WHALEXTRA

The   Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)   and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday inaugurated a Joint Committee on Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) Portal to tackle the menace of subscriber identity module (SIM)-enabled fraudulent practices in the country, a development they averred threatened the digital economy ambition of the Federal Government. The TIRMS will aggregate data on churned (recycled) phone numbers, as well as numbers flagged within the financial sector; the Financial Services Industry will now have enhanced visibility into the status of phone numbers, one of the most widely utilized resources in the financial services sector. The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Dr Aminu Maida said the MoU provides a structured framework for cooperation in critical areas including payment system integrity, fraud mitigation, digital inclusion, and the protection of consumers, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, wh...

  House of Representatives member and Coordinator of the Justice Forum, James Faleke, spoke with Deputy Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU and News Editor BUNMI OGUNMODEDE on preparations of the Lagos State  All Progressives Congress  (APC) for next year’s polls What are your expectations about 2027 concerning Lagos? Well, thank you very much. As an individual, my expectation is for God’s blessings that He keeps us alive and gives us the opportunity to continue serving and showcasing ourselves. Regarding the 2027 elections, I expect that negotiations and mobilisations will translate into massive votes. I anticipate strong support for Bola Tinubu and for the APC in Lagos, including the next governor of the state. I believe the outcome will be more positive than what we saw in 2023. Lagos has evolved, and I strongly believe that things will be better and more successful in 2027. First, I expect loyalty, someone who is committed to the party and understands its structure. The person sh...

Armed members of dreaded Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have, again, launched a midnight attack on Benishiekh town along the Maiduguri–Damaturu Road, Borno State, sources have said. Benesheikh is the Council Headquarters of Kaga local government area of the state. The attack which started at 11 p.m on Tuesday, raised fresh security concerns in the area. A credible source said the attackers were reportedly directing their movements toward the 29 Task Force Brigade of Operation Hadin Kai, the same location where Brigadier-General O. O. Braimah was killed alongside some soldiers on April 9. Meanwhile, or correspondent observed fighter jets and helicopters hovering around the city of Maiduguri, the state capital, which is about 75kms drive from Benesheikh.

  The  African Democratic Congress (ADC ) has announced the expulsion of several members, including Hon. Leke Abejide and Nafiu Bala Gombe, over alleged violations of the party’s constitution and disciplinary code. The decision was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, following resolutions reached at the party’s National Convention held on April 14, 2026, in Abuja. According to the statement, the expulsions were approved after deliberations by delegates at the convention, which was presided over by the party’s National Chairman, David Mark. “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) wishes to inform the public that, pursuant to resolutions reached at its National Convention held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the Rainbow Event Centre, Garki, Abuja, the Party has approved the expulsion of certain individuals for acts deemed inconsistent with its constitution, values, and disciplinary framework,” the statement re...

The African Democratic Congress , ADC, caucus in the House of Representatives has demanded the prosecution and removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan. The caucus made the call over allegations of partisanship and compromised neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections. This comes after the caucus’ inaugural meeting held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, where members reviewed recent political developments and expressed deep concern about the credibility of the electoral umpire. The lawmakers alleged that Amupitan exhibited actions and made statements deemed inconsistent with the expectations of an impartial electoral body head. They cited allegations that the INEC chairman previously operated a personal X account where he reportedly expressed support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and shared controversial content relating to claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria.

  The  Nigerian Police Force  has highlighted some of the notable achievements carried out by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) in several coordinated operations from January to date, leading to the arrest of fifty suspects. Addressing the press in Abuja on Monday, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, the Force Public Relations Officer, said the operatives had followed up on several gunrunning and kidnapping syndicates and clandestine activities, which led to the recovery of several dangerous weapons and illicit drugs, among other exhibits. The Police highlighted seven cases which led to the arrest of 50 suspects and the recovery of 17 rifles of various models, 111 live ammunitions of various calibres, two empty magazines, 17 live cartridges, three vehicles, three phones, seven magazines, five walkie-talkies, among other exhibits on display. The Police said that one Musa Jibrin was arrested for criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and ban...

THE Naira yesterday appreciated to N1,392 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,396 per dollar Tuesday. Similarly, the naira appreciated to N1,369 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market,  NFEM. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria,  CBN, showed that the indicative exchange rate for the naira fell to N1,369 per dollar from N1,389 per dollar on Tuesday,  reflecting  N20 appreciation for the naira.  Consequently, the margin between the parallel and official markets widened  to N23 per dollar from N5  per dollar on Tuesday.

  Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary between Iran and the United States to secure a temporary ceasefire and host negotiations to end the war in the Middle East. On Wednesday,  Prime Minister Shehbaz  Sharif said the United States and Iran — and their allies had — agreed to a ceasefire “everywhere” following mediation by his government. Sharif said the two-week truce – which Trump and Tehran had announced earlier – would next lead to talks in the Pakistan capital. “Pakistan achieved one of its biggest diplomatic wins in years,” said South Asia expert Michael Kugelman in an X post. “It also defied many skeptics and naysayers that didn’t think it had the capacity to pull off such a complex, high stakes feat.”