NNPCL raises petrol pump price to N950/litre (Punch)
After initial hesitation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has increased the pump price of petrol to N925 per litre at its retail stations in Lagos and N950 per litre in Abuja.
The new price regime, effective from April 2, 2025, represents an increase of N65 from the previous price of N860 per litre in Lagos and an N70 difference from the N880 previously sold in the North.
Recall that last week, MRS and other independent marketers increased the price of petrol, raising its pump price to N930 per litre in Lagos and N960 for residents living in the northern part of the country. Read more
Bode George knocks Tinubu over visit to France amid ‘series of crises’ (Tribune)
Former Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has raised concern over President Bola Ahmed Tunubu’s ongoing visit to Paris, France amid series of crises in the country, saying reasons for such journey were best known to him and his handlers.
He raised this concern on Wednesday in a signed statement titled, ‘Whither Nigeria, my beloved country’, copy of which was made available to newsmen, saying that while Nigerians don’t feel safe anymore in their fatherland, the Federal Government led by President Tunubu, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Senate were only interested in recalling Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
George, who is also the Atona Oodua of Yoruba land, described such disposition as a shameful, recalling the popular album released in 1972 by Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the great and iconic Nigerian musician, titled: “Roforofo Fight” where he sang “When Trouble Sleep, Yanga Wake Am, Wetin E dey Find, Na Palaver E Dey Find. Na Palaver E Go Get oooo.” Read more
Okpebholo extends olive branch to Ighodalo, others (Nation)
Savouring the joy of victory at the tribunal, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo yesterday waved the olive branch to his major challenger in last year’s governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He urged the opposition to join him in the task of developing the state, stressing that governance should now take precedence over politics.
The victory of the governor, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was affirmed by the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi. Read more
Sallah Day Violence: Police probe Emir Sanusi II over alleged defiance of ban on durbar (Leadership)
The Kano State Police Commissioner, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has inaugurated an eight-member Special Investigation Panel (SIP) to investigate violence that erupted during the procession of the entourage of 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, after Eid-el-Fitr prayers on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
According to a press release issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the panel was tasked with uncovering the root causes of the violence and determining whether there was defiance of the Command’s ban on all forms of Durbar or horse-riding throughout the Sallah festivities.
LEADERSHIP reports that the Police ban was imposed due to security concerns in the state. Read more
Trump slams 14% tariff on Nigerian exports (Guardian)
The United States President, Donald Trump, Wednesday enacted sweeping new tariffs in a move that could escalate trade tensions globally at what he tagged “liberation day”.
Trump said the U.S. will implement “reciprocal tariffs” on all countries of “approximately half” of what they charge us.
Among the countries slammed with reciprocal tariff is Nigeria. Under the tariff plan, Nigerian exports will be charged 14 per cent tariff as against the 27 per cent charged by the Federal Government. Read more
Tinubu, Buhari mourn Galadiman of Kano, Abbas Sanusi (ThisDay)
President Bola Tinubu and his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari have mourned the senior Kano Emirate official and Galadiman Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi who died at the ripe age of 92.
The President, in a release issued on Wednesday by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, expressed grief over the passing of Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, after a protracted illness.
President Tinubu described the deceased, who is survived by many children and grandchildren including the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano stare, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, as a strong pillar of the traditional institution, its survival and development. Read more
Gen. Tsiga regains freedom after 56 days in captivity (DailyTrust)
Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga (rtd) has regained his freedom after spending 56 days in captivity.
Daily Trust had reported how the former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was abducted from his hometown in Bakori local government area (LGA) of Katsina state, on February 5, 2025.
He was kidnapped alongside nine other residents. Read more
We Have Subdued Terrorists In Kebbi, Zamfara – Army (Channels)
The Commander of One Brigade, Nigerian Army, Gusau, Brigadier General Timothy Opurum, has stated that troops of One Brigade under Operation Fansar Yamma have significantly reduced terrorists’ activities in their area of responsibility, covering Kebbi and Zamfara states.
General Opurum made this declaration on Tuesday evening during a Sallah luncheon with officers, soldiers, and their families at the Brigade Cantonment in Gusau.
According to him, the security situation was previously challenging, but through sustained military operations and the dedication of troops, the army has gained dominance over the region and curtailed terrorist activities to a large extent. Read more
Major US companies see stocks plummet after Trump’s tariffs announcement (ABC)
The reaction to President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs announcement didn’t take long to hit the United States stock market, with Dow Futures plummeting over 1,000 points by Wednesday evening.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 1,100 points or 2.7%. S&P 500 futures lost 3.9% and Nasdaq-100 futures tumbled 4.7%.
While Trump said the tariffs would free the U.S. from dependence on foreign goods, fears of a deepened international trade war appeared to be reflected in the stock market in the immediate aftermath. Read more
African Union mediators arrive in South Sudan to salvage peace deal (AfricaNews)
African Union mediators landed in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on Wednesday for urgent talks aimed at preventing a return to civil war. The intervention follows the house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar last week, a move that has heightened tensions in the country.
President Salva Kiir’s government has accused Machar—his longtime rival and former rebel leader during the 2013-2018 conflict that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives—of inciting a fresh rebellion. Machar was detained last Wednesday amid ongoing clashes in Upper Nile state between government forces and the White Army militia. Although Machar’s forces were previously allied with the White Army during the civil war, they deny any current ties.
The AU delegation, which arrived in Juba on Wednesday afternoon, includes members of the “Council of the Wise,” such as former Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye and former Kenyan judge Effie Owuor. Read more
No additional US tariffs for Canada, but no relief either (BBC)
After days of anticipation about what US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” would mean for Canada, it seems the answer is not much. But that still hasn’t helped bring relief to America’s northern neighbour.
Trump said on Wednesday that countries worldwide will be hit with blanket 10% US tariffs. He also released a list of 60 nations facing additional “reciprocal” tariffs, though Canada notably was not on that list.
Instead, much of the American tariff scheme on Canada will stay the same: a blanket 25% on all goods, except those under the existing North American free trade agreement. Energy and potash is tariffed at a lower 10%, while a 25% levy on Canadian steel and aluminium remains in place. Read more
Will Ariana Grande be able to out-’shine’ the competition (again) on the Billboard 200? (Billboard)
The Contenders is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top of the Billboard charts, and the strategies behind their efforts.
This week, for the upcoming Billboard 200 dated April 12, we look at a number of albums looking to knock Playboi Carti’s two-week No. 1 from the top spot – led by a reissue from one of 2024’s top pop stars.
Ariana Grande, Eternal Sunshine (Republic): Ariana Grande’s seventh studio album is an already-certified hit: Eternal Sunshine debuted atop the Billboard 200 upon its release in March 2024, with over 200,000 first-week equivalent album units, according to Luminate, and spawned a pair of Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits with advance single “Yes, And?” and Sunshine focus track “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love).” Read more
Wife of man mistakenly sent to Salvadoran prison says he’s not a criminal (CBS)
The US citizen wife of a 29-year-old man who the Trump administration has admitted was mistakenly deported to El Salvador said she fears for his safety in the infamous mega-prison where he’s being held, maintaining that her husband is “an amazing father” and “not a criminal.”
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador on March 15 and imprisoned inside that country’s maximum-security prison known as CECOT, as part of a series of U.S. deportation flights that have ignited a high-stakes legal battle in American courts.
The Trump administration has acknowledged in federal court that his deportation was an “administrative error,” since an immigration judge in 2019 had granted him legal protection from being sent to El Salvador. Read more
Eddie Murphy says Sidney Poitier told him not to join Malcolm X (EW)
Eddie Murphy is reflecting on puzzling career advice he received from Sidney Poitier.
The Beverly Hills Cop star recalled an interaction that he had with the legendary In the Heat of the Night actor in the new documentary Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood. “They were talking about doing Malcolm X,” the Coming to America star explained. “Norman Jewison was putting it together. They were gonna use The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley. And they approached me about playing Alex Haley.”
Murphy was still considering the offer when he crossed paths with Poitier. “Around that same time, I bumped into Sidney Poitier at something, and I asked him, ‘Yeah, I’m thinking about playing Alex Haley!'” he remembered. “And Sidney Poitier said, ‘You are not Denzel, and you are not Morgan. You are a breath of fresh air, and don’t f— with that!’” Read more
Zayn Malik cancels Mexico City concert due to “serious” illness (DailyMail)
Zayn Malik canceled his show in Mexico City on Friday night after he contracted a serious case of food poisoning.
He shared a note explaining why he had to cancel the concert on his Instagram Story just hours before the show was to start.
‘I’m heartbroken to say that I won’t be able to perform tonight in Mexico City,’ Malik, 32, wrote.
‘I’ve been really sick since this morning and, despite trying everything to push through, my body just isn’t allowing it.’
‘I’m so sorry to let you down. The love and energy I always feel from my fans mean the world to me, and it hurts deeply to miss this moment with you,’ he continued. Read more
African Warriors Fighting Championship, DAZN partner to promote Dambe overseas (Guardian)
The African Warriors Fighting Championship (AWFC), the premier traditional Nigerian boxing sport, has announced a groundbreaking broadcast partnership with DAZN, the world’s leading sports entertainment platform.
Under this exclusive agreement, DAZN will serve as AWFC’s global streaming partner and will broadcast the highly anticipated Dambe World Series, a tournament consisting of five events, where Nigeria’s top athletes will battle against international challengers.
Indigenous to Nigeria, Dambe is a unique form of kickboxing that draws inspiration from traditional spear and shield combat. Fighters use one hand, wrapped in rope, to strike, while the other is reserved for defence. Kicks, often with fierce intensity, are also a key part of the combat style. Read more
Ligue 1: ‘Simon Is Nantes’ Most Important Player’ (Leadership) Nantes defender Nicolas Pallois has rated Moses Simon the club’s most important player.
Simon has registered seven goals and eight assists for Antoine Kamboure’s men this season.
Only three players, Rayan Cherki, Bradley Barcola and Dilane Bakwa (nine) have more assists than the Nigeria international this term. Read more
Kwara, Lagos, 9 others vie for National Baseball Title in Ilorin (DailyTrust)
Ten teams, including nine states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, will battle for supremacy in the upcoming Honour Independent National Baseball League in Kwara State.
The tournament, organized by the Kwara State Baseball and Softball Association, will be held at the Baseball Park in Adewole, Ilorin, and will follow a two-stage Round Robin League format this year.
At a press briefing held at the Kwara SWAN secretariat, the Vice Chairman of the Association, Yinka Adewusi, revealed that the first phase will run from April 6 to 12, 2025, with the top five teams advancing to the second stage in August. Read more
I have everything to become world champion — Ajagba (Punch)
Nigerian heavyweight boxer Efe Ajagba believes he possesses all the necessary qualities to become a world champion as he sets his sights on the biggest names in the division ahead of his upcoming fight, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The hard-hitting Nigerian is due to fight Martin Bakole on the undercard of Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez’s undisputed world super-middleweight championship fight against William Scull in Saudi Arabia on May 4.
“I have the abilities, I have the skills, I have the power, everything to become a heavyweight champion,” Ajagba told Sky Sports. Read more
Liverpool edge closer to title with narrow Everton win (BBC)
Liverpool claimed bragging rights on Merseyside with victory over rivals Everton and edged closer to lifting the Premier League title.
Arne Slot’s men require only 13 points from a possible 24 available to guarantee a deserved and record-equalling 20th top-flight triumph.
The Red were being frustrated by Everton’s backline sitting deep, but claimed the three points courtesy of a moment of magic from Diogo Jota. Read more
Ancelotti on trial for alleged tax evasion in Spain (MorningStar)
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti attended the opening of his trial on tax evasion charges in Spain today.
The highly successful Italian manager spent two-and-a-half hours inside the Madrid-based courthouse before telling reporters “all is well” upon leaving in a car.
Spanish prosecutors have accused Ancelotti of defrauding the state of €1 million (£834,371) in 2014 and 2015. State prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of up to four years and nine months on two counts of tax fraud. Read more