Tinubu: Backing Dangote Refinery Was a Strategic Move

  President Bola Tinubu has justified his administration’s backing of the Dangote Refinery, warning that Nigeria might have plunged into a serious crisis amid ongoing global tensions without a functioning local refinery. The remarks were made on Thursday on the sidelines of the 13th Africa CEO Forum in Rwanda. Tinubu said the country’s large population and dependence on petroleum products made it imperative to support domestic refining initiatives such as the Dangote refinery. “Today, with the crisis around the whole world. particularly around conflict, Nigeria wouldn’t be able to survive, over 200 million people, without a refinery,” he said. He added that supporting the refinery was a strategic decision aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s energy security and reducing dependence on imported fuel. “A risk-taker like the Dangote Refinery must be encouraged by the government in power. What I did was support him, give him free trade for his own licence, and support him in his efforts to source the crude that is necessary. Today, he is the exporter of both the PMS, aviation fuel,” he added. The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, where ongoing conflicts and security threats around major oil-producing and shipping routes have continued to raise concerns over global crude supply and fuel prices. The instability has contributed to volatility in the international energy market, with several countries reviewing energy security measures and seeking to reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum products. The Dangote refinery, owned by billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote, began fuel production amid efforts by the Federal Government to end decades of dependence on imported refined products. The facility has been projected to significantly reduce pressure on foreign exchange demand and strengthen Nigeria’s energy independence.

Breaking: Seyi Makinde Announces 2027 Presidential Bid on APM Platform against Bola Tinubu

  Seyi Makinde on Thursday announced plans to run in Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), potentially setting the stage for a showdown with President Bola Tinubu. Makinde made the declaration during a large political gathering at Mapo Hill in Ibadan, Oyo State, where supporters of both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APM gathered. Addressing supporters at the event, the governor said Nigeria needs “a new direction driven by competence, inclusion, and grassroots development,” while calling for broader political cooperation beyond traditional party divisions. The announcement immediately generated reactions across political circles, as many asked if the governor has what it takes to face president Tinubu in the ring. Supporters at the rally waved party banners and raised cassava stems into the air as symbolic representations of grassroots mobilisation and economic resilience, while chants of support filled the venue after the declaration. The development is expected to intensify political realignments ahead of 2027, especially in the South-West, where both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition blocs are already positioning for future contests. Security personnel maintained a strong presence around the rally venue as celebrations continue.

Report: Femi Otedola Acquires £53m Mansion in London

  Femi Otedola has reportedly purchased a London mansion valued at £53 million (approximately $72 million), marking another major deal in the city’s upscale property market, according to a Thursday report by Bloomberg. The 10-bedroom property is located in St John’s Wood, a high-end district in London, a short distance from Regent’s Park. Bloomberg reports that the purchase was completed late last year, according to a UK filing. The property, built in 2016, reportedly includes luxury facilities such as a cinema, spa and cigar room. It was previously listed for £75 million in 2020, according to media reports. Otedola is the chairman and majority shareholder of First HoldCo Plc, one of Nigeria’s largest financial services groups, with investments spanning energy, finance, shipping and insurance brokerage. The deal highlights continued activity in London’s prime residential property market, despite pressure from higher property taxes and changes to tax incentives for foreign residents. London’s high-end property market remains a key destination for ultra-wealthy global buyers, with luxury homes in areas such as St John’s Wood, Belgravia and Chelsea often attracting multimillion-pound deals despite fluctuations in the broader UK housing market. The acquisition adds to Otedola’s portfolio of luxury assets and reinforces the long-standing appeal of London’s upscale neighbourhoods among wealthy Nigerian businessmen and executives. In recent years, several Nigerian banking and business figures have been linked to high-value properties in the UK capital. In 2025, Access Bank Chief Executive Officer Roosevelt Ogbonna reportedly acquired a £15 million property in Hampstead, an affluent London district often associated with wealthy foreign investors. St John’s Wood, where Otedola’s new mansion is located, is regarded as one of London’s most exclusive residential areas, known for its detached luxury homes, privacy and proximity to Regent’s Park and the Lord’s Cricket Ground. Okiki Adeduyite Okiki is a journalist with over seven years experience covering politics, foreign news, society, entertainment and the film industry.

JUST IN: EFCC Arrest Energy Commission DG over Alleged N500bn Fraud

  Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, over alleged money laundering offences. A source within the anti-graft agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, disclosed on Wednesday that Abdullahi was arrested in Abuja and is currently in the custody of the commission. According to the source, the alleged fraud involves funds estimated at N500bn. “We have arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, for money laundering offences. He was arrested and is currently in our custody. The money is to the tune of N500bn,” the official said. Efforts to get confirmation from the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, were unsuccessful as he could not be reached as of the time of filing this report. President Bola Tinubu had on October 24, 2023 appointed Abdullahi as Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria. Details later…

World Cup Transport Fares Slashed Following Fan Outrage in New Jersey

  Transport costs for matches at the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 have been reduced after strong backlash from fans over what were described as excessive fares for services to venues in the United States. As reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday, prices for train and shuttle bus travel to MetLife Stadium, which will be referred to as New York/New Jersey Stadium during the tournament, were initially set at levels supporters criticised as far above normal rates. Following the criticism, rail ticket prices have been reduced from 98 (£73), while shuttle bus fares have been cut from 20 (£15). The venue will host eight World Cup matches, including one of England’s group-stage fixtures and a semi-final The Football Supporters’ Association’s England fan representative, Thomas Concannon, had earlier condemned the pricing as “astronomical,” arguing it was “completely out of the norm” compared with standard transport fares. For comparison, a return rail journey from Penn Station in Manhattan to the stadium typically costs around $`12.90 (£9.50), highlighting the scale of the initial pricing. New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill said the revised fares were made possible through commercial sponsorship and would not rely on taxpayer funding. She said the changes were aimed at making travel more affordable for fans attending matches. “Good news: Ahead of NJ Transit World Cup train tickets going on sale, NJ Transit is lowering ticket prices to `$98 without New Jersey taxpayer money. “Thank you to our partners for helping make this possible,” Sherrill said. New York Governor Kathy Hochul also welcomed the reductions, saying access to the tournament should be as affordable as possible. She announced a 75% cut in round-trip bus fares and said a portion of tickets would be reserved for New York residents. Despite the reductions in New Jersey, concerns remain over transport pricing in other host cities, with fans travelling to Foxborough in Boston facing significantly higher fares compared with usual rates. England and Scotland supporters are expected to be among those affected, with fixtures scheduled across multiple US venues during the tournament. The pricing adjustments come amid continued scrutiny of logistics and affordability as preparations intensify for the expanded 2026 World Cup across North America.  

BREAKING: Court Jails Former Power Minister Mamman for 75 years

  Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court on Wednesday sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years in prison over corruption allegations connected to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects. The trial judge convicted Mamman on a 12-count charge and held that the prison terms would run consecutively, bringing the total sentence to 75 years. Justice Omotosho further ordered that the jail term would begin from the day the convict is arrested. The judge also directed all security agencies to arrest Mamman wherever he is found. The court equally ordered that all monies and properties recovered from the former minister be forfeited to the Federal Government, while directing him to refund the outstanding balance from the alleged N22bn linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects. More details later…  

Perez Seeks Re-election as Real Madrid President

  Real Madrid president Florentino Perez on Tuesday called club elections and announced that he would stand again. “I am not going to resign,” the 79-year-old Perez told a press conference towards the end of a season in which Real Madrid will finish trophyless. Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 2-0 in the Clasico at Camp Nou on Sunday to claim back-to-back La Liga titles with three games to spare. Madrid bowed out of the Champions League with a quarter-final exit against Bayern Munich. Current Real coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who replaced Xabi Alonso in January, is unlikely to remain at the helm next season and former Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has been linked with a potential return. This season has seen Madrid finish without a major trophy for a second year running. Fans have been protesting against star player Kylian Mbappe for a perceived lack of commitment, while there are stories of multiple training ground bust-ups, including one that sent midfielder Fede Valverde to the hospital. Perez justified his bid for a new term in response to what he dubbed an “absurd campaign” against Real Madrid. “I’ve made this decision because an absurd situation has been created to generate a tide of opinion against the interests of Real Madrid,” argued Perez. “I’ve been here 26 years, and it’s been a wonderful time.” Perez took aim at media campaigns and other personalities, claiming they were taking advantage of this season’s poor results to target him personally. “I want to put an end to this anti-Madrid current that wants to destroy Real Madrid,” he said. “I’m standing for re-election to return the club’s assets to its members. “If anyone wants to run, they shouldn’t just pretend — let them run, but let them say what they’re going to do, how they’re going to finance everything.” Perez added: “They say out there that Real Madrid is a problem case, but it’s the most prestigious club in the world.” But he admitted that he was as frustrated as the rest of Madrid’s fans about the lack of trophies for the second consecutive year and also about the altercation between Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni. “I think it is very bad and I think it’s even worse that it was made public,” Perez said of the clash, which ended with both players being fined 500,000 euros. Perez added that he and his backers were putting together a 500-page dossier that he will send to UEFA over allegations of corruption in Spanish refereeing. “It’s the most serious case of corruption in football,” he said. “I’ve only won seven Champions League titles and seven league titles, when I could have won 14 because the others were stolen from me.” Barcelona are currently being investigated by Spanish authorities in a sports corruption case after paying the former vice-president of Spain’s refereeing committee (CTA), Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, seven million euros ($8.3 million) over several years. The club deny any wrongdoing.  

UPDATED: Popular Nollywood Actor Alex Ekubo Passes away at 40

  Popular Nollywood actor, Alex Ekubo, is dead. He was 40. His death was confirmed on Tuesday by his colleagues, Funke Akindele, Bolanle Ninalowo, and Godwin Nnadiekwe, who claimed to be his ally. Sharing on her Instagram story, Akindele wrote, “Hmmmmmm. Rest in peace, Alex. I tried to reach out to see you one more time, but I guess you knew best. May your kind soul rest in peace, Alex. ‘Ore mi like you fondly called me, I will always remember and cherish the good times we shared together. Rest in Peace, Alex.” Meanwhile, Ninalowo, who is now in the United States, also mourned on his page, writing, “Rest on, Alex. May God heal your family and us all.” Nnadiekwe, on the other hand, shared, “I’m struggling to find the words. This news has truly broken me. Nollywood has lost a rare soul, and I’m lost for words because this wasn’t the plan, Alex Ekubo. To think you already prepared your Will — It’s heartbroken, I can’t quite describe. Rest well, my friend.” As of the time of filing this report, his family has not issued a statement on his death. Recall that fans across social media recently expressed concerns for Ekubo following his first public appearance after months of social media silence. The light-skinned movie star had been absent from Instagram since December 30, 2024, sparking speculation about his well-being. However, a recent video that surfaced online brought him back into the spotlight, though it also raised further questions. In the viral clip, Ekubo was seen interacting with a group of children, appearing noticeably slimmer and subdued. The video, posted by user @AsakyGRN on X (formerly Twitter), was captioned, “Alex Ekubo spotted for the first time since disappearing from social media.” The footage triggered a wave of emotional reactions from fans, many of whom noted a significant change in his appearance and questioned his wellbeing. Before his demise, the actor dismissed marriage in favour of his quest to earn more money in the film industry. In January 2023, his then-lover, Fancy Acholonu, in an interview, revealed that she dated the late actor for five years without them having any intimacy. The US-based model also called off her wedding to Ekubo in December 2021, after apologising to the film star a year later for calling it off. Acholonu affirmed her love for the actor, saying that “like our shirt says, Nothing makes sense when we’re apart @alexxekubo you still have my heart. “I miss you, I love you, and I’m truly sorry for all the hurt & pain you and your family went through with our breakup.” She noted that her actions were out of character, and she has realised she could have controlled her emotions and not been so overreactive. However, in a post on his Instagram page, Ekubo implied that he was aware that some people were curious about why he has not yet been married. The film star said he was more interested in making money. He urged people not to bother about his marital status.  

FULL LIST: Dembélé, Olise Win as PSG Dominate 2025/26 Ligue 1 Awards

  Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain dominated the 2025/26 UNFP Awards ceremony held in Paris on Monday, with forward, Ousmane Dembélé, named Ligue 1 Player of the Year. The French winger secured the honour for the second time in his career after an impressive campaign with PSG, succeeding former teammate, Kylian Mbappé, who won the award five consecutive times before joining Real Madrid. The 2025 Ballon d’Or winner and recipient of ‘The Best’ award has been instrumental in 16 matches this season, with 10 goals and 6 assists. In 2026, he has also recorded 12 direct goal contributions in the league, just one fewer than Esteban Lepaul. Reacting after receiving the award, Dembélé credited his teammates for his success. “This is an individual trophy, but all the individual trophies I’ve won are thanks to this team,” he said in a statement issued on Monday by PSG. PSG youngster, Désiré Doué, was also recognised for his performances this season after winning the Best Young Player award. In the coaching category, Pierre Sage was named Coach of the Year after guiding Lens to one of PSG’s closest title challenges during the campaign. Lens also produced the league’s Best Goalkeeper, with Robin Risser taking the award following a string of standout performances. Meanwhile, Michael Olise was named Best French Player Abroad after impressing for Bayern Munich this season. Full list of winners: Best Player: Ousmane Dembélé Best Young Player: Désiré Doué Best Coach: Pierre Sage Best Goalkeeper: Robin Risser Best French Player Abroad: Michael Olise

Suicide Bombing Claims Seven Lives in Pakistan

  At least seven people were killed and 20 others injured after a suicide attacker detonated explosives packed inside a three-wheel vehicle in northwestern Pakistan, police confirmed on Tuesday. The blast comes days after another suicide attack saw a car bomb detonate at a checkpoint in Bannu before militants opened fire on police, killing at least 15 people. “According to the initial reports, the suspected suicide attacker approached the two traffic police officers stationed at the checkpoint before blowing himself up,” senior police official Muhammad Sajjad Khan told AFP. Pakistan’s foreign ministry on Monday summoned the top Afghan diplomat in the country after concluding that a deadly suicide attack at the weekend was “masterminded by terrorists residing in Afghanistan”. Afghanistan’s Taliban government has repeatedly denied Pakistan’s accusations that Afghan territory was a safe harbour for militants. The frosty relationship between the neighbouring countries has spiralled into deadly armed conflict in recent months, including Pakistani airstrikes on cities in Afghanistan. AFP