were assigned to the 6th Air Refuelling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, while the remaining three served with the 121st Air Refuelling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Ohio.  All were operating as part of a deployed refuelling m...

Nigeria’s D’Tigress produced a commanding second-half performance to defeat the Philippines 101–84 in their third game at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament on Saturday. The African champions recovered from a sluggish start after going behind early, as the Philippines edged the opening quarter 25–21 and carried a nine-point advantage into the break at 51–42. Nigeria, however, emerged revitalised after half-time as D’Tigress dominated the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 34–21 to wipe out the deficit and swing momentum decisively in their favour. READ ALSO :  Kyle Walker Retires from England Duty after Squad Omission Rena Wakama’s side then delivered a clinical final period, overwhelming the Philippines 25–12 to stretch the lead and push past the 100-point mark in emphatic fashion. The victory keeps Nigeria firmly in contention as they prepare for a demanding finish to the group phase.  D’Tigress will take on France on Sunday before concluding their ...