Author: Faith Daniel

Stanley Amandi, a Nollywood filmmaker and actor, has been arrested alongside several military officers accused of plotting to violently overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu. According to a report by Premium Times, Amandi — a director and former chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in Enugu State — was arrested in September 2025. Sources said the actor was allegedly recruited to act as a propagandist for the suspected coup plotters, who were reportedly planning the assassination of senior government officials. Government officials briefed on the matter last year said the officers involved had mapped out a violent takeover…

Nigeria’s long-standing electricity crisis is facing a major intervention as the Federal Government moves to raise $2.5 billion (about ₦4 trillion) to stabilise the power sector and address the persistent blackouts that have crippled homes and businesses for years. The funding initiative is designed to clear outstanding debts owed to power generation companies while financing critical upgrades across the electricity value chain, particularly transmission and distribution infrastructure. Olu Verheijen, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Energy, disclosed this during an interview, revealing that the first tranche of the programme — approximately ₦501 billion — was issued earlier this month at…

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday in Abuja said Africa’s development challenges can no longer be financed solely through aid, stressing the urgent need for long-term capital, private sector participation, and investment-driven growth strategies. Speaking at the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2026 High-Level Policy Engagement held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, Shettima said development financing must shift toward patient capital, catalytic capital, blended finance, and private enterprise deployed at scale. The vice president, who was represented by his Technical Adviser on Women, Youth Engagement, and Impact, Hauwa Liman, called for stronger collaboration between government, the private sector,…

Saudi Arabia and Nigeria have signed their first-ever bilateral agreement on the recruitment of general workers, creating a formal labour corridor between Africa’s largest economy and the Middle East’s biggest labour market. The agreement establishes a regulated labour recruitment partnership aimed at formalising Nigeria’s contribution to Saudi Arabia’s workforce while strengthening protections for Nigerian workers. It also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda, which focuses on workforce reform and economic diversification. Signed on the sidelines of the Global Labour Market Conference 2026 in Riyadh, the deal signals a strategic shift in how Nigerian labour is absorbed into Gulf economies,…

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), says Turkish officials were “shocked” to learn that President Bola Tinubu’s stumble during an official event in Ankara became a major issue in Nigerian media. Tinubu stumbled on Tuesday during a welcome ceremony in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, as he walked alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Officials quickly stepped in to assist the Nigerian leader and help him regain his balance. After the band performed both national anthems, there was a brief moment when the Turkish president used his hands to gently adjust Tinubu’s position so he could properly…

Burkina Faso’s Transitional Assembly voted unanimously on Tuesday to join the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage. The move represents a significant step toward the country’s plans to develop nuclear power capacity. The Convention establishes an international legal framework governing civil liability in the event of nuclear damage. In June, the West African nation signed an agreement with Russia to construct a nuclear power plant. The project is seen as an opportunity for Burkina Faso’s ruling military authorities to boost energy capacity and strengthen national energy security. Russia’s state-owned nuclear company Rosatom has signed approximately 20 nuclear energy…

A burst of heavy gunfire and explosions occurred early Thursday near Niger’s capital city international airport before stopping within hours, according to residents. Videos shot by residents near the area indicated a streak of light in the sky accompanied by loud explosions. Other videos indicated flames several meters high and cars that had been charred. The Diori Hamani International Airport in Niger’s capital city has an air force base and is 10 kilometers from the presidential palace. Niger, a country frequently attacked by jihadists, has been ruled for more than two years by Abdourahamane Tiani, a military leader who took…

Ghana’s cedi is predicted to continue its weakening trend in the coming week, driven by sustained corporate demand from the energy, services, and construction industries. On the other hand, the naira is seen maintaining its stability, while the Kenyan shilling is also predicted to remain steady. GHANA Ghana’s cedi is seen weakening in the coming week, driven by sustained corporate demand from the energy, services, and construction industries. The cedi closed the week at 10.97 on Thursday, compared to 10.85 the previous week, according to data from the London Stock Exchange. “The local currency is under mild pressure, and FX…

A burst of heavy gunfire and explosions occurred early Thursday near Niger’s capital city international airport before stopping within hours, according to residents. Videos shot by residents near the area indicated a streak of light in the sky accompanied by loud explosions. Other videos indicated flames several meters high and cars that had been charred. The Diori Hamani International Airport in Niger’s capital city has an air force base and is 10 kilometers from the presidential palace. Niger, a country frequently attacked by jihadists, has been ruled for more than two years by Abdourahamane Tiani, a military leader who took…

Diezani Alison-Madueke was Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources from 2010 to 2015 A Nigerian oil minister went on “extravagant and excessive” spending sprees at high-end London stores with money from bribes by industry insiders, a London court has heard. During a visit to Harrods in 2013, Diezani Alison-Madueke ordered thousands of pounds worth of rugs, including items by luxury brand Alexander McQueen, Southwark Crown Court was told. Prosecutors allege the 65-year-old was provided with “a life of luxury in the United Kingdom” by those interested in Nigerian government contracts. Alison-Madueke, who was Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources between 2010 and…