Benue killings: We’ll confront land-grabbing head-on to bring peace — Tinubu (Vanguard)
President Bola Tinubu said yesterday the issue of land-grabbing would be confronted head-on, if that was the cause of the frequent killings by armed herdsmen in Benue State.
He also spoke of the constitution of a committee of elders, including ex-governors and two prominent traditional rulers in the state, to work for peace in Benue, and directed the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, to immediately arrest the killer herders who perpetrated the heinous crime.
The President was in Benue, in the aftermath of last Friday’s killing of over 200 persons by armed herdsmen at Yelwata axis of the state. Read more
Senate raises alarm over ₦200t ‘unaccounted funds’ in NNPC coffers (Channels)
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Aliyu Wadada, has raised serious alarm over discrepancies involving trillions of naira in the audited financial statements of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), describing the revelations as mind-boggling and worrisome.
During the investigative session on Wednesday, where the Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, appeared before the committee, the absence of detailed records justifying massive legal and auditing fees was flagged, as well as contradictions in receivables reportedly worth over N210 trillion between 2017 and 2023.
The panel said, “Legal fees were accrued without any explanation or documentation regarding the legal services rendered. The auditors’ fees raise similar questions. There are no clear justifications. Everything we’ve seen and heard from the audited financial statements is troubling.” Read more
Enenche, wife visit Benue community over killings, distribute relief materials (Leadership)
The Senior Pastors of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr Paul Enenche and his wife, Dr (Mrs) Becky Enenche, have paid a heartfelt visit to Yelwata community of Guma local government area of Benue State on Tuesday, following the recent gruesome attacks that claimed several lives and displaced many.
Speaking to journalists upon arrival, Dr Enenche called on political authorities to rise to the challenge and confront the lingering crisis in the region with sincerity and courage.
“The solution lies in leaders having the will and zeal to do what is politically right and just. Every leader must remember — one day, we all shall stand before God,” the cleric warned. Read more
USSD debt: Subscribers, banks, telcos agree on airtime billing (Punch)
Telecommunications operators in Nigeria now have direct access to revenue generated from Unstructured Supplementary Service Data services, following a new billing arrangement approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The new model, known as the End-User Billing framework, allows MTN, Airtel, 9mobile and Glo to deduct USSD service charges directly from subscribers’ airtime balances, eliminating the role of banks as intermediaries in the payment process.
Mobile operators had complained that banks were collecting service fees from customers without remitting the funds to operators, despite having received over N200bn worth of services by the end of 2024. Read more
Police probe ‘illegal’ sale of Fasehun family land (Nation)
The police have launched a probe into the alleged illegal sale of farmland and destruction of economic crops belonging to prominent members of the Fasehun family.
The land belongs to the late founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun, Olufemi Fasehun, an engineer, and Orobola Fasehun, an ambassador.
Three individuals, including a woman, have been questioned in Akure over their involvement in the unauthorised sale of several acres of farmland and destruction of palm trees worth millions of naira. Read more
FAAC: FG, States, LGs share N1.659t May 2025 revenue (Tribune)
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total sum of N1.659 trillion, being May 2025 Federation Account Revenue to the Federal, States and Local Governments.
The revenue was shared at the June 2025 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held in Abuja.
The N1.659 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N863.895 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N691.714 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N27.667 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N76.614 billion. Read more
SEC flags Zugacoin, Samzuga GPT, warns Nigerian investors (DailyTrust)
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday warned the public against investing in Zugacoin and Samzuga GPT, flagging them as unauthorised crypto assets.
In a statement on Wednesday, the commission said it became aware of online publications advertising Zugacoin — which includes variants such as SZCB and SZCB2 — and Samzuga GPT, despite their lack of regulatory approval.
“The Commission hereby informs the public that the promoters or issuers of Zugacoin and Samzuga GPT are not registered to operate in any capacity in the Nigerian Capital Market, and also Zugacoin and Samzuga GPT are not approved by the Commission for issuance to the public,” the statement reads. Read more
HIV prevention drug hailed as a ‘breakthrough’ gets FDA approval (NPR)
A drug with the potential to drastically curb the HIV epidemic just cleared its first regulatory hurdle.
On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration approved lenacapavir for the prevention of HIV. Clinical trial data from last year suggest just two injections a year provide near-complete protection against an HIV infection.
“It’s a milestone moment in the history of HIV,” says Daniel O’Day, chairman and CEO of Gilead Sciences, which manufactures the drug, which was already approved to treat HIV infection. “In our opinion, it’s the best tool yet in helping end the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere.” Others agree. In 2024, Science hailed lenacapavir as its “Breakthrough of the Year” in 2024.
The twice-yearly injection offers a more convenient alternative to the current standard of care for HIV prevention, a daily pill called Truvada. This pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is 99% effective at preventing HIV infection in clinical trials, but some people face significant barriers in taking a daily pill. One study found oral PrEP’s was only 26% effective in certain groups, in part because of skipped doses. Read more
Kate Bush’s animated short ‘Little Shrew’ to premiere exclusively in cinemas (MusicNews)
Fans of the enigmatic artiste Kate Bush are in for a unique cinematic treat this summer, as her new animated short film, ‘Little Shrew,’ is set to play exclusively in cinemas nationwide. The poignant short will serve as a prelude to the critically acclaimed World War II resistance feature film, ‘From Hilde, With Love,’ offering audiences a powerful double bill.
‘Little Shrew,’ directed by Bush herself, tells the compelling story of a tiny shrew navigating a bombed-out city in search of Hope. The animation depicts the creature, blissfully unaware of the dangers, as she journeys through a war-torn “Land of the Giants.” A stunning sequence sees her caught in an explosion during a drone attack, only to recover and bravely continue her quest for Hope. The short is beautifully underscored by the song ‘Snowflake,’ taken from Bush’s ninth studio album, 50 Words for Snow, featuring the moving vocals of her son.
Kate Bush shared her inspiration behind the project, revealing that the 2022 war in Ukraine prompted her desire to create an animation. “I hoped to draw attention to the children caught up in war,” she explained. Though initially considering a human child as the protagonist, she ultimately chose a Caucasian pygmy shrew, believing that “people might have more empathy for a vulnerable animal than a human.” Bush added, “Sometimes hope is all there is to hang on to.” Read more
Father of shooting victim calls for Kenyan police to be held accountable (AfricaNews)
The father of a young man allegedly shot in the head by Kenyan police has called for the officer to be charged.
Boniface Kariuki, 22, remains in intensive care after undergoing surgery on Tuesday night. He is believed to have been caught up in a confrontation with two officers in Nairobi at a protest against the alleged killing of a blogger while in police custody.
One officer, who had concealed his face with a mask, reportedly shot him in the head. Read more
Rod Stewart says he’s no longer friends with former neighbour Donald Trump over support of Israel (NME)
Rod Stewart isn’t “a great fan” of his former neighbour Donald Trump over the US President’s continued funding and support of Israel.
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Speaking to the Radio Times ahead of his Legends slot at Glastonbury next week, Stewart revealed that he used to be close with Trump, not just in terms of friendship, but in proximity.
“I’m not a great fan of Trump. I knew him very, very well. I used to go to his house. I live literally half a mile away,” said Stewart, who owns a home in Florida. “We’re both on the beach. I used to go to his Christmas parties. He’s always been a bit of a man’s man. I liked him for that. But he didn’t, as far as I’m concerned, treat women very well.” Read more
Anxiety grips Gulf Arab states over threat of nuclear contamination and reprisals from Iran (CNN)
Concern is rising in Gulf Arab states about the possibility of environmental contamination or reprisal attacks if Israel or the United States strikes Iran’s nuclear facilities just across the Persian Gulf.
In Oman, users on messaging apps circulated advice on what to do in the event of a nuclear incident. Residents are instructed to “enter a closed and secure indoor space (preferably windowless), seal all windows and doors tightly, turn off air conditioning and ventilation systems” if the worst were to happen.
In Bahrain, 33 shelters are being prepared for emergencies, and sirens were tested nationwide, the state news agency said Tuesday. Concern about nuclear fallout has also risen over the past week, with news outlets across the Middle East publishing guides on how to deal with radiation leaks. Read more
US Fed leaves interest rates unchanged amid economic uncertainty (AlJazeera)
The United States Federal Reserve has left its benchmark rate unchanged despite mounting pressure from President Donald Trump to cut rates.
On Wednesday, the Fed said it will leave its short-term rate steady at 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent.
The central bank’s decision was largely in line with expectations, and it has not cut interest rates since December. Read more
Juventus resume Osimhen talks and eye Southampton talent – report (FootballItalia)
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus have resumed talks with Victor Osimhen and look to Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes as a possible midfield reinforcement.
Juventus are preparing their moves for the 2025 summer transfer window, especially after Igor Tudor demanded at least three new signings for 2025-26.
According to Gazzetta, Napoli-owned striker Osimhen remains the Old Lady’s primary target in attack so club representatives resumed talks with the striker’s agents in recent days.
Osimhen has a €75m clause valid for clubs outside Serie A, which means the Bianconeri must negotiate a transfer fee with Napoli. Read more
Oshoala affirms commitment to empowering Nigerian girls (Nation)
Super Falcons forward, Asisat Oshoala, has reaffirmed her commitment to empowering the next generation of Nigerian girls through her academy.
In a statement, Oshoala said when she started the academy with the support of Nike and Women Win, it was not just about creating a place to train the next generation of female footballers to develop their skills, but was to equip the girls to build their future via education and vocational skills.
She said: “Looking back at our second year, I’m filled with pride. We’ve created a structured programme that goes beyond the pitch. We’re not just teaching football; we’re providing life skills education, creating a safe space, and fostering a sense of community. Read more
Naomi Osaka’s struggles in deciding sets raise questions ahead of Wimbledon return (HITC)
Naomi Osaka’s return to the top level of tennis hasn’t gone as smoothly as she’d hoped, and her latest setback at the Berlin Tennis Open is just the latest reminder.
The four-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one is still searching for consistency since coming back from maternity leave, and recent results have been a stark reminder of how far the gap has grown.
Her first-round exit to Paula Badosa at Roland Garros had already raised some concern. Now, another early loss, this time to Liudmila Samsonova on grass, adds to the sense that something still isn’t clicking. Read more
Buss family agrees to bombshell $10b sale of Lakers franchise (Cluchtpoints)
The Buss family is entering an agreement to sell majority ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers to Mark Walter, the CEO and chairman of diversified holding company TWG Global, sources tell ESPN. Jeanie Buss will continue to serve in her role as Governor after the sale,” Charania wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Walter also made history with the purchase, making it the largest in the sports world.
“Mark Walter is entering agreement to purchase majority ownership of the Lakers from the Buss family for a valuation of approximately $10 billion, the largest sale of a professional sports franchise in the world, sources tell ESPN. $10 billion,” Charania wrote. Read more
FA charge Chelsea’s Mudryk with doping offences (BBC)
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged by the Football Association with violating its anti-doping rules after failing a drugs test and could now face up to a four-year ban.
The Ukraine international, 24, was provisionally suspended by the FA in December after an “adverse finding in a routine urine test”.Players found to have intentionally taken a prohibited substance can be banned for up to four years under the guidelines of world football’s governing body, Fifa. Read more