Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in a media chat during his 80th birthday, referred to himself as an accidental achiever, and that is a level of sincere acknowledgement that is expected of an elderly man. His life journey actually depicted it. From a village boy who never sees himself achieving anything better than a local farmer, a life ambition that was shared by his father, which was why the first attempt by his uncle-in-law to give him a Western education in Abeokuta was halted because, just two days afterwards, his father came to Abeokuta with ridiculous reasons of fear that Western education…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
By Dr. Abdul Mahmud “It was the spectacle of a man trying to escape the shadow of his own words. Again and again Bwala was confronted with statements he had made in the past. Statements that sharply criticised the same government he now defends. Each time he retreated into a familiar refuge. “Context matters”, he said. The circumstances were different. The statements must be understood within a broader setting. But the problem with his defence was painfully obvious. Context cannot erase conviction. When context becomes the permanent shelter of argument, it begins to look less like explanation and more like…
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has formally called on Nigeria’s leadership across the three arms of government to initiate urgent constitutional reforms aimed at decentralising the country’s governance structure. In a letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, the organisation appealed for the commencement of a political programme that would restructure the Nigerian federation and devolve greater powers to the regions. The letter, dated March 1, 2026, was signed by Dr. Akin Fapohunda, Director of Research and Strategy of…
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has increased its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) gantry price to ₦875 per litre, up from ₦774, marking a ₦101 increase at the refinery gate. The adjustment, announced on March 4, 2026, is already sending ripples across Nigeria’s fuel market, with marketers quickly raising pump prices at retail stations. A senior refinery official said the increase was driven by rising global crude oil prices and higher replacement costs. International crude prices recently climbed above $80 per barrel, increasing the cost of refining petrol even for domestic producers. Analysts also link the surge to geopolitical tensions in the…
Gaming company 1win Nigeria has set a Guinness World Record for the largest Afrobeats dance, bringing together more than 400 dancers in Lagos in a celebration of music, culture, and community. The record-setting event drew creators, professional dancers, influencers, and Afrobeats enthusiasts who performed in unison to Wizkid’s hit track “Money & Love/ Money Constant”, highlighting the global appeal of Nigeria’s dominant music genre. Organisers said the initiative was designed to showcase Africa’s growing influence on global pop culture, with Lagos chosen as the venue because of its reputation as one of the continent’s leading creative hubs and the heartbeat…
Linkage Assurance Plc has secured approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to raise N16.26 billion through a rights issue aimed at strengthening its capital base and supporting future growth. In a filing to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), the company disclosed that it plans to list 12.32 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each, priced at N1.32 per share. The offer will be made to existing shareholders on the basis of two new shares for every three shares held as of January 22, 2026. According to the company, the rights offer will open on March 11, 2026, and close…
Google has expanded language support for its AI-powered search features to include Yorùbá and Hausa, enabling millions of Nigerians to interact with the platform in their native languages. In a statement released on Thursday, the company said the update allows users to access AI Overviews and AI Mode in both languages, making it easier to ask questions, receive summaries, and explore information conversationally through text or voice. The move is part of Google’s broader push to make artificial intelligence more inclusive across Africa. With the update, Google’s AI search tools now support 13 African languages, including Afrikaans, Akan, Amharic, Hausa,…
Nigeria’s 36 state governments received a combined N551.77 billion as their share of Value Added Tax (VAT) in January 2026, reflecting a significant boost driven by the implementation of new tax laws. The figure represents a 30.4 per cent increase from the N423.25 billion shared among states in December 2025, highlighting a strong rise in revenue allocation from the N1.08 trillion VAT pool generated in January. The surge marks an important shift in Nigeria’s fiscal landscape, as tax reforms begin to translate into higher revenue flows for subnational governments. Analysts say the development could strengthen states’ capacity to fund infrastructure,…
Healthcare services at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria’s first teaching hospital established in 1948, have been severely disrupted by a prolonged power outage and persistent water shortages, pushing the facility to the brink of collapse. The crisis has triggered a strike by health workers, who say deteriorating conditions are undermining patient care and putting lives at risk. Patients are facing delays and disruptions as medical staff struggle to operate in an environment where electricity and water, two essential resources for healthcare delivery, are unreliable. According to Uthman Adedeji, president of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), UCH chapter,…
The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) is set to strengthen its electricity supply through a renewable energy partnership following a high-level meeting in Abuja on February 26, 2026. Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, Chief Medical Director of UBTH, met with Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Managing Director and CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency, to formalise a solar-powered initiative aimed at complementing the hospital’s existing power sources. Implementation of the system is slated to begin later this year. Stable electricity is crucial for a tertiary hospital like UBTH, powering operating theatres, intensive care units, laboratories, and diagnostic equipment, directly affecting patient safety and…