Category: PM News

Vice President Kashim Shettima has left Abuja for Kebbi State on the orders of President Bola Tinubu.

He is going there to meet with the state government and the families of the schoolgirls kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area.

The Vice President will hold meetings with Governor Nasiru Idris, traditional rulers, security leaders, and the parents of the abducted students.

President Tinubu asked him to assure the people of Kebbi State that the Federal Government is working to secure the quick and safe release of the girls.

During the visit, VP Shettima will also deliver the President’s condolences over recent security incidents and restate the government’s commitment to protecting schools across the country.

He is accompanied by APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Dr. Bernard Doro, Minister of Women Affairs Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, and NEMA Director-General Hajiya Zubaida Umar.

Mr Peter Obi has condemned the recent terror attack in Kwara State, warning that Nigeria’s rising insecurity is being worsened by political squabbles and government inaction.

Obi described the country as “under siege,” citing the kidnapping of 25 people and the killing of a general and other officers in a single week as evidence of a security system in crisis.

“Instead of uniting in this critical moment, we are consumed by internal wrangling, party fights, and distractions,” he said, pointing to ongoing crises in political parties such as the PDP, Labour Party, and SDP.

He accused the government of deliberately weakening opposition parties rather than strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, warning that such actions leave citizens vulnerable and democracy fragile.

Recalling lessons from former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Obi stressed that “the stability of every political party–not just the ruling party–was essential for democracy. No party was to be undermined; all were to function within the law.”

Team Nigeria touched down in Lagos on Monday, carrying not just luggage, but a statement, a thunderous declaration that the new kings of world scrabble wear green and white.

Twenty players. Seven officials. One united fire.

And together, they dethroned the almighty United States in Accra to emerge World Scrabble Champions, outclassing 27 other nations in a tournament packed with intensity, adrenaline, and pure grit.

Led by a one time Continental Champion and captain Rex Ogbakpa, the Nigerians didn’t just win, they dominated.

The devastating duo of Oluwatimilehin Doko, current Continental Champion and his tactical partner Abdulmumin Jimoh, both from the Gateway State, carved through the field with clinical brilliance, turning the once-invincible Americans into mere spectators. It was chess with letters, war with words and Nigeria was the master strategist.

Adding firepower were the five “Word Lords” from Warri Scrabble Club, whose razor-sharp gameplay kept opponents scrambling. Lagos came loaded too, with Dipo Akanbi, John Aiyedun, and Hakeem Olaribigbe, all Lagos civil servants, stamping authority with ice-cold precision.

Edo State’s pride, Godwin Victor and George Ezinore, stood tall, delivering performances that echoed Nigeria’s strength in depth.

In the heart of the victory, the message was unmistakable. Team Nigeria’s never-say-die spirit, unity, and courage were the real champions.

And nobody captured this better than Lagos ace Dipo Akanbi, who hailed the squad’s attitude as “a brotherhood built on fight, faith, and absolute belief,” praising the collective spirit that fueled the triumph.

The accolades flowed swiftly.

World Champion Wellington Jighere showered praise on the team, describing their performance as “a powerful reminder of Nigeria’s unmatched pedigree in global scrabble.”

Vice President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Lovejoy Ogbuokiri Ezinna, not only applauded the historic win but also backed his words with financial support to the team, a gesture that drew warm appreciation from players and officials who had given everything for the country.

The oldest member of Team Nigeria, Chinedu Thorpe amorously called Sidespin, captures the feeling of the group with these short but very heart warming words, “Thank you NSF for a wonderful and remarkable opportunity to represent the country.

“Congratulations Team Nigeria once again. We rule the World.”

Back home, preparations are already underway to present the gleaming gold-plated trophy to the National Sports Commission (NSC), a moment that will etch yet another chapter in Nigeria’s rich scrabble legacy.

For now, the champions savor the glory. In two years, they will defend not just a title but the pride of a nation.

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on Governor Monday Okpebholo to give a thorough explanation on the $250 million investment he claims to have attracted from Glasgow.

The party also accused the Edo State helmsman of having the penchant for abusing opposition leaders.

The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Daniel Osa-Ogbegie, who made the demand in a statement in Benin City, claimed that the alleged investment had become a source of embarrassment to the Edo people.

He added that the party would also question the alleged abandonment of projects initiated under the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The Edo PDP spokesman said the party would beam it’s searchlight on fiscal management practices that appeared to ignore transparency and responsibility.

While assuring that the party would affirm respect for constituted authority and for the institutions of governance, he noted that its allegiance remains first and foremost to the people of Edo State.

He said: “Where government policies uplift the people, we shall lend our support; but where governance falters into oppression, waste, or deception, we shall stand firmly with the people.

“In this regard, we serve notice to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and to the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo, the PDP will hold you accountable to Edo people.”

Speaking on the alleged hurling of insults at the opposition leaders, Osa-Ogbegie vowed that it would no longer go unchallenged.

“Let us put an end to gutter politics and embrace responsible, issues-based debate. Kindly advise your principal accordingly.

“I invite you both to a higher ground, let us argue on the economy, on infrastructure, on fiscal management, on the welfare of our people.

“Let us leave insults behind and show Edo people that leaders can disagree with honour, yet still place the progress of the state above personal pride.

“The Governor’s penchant for abusing opposition leaders is beneath the dignity of his office and will no longer be tolerated.

“If the government believes in its policies, let it defend them with substance, not with invectives,” he added.

Hollywood actor Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, professionally known as Tom Cruise, has won his first Oscar Award. The ‘Mission: Impossible’ and ‘Top Gun’ star received an honorary award at the 16th edition of the Governors awards on Sunday.

He expressed his appreciation for the recognition, stating that making films is a part of who he is.

“Making films is not what I do, it is who I am,” he stated.

The award was presented by Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. He praised Cruise’s dedication to the film industry.

“Writing a four-minute speech to celebrate Tom Cruise’s 45-year career is what is known, in this town, as a mission impossible. Tonight, we celebrate. We celebrate not just a filmography, we celebrate a lifetime of work,” he stated.

63-year-old Tom Cruise is a four time nominee of the Oscar Awards. He, however, has never won a competitive award despite his achievements in the industry.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State has asked all political parties to strictly follow the Electoral Act 2022 and the Commission’s guidelines as they prepare for their 2026 primaries.

In a statement released on Monday, the Public Affairs Officer, Olurode Musa, said the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, urged political parties to conduct their primaries in a transparent, democratic, and peaceful way.

INEC explained that party primaries often lead to many court cases before elections, and these problems can be avoided if parties follow the rules.

The Commission reminded parties that its national headquarters has fixed the dates for primaries between November 24 and December 15, 2025, and warned them not to go outside the approved timetable.

INEC also said it is ready to support political parties during the primaries and work with security agencies to ensure peaceful contests.

The Commission added that it will closely monitor all party activities and take action, within the law, against any party that fails to comply.

INEC stressed that internal democracy within parties is very important for credible elections and for the stability of the country’s political system. It also restated its commitment to protecting the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that votes truly count.

Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji has reacted to a comment made by a user about marriage to Igbo women. The user on X(formerly twitter) had urged Igbo men to stop marrying Igbo women.

He claimed that Igbo women are prone to making false accusations about their husbands, urging men to consider settling down with women from East African countries.

“Dear Igbo men, instead of marrying an Igbo woman who’ll falsely accuse you of r4ping your daughter, better look outside for a wife. Go to East Africa, especially Rwanda, and pick a damsel. They’re all over social media, and you can link up with them,” he wrote.

His comment came after an Igbo man was exonerated of the accusations of rape made by his wife. Genevieve, however, reacted to the controversial statement, stating that it lacks accountability.

“In other words, instead of checking yourself and taking accountability, go for the unsuspecting and carry on with your evil. Got it. The same way a woman can’t tell an abusive man apart from a good one is the same way you shouldn’t say avoid all Igbo women. ‘Not all women’,” she stated.

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

President Bola Tinubu will on Wednesday depart Abuja for a two-nation working visit to South Africa and Angola, where he is expected to join global leaders for two major international summits.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President will first travel to Johannesburg to participate in the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit, before heading to Luanda for the AUEU Summit.

Onanuga said the invitation to Tinubu was extended by South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, who currently heads the G20.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa invited his Nigerian counterpart to participate in this year’s edition,” the statement read.

He added that the gesture followed a similar invitation extended in 2024 when Brazil’s then-G20 president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, asked Tinubu to attend the summit in Rio de Janeiro.

The G20 meeting, scheduled for November 2223 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, will bring together leaders of the world’s largest economies, as well as the European Union, African Union and key global financial institutions.

Onanuga explained that this year’s summit, themed “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” will focus on some of the most pressing global issues.

“The two-day summit will afford participants the opportunity to deliberate extensively during three plenary sessions devoted to inclusive and sustainable growth, leaving no one behind, trade, development financing, the debt burden, disaster risk reduction, climate change, just energy transitions, food systems, and a fair and just future for all,” he said.

President Tinubu is also expected to hold a series of bilateral engagements on the sidelines of the summit.

Onanuga noted that these meetings will be held “in furtherance of the Renewed Hope Agenda, as well as to discuss regional and international peace, security, and development.”

Once the G20 engagements conclude, Tinubu will proceed to Luanda for the 7th African UnionEuropean Union Summit, slated for November 2425, 2025. The forum will gather leaders from both continents to deepen cooperation on strategic priorities.

According to the Presidency, the AUEU meeting will feature extensive consultations with youth groups, civil society organisations and innovators.

“The summit will bring together young leaders, innovators and Civil Society Organisations to brainstorm on shared challenges,” Onanuga said, adding that deliberations will centre on “climate change, inclusivity in development, infrastructure, the digital economy, the creative industry, manufacturing, and agribusiness.”

President Tinubu will be accompanied by senior government officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.

The President is expected back in Nigeria at the conclusion of the two meetings.

By Joy Akinsanya

Police have have rescued a fake soldier, Robinson Godday, 31, from an angry mob after he allegedly stole phones in the Olomore area of Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.

The rescue followed a distress alert intercepted by the police command’s cyber centre, indicating that a man dressed in full military camouflage had been surrounded by a mob and was on the verge of being lynched.

The command’s Spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola who confirmed this in a statement said following the alert, police SWAT operatives raced to the scene, prompting the crowd to disperse as soon as they saw the officers, and allowing for the safe evacuation of the suspect.

“The suspect, Godday allegedly snatched two mobile phones from a young man in the area before he was chased and apprehended by residents.

“He sustained an injury on his right leg after being beaten by the mob, while the stolen phones were recovered and returned to the owner” she said

Odutola added that the suspect confessed during interrogation that he was not a soldier, and that he stole the military uniform from a serviceman attached to the Ojo Military Barracks, Lagos, currently deployed in the North-East.

She said the suspect remains in custody as investigations continue, to uncover the extent of his alleged activities and identify possible accomplices.

However, Ogun Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, condemned the mob attack and ordered intensified raids and stop-and-search operations in the Olomore corridor to prevent similar incidents.

Ogunlowo urged residents to desist from jungle justice and to hand over all apprehended suspects to the nearest police formation for proper investigation and prosecution.

(NAN)

A transformative chapter in African trade is unfolding as AfreTrade, a pioneering digital gateway for global commerce, launches on 18 November 2025 at the MUSON Centre in Onikan, Lagos. Designed to transform how African businesses access international markets, AfreTrade is positioning itself as a critical catalyst for activating the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and expanding Africa’s footprint in the global economy.

The invitation-only official launch brings together government leaders, industry executives, innovators, development partners, and members of the diplomatic and business communities to Nigeria’s commercial capital. The event will unveil AfreTrade’s integrated platform built around the “3Ts”: Trade, Talent, and Training, a model created to strengthen competitiveness across the continent.

As a trusted digital gateway for global trade, AfreTrade gives users and investors the confidence to engage with emerging markets by derisking transactions and strengthening trust. The platform enables verified businesses and talent to discover and connect with legitimate, fully verified opportunities for new markets, partnerships, and investment — all while supporting export readiness and sustainable growth.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), African SMEs account for 8090 percent of all businesses on the continent, yet remain locked out of global trade due to significant financing gaps, regulatory complexity, and fragmented logistics. Banks on the continent often charge interest rates of 2025%, and only a fraction of SMEs can secure formal credit. In East Africa, technical regulations and non-tariff barriers, such as sanitary standards or certification requirements, block nearly half of potential exports.

As such, many SMEs lack real-time market data, cross-border networks, and capacity-building support to navigate standards and compliance. AfreTrade directly addresses these obstacles by offering a unified digital gateway to empower SMEs by verifying partners, facilitating skills-based training, and democratizing trade opportunities with transparency and ease.

With Africa’s share of global trade estimated at 3.3% aAccording to Afreximbank, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has argued that Africa must tackle high intra-African trade costs by activating the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), investing in infrastructure, reducing logistics burdens, and fostering value addition in manufacturing and digital trade to boost this relatively small share.

Speaking ahead of the platform launch, AfreTrade’s leadership emphasized that Africa’s transformation hinges on building digital infrastructure that empowers people and businesses to compete globally, with Founder and CEO Mr. Lekan Salaam noting that “AfreTrade identifies viable businesses and talent, verifies and amplifies them. The way we envision Afretrade is to bridge the economic gap on the African continent, create an environment of collaboration without subordination, and unlock the continent’s full potential.”

Echoing this vision, AfreTrade’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Charly Lemaasi, cited that “Africa’s renaissance is the responsibility of her own children. It will take Africans to rebuild Africa, and true transformation demands a renewed consciousness. Only a new mind can unlock a new African narrative,” insisting that true transformation requires a renewed mindset capable of redefining how Africa connects, trades, and competes on the world stage.

Reinforcing this strategic shift, Afretrade’s Chief Product Officer, Mr. Jubril Gbajabiamila, added that while “nobody is going to create a hundred million jobs in Africa, the AfreTrade platform can enable a hundred million businesses to flourish–each employing five to ten people–thereby powering job creation through widespread entrepreneurship.

The Afretrade initiative arrives at a pivotal moment as African economies strive for diversification, digital transformation, and greater integration into regional and global value chains. The AfreTrade platform is expected to support policymakers’ efforts to create a more enabling environment for exports, investment flows, job creation, and talent development. Stakeholder participation is essential to scale the Afretrade platform’s impact and ensure that the continent’s businesses can fully leverage the historic opportunities of the AfCTA.

AfreTrade is calling on government institutions, private sector leaders, investors, chambers of commerce, exporters, talent hubs, and development organizations to support and join the movement to redefine Africa’s role in global commerce.

AfreTrade is a trusted digital gateway for global trade, providing African businesses with seamless access to markets, skills, and capacity-building solutions. Combining Trade, Talent, and Training into a single ecosystem, AfreTrade is committed to driving economic inclusion, export expansion, and sustainable development across Africa.