Literary Figures Mourn Personal Loss PROMINENT literary scholars and editors, Professor Nduka Otiono and Odoh Diego Okenyodo, have joined the growing chorus of voices mourning with award-winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie following the death of her 21-month-old son, Nnamdi. In a joint statement, the co-editors of Camouflage: Best of Contemporary Writing from Nigeria—an anthology that […]
By MAHMOOD MALIK MUSA (M. M. M.) IBRAHIM Bandits Establish Parallel Tax Regime in Food-Producing Belt ARMED groups operating across parts of Kano and Katsina states have allegedly imposed an illegal “farming tax” on rural communities, demanding up to ₦50,000 per acre from sugarcane farmers before they are allowed to harvest their crops. The levies […]
By TOSAN OYAKHILOME-AKAHOMEN Contradictions at the Heart of the 2026 Budget THE 2026 federal budget has exposed a widening gap between policy directives and fiscal execution, as MDAs introduced new capital projects worth ₦3.50 trillion despite a formal government freeze. A December 2025 Budget Call Circular directed MDAs to roll over most of their 2025 […]
By FIDELUS ZWANSON THE Chairman of the Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics (AERE), Dele Kelvin Oye, has warned that certain provisions of the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 could undermine the objectives of the reform if not reviewed to reflect economic realities. Oye identified the cap on rent relief—limited to ₦500,000 annually—and restrictions on foreign […]
Anaesthesia Safety Under Scrutiny After Child’s Death THE death of a 21-month-old child during a medical procedure at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos has triggered renewed scrutiny of anaesthesia practice in Nigeria, as medical experts warn of a critical shortage of qualified anaesthetists and weak enforcement of patient safety standards. The incident, which has drawn […]
By PAULINA NZERUBE Asagba Laments Absence of Master Plan for Asaba THE Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, has expressed concern over what he described as the lack of a functional master plan guiding development in Asaba, the Delta State capital. Speaking while receiving members of the Asaba Vision 2050 Committee […]
DELTA State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Monday performed the groundbreaking of the ₦39.3 billion Otovwodo (Ughelli) Flyover, describing the project as a lasting solution to the town’s long-standing traffic crisis. Speaking at Otovwodo Junction, the governor said the project represents a major milestone in his administration’s infrastructure renewal efforts and aligns with its […]
By STELLA JOHNSON OGBOVOVEH Resident Doctors Pull Back from Strike After High-Level Interventions THE Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned nationwide strike, originally scheduled to commence on Monday 12 January, citing renewed commitments from the federal government and intensified engagement with key health-sector stakeholders. The decision followed an emergency virtual meeting […]
By PAULINA NZERUBE GOVERNOR Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has commenced construction of the ₦39.3 billion Otovwodo Flyover in Ughelli, pledging that the project will finally resolve years of traffic congestion at the busy Otovwodo Junction along the East–West Road. At the flag-off ceremony, the governor described the project as central to his administration’s drive […]
By AUGUSTUS ISICHEI ALGERIA are preparing to lodge a formal protest with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over their quarter-final loss to Nigeria at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Reports indicate that the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) is dissatisfied with the officiating of Senegalese referee Issa Sy, who handled the […]