WHALEXTRA

The Senate on Tuesday called for a total ban on the importation of textile products into Nigeria as part of efforts to revive the country’s struggling textile industry and create jobs. The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Katung and co-sponsored by several lawmakers, including Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Adams Oshiomhole, Mohammed Monguno, Ibrahim Khalid and Mustapha Khabeeb. Leading the debate, Katung lamented the decline of an industry that was once one of Nigeria’s largest employers of labour. He recalled that the first large textile manufacturing mill in Nigeria was established in Kaduna in 1957, while government policies in the 1960s and 1970s helped the sector flourish. According to him, Nigeria had about 167 textile mills in the late 1970s and 1980s, employing nearly 500,000 workers.

President Bola Tinubu has commissioned the main carriageways of the Outer Southern Expressway, linking Ring Road 1 Junction to Ring Road 2 Junction in the Federal Capital Territory, describing the project as part of efforts to expand infrastructure and drive economic development in the capital. The commissioning ceremony took place on Tuesday, along the OSEX–Wasa Road. In his address, Tinubu, represented by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the administration had remained focused on delivering projects that translate into visible improvements in citizens’ lives. He said his administration had prioritised hard work and practical results over quick fixes, noting that governance must deliver tangible benefits. “Fellow citizens, when we took the oath of office to lead this great nation, we didn’t promise shortcuts. We promised hard work.

Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN), Polaris Bank and Keystone Bank may have been granted a leeway by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to complete their recapitalisation. Sources said the apex bank arrived at a conclusion to allow the ‘managed’ banks to complete the process under a regulatory window of three weeks. The deadline given to all banks to recapitalise was March 31 and they all met the deadline. One of the sources said the decision to give special consideration to the three banks was based on the circumstances, including legal and regulatory,  faced by them.  The ‘managed’ banks need no less than N350 billion to retain their national banking licences under the new minimum capital base, which requires banks with a national commercial banking license to have a minimum share capital and share premium of N200 billion.

  The Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA), and National Institute for Sports have agreed to collaborate on different areas, including emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction in the sports sector, among others. This was made known yesterday, when the LASEMA team, led by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, met with the Director-General, National Institute for Sports (NIS), Philip Shaibu , in Lagos. LASEMA boss, who praised the NIS boss, acknowledged the turnaround the institute has undergone since Shuaibu assumed duty. He described the DG as “a performer, put him anywhere, he will turn it around.” LASEMA boss, going down memory lane, said the DG played an active role in the establishment of the  State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Edo.

Former Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh has commended Premier League-winning manager Mikel Arteta, characterizing the Spanish tactician as one who possesses ‘some of Pep Guardiola’s intellect’ along with a fighter’s mentality. Arteta led Arsenal to the Premier League title after Manchester City was held to a 1-1 draw by AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday evening. The title victory signifies Arsenal’s first league championship in over 20 years and also marks Arteta’s first significant trophy in the past five years. During an appearance on Global Football Insights With Oliseh, the retired Nigeria international praised Arteta’s tactical development, leadership approach, and his capability to transform Arsenal into a title-contending team. The former Nigeria international said, “Mikel Arteta is the ruler of the new era. He serves as the connection. He possesses some of Pep’s intellect and the fighting spirit of a captain.

  Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola , has said he will take a decision at the end of the season over his future. According to most media in the UK, Guardiola is set to leave the Etihad this weekend, after the last Premier League fixture at home against Aston Villa. City can no longer win the title, following their 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday night. When asked about staying at the club beyond this summer, Guardiola told Sky Sports: “I can say I have one more year of contract and we had many years of winning. “The first person who has to talk is the chairman.

Heightened fears over worsening insecurity in Nigeria’s North-Wes t have resurfaced following the abduction of two staff members of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, along the notorious Maru–Talata Mafara highway in Zamfara State. The victims, identified as Malam Abdullahi of the Histopathology Department and Malam Rufae of the Microbiology Department, were reportedly kidnapped by suspected armed bandits while travelling from Abuja to Sokoto after attending a union meeting. Sources close to the families disclosed that the incident occurred along the troubled Maru axis, a corridor long associated with recurring cases of banditry, kidnappings and violent attacks on commuters. According to family members and associates, the abductors have already contacted relatives of the victims and are demanding a ransom of N10 million each for their release. “The kidnappers reached out to the families and demanded N10 million from each side. The situation has thrown the families i...

  General Overseer of Land of Joy and Prayer Ministry , Agah, Ganmo, in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Prophet Ajiboye Olayinka, has been sentenced to life Imprisonment for having unlawful sexual intercourse with three minors inside the church’s mission house. Justice H.A. Gegele of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on Wednesday also sentenced Prophet Olayinka to 14 years imprisonment for illegal abortions of several pregnancies of his victims. The court subsequently discharged the defendant of the charge of bigamy. The defendant had faced an eight-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, unlawful sexual intercourse with minors, illegal abortion, and unlawful possession of firearms, contrary to Sections 97, 235 and 283 of the Penal Code, Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, 2004 and Section 31(2) of the Kwara State Child Rights Law, 2006. During the hearing, the prosecution called 12 witnesses and tendered exhibits.