Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

The Federal Government has announced that the Dangote Group will reassign workers who were earlier removed from their jobs at the refinery.

This follows an agreement reached between the company and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

According to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, the affected workers will be posted to other Dangote companies and will not lose their salaries.

He said:

‘After reviewing the disengagement process, it was agreed that the management of Dangote Group should begin reassigning the workers immediately.

No worker will be punished for their role in the dispute between Dangote and PENGASSAN.’

The minister added that PENGASSAN had agreed to call off its strike after both sides reached a compromise.

He also reminded the parties that union membership is the right of every worker under Nigerian law.

The dispute began when PENGASSAN accused the refinery management of unfairly transferring and dismissing union members, and replacing some Nigerians with foreign workers.

The union said these actions violated labour laws and reduced job opportunities for locals.

The refinery, however, denied these claims, saying the changes in its workforce were only due to operational needs and had nothing to do with union activities.

The disagreement escalated when PENGASSAN stopped the supply of gas and crude oil to the refinery, raising concerns about the effect on Nigeria’s energy supply.

The Federal Government stepped in, warning that the standoff could harm the economy and energy security, and later helped both sides reach an agreement.

Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has cancelled his planned Independence Day parade.

This is contained in a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Mr Declan Emelumba in Owerri, on Wednesday.

Emelumba said that all public activities, including parades, earlier scheduled to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria, had been cancelled.

He added that the governor would, however, deliver his Independence Day broadcast to the people of Imo as planned.

‘All residents are, therefore, advised to commemorate the anniversary quietly in their homes and to offer prayers for the peace, progress, and unity of Nigeria and her leaders.

‘The government of Imo state wishes all citizens a peaceful and reflective 65th Independence Anniversary,’ he said.

No reason was, however, given for the cancellation.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) pulled off a dramatic 2-1 away victory over Barcelona on Tuesday night, with Gonçalo Ramos scoring in the 90th minute to silence the Camp Nou.

The game, overseen by English referee Michael Oliver, was a gripping contest that swung from Barcelona’s early dominance to PSG’s late heroics.

Barcelona struck first in the 19th minute when Marcus Rashford slipped a neat pass to Ferran Torres, who finished low into the corner to give Hansi Flick’s side the lead.

The Catalans looked in control for much of the first half, with Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo creating chances, though wasteful finishing denied them a second goal.

PSG clawed back into the game in the 38th minute. Nuno Mendes carved open Barcelona’s defence with a clever through ball, releasing Senny Mayulu, who calmly slotted into the right side of the net to level the tie.

The second half saw end-to-end action. Barcelona pushed forward through Yamal, who narrowly missed the target in the 80th minute, while PSG’s Kang-In Lee rattled the post in the 83rd, as both sides hunted for a winner.

The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time. Achraf Hakimi surged forward and found Ramos inside the box, the Portuguese forward coolly driving a low shot past Wojciech Szczesny to complete PSG’s comeback.

American female rappers Cardi B and Nicki Minaj, have reignited their 7-year-long beef by throwing insults to each other online.

The drama which started on X on Tuesday, started with Nicki Minaj throwing shades at Cardi B’s pregnancy and music.

She claimed that the rapper inflated her album sales, while calling her out for having a forth child with Stefon Diggs, despite being legally married to Offset.

‘A b c d e f Gree. Sur ger ree to look like meee. A b c d e f g Rap like Barney still UGLEEE. Barney B. Raw doggin pregnant with da 4th babeeeee. Barney B.BV HPV allegedlyyyyy,’ she wrote.

Cardi B then responded to the insults by calling her out for not being on the same league with the set of artists she started music with.

‘Why do you keep bringing up my album? It’s not the gag that you think it is. You’ve been in the game like 16 years, you need to compare yourself to YOUR peers that started around your time. Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Drake, those are the numbers you should be competing with, and you can’t because you’re doing lower than all of them. I was in high school when you came out. wtf are you comparing yourself to me?,’ she wrote.

The rapper also claimed that Nicki Minaj was trying to shame her with her pregnancy but has been visiting fertility clinics to get pregnant.

‘Alright now, this is the third tweet talking about my pregnancy, like you weren’t going to different fertility doctors cuz you couldn’t reproduce from all the percs scrambling your eggs. NOT ALLEGEDLY, lord protect my babies,’ she added.

The Federal High Court in Enugu has ordered the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to suspend all admission activities for the 2025/2026 academic session.

The ruling came from Justice A.T. Segun-Bello after a group of students took the matter to court.

The applicants Chibuzor Success, Oyeleye Zainab Ayomide, Adedeji John Samuel, Monsura Aliat Aduragbem, and Bassey Daniel Nsikak filed the case on behalf of many other candidates who sat for the post-UTME examinations in the two universities.

They asked the court to issue an urgent order to stop the institutions and JAMB from releasing or approving admission lists until their complaints are heard.

According to them, allowing the schools to continue with the process would affect their chances and make the case useless.

Justice Segun-Bello agreed that the issue raised by the students was important and needed to be carefully considered.

The judge therefore directed that both the universities and JAMB must be formally notified to respond.

Meanwhile, he ordered that all parties should maintain the current situation and not take any further steps with the admission list until the case is resolved.

This means that no admission list for the 2025/2026 academic year can be released or finalized by UNILAG, OAU, or JAMB until the court gives a final decision.

The case has been adjourned to October 28, 2025, when both sides are expected to present their arguments.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has hailed President Bola Tinubu’s infrastructural strides, while congratulating the nation at 65.

Umahi gave the commendation in his Independence congratulatory message on Wednesday in Abuja.

He felicitated all Nigerians on the 2025 anniversary, adding that the anniversary is a celebration of the sacrifices and vision of the nation’s heroic leaders.

He said the leaders play prominent role in shaping the trajectory of Nigeria’s journey towards independence and national development.

Umahi added that the Independence celebration should also inspire citizen’s reflections on the milestones achieved and the challenges that confront the nation.

‘The coming on board of the Renewed Hope administration of our dear President has provided a turning point to the wheels of the developmental progress of our nation.

‘The President is changing the developmental trajectory of our nation through his Renewed Hope Agenda designed to turn our challenges into opportunities and our diversities into prosperity.

‘Today, the benefits are manifest. He has returned our country to the part of glory through massive investment in the critical infrastructure across the six geopolitical zones and through other social economic interventions.’ he said

Umahi said the strides would now stimulate progressive and sustainable economic growth.

He explained that in the works sector, a lot had been done by the President to address the burden of inherited road infrastructural deficits across Nigeria.

The minister added that the four Renewed Hope legacy projects were a part of measures to expand the frontiers of the economic ecosystems and stimulate the geometric growth of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to him, Nigerians are witnesses to the progress he has made so far on road infrastructural development.

‘As we celebrate a new dawn in our journey of nationhood, may the spirit of freedom and unity continue to inspire every Nigerian to strive for a brighter future.

‘May the liberties we cherish inspire us to keep the integrity of our nation.

‘Let’s take a pledge to protect the peace, diversity, harmony, and unity of our great nation. Once again, congratulations to all Nigerians and have a blissful Independence Day celebration.’

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has stirred heated controversy after accusing the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, of having an affair with his ex-wife while they were still married.

In a viral video shared on his Instagram page, the outspoken monarch alleged that his former wife was introduced to him from Canada as part of a grand conspiracy to end his life and destabilize his reign.

‘My things are hidden. None of you can endure what these people have done to me. They packaged a woman for me. I didn’t know her from Canada. It was a setup. She was in my house for over three years, communicating with them and plotting my death,’ Oba Akanbi said.

He further claimed that the woman, who bore a child during their marriage, poisoned him twice and made multiple assassination attempts while secretly working with the Ooni of Ife and his allies.

‘She had a child, whom I don’t even know if he’s my child now. I have to confirm that through DNA,’ the monarch declared.

Oba Akanbi also alleged that after he sent the woman away, the Ooni arranged accommodation for her and the child and was allegedly with her at a hotel.

The monarch concluded by warning that his feud with the Ooni of Ife would ‘never end.’

Nigerian singer and songwriter Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, has broken new ground in her international career, becoming the first Nigerian female artist to sell over 10 million units in the United States.

The feat was confirmed on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, by Chart Data on X, which announced that her Grammy-winning collaboration with Future and Drake, WAIT FOR U, had officially crossed the 10 million sales mark.

The record places Tems in rare company, further solidifying her influence on the global stage. She has also etched another first, recently becoming the first African female artist to surpass one billion streams on Spotify.

Her rise to global stardom began in 2020 after her breakout feature on Wizkid’s Essence, and she has since amassed a string of accolades while embarking on a world tour that spans Africa, South America, and the United States.

For perspective, Wizkid remains the first Nigerian male artist to achieve a similar feat, after Drake’s One Dance hit Diamond certification in 2022.

Kogi Governor Ahmed Ododo has conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to the victims’ families and the entire Ibaji community over the recent boat mishap that claimed many lives.

The Governor expressed the sympathy during his visit to the Ejeh of Ibaji, HRM, John Egwemi on Wednesday.

Ododo was represented by his Deputy Joel Salifu, during the condolence visit to the palace of the Ejeh.

It would be recalled that a boat carrying scores of passengers on Sept. 30 capsized on the River Niger, leading to the death of over 20 persons with several others yet to be accounted for.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency and other critical stakeholders have been mobilised to the scene for fact-finding and rescue operations.

The governor assured the community that the state government would not relent until all efforts to rescue the remaining victims were fully exhausted.

‘We want to assure you that Ibaji is not alone; the government stands firmly with you in this trying period,’ he said.

He disclosed that a government delegation had already been dispatched to the scene of the incident to ascertain the level of casualties and provide immediate intervention.

Responding, the Ejeh of Ibaji, who is also the Chairman of Ibaji Area Traditional Council, described the tragedy as devastating, noting that accidents often occur without warning but leave behind deep scars.

Egwemi expressed gratitude to the governor for the visit and assured that the traditional council would continue to brief the state government on developments.

He confirmed that although many lives were lost in the mishap, some victims were rescued, while efforts were ongoing to recover others still missing.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a national broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, declared that the country has emerged from its most turbulent years and is now firmly on the path to recovery.

Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, in a nationwide brodacast, the President reassured citizens that the painful reforms of the last two years were beginning to bear fruit.

‘I am pleased to report that we have finally turned the corner. The worst is over, I say. Yesterday’s pains are giving way to relief. I salute your endurance, support, and understanding,’ he told Nigerians in his address.

Tinubu said the economy had begun to stabilise with encouraging indicators, pointing to the nation’s strongest growth in recent years.

According to him, the Gross Domestic Product rose by 4.23 percent in the second quarter of 2025, the fastest pace in four years and well above the International Monetary Fund’s projection of 3.4 percent.

He noted that inflation had slowed to 20.12 percent in August, its lowest level in three years, while food costs were gradually easing due to improvements in agricultural production.

The President also underlined what he described as ‘remarkable economic milestones’ achieved under his watch, including a healthier fiscal position, rising foreign reserves, a return to trade surpluses, and a stable exchange rate.

He said Nigeria’s external reserves had risen to $42.03 billion, the highest since 2019, while the country had posted five consecutive quarters of trade surplus, with non-oil exports almost on par with oil exports.

Tinubu further drew attention to the rebound in oil production and the stabilisation of the naira.

‘The multiple exchange rates which fostered corruption and arbitrage are now part of history. Our currency rate is no longer dictated solely by fluctuations in crude oil prices. Nigeria is selling more to the world than it is buying, and this is strengthening our economy,’ he explained.

The President said his government had redirected billions of naira saved from the removal of fuel subsidy into investments in infrastructure and social welfare.

He announced that N330 billion had already been disbursed to eight million vulnerable households across the country, while rail and highway projects were progressing in every region.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s position in the global economy, Tinubu argued that the reforms had restored investor confidence.

‘The world is taking notice of our efforts. Sovereign credit rating agencies have upgraded their outlook for Nigeria, recognising our improved economic fundamentals. Our stock market is booming, and for the first time in years, the Central Bank has cut interest rates, signalling confidence in our macroeconomic stability,’ he said.

Tinubu reassured citizens that the sacrifices of the past were not in vain.

‘We are building a Nigeria that works. The journey ahead is brighter than the days behind. I will continue to work for you and justify the confidence you have reposed in me to steer the ship of our nation to a safe harbour,’ he declared.