South Africa has announced it will sit out the 2026 G20 meetings after being excluded by the United States, which recently took over the group’s year-long presidency. The decision comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions between Washington and Pretoria. The US cited allegations that the South African government discriminated against the white Afrikaner minority as a reason for the exclusion. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Pretoria would not be invited to the U

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has instructed airlines to overhaul their flight schedules ahead of the Christmas travel surge, warning that poor planning remains a major cause of delays and cancellations during the festive season. The agency’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, issued the directive in Abuja during a strategic retreat for the FAAN board and industry stakeholders. She said the authority has shifted from quarterly to weekly coordination meetings with a

The Federal Government has directed all ministries, departments and agencies to immediately enforce the mandatory five per cent employment quota for Persons With Disabilities, saying the period of excuses for non-compliance has ended. Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, delivered the directive on Tuesday at the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities Forum in Abuja, marking the beginning of a new phase of full implementation of dis

The Federal Government has received another batch of 50 Compressed Natural Gas buses as part of ongoing efforts to provide more affordable and efficient transportation across the country. The latest delivery was announced by the Chairman of Nordmotion, Ajayi Oluwatobi, in a statement released on his X account on Tuesday. He explained that the buses form part of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, a programme designed to reduce transportation costs, promote ene

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday announced a donation of N200m to the Nigerian Legion during the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem Appeal launch held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of serving military personnel, injured officers and the families of fallen heroes, emphasising that national gratitude must translate into tangible support. The National Assembly, represented by Senate President Gods

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has described the state’s engineering standards as a model worthy of emulation by other states across the country. The governor stated this while receiving the leadership of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, led by its President, Engr. Aina Oguntala, during a courtesy visit to the Secretariat in Ibadan. Represented by Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, Makinde urged the NSE to adopt Oyo State’s strict supervision model for building and engineering

The 38 church worshippers abducted by gunmen in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have finally reunited with their families, days after earlier reports indicated that officials had yet to release them despite confirming their rescue. The victims were kidnapped on November 18, 2025, during a special thanksgiving service at CAC Oke Isegun, an attack in which three people were killed and another injured. In a statement on Tuesday night, the Chief Press Secretary

President Bola Tinubu has nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as the new Minister of Defence following the resignation of Mohammed Badaru due to health reasons. The nomination was conveyed in a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, with the President expressing confidence in Musa’s capability to strengthen Nigeria’s defence architecture. The development was further confirmed in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on

The Federal Government has announced the commencement of free annual liver and kidney function tests for People Living with HIV/AIDS, made possible through expanded health insurance coverage across the country. The initiative was disclosed on Monday by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, during the 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration in Abuja, organised by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and its partners. Dr Salako explained

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee of the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative (NPHI), a major step aimed at ensuring uninterrupted and sustainable electricity supply across health facilities in the country. The committee was inaugurated on Monday in Abuja by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, who described the initiative as a critical intervention to address the longstanding challenge of

Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, on Monday resigned from office, citing ill-health as the reason for his decision to step down from the federal cabinet. His resignation was accepted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who expressed gratitude for Badaru’s service to the nation. According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the minister tendered his resignation in a letter dated December 1, 202

Nigeria has provided formal protection to Fernando Dias da Costa, a leading opposition presidential candidate in Guinea-Bissau, by placing him under security at the Nigerian Embassy in the country. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the measure following concerns over credible threats to the candidate’s safety during a volatile post-election period. The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through a letter from Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, requested that the ECOWAS Stabi

Veteran opposition leader Anicet Ekane has died while in detention, his family and party announced early Monday. Ekane, 74, was being held at the state’s defence facility after his arrest weeks ago, and was reportedly transferred to hospital shortly before his death. He was arrested on October 24 alongside other members of the opposition party African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM) following his public backing of rival candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary who

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has called on Nigerians across all sectors to unite behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed national effort to end HIV/AIDS in the country by the year 2030. She made the appeal on Monday during the 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, where she described the day as a moment for reflection, gratitude, and renewed commitment to sustaining progress in prevention, treatment, and care. The First Lady expre

The Federal Road Safety Corps has directed all construction companies operating on roads across the country to immediately install adequate and compliant road signs at every construction zone. The directive follows renewed concerns over motorists’ safety in areas undergoing road rehabilitation. According to the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, the order aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing nationwide road overhaul, which involves extensive construction and reconstruction

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has approved the payment of a 13th-month “Eno-mber” salary bonus to state workers ahead of the 2025 Christmas celebrations. The announcement was made on Monday through a post on his official social media platforms. According to government sources, the approval is part of the administration’s ongoing commitment to workers’ welfare, especially during the festive period when financial demands typically increase. The gesture is expected to prov

Governors from the 19 Northern states convened in Kaduna on Monday to address the escalating cases of kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes across the region. The emergency meeting is holding inside the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House. The gathering, according to officials, is centred on developing coordinated strategies to combat the recent surge in insecurity, especially attacks targeting schools and vulnerable communities. The renewed wave of violence has heig

The Federal Government has proposed a 40 per cent salary increase for lecturers under the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as both parties prepare to resume negotiations in Abuja. The talks will be led by the government delegation chaired by Yayale Ahmed. The development follows resolutions reached at ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Sunday, where branch leaders agreed to return to members with updates from the negotiation process. A

The Federal Government says ongoing electricity reforms have attracted over $2 billion in new investment since the current administration took office. Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, announced this at the PwC Annual Power and Utilities Roundtable in Lagos. He said closing the metering gap remains a priority, noting that only six million of Nigeria’s 13 million consumers are metered. The Presidential Metering Initiative and District Sector Recovery Programme aim to d

The Ogun State Government, in collaboration with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), has sealed seven battery recycling factories in Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area, over lead emissions and other unsafe operational practices. The action followed repeated non-compliance by the factory operators with the provisions of the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024, according to NESREA. The agency noted that under