Insecurity: Stop sacrificing our children, parents of military personnel tell FG (Punch)
Family members of soldiers killed during recent battles against insurgents in the North-East have mourned the death of their loved ones, urging the government to put an end to the bloodbath in the region.
The relatives, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH in separate interviews, also called on the Federal Government to demonstrate genuine commitment to the fight against insurgency by providing adequate arms and ammunition, improving the welfare of military personnel, and caring for the families of fallen soldiers.
The families spoke after Monday’s attack on a military base in Marte, Borno State, which claimed the lives of five soldiers. Read more
Customs arrests 4 smugglers over N1.5b rice, recovers N20.7m (NewTelegraph)
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, has intercepted rice, drugs and other contraband worth N1.5 billion in less than one month.
It noted that four smugglers were arrested in connection with the contraband as FOU, Zone A was making efforts to protect the Southwest from economic saboteurs.
The Controller of FOU, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu said on Friday in Lagos that his team acted on credible intelligence and successfully intercepted and seized 7X20 feet containers filled with various illicit items within the Lagos metropolis, adding that the containers were laden with used tyres and vehicle, foreign parboiled rice, new shoes, new clothes and bags. Read more
JAMB unveils emergency counselling centre for candidates (ThisDay)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) yesterday announced the establishment of a Candidate Counselling Emergency Support Centre to provide additional support to candidates with urgent concerns.
In a statement posted on its X handle on Friday, the examination body said the new centre would complement its existing ticketing platform, which remains the preferred and most efficient means of communication with the Board.
“In addition to our usual and preferred ticketing platform for Candidates Support, JAMB has now opened a Candidate Counseling Emergency Support Centre (CCESC). Read more
Wike, Fubara supporters clash at town hall meeting in Port Harcourt (Nation)
A high drama played out in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital yesterday as supporters of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and those of the suspended governor of Rivers State Siminalayi Fubara clashed
It was at a town hall meeting where people loyal to the two parties as well as other Rivers natives and residents took turns to express their views on the political crisis in the state.
Trouble started when the President General of Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), Bright Amaewhule, took the stage and declared that there is no indigene of Rivers State that would not recognise the role GDI played in the emergence of Sim Fubara as governor of Rivers State. Read more
Hardship: We’re all sitting on kegs of gunpowder – Obasanjo (Vanguard)
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, and the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, have called for the urgent end to abject poverty across Africa.
Obasanjo insisted that if China could lift 700 million people out of poverty, Nigeria ought not to have anything to do with abject poverty.
Speaking during Dele Momodu’s leadership lecture, ‘How to end hunger and poverty in Africa,’ Chief Obasanjo, in his keynote address, posited that “before we talk about food, security is key.” Read more
FAAC: FG, States, LGs share N1.681t April 2025 revenue (Tribune)
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total sum of N1.681 trillion, being April 2025 Federation Account Revenue to the Federal, States and the Local Governments at the May 2025 meeting held in Abuja.
The N1.681 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N962.882 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N598.077 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N38.862 billion and Exchange Difference N81.407 billion.
A communiqué issued by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) indicated that total gross revenue of N2,848.721 trillion was available in the month of April 2025. Read more
FX reserves rise as CBN activates multiple channels to bolster inflows (Sun)
The gross FX reserves increased for the second consecutive week, growing by $86.67 million to $38.10 billion following strong measures instituted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to attract more inflows to the economy. Stronger FX reserves are expected to bolster the CBN’s capacity to manage excess naira volatility through sustained market interventions and achieve long-term stability of the exchange rate.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is cultivating multiple FX sources to increase dollar inflows, boost dollar access to manufacturers and retail end users.
From moves to improve diaspora remittances through new product development, the granting licenses to new International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs), implementing a willing buyer-willing seller FX model, and enabling timely access to naira liquidity for IMTOs, the apex bank has simplified dollar-inflow channels for authorized dealers and other players in the value chain. Read more
Adin Ross gets his cheeks clapped for dissing Doechii & Megan Thee Stallion (Allhiphop)
Adin Ross and his mouth are at it again, but this time, the consequences are financial. Good! During a livestream with Akademiks, the corny content creator revealed he lost two brand deals after goign at Megan Thee Stallion and Doechii. What a clown! If clout-chasing was a professional sport, he’d be LeBron James.
He recently admitted that he lost a pair of pricey deals. Adin, you talk slick you get dealt with! No, that does not make sense, but if you know Hip-Hop you know I am quoting somebody. There is a bit of history to this whole thing.
In ’20, Adin decided to poke fun at the Tory Lanez shooting incident involving Megan Thee Stallion. that is a whole mess, but he spoke on it. He felt the need to challenge the ruling of the court. He called Megan a b-word and called her a liar. I am still trying to figure out where his voice matters in any of this, but Ok.Read more
Joaquin Phoenix tears up during 5-minute Cannes standing ovation for MAGA Western ‘Eddington’ (Variety)
Earl Gibson III/Deadline
“Eddington,” Ari Aster‘s COVID-era contemporary Western starring Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler and Pedro Pascal, earned a 5-minute standing ovation at its Cannes Film Festival premiere on Friday.
The film’s distinct comment on American political and societal discourse did not overwhelm some of the international set. High in the rafters of the Palais, at least 20 people trickled out over the course of the screening. When the credits seemed imminent, many up top scattered.
Aster was typically self-deprecating after the premiere, saying, “I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what you think. Sorry, I guess? Thank you, I guess?” He followed that by saying, “I feel very privileged to be here. This is a dream come true. Thank you so much for having me.” Read more
Chad’s former prime minister and opposition leader arrested for ‘inciting hatred’ (AfricaNews)
Chad’s former prime minister and opposition leader, Succès Masra, was arrested early on Friday morning at his home in Gassi, a district of the capital, N’Djamena.
Surveillance footage shows the leader of the Transformers political party being taken away by a squad of armed men.
He has been accused of inciting hatred in connection with deadly clashes in the south-west of the country. Read more
Moody’s strips US government of top credit rating (AlJazeera)
Moody’s Ratings has stripped the United States government of its top credit rating, citing successive governments’ failure to stop a rising tide of debt, a surprise move that could complicate President Donald Trump’s efforts to cut taxes and send ripples through global markets.
On Friday, Moody’s lowered the rating from a gold-standard Aaa to Aa1. “Successive US administrations and Congress have failed to agree on measures to reverse the trend of large annual fiscal deficits and growing interest costs,” it said as it changed its outlook on the US to “stable” from “negative”.
But, it added, the US “retains exceptional credit strengths such as the size, resilience and dynamism of its economy and the role of the US dollar as global reserve currency.” Read more
Ukraine & Russia far apart in direct talks, but prisoner swap agreed (BBC)
More than three years into Europe’s deadliest war since 1945, there was a small step forward for diplomacy on Friday.
Delegations from Ukraine and Russia came face-to-face for talks for the first time since March 2022 – one month after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour. The setting was an Ottoman- era palace on the shores of the Bosphorus in Istanbul.
Pressure and encouragement from Turkey and the US helped get the warring parties there. Read more
Former Mexican judge arrested over 2014 case of 43 missing students (CNN)
Over a decade after 43 students from a rural teaching college vanished in southern Mexico, a new arrest has stirred fresh scrutiny and reopened old wounds. On Thursday, Mexican authorities detained now-retired judge, 79-year-old Lambertina Galeana Marín, over missing evidence in the case.
The arrest is related to the “disappearance of recordings from cameras” placed in the Palace of Justice in Iguala, in the Mexican State of Guerrero, where the students were last seen.
Marín served as the president of the Superior Court of Justice of Guerrero at the time of the case. Read more
Aruna, other Nigerian stars set for ITTF World Championships in Doha (ThisDay)
Nigeria and Africa’s top ranked player, Quadri Aruna is leading other African players to the 2025 ITTF World Championships scheduled to begin here in Doha, Qatar on Saturday.
Aruna will be in company with other Nigerian table tennis players like Hope Udoaka; Olajide Omotayo and Kabirat Ayoola; and Matthew Kuti & Ajoke Ojomu as he seeks global table tennis glory in the Middle East.
This year’s edition scheduled to hold from May 17 to 25 inside the state-of-the-art Lusail Multipurpose Hall and Qatar University Sports Complex, will mark a symbolic return to Doha, 21 years after the Qatari capital became the first Middle Eastern city to host the World Championships in 2004. Read more
Ambitions, promises reign as states storm Ogun (Punch)
The 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, was set in motion on Friday with the arrival of participating states in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Ogun State is hosting the multi-sports event for the second time after the Gateway Games 2006, and this year’s edition will run from May 16 to 30 in Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ikenne and Ijebu-Ode.
With Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17 scheduled for the arrivals, the participating states are storming Ogun State with their contingent ahead of the opening ceremony billed for Sunday, May 18. Read more
Forest coach Nuno reports ‘positive’ outlook on Awoniyi after surgery (Vanguard)
Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo said Friday that the outlook for Taiwo Awoniyi was “positive” after the forward was placed in an induced coma following urgent surgery on an abdominal injury.
The Nigeria international, 27, was taken to hospital on Monday after colliding with a post during a 2-2 draw at home to Leicester the previous day.
“He went to surgery, surgery went well, thank God,” Nuno said. “He is under observation now, but he is recovering. We still have to wait for the doctors to allow visits. Read more
Vegas leads from Fitzpatrick as McIlroy makes US PGA cut (BBC)
Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas maintained his lead at the US PGA Championship while Rory McIlroy and defending champion Xander Schauffele avoided early exits at Quail Hollow.
Vegas carded a one-under 70 in his second round to move to eight under par, two shots clear of England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, France’s Matthieu Pavon and Kim Si-woo of South Korea.
The 40-year-old, who was out in the early wave, led by four on the 18th but he posted a double-bogey six to keep a congested chasing pack in close proximity. Read more
Guardiola sees FA Cup Final as ‘massively important’ to Man City (AlJazeera)
The FA Cup was not Manchester City’s top priority this season, but now that they are in a third straight final, the club will go all out to win the trophy at Wembley, manager Pep Guardiola said.
City have had a “horrific season” in the words of striker Erling Haaland, with Guardiola’s side falling by the wayside in the Premier League title race while they were also eliminated in the Champions League knockout phase playoffs.City are fourth in the Premier League and yet to secure Champions League qualification for next season – winning the FA Cup when they face Crystal Palace on Saturday may not be enough to salvage their campaign. Read more