advertise with us
Home Blog Page 127

Nigerian Govt gives update on fire outbreak at Lagos Airport

By
Editor
-
0

The Nigerian government, through the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has confirmed a fire outbreak at Terminal One of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

In a statement posted on its official X handle on Monday, FAAN disclosed that its firefighting team swiftly mobilized to the scene and is actively working to contain the blaze.

According to the authority, no loss of life has been recorded, while emergency response operations remain ongoing.

Eyewitnesses reported heavy smoke and panic at the terminal earlier in the day as passengers and airport personnel were being orderly evacuated from the affected area.

FAAN said it has activated mutual aid arrangements to strengthen response efforts, calling for reinforcements from the Lagos State Government, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, and other relevant emergency agencies.

“We wish to reassure the public that no loss of life has been recorded at this time, and all necessary measures are being taken to safeguard lives and property,” the statement read.

FAAN added that further verified updates would be communicated as the situation develops.

TRUMP: US Court Orders ICE to release Nigerian immigrant

By
Editor
-
0

A district court in Minnesota, United States, has directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release Nigerian national Michael Opeoluwa Egbele from custody.

Egbele, who entered the United States in 2003 without legal documentation, was arrested in 2012 over a drug-related offense. Following his arrest, immigration authorities initiated deportation proceedings against him.

 

In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Senior U.S. District Judge John M. Gerrard ordered ICE to free Egbele in line with the conditions outlined in his existing Order of Supervision. The court gave immigration authorities until February 20, 2026, to comply and submit a status report confirming his release.

 

“The government shall immediately release the petitioner from custody subject to and in accordance with the conditions in his preexisting Order of Supervision,” the judge ruled.

 

He further directed that, “No later than February 20, 2026, the government shall file a status report certifying compliance with this order.”

 

Egbele’s immigration troubles date back to 2012, when he was charged in court following his arrest. During the proceedings, he applied for asylum and sought to have his deportation withheld.

 

However, an immigration judge denied his asylum application and ordered his removal in July 2012. Despite the removal order, authorities did not carry out the deportation, and Egbele did not file an appeal against the decision.

Spotify Rankings: Nigerian Tems overtakes Tyla as African Artist with most Listeners

By
Editor
-
0

Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, known as Tems, has outclassed South African star Tyla to become the African artist with the highest number of monthly listeners on Spotify.

The “Love Me Jeje” hitmaker recently climbed to 38.3 million monthly listeners on the streaming platform, narrowly surpassing Tyla’s 38.2 million.

Tems’ latest milestone follows a string of new releases and high-profile collaborations, including What You Need (Colour Version) and Bounce Road Blues featuring J. Cole and Future, as well as her joint track Raindance with British rapper Dave, which continues to gain traction.

 

With the current momentum, Tems appears on course to challenge—and potentially surpass—the all-time record of 40 million monthly listeners by an African artist, previously set by Tyla.

 

Beyond monthly listeners, Tems also holds the record as the most-streamed female African artist on Spotify, amassing over 4.7 billion streams across all credits.

‘I’ve tried’—Nollywood actor, Kunle Afod speaks as marriage with Desola crashes

By
Editor
-
0

Popular Nollywood actor and filmmaker Kunle Afod is reportedly facing turbulence in his marriage to Desola.

Rumors of a possible breakup between the couple surfaced online over the weekend, sparking widespread reactions on social media. According to reports, Desola allegedly moved out of the actor’s residence and is temporarily staying at a hotel.

Amid the growing speculation, Kunle Afod took to his Instagram page with a cryptic message that many believe alludes to the situation. In the post, the actor suggested he had made considerable efforts in the relationship.

“Wanting the best for myself. God knows that I have really tried. But since we’re still alive, we keep striving,” he wrote.

The message further intensified breakup rumors and triggered concern among fans. While several followers flooded the comment section seeking clarification about his wife’s whereabouts, others expressed worry over the actor’s emotional well-being.

Neither Kunle Afod nor Desola has officially confirmed the status of their marriage as of the time of filing this report.

FCT election: Atiku raises fresh alarm after ADC lost to APC

By
Editor
-
0

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the outcome of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, describing the low voter turnout recorded during Saturday’s polls as a troubling sign for Nigeria’s democracy.

In a statement shared on his verified X account on Sunday, Atiku said the poor participation in the elections reflected what he termed a growing crisis of confidence in the country’s democratic system under President Bola Tinubu.

 

The chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) argued that the low turnout in the nation’s capital was not coincidental but symptomatic of what he described as a toxic political climate characterized by intolerance, intimidation, and the suppression of opposition voices.

According to him, the Tinubu administration is narrowing the democratic space, targeting dissenters, and creating an atmosphere where alternative political opinions are perceived as threats.

“When citizens lose faith that their votes matter, democracy begins to die. This is not mere voter apathy. Democracy in Nigeria is being suffocated—slowly and dangerously,” he stated.

The Adamawa-born politician warned that continued erosion of participatory governance could inflict long-term damage on Nigeria’s democratic foundations. He urged opposition parties to close ranks and work together to safeguard the country’s democracy.

The elections saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) secure five of the six FCT Area Council chairmanship seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won one. The ADC failed to clinch any seat in the polls, which were widely reported to have been marked by low voter turnout.

UTME registration: Students mustn’t pay for system failures—Peter Obi tells JAMB, Nigerian Govt

By
Editor
-
0

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to ensure that candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are not made to suffer due to administrative shortcomings.

 

In a statement shared on his X handle on Monday, Obi expressed concern over the difficulties faced by students at registration centers nationwide, warning that logistical and systemic challenges could prevent many from sitting for the examination.

 

The former governor of Anambra State recalled that similar concerns were raised last year, particularly following the proscription of several Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers over alleged infractions. He noted that candidates, especially those dealing with issues at JAMB’s office in Amawbia, Anambra State, experienced significant hardship. Obi said there were high expectations that corrective measures would be introduced to address the challenges. However, he lamented that the situation appears not to have improved.

 

With the registration deadline set for the 26th, Obi warned that many candidates risk missing the examination due to ongoing administrative and logistical bottlenecks.

 

“Many candidates travel from distant villages, some even sleeping in Awka to secure access. If nothing urgent is done, some will miss the examination—not for lack of preparation, but because the system failed them,” he said.

 

He stressed the need for urgent and compassionate intervention to ensure that no young Nigerian’s future is jeopardized by avoidable administrative lapses, adding that students should not bear

2026 winter games: Obama singles out three athletes as he sends congratulatory message to Team US

By
Editor
-
0

Former United States President Barack Obama on Sunday congratulated American Olympic athletes for their impressive performances at the ongoing 2026 Winter Games in Italy, singling out three standout stars alongside the nation’s hockey teams.

In a post shared on X, Obama praised the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams for their achievements and commended individual athletes Alysa Liu, Breezy Johnson, and Mikaela Shiffrin for their remarkable displays.

“Congratulations to the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams, Alysa Liu, Breezy Johnson, Mikaela Shiffrin, and all the amazing Olympic athletes representing @TeamUSA,” the 44th US president wrote.

The congratulatory message followed a historic victory by the U.S. Men’s hockey team, which defeated Canada on Sunday to clinch gold for the first time since 1980, ending a 46-year wait.

Earlier, the women’s hockey team also secured gold after triumphing over Canada in a thrilling encounter.

Team USA is among several countries competing at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy, where athletes from around the world are showcasing their talents on the global stage.

EPL: Arsenal resurrect title hope after thrashing Tottenham 4-1

By
Editor
-
0

Arsenal reignited their Premier League title ambitions with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday’s North London derby.

The Gunners delivered a dominant performance at the Emirates Stadium, with Eberechi Eze netting a brace to set the tone for the hosts. Viktor Gyokeres also found the back of the net to seal an impressive win that keeps Arsenal firmly in the title race.

 

The comprehensive victory moves Arsenal five points clear of defending champions Manchester City at the top of the table, boosting their hopes of lifting the league trophy this season.

Nigeria’s capital importation surge fails to boost real sector – CPPE 

By
Editor
-
0

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has raised concerns that Nigeria’s sharp rebound in capital importation has yet to translate into meaningful gains in productivity and real-sector growth.

According to recent data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, capital inflows into the country surged by 380 percent year-on-year to $6.01 billion in the third quarter of 2025, up from $1.25 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.

The figures sparked optimism within the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reflecting renewed investor confidence in the economy.

However, reacting to the capital importation reports for the second and third quarters of 2025, CPPE, in a statement signed by its Chief Executive Director, Muda Yusuf, described the data as encouraging but cautioned that significant structural risks remain.

The think tank noted that a deeper breakdown of the inflows shows that most of the funds were channelled into the banking and financial services sector, with limited investment directed toward manufacturing, infrastructure, agro-processing, logistics, energy, and export-oriented industries.

CPPE stressed that while financial inflows have improved, they have not yet resulted in a substantial expansion of Nigeria’s productive capacity. It warned that without stronger capital allocation to the real sector, the economy may experience only marginal improvements in employment generation, productivity, and inclusive growth.

“Financial deepening without real-sector expansion risks creating a liquidity-driven recovery that does not fundamentally alter Nigeria’s productive base,” the statement said.

The organization urged policymakers to shift focus from a liquidity-driven rebound to an investment-led transformation strategy, emphasizing that converting short-term capital inflows into long-term productive investments is critical for sustainable growth, job creation, export diversification, and macroeconomic stability.

US: Nigerian Fashion designer shot dead in New York

By
Editor
-
0

A Nigerian fashion designer based in the United States, Sheriff Shittu, has been fatally shot following a dispute at a nightclub in Brooklyn, New York, United States.

The 30-year-old was reportedly killed in the early hours of February 14 at Quilox Restaurant and Lounge, situated in the East Flatbush area. The shooting is said to have occurred around 4:25 a.m.

 

Preliminary reports indicate that the suspected gunman had caused a disturbance inside the club and was being escorted out by security when the situation escalated. While being led away from the premises, the suspect allegedly pulled out a firearm and began shooting.

 

Witnesses claimed the individual had earlier acted disorderly and was accused of making inappropriate advances toward female guests, including Shittu’s girlfriend, which led to a heated confrontation.

 

Shittu had attended the birthday celebration of a friend at the club alongside his younger brother, Fawaz Shittu. Speaking after the incident, Fawaz recounted his desperate efforts to revive his brother after he was shot, describing the experience as heartbreaking.

 

A relative, Salem Shittu, questioned the club’s security protocols, expressing concern over how a weapon was able to bypass screening at the entrance. He suggested that tighter security checks might have averted the tragedy.

 

Authorities confirmed that the suspect fled the scene immediately after the shooting and is still at large. Investigations are ongoing.

 

Shittu was transported to One Brooklyn Health, where he was pronounced dead at its Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center facility.

 

Family members described him as a passionate and hardworking entrepreneur who had moved to the United States to expand his fashion brand and pursue better opportunities.

1...126127128...393Page 127 of 393

ABOUT US

Your trusted source for breaking news, politics, business, entertainment, sports, technology, and trending stories from Nigeria and around the world.

FOLLOW US

© Nigerian News Sphere