A section of the office of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja was gutted by fire on Monday morning. Officials of the Federal Fire Service were deployed to the scene and were battling to contain the blaze and prevent further damage to the building. The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, though some eyewitnesses around the area attributed the incident to a possible power surge. Authorities have not reported any casualties as of the time of filing this report, while investigations into the cause of the fire are expected…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
Babajide Sanwo-Olu has inaugurated the board of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, marking a key step in strengthening electricity sector governance in the state. The inauguration took place Monday at Lagos House, Ikeja, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. Sanwo-Olu said the move supports Lagos’ plan to build a reliable and investor-friendly electricity market following the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023 and the state’s electricity law. He noted the commission will regulate electricity activities, improve power supply, and support economic growth in the state. The governor added that the regulatory framework also establishes a state electricity fund…
In the long and unfinished march for justice, equality and human dignity, some voices rise above the noise of history and become moral beacons for generations. One such voice belongs to Jesse Jackson — a man whose life’s work has been measured not merely in speeches or headlines, but in numbers: numbers of people mobilised, communities empowered, injustices confronted and doors opened for those long kept outside. This tribute attempts to capture Jackson’s extraordinary legacy through those numbers — markers of a lifetime devoted to the service of people. The Numbers That Tell the Story 1 Movement, Millions Inspired Jackson…
Women hold 27.5 per cent of parliamentary seats worldwide at the start of 2026, according to a new report by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The report, Women in Parliament 2025, released ahead of International Women’s Day, showed that the 0.3 percentage-point increase recorded in 2025 represents the slowest growth in women’s parliamentary representation in nearly a decade. The report also found a decline in women’s leadership roles within parliaments. Only 12 of the 75 newly elected Speakers of Parliament in 2025 were women, representing 16 per cent of new appointments. Overall, women Speakers now account for 19.9 per cent (54 Speakers)…
The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has announced a three-day planned power outage in the Lekki area of Lagos as it carries out network upgrade works aimed at improving electricity supply. In a notice to customers, the distribution company said the outage will affect Lekki and nearby communities within its Lekki District network. According to EKEDC, the disruption will run from Thursday, March 13, to Saturday, March 15, 2026, as engineers upgrade facilities at the Lekki Injection Substation. The company said electricity supply will be unavailable daily between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. throughout the three-day period while the upgrade…
By Ishola N. Ayodele “A man that does not have time to do things right will have all the time to do it again” John Wooden In the high-stakes arena of international media, where narratives shape perceptions and influence policy, Nigeria’s recent forays into global interviews have exposed critical flaws in strategic communication. The appearances of Daniel Bwala, spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, on Mehdi Hasan’s Head to Head on Al Jazeera and Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar on Piers Morgan Uncensored were intended to defend the administration’s record on security, corruption, and governance. Instead, they unraveled into spectacles of evasion,…
The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) has called for a review of the 15 per cent port tariff increase introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), warning it could raise costs for port users and weaken Nigeria’s competitiveness in maritime trade. In a statement issued in Abuja, Eugene Nweke, SEREC’s Head of Research, said the increase is already pushing up operational expenses for terminal operators and shipping companies, costs that are ultimately passed on to importers and exporters. According to him, port-related charges in Nigeria need to be harmonised and rationalised to reduce inefficiencies and excessive cost burdens across…
The Federal Government has announced a two-week maintenance exercise on Kara Bridge, outbound Lagos, from March 10 to March 24, 2026, warning motorists to expect traffic disruptions. In a statement, Olayiwola Komolafe, Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, said the repair will involve replacing damaged expansion joints, requiring a temporary partial closure of the bridge. The Federal Ministry of Works urged motorists to drive cautiously near the construction area, follow traffic instructions, and plan trips early to avoid delays. To reduce congestion during the repairs, the ministry advised motorists to use alternative routes: Ikorodu to Mowe, Sagamu, and Ibadan:…
The Cross River State Government has banned Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from conducting road operations and reduced transport fines across the state following complaints from commercial drivers. Governor Benedict Otu announced the directive in Calabar, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Linus Obogo, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The decision follows protests by bus and tricycle operators who accused enforcement teams of excessive fines, high ticket fees, and harassment. Under the new directive, VIO officers will no longer be permitted to operate on roads and are restricted to office-based duties. The government also…
The number of Nigerians covered by health insurance increased to 21.7 million in 2025, up from 19.2 million in 2024, representing about 13 per cent of the country’s population, according to the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report. The report, released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, tracks progress in Nigeria’s health sector under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach for coordinating health reforms and investments. The report highlights government efforts to expand access to healthcare through mandatory health insurance and improved funding for services. To reflect current economic realities,…