President Donald Trump has unveiled a sweeping 35 percent tariff on Canadian exports, effective August 1, adding to a growing list of countries facing new U.S. trade barriers. The announcement was delivered in a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, one of more than 20 such letters sent to world leaders this week. The timing of the tariff coincides with ongoing negotiations between Canada and the U.S., aimed at updating the USMCA trade agreement. The new tariff threat has shifted the negotiation timeline, with both Canada and Mexico working to address U.S. concerns. Carney publicly affirmed Canada’s commitment to…
Author: Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is rapidly becoming the focal point of a broad opposition coalition aiming to unseat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC in the 2027 general elections. Interim Secretary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, speaking in Akure, Ondo State, declared that with unity, the coalition’s combined political strength can overcome the incumbent administration. Aregbesola highlighted the support of key figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, describing the ADC as a “coalition movement platform” with the explicit goal of challenging Tinubu’s presidency. He appealed to party members to set aside personal ambitions:…
In a recent engagement with the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, outlined the positive impact of President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda on Nigeria’s economy. Speaking from Abuja, Idris acknowledged that although the economy has not fully recovered, the administration is making steady progress. “The economy is not yet what we want it to be but we can see that there is a steady progression,” Idris remarked, affirming the president’s assertion that Nigeria is “turning the corner.” He conceded that while the country is not yet at an ideal stage, economic indicators…
Ahead of the local government elections slated for July 12, 2025, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission has made it clear that any disruption caused by ballot box snatching will lead to by-elections in the affected areas. Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (retd.), LASIEC’s Chairman, spoke at a press conference in Yaba, assuring the public of the commission’s readiness to oversee a transparent electoral process across the state’s 57 local councils. “There will be by-elections if a ballot box is snatched anywhere,” she stated emphatically, adding that although such incidents are not hoped for, the commission is prepared to act decisively if…
A year has passed since Nigeria’s Supreme Court mandated that local government councils receive their statutory allocations directly from the Federation Account, yet state governments continue to control these funds, effectively stalling the implementation of local government autonomy. The July 2024 ruling was a decisive legal victory for local councils, striking down the practice of routing allocations through state governments as unconstitutional. The Federal Government responded by setting up an inter-agency committee to facilitate compliance and directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to open individual accounts for all 774 local governments. Despite these efforts, data from the Federation Account Allocation…
In the newest FIFA World Rankings released this Thursday, Nigeria’s Super Eagles have slipped one place to 44th, despite a slight increase in their points tally to 1484.26. The team’s recent international outings, which included two draws and a win, contributed to a 2.91-point gain but were insufficient to maintain their previous rank of 43rd. Paraguay now occupies the 43rd position, narrowly ahead of Nigeria, while Côte d’Ivoire fell four places to 45th after a series of poor results, holding 1483.45 points. At the top of the global rankings, Argentina remains number one, although they lost 0.8 points. Spain surged…
In a significant reshuffle within the Nigerian Senate, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been replaced as chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations by Senator Aniekan Bassey. The announcement came during Thursday’s plenary session when Senate President Godswill Akpabio confirmed the appointment of Bassey, who represents Akwa Ibom North-East. Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, had been reassigned to this committee earlier this year after losing her previous chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Local Content. The Senate has not officially stated the reasons behind the recent change, but it is widely believed to be connected to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s ongoing suspension.…
In a sharp rebuke, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has faulted Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo for attributing the surge in kidnappings within the South-East to Igbo youths. The separatist group described the governor’s statements as provocative and unfounded, cautioning that such rhetoric could endanger innocent lives. Governor Soludo’s remarks came during an event in Maryland, United States, where he reportedly stated that “99% of arrested kidnappers in the state were Igbos and not Fulani herdsmen.” This claim has drawn ire from IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, who condemned the governor for providing a pretext for security forces and Fulani…
The recent demise of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadan, has drawn expressions of sympathy from James Oramadike, the Eze Ndigbo of Ibadan and Yorubaland. He conveyed his condolences to Governor Seyi Makinde, the people of Ibadan, and the late monarch’s family. Oba Olakulehin passed away last Monday at the age of 90, shortly before his first coronation anniversary. Oramadike described him as a “symbol of unity and strength,” whose leadership qualities will be missed. He praised the rotational succession system between the Otun and Balogun Lines, which has now installed Oba Rashidi Ladoja as the new Olubadan.…
In a bid to alleviate the healthcare burden on indigent residents, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, Ogun State Governor’s wife, has launched a free surgical outreach program at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu. The program, held on Wednesday, is a collaborative effort between her office and a team of US-based surgeons and medical doctors. Mrs. Abiodun explained that the initiative focuses on treating conditions such as hernia, fibroids, goitre, and cataracts—ailments that often go untreated due to financial barriers. She stressed the moral imperative of wealth sharing, stating, “Many wealthy people have more than they need, while many others lack…