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Category: Politics

  • Governor Otu calls for unity and compassion as Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Fitr

    Governor Otu calls for unity and compassion as Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Fitr

    CALABAR, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 19, 2026 — Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, has extended warm felicitations to Muslim faithful in the state, across Nigeria, and around the world on the occasion of Eid-el-Fitr.

    The governor described the successful completion of Ramadan as a powerful testament to faith, discipline, sacrifice, and devotion to Almighty Allah, noting that Eid offers an opportunity to strengthen compassion, generosity, and selflessness.

    In a statement on Thursday, Otu emphasised that Eid is not just a celebration but a reminder of shared humanity, urging citizens to uphold love, kindness, tolerance, and unity — virtues he said are most needed in society today.

    “Let us use this moment to reach out to one another, support the less privileged, and continue to build bridges across religious and ethnic lines. Our diversity remains our strength, and together, we can build a more peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous Cross River State,” the statement read.

    Governor Otu reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that every citizen, regardless of faith or background, thrives in an environment of justice, equity, and mutual respect. He further urged the faithful to celebrate with moderation, gratitude, and a renewed dedication to peace and service to humanity.

  • Ebonyi EXCO wields the big stick: Rogue contractors, greedy house agents, scrap vandals face crackdown

    Ebonyi EXCO wields the big stick: Rogue contractors, greedy house agents, scrap vandals face crackdown

    ABAKALIKI, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 19, 2026 — The Ebonyi State Executive Council, in decisive sessions on March 4 and March 17, 2026, unleashed a wave of tough decisions to accelerate projects and clamp down on corruption, targeting education, agriculture, housing, rent regulation, and more.

    In a release by Barrister Chief Ikeuwa Omebeh, Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, the council, chaired by Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, ordered the immediate termination of abandoned 2-kilometre rural road projects where contractors either fled after payment or delivered disgracefully poor work.

    The EXCO also approved the release of Ebonyi State’s 10% counterpart funding of N300 million for RAAMP 2026.

    To smash skyrocketing rent costs driven by fraudulent agents, the council proposed a groundbreaking bill regulating landlord-tenant agreements and criminalising agent fees above 2% of total rent.

    In a bid to stop scrap dealers from vandalising public infrastructure, EXCO proposed a bill to regulate the buying, selling, possession, transportation, and disposal of metal and electrical scraps across the state.

    Agriculture received a thunderous boost with N500 million approved for 250 Agricultural Power Tillers, set for distribution to farmers ahead of the 2026 farming season.

    The EXCO was firm on the implmentyation of education reforms with a directive that contractors paid for 22 model secondary schools, but failing to reach parapet level must be arrested until funds are recovered.

    The council cheered the success of its foreign scholarship programme of 204, of which 202 beneficiaries have completed their Master’s degrees and secured PhD admissions, most with distinctions. An additional 84 students recently departed, raising the total to 298, with 12 more set to leave between May and September 2026.

    On energy, EXCO welcomed a Build-Operate-Donate proposal from the Chinese Municipal Council and partners to establish Waste-to-Energy and Solar-to-Energy projects at the Industrial City in Ezzamgbo, Ohaukwu Local Governmenty Area.

    Health and infrastructure also gained momentum with N1.3 billion allocated for an ultra-modern clinic at Government House and remodeling of the Ebonyi Trade Centre.

    Finally, in culture and tourism, EXCO approved the rebuilding of the palace of Eze Dr. Akanu Ibiam, the first indigenous Governor of the Eastern Region, to honour his legacy and inspire future generations.

  • Ruto and Museveni to launch Naivasha–Malaba railway extension project

    Ruto and Museveni to launch Naivasha–Malaba railway extension project

    AFRICA (Chris Mahandara/Agency Report) — March 19, 2026 — President William Ruto and Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni will be in Kisumu on Saturday to preside over the groundbreaking of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension from Naivasha to Malaba.

    The ceremony, a major milestone in regional infrastructure, is expected to draw over 20,000 people, including residents, leaders, and stakeholders. It marks the next phase of Kenya’s railway expansion aimed at boosting trade and transport links across East Africa.

    Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir toured the Kibos SGR site on Monday to assess preparations. He assured that logistical, security, and organizational arrangements were firmly in place. “This is a big day we will celebrate with our President and President Museveni when they come to launch this very significant project,” he said.

    The proposed line will stretch about 369 kilometres, forming a critical segment of the regional corridor linking Mombasa to western Kenya and onward to neighbouring countries. Chirchir noted it will transform cargo and passenger movement by offering a more efficient alternative to road transport along the busy Northern Corridor.

    He emphasized that the project will enhance regional integration by connecting Kenya’s railway network with Uganda and the wider East African system. Once completed, it is expected to lower transport costs, improve efficiency, and spur economic growth in western Kenya by opening new opportunities for investment and commerce.

  • President Trump honours fallen service members at solemn dignified transfer ceremony

    President Trump honours fallen service members at solemn dignified transfer ceremony

    NORTH AMERICA (NPA) — March 19, 2026 — U.S. President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, attended the dignified transfer ceremony for six American heroes who lost their lives in a refuelling plane crash in the war against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The solemn event took place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

    The six servicemen honoured were Major John A. Klinner, Capt. Ariana G. Savino, Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, Capt. Seth R. Koval, Capt. Curtis J. Angst, and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons.

    The dignified transfer ceremony paid tribute to their ultimate sacrifice and underscored the nation’s gratitude for their service. 

    The solemn military tradition in which the remains of U.S. service members killed in action are returned to American soil is conducted with full honours, symbolising respect and national appreciation. The ceremony typically takes place at Dover Air Force Base, where fallen troops are received by military personnel, family members, and sometimes national leaders before being prepared for burial.

  • BREAKING: Sweden confirms Execution of citizen in Iran amid war tensions

    BREAKING: Sweden confirms Execution of citizen in Iran amid war tensions

    Sweden’s Foreign Minister, Maria Malmer Stenergard, announced on Wednesday that Iran has executed a Swedish citizen. The announcement follows confirmation from Iranian officials that this marks the first execution of a man convicted of spying since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war.

    Stenergard described the development as deeply troubling, noting that it underscores the heightened risks faced by foreign nationals in Iran during the ongoing conflict. The execution is expected to further strain diplomatic relations between Tehran and Stockholm, while adding to international concerns over Iran’s use of capital punishment in politically sensitive cases.

  • Israeli President Herzog visits Ramat Gan after deadly missile strike

    Israeli President Herzog visits Ramat Gan after deadly missile strike

    MIDDLE EAST (NPA) — March 18, 2026 — Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has visited the site of last night’s Iranian missile impact in Ramat Gan, where two elderly civilians were killed in a cluster missile attack.

    In a statement on Wednesday, Herzog said he embarked on the visit to embrace and comfort the affected family and residents of the city over the heavy losses. He sympathised with them over what he described as “precious lives cut short in an instant, with unimaginable cruelty, leaving a great fracture and deep pain in the family’s heart and in the heart of the entire people of Israel.”

    The president warned that the danger from missile attacks is real, urging vigilance and responsibility. He stressed that the nation’s spirit will not be broken, calling on Israelis to stand together to prevail over the current situation.

    Since the outbreak of war between Israel, the United States, and Iran on February 28, there have been repeated exchanges of attacks. Israel and its allies have targeted Iranian military facilities and infrastructure, while Iran has launched barrages of missiles and drones at Israel and several Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

    In the past forty-eight hours, Israel announced it had targeted three prominent Iranian officials for elimination, with the escalation showing no sign of abating.

  • Nigeria’s Information Minister meets Presidential Amnesty Programme Beneficiaries in the UK, hails Tinubu

    Nigeria’s Information Minister meets Presidential Amnesty Programme Beneficiaries in the UK, hails Tinubu

    ABUJA, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 18, 2026 — Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, on Wednesday, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, met with beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) studying in the United Kingdom.

    The minister described the occasion as “very heartwarming to witness the impact of the program first-hand and interact with beneficiaries.” He emphasised that President Tinubu is committed to ensuring all Nigerians, especially the youth, are given opportunities to thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development.

    Reflecting on the Niger Delta’s past, Idris noted that its story was once marked by deprivation and disorder, but initiatives like PAP have helped transform the region.

    According to the minister, Programme Administrator Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro reported that over 8,000 students are currently studying in Nigeria under PAP, while more than 220 are pursuing various studies in the United Kingdom.

    Idris gave a pass mark to the amnesty programme and praised the Tinubu-led administration for repositioning and strengthening it to deliver greater impact.

  • U.S. Treasury Department lifts restrictions on Venezuela, grants license for Petróleos de Venezuela

    U.S. Treasury Department lifts restrictions on Venezuela, grants license for Petróleos de Venezuela

    NORTH AMERICA (NPA) — March 18, 2026 — The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Wednesday issued a license authorising American entities to engage in business transactions with Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), and its subsidiaries.

    The agency said the license will benefit both the United States and Venezuela, while supporting the global energy market by increasing available oil supply and encouraging new investment in Venezuela’s energy sector.

    In a statement, the Treasury Department noted: “Today, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a license broadly authorising established U.S. entities to engage in many types of transactions with Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), and its subsidiaries.”

    “This license will benefit both the United States and Venezuela, while supporting the global energy market by increasing the supply of available oil. It will also help incentivise new investment in Venezuela’s energy sector.”

    The U.S. Treasury Department had previously sanctioned Venezuela over human rights abuses, corruption, election fraud, and ties to drug trafficking and armed groups. Those measures, which began in 2014, expanded into broad economic restrictions on Venezuela’s oil and gold sectors.

    The consequences were severe: Venezuela’s economy contracted sharply, foreign investment dried up, and access to international financial markets was restricted. While sanctions weakened the Maduro government’s ability to fund operations, they also worsened living conditions for ordinary citizens, contributing to shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, while pushing Caracas to deepen ties with Russia, China, and Iran.

  • Nigerian Military crushes Boko Haram: 61 terrorists wiped out in fierce Borno battle

    Nigerian Military crushes Boko Haram: 61 terrorists wiped out in fierce Borno battle

    ABUJA, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 18, 2026 — The Nigerian Military has achieved a major success with the elimination of more than 61 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the Malam Fatori axis of Borno State, northeastern Nigeria.

    According to Zagazola Makama, a security publication in the region, troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), working closely with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), neutralised the insurgents during a foiled infiltration attempt in Abadam Local Government Area. Images of the operation have flooded social media, with military leaders praising the troops.

    Chief of Defence Staff, General Oloyude, is currently in Borno to encourage forces battling the insurgents. Sources disclosed that the terrorists launched the attack early Wednesday, advancing on foot and deploying armed drones in a desperate bid to breach defences at the 68 Battalion location.

    The assault, which came through Bravo Company’s frontage from the Duguri area, was met with overwhelming firepower and superior coordination between ground forces and air components. Precision airstrikes supported troops in a fierce battle that inflicted heavy casualties.

    “Our forces executed four highly effective air interdiction strikes on enemy concentrations, decimating their fighting capability. The synergy between air and land forces denied the terrorists freedom of movement and forced a disorderly withdrawal toward the Arege area,” an officer said.

    Additional strike support from allied Nigerien air assets compounded pressure on the fleeing insurgents, though battle damage assessment is ongoing. Four Nigerian soldiers sustained minor injuries during the engagement and have since been stabilised.

  • Nigeria declares Thursday and Friday public holidays for Eid al-Fitr

    Nigeria declares Thursday and Friday public holidays for Eid al-Fitr

    ABUJA, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 18, 2026 — The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Thursday, March 19, and Friday, March 20, 2026, as public holidays to mark Eid al-Fitr, the climax of the holy month of Ramadan.

    The announcement was contained in a statement from the Ministry of Interior, signed by Dr Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary. Quoting the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the government extended warm greetings and heartfelt congratulations to Muslim faithful on the successful completion of Ramadan.

    The statement urged Muslims to sustain the virtues of love, generosity, peace, tolerance, and sacrifice, which were emphasised during the holy month. It further called on all Nigerians to use the festive period to pray for continued peace, unity, and prosperity across the nation.

    The Minister encouraged citizens to celebrate responsibly, extend acts of kindness to the less privileged, and uphold values that strengthen national unity. He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to fostering peaceful coexistence among all Nigerians.