Author: News Room

The Federal Government has announced plans to launch Nigeria’s first National Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence to strengthen local research. The plan for the establishment was announced on Wednesday by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, at the 50th convocation ceremony of the University of Jos, Plateau State. According to the minister, the AI centre will be established at the institution through the support of the communications ministry to position the country as a significant contributor to the global artificial intelligence ecosystem. At the convocation ceremony, Mr Tijani stated that the centre, being the first AI-focused…

Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has dismissed allegations suggesting that individuals linked to him attempted to bribe the presiding judge in his ongoing trial. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Malami’s media aide, Mohammed Bello Doka, described a recent press release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as misleading and deliberately framed to imply an attempt to influence Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja. The statement categorically denied that any member of Malami’s legal team, family, associates, or office approached or attempted to approach the judge for…

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says candidates supported by his Rainbow Coalition, made up of members of different political parties in Rivers will win all elective positions in the state in 2027. Wike stated this on Wednesday, during his “thank you” visit to Asari Toru Local Government Area of the state. The Rainbow Coalition was under the Renewed Hope Family, initiated by Wike to galvanise support for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu for second term in the state. The initiative collapsed all political party allegiance under one roof – the renewed hope family in Rivers. Wike…

Magistrate Court No. 38, situated at Nomansland in Kano State, has remanded Mustapha Ismail Sheshe in custody over allegations of culpable homicide in the Sheshe area of Kano State. Mustapha Ismail Sheshe is accused of killing Halifa Tijjani following an argument between them over a mobile phone. The incident allegedly occurred on December 26, 2025, at approximately 8:30 pm, when the defendant is said to have stabbed the deceased in the chest with a knife, resulting in his death. After the charge was read, the court ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody following a request by the…

Controversial street-pop artist, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has levelled serious allegations against his father, accusing him of neglect, manipulation, and financially exploiting his success, while also warning him against what he described as spiritual intimidation. The outburst follows renewed family disputes that recently escalated into a physical altercation between the singer and one of his children’s mothers, an incident that went viral on social media. During an Instagram Live session on Tuesday, the Zeh Nation founder lamented that his father consistently distances himself whenever he faces challenges involving the police or marital disputes, yet maintains contact with his…

Super Eagles players and coaches have refused to travel to Marrakech due to unpaid bonuses. This was revealed by BBC Africa journalist, Oluwashina Okeleji, who is in Morocco. Nigeria are billed to take on Algeria in the quarter-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday evening. But it is understood they have not paid their bonuses for the four matches they have played. Eric Chelle’s men beat Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda in the group fixtures, before they thrashed Mozambique 4-0 in the Round of 16. They have taken the decision not to travel or train anymore until the…

The United States has “maximum leverage” over Venezuela’s interim authorities following the capture of Nicolas Maduro and will dictate decisions they make, the White House said Wednesday. President Donald Trump will meanwhile meet with US oil executives on Friday to discuss plans for Venezuela’s oil sector, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, days after the raid that toppled Maduro. “We obviously have maximum leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela right now. “We’re continuing to be in close coordination with the interim authorities, and their decisions are going to continue to be dictated by the United States of America,” Leavitt told…

The Nasarawa State Police Command attached to Mararaba ‘A’ Division in the Karu Local Government Area of the state has foiled an armed robbery operation and recovered a locally fabricated Beretta pistol. The recovery followed a distress call reporting that suspected armed robbers, numbering about four (4), attacked a wine shop located at Calvary Road, Mararaba, at about 0420hrs, during which one person was injured. The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Ramhan Nansel, made this known in a statement released in Lafia, the state capital, on Wednesday. According to him, upon swift response to the scene, the…

The Central Bank of Nigeria has cautioned that the ongoing banking sector recapitalisation could increase concentration risk in Nigeria’s capital market, potentially crowding out non-bank issuers, despite the current bullish momentum in equities. The warning is contained in the Macroeconomic Outlook for Nigeria, 2026: Consolidating Macroeconomic Stability Amid Global Uncertainty, where the apex bank highlighted emerging vulnerabilities across the financial system. According to the CBN, the recapitalisation exercise, while critical to strengthening banks’ balance sheets and enhancing resilience, may skew investor attention disproportionately towards the banking sector. “Despite the bullish momentum, the capital market could face higher concentration risk from…

Following the sudden demise of his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has ordered all his cabinet members to undergo compulsory medical examination. Diri, who gave the directive during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday in Yenagoa, directed the Commissioner for Health, Seiyefa Brisibe, to ensure that every member of the state executive council underwent the compulsory medical check. He said the directive became imperative in light of the recent death of his deputy, arguing that as public officers with hectic schedules, regular health checks are necessary to ensure medical fitness at all times to prevent avoidable death. The…