Tinubu Celebrates Wike On His 58th Birthday

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Chief Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on his birthday, December 13. President Tinubu celebrated with the Minister and former governor of Rivers State, giving thanks to God Almighty for enriching him with a life defined by purpose, service, and courage. The President described Chief Wike as an audacious top performer who defies obstacles and delivers results. President Tinubu acknowledged the ongoing transformation of the Federal Capital Territory through infrastructure expansion, highlighting the Minister’s recent intervention that broke the 14-year logjam in the construction of the Apo-Karshi road. The President commended Chief Wike for his resilience, can-do attitude, and commitment to excellence in all assignments. President Tinubu thanked the Minister for his consistent efforts in delivering results and wishes him a happy birthday and strength to further his good work in the FCT. “Nyesom Wike has been one of the shining stars in the cabinet, an exceptional performer, developing infrastructure in the Federal capital as never seen before and proving that his moniker as ‘Mr Project’ is not limited to his home state of Rivers. “I commend him for being one of the champions of our Renewed Hope Agenda, even though he belongs to another party and wish him well as he marks another year in his life journey”.

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Nigerian Socialite Roseline Ajesola Arrested in North Carolina Over Alleged $247,000 Fraud Scheme

Authorities in Wake County, North Carolina, have arrested Roseline Iyewande Ajesola, a Nigerian-American woman and prominent Lagos socialite, over allegations of financial fraud involving more than $247,000. According to arrest warrants issued by the Morrisville Police Department, Ajesola, who resides in Katy, Texas, is facing four felony counts of Obtaining Property by False Pretense, classified as a Class C felony under North Carolina law. Investigators allege that Ajesola falsely presented herself as a financial broker and convinced a victim to transfer large sums of money into a bank account under her control. The funds were allegedly forwarded to another party shortly after the transfers were made. Court documents indicate that four transactions are linked to the alleged scheme: $52,000, $130,000, $60,000, and $5,000. The transfers reportedly occurred on February 26, 2025, bringing the total amount involved to over $247,000. The arrest has attracted widespread attention online following the circulation of her mugshot on social media. Investigations into the matter are ongoing, and authorities have not disclosed whether additional suspects may be involved.

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APC Ibadan North Ticket: Olusegun Olaleye Denies Winning Primary Election

APC Osun Guber Primary Kicks Off Amid Consensus on Bola Oyebamiji

All is set for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Osun State as the exercise officially commenced on Saturday. A total of 1,666 accredited delegates are participating in the primary to elect the party’s governorship candidate ahead of the next election. Accreditation of delegates is currently ongoing, with officials of the APC Primary Election Committee overseeing the process. Observers from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are also present at the venue to monitor the conduct of the exercise in line with electoral guidelines. The primary is taking place amid reports of a growing consensus within the party in favour of Bola Oyebamiji, raising expectations of a smooth and orderly process. Party leaders and stakeholders have expressed confidence that the exercise will strengthen internal democracy and position the APC effectively for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

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There’s No Christian Genocide in Nigeria, Tinubu Says, Blames Insecurity on Criminality and Extremism

President Bola Tinubu has rejected claims that Christians are being specifically targeted in Nigeria, stressing that both Christians and Muslims face the same threats from terrorism. He made the remarks on Friday in Abuja while inaugurating the Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society 8th Biennial Conference and Annual General Meeting, themed “Building Resilience in a Changing World: The Role of Faith and Community.” Tinubu was represented at the event by Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi. According to Tinubu, the country’s insecurity stems from historical, economic, and criminal factors, not religious persecution. He said terrorism in Nigeria is driven by criminality and extremism, affecting all citizens regardless of faith. His statement comes after former US President Donald Trump claimed that Christians in Nigeria were being persecuted and threatened military intervention if the government did not act. Trump had labeled Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” prompting the government to send a delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to brief US lawmakers on the nation’s security challenges. Speaking at the NASFAT event, Tinubu said: “In recent times, the Federal Government and other persons of goodwill have had to address unfounded allegations. These allegations are not only false but harmful, and capable of inflaming passions and disrupting the peaceful coexistence we continue to build as a nation. Nigeria’s response was clear, firm and measured. We reaffirmed that our nation does not foster or tolerate policies or actions aimed at persecuting any religious group. Muslims and Christians alike have been victims of terrorism in Nigeria. Muslims and Christians alike stand shoulder to shoulder in condemning violence from any quarter. “As President, I reiterate with all sense of responsibility and fidelity to the Constitution that there is no Christian genocide in Nigeria, and there is no Muslim genocide in Nigeria. What we have is terrorism driven by criminality and extremism—challenges we are working tirelessly to overcome.” He emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting national unity, religious freedom, and the security of every citizen, warning against narratives that could sow division. “Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity and the ability of its people to coexist peacefully while practicing different faiths,” he said. He also commended NASFAT for its work in fostering moderation, tolerance, and service to humanity as tools for national unity. Keynote speaker Dr Nurudeen Lemu urged Muslims to remain steadfast in faith and optimistic despite the country’s challenges.

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US Forces Storm Cargo Ship Travelling From China to Iran: Report

United States forces reportedly raided a cargo ship travelling from China to Iran in November, marking the latest example of increasingly aggressive maritime tactics by the administration of President Donald Trump. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal published on Friday, US military personnel boarded the vessel several hundred miles from Sri Lanka. Unnamed officials said the incident marked the first time in several years that US forces had intercepted cargo travelling from China to Iran. The operation took place weeks before US authorities seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela earlier this week, citing alleged sanctions violations. Officials described the November raid as another step in a pattern of actions Washington has not taken in years. US Indo-Pacific Command did not immediately confirm the report. However, an official told the newspaper that materials seized during the operation were “potentially useful for Iran’s conventional weapons.” The official added that the items were considered dual-use, meaning they could have both civilian and military applications. Sources said the ship was allowed to continue its journey after the interdiction, which reportedly involved US special operations forces. Iran remains under extensive US sanctions. Neither Tehran nor Beijing immediately responded to the report, though China, a key trading partner of Iran, has consistently criticised US sanctions as illegal. Earlier on Friday, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker by US forces, which was taken to a port in Texas. Guo said Beijing opposes unilateral sanctions and what it described as “long-arm jurisdiction” without authorisation from the United Nations Security Council. The latest maritime action comes amid heightened US pressure on Venezuela, a move Caracas has accused Washington of pursuing in an effort to undermine President Nicolas Maduro’s government. Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday that the Trump administration would not rule out additional vessel seizures near Venezuela in the future.

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INEC Orders Nationwide Display of Preliminary Voters Register for Claims and Objections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ordered the nationwide display of the preliminary register of voters to allow for claims and objections by eligible Nigerians. According to a statement shared on the commission’s official X handle on Friday, the exercise is aimed at giving voters the opportunity to confirm their registration details and request corrections where necessary. INEC explained that the process will enable Nigerians who recently registered, transferred their registration, or updated their personal details to verify their information at their respective Local Government Area offices. In the statement, the commission urged voters to confirm their details, noting that those whose names are missing from the register, whose information is misspelt, or whose records are incomplete should file a claim for correction. INEC also called on Nigerians to file objections if they observe irregularities on the register, including the presence of non-citizens, underage persons, deceased individuals, people not resident in the area, or anyone legally incapacitated from voting. The commission disclosed that the exercise will take place nationwide at all INEC Local Government Area offices, running daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., between December 15 and December 21. Meanwhile, INEC recently confirmed that more than 2.68 million Nigerians have completed their registration in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise. The commission stated that 1,576,137 applicants successfully completed their pre-registration online, while an additional 1,109,588 finalised their enrolment through physical biometric capture at INEC centres across the country.

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NELFUND Applauds Dangote Foundation’s N100bn Annual Education Scholarship Programme

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has commended the Aliko Dangote Foundation for launching a landmark N100 billion annual scholarship programme designed to support more than 1.3 million Nigerian students in public secondary and tertiary institutions over the next decade. The initiative was unveiled in Lagos, with Vice President Kashim Shettima representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. NELFUND described the programme as a significant private-sector intervention that complements the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and ongoing efforts to expand access to quality education nationwide. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, praised the Dangote Foundation for its visionary leadership and alignment with national education reform objectives. He noted that the scholarship scheme, which includes a strong focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), will help ease financial pressures on students while contributing to the development of a skilled, future-ready workforce. “On behalf of NELFUND, we commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for promoting collaborative approaches that strengthen Nigeria’s education sector,” Sawyerr said. “This landmark initiative will significantly boost national education financing and ensure that no Nigerian is denied access to education due to financial limitations.” NELFUND also expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Dangote Foundation and other stakeholders to guarantee transparency, efficiency and maximum impact in the implementation of the scholarship programme. The Fund emphasised the importance of strong partnerships between government, the private sector and development partners in building a sustainable and inclusive education system, in line with President Tinubu’s call for shared responsibility in national development. NELFUND congratulated the Dangote Foundation once again and expressed confidence that the initiative will have a lasting positive impact on Nigeria’s education sector.

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Bandits Use Advanced Technology To Evade Security, Says Bosun Tijani

Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, has disclosed that bandits are using advanced technology to evade surveillance, making it difficult for security agencies to track their activities. Speaking with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Friday night, Tijani explained that monitoring the communications of these criminal groups is far more complex than most Nigerians realise. He said bandits deliberately route their calls through multiple towers, a tactic that allows them to stay ahead of security operatives. “The reason why the president actually pushed us to invest in towers in those areas is that we realised there was a special kind of technology that they were using to call,” Tijani said. “They were not using the normal towers; they bounce calls off multiple towers. That is why they enjoy living in areas that are unconnected.” The minister added that the federal government is also working to upgrade Nigeria’s satellites to enhance monitoring and intelligence gathering. “Because if our towers are not working, our satellites will work,” he said. Tijani stressed that the situation underscores the urgent need for significant investment in telecommunications infrastructure. “If you go to China, they have over four million 5G towers. The total number of towers we have in Nigeria is just about 40,000,” he noted. His comments come as insecurity surges across the country, particularly in the north, with recent incidents including the abduction of schoolchildren in Niger and Kebbi states and attacks on churches in Kogi and Kwara states. The ongoing wave of kidnappings and killings has sparked public concern, leading the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to announce a nationwide protest set for December 17.

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