Category: PM News

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has lashed out at the Federal Government over the country’s worsening insecurity, warning that criminals now have the audacity to go live on social media to mock authorities and terrorise citizens.

Kwankwaso described the current wave of banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, and communal clashes across Nigeria as “bleeding profusely,” saying citizens in Zamfara, Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, Kwara, Oyo, and other states could no longer sleep with both eyes closed.

“This is totally unacceptable and not befitting of a sovereign nation like ours,” he said, noting that despite massive budgetary allocations to the security sector, the situation continues to deteriorate rapidly, with lives lost daily and thousands of families displaced.

Kwankwaso insisted that insecurity is not insurmountable. He argued that what Nigeria lacks today is political will and sincere leadership, not resources.

“As someone who has served this country at various levels, where we confronted and significantly reduced security challenges through decisive leadership and community engagement, I remain convinced that insecurity is not insurmountable,” he said.

He also emphasised that broader socio-economic reforms are necessary to reduce vulnerability to crime. The former governor called for massive investment in education, skills acquisition, job creation, modern infrastructure, healthcare, reliable electricity, and agricultural inputs to strengthen local food production and national resilience.

Kwankwaso warned that the government’s current approach, despite its resources, is failing to curb insecurity because criminals exploit gaps in leadership and internal cohesion. He suggested that short-term measures, including the use of mercenaries, may be necessary to reclaim territories controlled by bandits and terrorists.

“The only way we can gain control in the immediate term is to get a group of people who listen to the language of money. You put the cash on the table, and they give you the results. Period,” he said, adding that such action could create space to reorganise and strengthen Nigeria’s security forces.

He concluded that unless Nigeria addresses its leadership failures, governance gaps, and structural socio-economic inequalities, insecurity will continue to escalate, leaving citizens unprotected and the state’s legitimacy weakened.

The Nigerian Army says one soldier, four hostages and a kidnapper were killed in a fierce gunbattle between troops and a gang of gunmen attempting to abduct Chinese expatriates at Magbon Village in the Mowe area of Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State on Monday.

This was revealed in a statement by by Maj. Idereghi Akari, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 35 Artillery Brigade, disclosed in Abeokuta on Tuesday.

Akari said the bloody encounter followed response by a joint security team to a distress call from a dredging site where expatriate workers were carrying out operations.

But the joint team was ambushed by armed men suspected to be kidnappers, leading to a fierce gun battle.

He said the gunmen used the abducted workers of the site as shield during the encounter.

“One of the suspected kidnappers was neutralised during the exchange, while others retreated through nearby forest routes toward the Ogun River.

“The attackers reportedly took five hostages as human shields while escaping from pursuing security operatives deployed as reinforcement.

“Four of the hostages were later killed by the fleeing gunmen before they escaped through a river channel using a boat.

“Surviving hostage reportedly informed security personnel that the attackers also took away the body of their dead accomplice,” he said.

He added that the operation recorded casualties among security personnel, with one soldier killed during the encounter.

He said that another soldier and two police officers sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.

He added that the remains of the slain soldier and recovered hostages had been deposited at the General Hospital mortuary in Sagamu.

Akari added that security agencies had intensified patrols and surveillance across the area to prevent further security breaches and restore public confidence.

He also reiterated the army’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property through sustained collaboration with other security agencies in the state. (NAN)

The Kwankwasiyya Movement has dismissed reports that its leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is planning to dump the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, following alleged disagreements over the party’s candidates’ list.

Spokesman of the movement, Habeeb Saleh Mohammed, said the claims circulating on social media were false and unfounded, insisting that Kwankwaso had not at any time discussed leaving the party.

“There was never a time it was discussed that our party leader is leaving the party. That is our position,” Mohammed said.

The clarification followed reports that Kwankwaso was threatening to pull his political structure out of the NDC after the party’s national leadership allegedly replaced some Kano candidates submitted by the Kwankwasiyya camp.

The reported disagreement was said to have stemmed from moves to enforce a 60/40 power-sharing formula allegedly agreed within the party.

But Mohammed said the movement followed due process in conducting its primaries in line with the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

“According to the law and the INEC timetable, we conducted our primaries on the 29th of last month across the nation. Before that date, there were processes that led to consensus, and candidates emerged for each position. There were no complaints from any segment of party members or contestants,” he said.

He maintained that the exercise was successful, adding that the results had already been forwarded to the party leadership for necessary action.

According to him, the movement remains united and focused, despite attempts to create confusion through social media reports.

The spokesman urged members of the public to disregard the rumours, stressing that Kwankwaso and his supporters remain committed to the party.

Reports had gone viral on Monday claiming that Kwankwaso, described as the NDC vice-presidential candidate, had resolved to leave the party in protest over its alleged refusal to accept the list of consensus candidates from Kano State.

France captain Kylian Mbappe believes he can score more goals than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The tournament begins this week in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with many of football’s biggest stars expected to shine.

In a fun interview with football content creator Finn Agostinelli, also known as Fiago Ball, Mbappe was asked to predict which players would score the most goals at the World Cup.

He first chose Spain’s young star Lamine Yamal over several top attackers, including Florian Wirtz, Memphis Depay, Mohamed Salah, and Erling Haaland.

Mbappe then picked his Real Madrid teammate Vinicius Junior to score more goals than Yamal and England captain Harry Kane.

As the choices narrowed, he selected Lionel Messi ahead of Vinicius and then chose Cristiano Ronaldo over Messi.

However, when asked to choose between himself and Ronaldo, Mbappe backed himself to finish with more goals.

The prediction highlights the confidence of the 27-year-old forward, who is considered one of the favourites to win the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer.

Mbappe will lead France’s attack as they aim to win their second World Cup title in three tournaments after lifting the trophy in 2018 and finishing runners-up in 2022.

Meanwhile, Messi and Ronaldo are expected to make what could be their final World Cup appearances, adding extra excitement to the competition.

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority has unveiled a new operating schedule for the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line, introducing additional train services and earlier departures in response to rising passenger demand.

The revised timetable, which comes into effect on June 15, 2026, will see the number of daily train journeys rise from 90 to 94. Weekday and Saturday services will also commence at 6:00am, thirty minutes earlier than the current start time.

The changes were announced in a statement released on Tuesday by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, through his official X account.

Announcing the development, the statement said, “LAMATA has announced a major enhancement to the Lagos Rail Mass Transit, Blue Line service, increasing daily train operations from 90 to 94 trips and shifting the start of weekday and Saturday services to 6:00 AM from the previous 6:30 AM.”

According to the transport authority, the adjustments are intended to improve travel convenience, shorten waiting periods and cater to the increasing number of passengers using the rail line.

“The revised timetable, effective Monday, June 15, 2026, is designed to improve passenger convenience, reduce waiting times, and accommodate the growing number of commuters who rely on the rail corridor for faster, more reliable transportation,” it stated.

LAMATA explained that the earlier departures would help passengers beat heavy road traffic during the morning rush.

Providing further details, the authority said, “Under the new schedule, trains will begin operations 30 minutes earlier from Monday to Saturday, enabling thousands of commuters to start their journeys ahead of peak road traffic.”

Although operating hours will still end at 9:30pm, the increase in daily services is expected to enhance the passenger experience.

It added that “while the service will continue to close at 9:30 PM, the increase to 94 daily trips is expected to further ease platform congestion and improve travel efficiency.”

The authority also announced an improvement to Sunday services. Train operations on Sundays will increase from 22 to 24 trips, with departures maintained at 30-minute intervals throughout the day.

Commenting on the adjustment, LAMATA said, “Sunday operations also received a boost, increasing from 22 to 24 trips, with trains running at consistent 30-minute intervals throughout the operational period, offering passengers greater predictability and convenience.”

The agency linked the expansion to the steady growth in patronage recorded since commercial passenger operations began in September 2023.

“The latest upgrade reflects the growing popularity of the Blue Line since passenger operations commenced on September 4, 2023,” the statement said.

LAMATA noted that the rail service has become a vital component of the state’s transport network, having moved millions of passengers since its launch.

Highlighting the achievement, the authority stated, “Since launch, the rail system has transported more than six million passengers, underscoring its critical role in transforming urban mobility and reducing travel times across the city.”

The latest service enhancement forms part of ongoing efforts by the Lagos State Government to strengthen public transportation and provide residents with efficient alternatives to road travel.

Bayse Markets, Africa’s prediction market platform, has placed President Bola Tinubu as the slight favourite to win Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, with traders assigning him a 51% probability of securing another term in office.

According to data the platform, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, follows closely behind with a 50% probability, highlighting what analysts describe as a highly competitive outlook for the next presidential contest.

Bayse Markets allows users to trade on the likelihood of future events by buying and selling positions based on their expectations of outcomes. The platform says its market prices reflect the collective judgment of participants who are willing to back their views with real money.

The company clarified that the percentages do not represent projected vote shares. Rather, each candidate is listed in a separate market where traders assess the probability of that individual becoming Nigeria’s next president.

Under that structure, Tinubu’s 51% probability and Obi’s 50% probability are independent assessments and should not be added together. A candidate’s percentage reflects the market’s estimate of their chances of winning rather than the proportion of votes they are expected to receive.

The platform also features a market for Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, indicating that some traders believe he could emerge as a significant contender in the race.

Observers note that the market’s close pricing between Tinubu and Obi reflects the enduring political debates surrounding the 2023 presidential election.

Tinubu won the 2023 election with 36.6% of the vote, the lowest winning percentage recorded by a successful presidential candidate since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999. The election generated extensive legal and political disputes, including challenges related to the conduct of the poll and the deployment of electoral technology.

Although the courts ultimately upheld Tinubu’s victory, discussions surrounding the election have remained a prominent feature of Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly among supporters of opposition candidates.

Political analysts say the narrow gap between Tinubu and Obi on Bayse Markets suggests that traders expect the 2027 election to be highly competitive, with public sentiment likely to be influenced by factors such as economic performance, security conditions, party alignments, defections, and judicial decisions over the next two years.

Unlike traditional opinion polls, prediction markets aggregate the views of participants who place financial stakes on outcomes, causing probabilities to fluctuate as new information emerges.

Bayse Markets said users can monitor and trade the 2027 presidential election market in real time through its platform, where prices adjust continuously based on market activity and evolving political developments.

The platform has also launched markets covering other political contests, including the upcoming Osun State governorship election, allowing users to track changing expectations ahead of key electoral events.

The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) has accused the United States of withdrawing its ticket allocation for Iranian supporters ahead of the forthcoming World Cup.

“With less than three days remaining until the start of the 2026 World Cup, the United States has once again acted to obstruct the presence of Iranian supporters.

“It wants to obstruct at the stadiums hosting the national team’s three group stage matches,” the FFIRI said in a statement.

“This is inspite the fact that many Iranian football fans, relying on the officially announced process, had already made the necessary plans to attend the matches.”

Under FIFA rules, each participating football federation is entitled to receive eight per cent of the total tickets allocated for its team’s matches.

The FFIRI said the move by U.S. authorities was contrary to the spirit governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries.

The federation also called on FIFA to “uphold the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations.”

Iran is scheduled to play New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium at the same venue six days later.

It would then take on Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Iran has already faced difficulties with the United States in the buildup to the World Cup as tensions involving Israel, the United States and Iran continue.

The team was forced to move its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to the Mexican city of Tijuana at short notice.

Iranian officials also said the team must travel to and from its matches in the United States on the same day, while U.S. visas have reportedly been denied to what the federation described as “integral” members of the team staff.

The development comes a day after a Somali referee, who was among the 52 officials selected by FIFA for the tournament, was reportedly denied entry into the United States and forced to return to Istanbul. (Xinhua/NAN)

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats as part of efforts to prevent a possible outbreak in Nigeria following the resurgence of the disease in parts of Africa.

The President also approved the immediate release of N10 billion as emergency intervention funding to strengthen the country’s preparedness and response capacity against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the fund will be deployed to boost the operational readiness of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical emergency public health response activities nationwide.

The newly established Presidential Task Force will be chaired by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and will comprise representatives of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as state government officials.

The development follows reports of a resurgence of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, prompting heightened concern over the risk of cross-border transmission.

Tinubu’s approval came after a high-level stakeholders’ meeting chaired by Gbajabiamila to assess Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies to prevent the importation of the virus into the country.

Participants at the meeting included representatives of the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Lagos State Government and other key stakeholders.

As part of the response measures, the President directed all states with international airports and border corridors, as well as relevant government agencies, to submit detailed preparedness plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for coordinated implementation.

The task force is expected to immediately intensify passenger screening at international airports through enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control measures. Authorities will also strengthen surveillance of travellers arriving through identified high-risk airline routes, including Air Uganda, RwandAir, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines.

In addition, referral and isolation centres are to be activated immediately at the international airports in Lagos and Abuja, with similar facilities to be established at other airports across the country.

The government also ordered the activation of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for passengers arriving from or transiting through designated high-risk countries.

Other precautionary measures include the disinfection of departure halls, baggage handling areas, cargo facilities and other airport infrastructure.

President Tinubu further directed the task force to work closely with security, diplomatic and aviation authorities on possible regulations affecting flights from affected countries. The committee will also consider designating specific terminals or airports for high-risk flights and adjusting flight schedules to minimise interaction between high-risk passengers and other travellers.

The administration said the measures are aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s disease surveillance system and preventing a repeat of past public health emergencies.

By Imelda Osayande

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo has said promoting insecurity would not guarantee the perpetrators seats in the Senate, House of Representatives, or the presidency, as there is no vacancy in Aso Rock.

Okpebholo said this while warning those he accused of sponsoring insecurity in the country to distract President Tinubu to desist and allow the president to focus on governance on Tuesday in Benin.

He spoke at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign for Local Government Council elections in the Edo South Senatorial District.

He said insecurity had suddenly increased in the country, alleging that it had been orchestrated to tarnish the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.

“There is no vacancy in Aso Rock. They can even kidnap all of us–yes, there is no vacancy in Aso Rock. What is happening today is the handiwork of the opposition.

“They have failed. Have they not failed? Is it by kidnapping children? Then who are you going to govern? There will be nobody for you to govern. So let them give us peace so that we can rule well,” Okpebholo said.

The governor reiterated that the President had done more for the country than his predecessors.

He noted that the impact of removal of the fuel subsidy had been seen and felt in various projects dotting the state.

He commended those who scaled through the party’s primary election to emerge as candidates for the forthcoming council elections.

He said their victories would signal the possibility of delivering the 2.5 million votes pledged to President Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking also, the party’s chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, described the APC as the only viable party in the state.

He urged the candidates to take the message of the governor’s developmental strides to the nooks and crannies of the state, and to replicate it in their various local government areas.

The highpoint of the event was the official unveiling of the Edo South candidates of the party by the governor, including Ogbeide Ihama as senate, Dr Paddy Iyamu -Oredo federal constituency, Omorede Igbinedion -and Ovia Federal constituency among others

(NAN)

The Federal Government has announced that the first batch of Nigerians returning from South Africa due to ongoing xenophobic attacks will arrive in the country on Thursday.

According to a statement released on Tuesday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the returnees are expected to land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at approximately 5:00 a.m.

The statement noted that the evacuation flight, which will be operated by Air Peace, is scheduled to depart O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday night before arriving in Lagos early Thursday morning.

The repatriation exercise is part of efforts by the Nigerian government to ensure the safety and welfare of its citizens affected by the recent wave of violence and hostility directed at foreigners in South Africa.

Authorities said arrangements have been made to receive the returnees upon arrival and provide the necessary support to help them settle back into the country.

The Federal Government had earlier announced that it was working closely with relevant agencies and Nigerian diplomatic officials in South Africa to facilitate the voluntary return of citizens who no longer feel safe remaining in the country.

The latest development follows reports of renewed xenophobic attacks in several South African communities, which have left many foreign nationals, including Nigerians, living in fear and uncertainty.

The Nigerian government has repeatedly condemned the attacks and called on South African authorities to take urgent and decisive measures to protect lives and property, regardless of nationality.

Officials have also expressed disappointment over what they described as the recurring nature of xenophobic violence in South Africa, despite previous commitments by the country’s authorities to prevent such incidents.

Meanwhile, the government has assured Nigerians in South Africa that it remains committed to their safety and will continue to monitor the situation while exploring further measures to assist those affected by the unrest.