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.

Nigeria’s   men’s and women’s national cricket teams have retained their spots in the latest annual rankings released by the International Cricket Council on Tuesday, having met the required number of matches during the period under review,   PUNCH Sports Extra   reports. The annual update, which gives 100 per cent weighting to matches played since May 2025 and 50 per cent to those from the previous two years, saw India’s lead over England trimmed from 14 to 13 points in the men’s table, while Australia’s advantage over England in the women’s rankings reduced from 18 to 12 points. For Nigeria, the men’s team dropped two places from 36th to 38th, while the women’s team retained 26th position globally. After competing in the sub-regional and regional T20 World Cup qualifiers, the West Africa Trophy and a seven-match bilateral series against Kenya, the men’s team—known as the Yellow Greens—accumulated 78 rating points, just one below their previous total of 79. The women’s ...

  Borussia Dortmund defender  Niklas Süle  has confirmed he will retire from professional football at the end of the season, bringing his career to a close at the age of 30. The Germany national football team international decided following a knee injury suffered in last month’s Bundesliga match against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Süle initially feared he had suffered a third anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, an injury that has already disrupted his career in the past. Although medical tests later confirmed he had avoided an ACL tear, the defender said the scare changed his outlook on continuing in the sport. Speaking on the Spielmacher podcast on Wednesday, Süle revealed he was overcome with emotion after the initial diagnosis, saying he “went into the shower and cried for 10 minutes” as he believed the worst had happened. Even after receiving the more positive MRI results, Süle said he had already decided to retire, explaining that he could not face the possibility of ...

The West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) has called for closer cooperation between the media and tax authorities across Africa. Press freedom the organisation said remains vital to improving tax compliance, strengthening transparency and supporting sustainable development on the continent. In a statement issued to commemorate World Press Freedom Day, the Executive Secretary of WATAF, Jules Tapsoba, said a free and independent media plays a major role in building accountable tax systems and increasing public trust in government institutions. According to him, accurate and responsible journalism helps citizens understand tax policies and public finance issues, while also ensuring that institutions remain accountable to the people. “A free and responsible press is indispensable to transparent tax systems. By informing citizens and holding institutions accountable, the media strengthens trust, improves compliance, and supports sustainable domestic revenue mobilisation,” Tapsoba sa...

  The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, says  President Bola Tinub u is committed to repositioning the   Nigeria Police Force   through strengthened education and training institutions. Alausa said this on Monday in Abuja when the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tunji Disu, led senior police officers on a courtesy visit to his office. He said discussions focused on the establishment of a southern campus of the Police Academy in Erije, Abeokuta, Ogun, in line with the President’s agenda to improve professionalism and security delivery. “This meeting is in continuation of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to reposition the police to deliver on its core mandate and improve security across the country,” he said. Alausa added that the proposed campus was expected to admit its first set of students between September and November 2026, following expedited resource verification by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Terrorists stormed Ungwar Bala village in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State , killing an elderly man and abducting an ECWA pastor, his wife and two children. The assailants invaded the community in the early hours of Sunday. A source, who spoke to DAILY POST, said, “The assailants came to the village and went straight to the elderly man’s house and ordered him to open the house for them. The assailants forcefully entered the house and shot him in two different parts of his body.” He added that it was after they killed the man that they went to the pastor’s residence and abducted him, his wife and two children, saying that the terrorists also went to another house and abducted a man and his wife. According to the source, “The assailants shot sporadically to scare the people away, and without the intervention of security personnel, they successfully carried out their evil act and went away with their abductees.”  

  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has declared  Halimat Adenike Tejuosho , a women leader of the City Boys Movement, wanted. A notice issued by the EFCC on Monday via X said Tejuosho has been declared wanted over an alleged case of obtaining money by false pretence. The notice was signed by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC. The anti-graft agency called on members of the public with useful information about her whereabouts to contact any of its offices nationwide. he Commission also urged the members of the public to reach out via its official phone lines or email, or report to the nearest police station or other security agencies.

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared N2.036 trillion among the federal government, states and the local government councils (LGCs). The revenue was shared at the April meeting of FAAC in Abuja. The N2.036 trillion total distributable revenue comprised statutory revenue of N1.320 trillion, Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N515.391 billion and augmentation of N200 billion. A communiqué issued by FAAC indicated that total gross revenue of N2.364 trillion was available in the month of March. It said that the total deduction for the cost of collection was N81.084 billion, while total transfers, refunds and savings were N246.872 billion and an augmentation of N200 billion.

  The Greek-owned container ship Epaminondas has been attacked near the Strait of Hormuz but it's unclear whether it was detained by Iran, according to Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis. “I can confirm that there was an attack against the Greek cargo ship, but I cannot confirm that this has been seized by the Iranians," Gerapetritis told CNN. He said it was attacked and has faced "extensive damage". Greek media is reporting that the shipping ministry denies that it has been detained. Earlier, the IRGC said that the ship, along with the MSC Francesca, was  "seized" and directed towards the Iranian coast , Iranian media reported. The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre said it was approached by an IRGC gunboat, which opened fire and caused significant damage to the bridge.

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...