Tinubu Appoints Fayose, 25 Others To Boards Of Federal Agencies
President Bola Tinubu on Monday approved the appointment of 26 persons to the boards and management of 10 federal government agencies and commissions.
Among the appointees is Ayo Fayose, former governor of Ekiti, who was named chairman of the board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
Gbajabiamila Appears Before ICPC Over Fake Investment Agency Probe
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday honoured an invitation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), appearing before investigators probing the activities of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Gbajabiamila’s appearance comes nearly two weeks after President Bola Tinubu directed the anti-graft agency to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the fake presidential agency.
DSS To Appeal Life Sentence Given To Ansaru Commanders
The Department of State Services is set to appeal Monday’s life sentence handed to two top commanders of the Ansaru terror organisation by a Federal High Court, Abuja.
Justice Emeka Nwite had, shortly after Mahmud Usman, a.k.a. Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar, the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and Abubakar Abba, a.k.a. Mahmud al-Nigeri/Malam Mamuda, pleaded guilty to all 32 counts of charges against them, sentenced both men to life imprisonment. However, the service viewed the punishment as too lenient.
Xenophobia: Shettima Urges West African Leaders To Confront South Africa
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged West African leaders to collectively confront the wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
He reminded South Africans that countries such as Nigeria made enormous sacrifices to support the anti-apartheid struggle, including deductions from students’ scholarship allowances to finance liberation movements.
Reps Begin Clause-By-Clause Consideration Of State Police Bill
The House of Representatives has begun clause-by-clause consideration of President Bola Tinubu’s executive bill seeking the establishment of state police, with lawmakers indicating they might adopt the Senate-passed version of the legislation with only minor adjustments.
Speaking at the meeting of the House Committee on Constitution Review, the Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Benjamin Kalu, said the House would leverage the work already done by the Senate to expedite the passage.
Obi Will Serve Only One Term If Elected President — Kwankwaso
Former Governor of Kano State and vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, said on Monday that he believed the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would honour his pledge to serve only one four-year term if elected in 2027.
He revealed that both men signed a written agreement to that effect.
40 Feared Dead As Canoe Capsizes In Jigawa
At least 40 women and children are feared dead after a canoe conveying passengers capsized in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The Jigawa State Police Command confirmed the incident on Monday, stating that search and rescue operations were ongoing to locate the missing passengers.
Inflation Eases Marginally In June, But Over Half Of States Still Above 30%
Despite Nigeria’s headline inflation rate easing marginally in June 2026, residents in more than half of the country’s states continued to face annual inflation above 30 per cent, with Niger, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory recording the highest rates.
The latest Consumer Price Index report released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that headline inflation slowed slightly to 15.91 per cent in June from 15.93 per cent recorded in May.
Tension In Plateau As Bodies Of Two Unidentified Women Found
Tension gripped the Gero community in the Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State on Monday after the bodies of two unidentified females were discovered behind the headquarters of the council.
The discovery sparked widespread protests by women in the area, who took to the streets and temporarily blocked a section of the expressway, causing heavy traffic disruption. Eyewitnesses said the bodies were found early Monday morning, prompting residents to troop to the scene.
Troops Arrest Sudanese, Ghanaian Nationals In Borno
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested two foreign nationals, including a 32-year-old Sudanese man and a 36-year-old Ghanaian woman, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The army identified the Sudanese national, Musa Fashir, as a suspected foreign terrorist fighter and collaborator, while the Ghanaian, Mary Florence, is said to be an illegal immigrant.
ICPC Grills Femi Gbajabiamila Over PFIPC Scandal
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday appeared before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of the disputed Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
His lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, confirmed the development in a statement, saying the presidential aide honoured the invitation in compliance with President Bola Tinubu’s directive that the allegations surrounding the agency be thoroughly investigated.
According to Ogunye, Gbajabiamila arrived at the commission’s office at about 3pm on Monday, where he responded to questions from investigators before returning to his official duties.
I Signed An Agreement With Peter Obi On One-term Presidency – Kwankwaso
Former Kano State Governor and the 2027 vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has reaffirmed that the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would not spend more than one term in office if he wins the 2027 presidential election.
Kwankwaso described Obi as a man of integrity and expressed assurance that the former Anambra State governor would not go back on his word.
Speaking during the Politics Today programme on Channels Television on Monday, Kwankwaso further revealed that there is a signed agreement between Obi and himself, and a similar one with the party, on the one-term presidency.
The former Kano governor also did not rule out his interest in the 2031 presidency, recalling that based on the rotational agreement on Nigeria’s presidency, it would be the turn of the North to produce Nigeria’s president in 2031.
FG Dismisses Claims President Tinubu Borrowed ₦80 Trillion In Three Years
The federal government on Monday dismissed claims that the administration of President Bola Tinubu borrowed about ₦80 trillion in the last three years, describing the figure as misleading and largely attributable to accounting adjustments rather than fresh borrowing.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, stated this while briefing the Senate Committee on Finance on the state of the nation’s economy.
Oyedele was responding to concerns by lawmakers over reports that the current administration had accumulated about ₦80 trillion in debt in addition to the ₦75 trillion inherited from the previous government.
According to the minister, the actual borrowing undertaken by the Tinubu administration is significantly lower than the figures being circulated by analysts and commentators.
He explained that much of the increase in Nigeria’s debt stock resulted from the revaluation of the country’s foreign currency-denominated debt following the depreciation of the naira, as well as the securitisation of Ways and Means advances obtained by the previous administration under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu Gives Appointment To Fayose, 25 Others
President Bola Tinubu has appointed former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, as chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
A statement on Monday by the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also confirmed several other appointments across federal agencies.
According to him, Major General Junaid Bindawa (rtd) was appointed as chairman of the National Salary and Wages Commission.
Fayose was appointed to head the board of REA, with Alhaji Ahmadu Abubakar and Engineer Ilyasu Ibrahim Makinta appointed as members and non-executive directors. The incumbent Director-General of the agency, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and three previously appointed executive directors make up the remaining board members.
President Tinubu made eight other appointments to the Wages Commission, along with Major General Bindawa.
The statement noted that all the appointments take immediate effect.
No Terrorist Attack On FGGC, Borno – FG Counters Military
The federal government has dismissed reports that terrorists attacked the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Monguno, Borno State.
A statement on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education said reports that terrorists attacked the school were false and misleading.
While insisting that the school remained safe, the government, in a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, maintained that no attack occurred at the school.
The denial follows a statement issued on Sunday by the acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Mohammed Goni, who said troops, supported by the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL), foiled an attempted mass abduction by suspected ISWAP terrorists at the school.
Goni said the attackers allegedly gained access to the facility with the help of suspected collaborators in an attempt to abduct students.
According to the military, all 46 students in the facility were rescued and evacuated to Kinnasara Barracks in Monguno, where they received medical assessment and care. It also said some students were killed after being struck by sporadic gunfire from fleeing terrorists during the firefight.
The military’s statement was accompanied by videos showing people claiming they were rescued during the operation.
However, the Ministry of Education maintained that no attack occurred at the school.
Ansaru Commanders Change Plea, Admit Terrorism Charges
Two alleged commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, on Monday pleaded guilty to a 32-count charge bordering on terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, the manufacture of improvised explosive devices and other terrorism-related offences.
The defendants, also known as Mahmud al-Nigeri and Abu Bara’a, changed their plea from not guilty to guilty before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The defendants had informed the court at the previous adjourned sitting of their intention to change their plea.
At the resumed proceedings, they were re-arraigned on the amended charges and both admitted guilt to all the counts read to them.
The charges include alleged terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, fabrication of improvised explosive devices, coordinating sleeper cells, planning attacks and maintaining links with terrorist groups operating across the Sahel and Maghreb regions.
‘Love Can Never Make Me Cook For A Man’ – Mercy Eke
Winner of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) “PepperDem” edition, Mercy Eke, has shared a controversial opinion about love, relationships and domestic chores.
Speaking in a recent episode of the Toke Moments podcast, hosted by media personality Toke Makinwa, Mercy Eke said she cannot marry or date a man who wants her to cook for him regularly.
The reality star emphasised that she can only cook for her man once in a while, when she is “in the mood.”
According to Mercy, love can never make her cook for a man daily, adding that she is not the kind of woman who engages in such domestic chores.
Annie Idibia Breaks Silence Over Viral Video Of ‘Reconciliation’ With Ex-husband 2Face
Nollywood actress Annie Idibia has dismissed rumours of a reunion with her ex-husband, Innocent Idibia, better known as 2Face or 2Baba.
Rumours of their reconciliation surfaced online last week after a section of social media shared an old video of the ex-couple vibing and having a good time in a club.
Apart from reports of being back together, some netizens also speculated that Annie and 2Face are expecting a third child.
However, Annie took to her Instagram story to address the speculation. The movie star indicated that the videos being circulated were old, and false news was being spread about them.
She wrote: “Old videos circulating everywhere, false news everywhere.”
2026 World Cup: Spain Pockets $51Million As FIFA Pays Out Record $871m
The 2026 FIFA World Cup became the richest edition in the history of the tournament after the world football governing body distributed a record prize fund of $871 million (about £662 million) among the 48 participating nations.
The expanded tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, ran from June 11 to July 19, 2026. It featured 48 teams and a record 104 matches over 39 days.
Spain emerged champions after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in Sunday’s final to win their second FIFA World Cup title.
A day earlier, England defeated France 6-4 in a thrilling third-place playoff to claim the bronze medal.
FIFA had initially announced a total prize pool of $727 million in December 2025, representing a 50 per cent increase from the amount distributed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
However, the governing body later approved an increase in April 2026 by raising the base participation payment and preparation funding, bringing the total prize fund to a record $871 million.
The money was shared through two categories: performance-based rewards and guaranteed financial support for all participating countries.
Belgium Part Ways With Rudi Garcia After World Cup Campaign
Belgium manager Rudi Garcia will leave his post after the Royal Belgian Football Association opted not to extend his contract.
Garcia, 62, guided the Red Devils to the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they suffered a 2-1 defeat to eventual champions Spain. His current deal expires at the end of July.
Garcia took charge in January 2025 following the departure of Domenico Tedesco and spent 18 months in charge of the national team.
Royal Belgian FA sports director Vincent Mannaert praised Garcia’s contribution during a difficult period for Belgian football.
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