Author: Editor

By Promise Adiele It happened on 18 January 2026, under the humid atmosphere of a North African evening. The venue was the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. That day, the invigorating winds of West Africa, carried by Senegal, intricately clasped with the scents of the flora and fauna of North Africa, conveyed by Morocco. That day, the global soccer ecosystem converged in Rabat for a reason – to witness the winner of the 2025 African ultimate soccer prize. It was an evening contrived by men but destined by the gods. That day, magic and miracle coalesced in an…

By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu  Morocco’s leading scorer, Brahim Diaz, stood poised to make history – to score the goal that would end his country’s agonizing 50-year wait to win the coveted African Cup of Nations (AFCON).  Senegal’s goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, was focused to thwart the effort. The world waited with bated breath. Brahim Diaz had won the controversial penalty in the 8th minute of added time in the pulsating second-half added time of the AFCON final match in Morocco. The match was goalless at the time, and scoring the penalty would have been the last kick of the game, only…

By Chido Onumah If a single idea has guided the work of the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) over the past years, it is this simple truth: a nation cannot win the war against corruption by sacrificing its most courageous citizens along the way. The whistleblower is not an inconvenience to governance. He or she is its essential early warning system. And yet, nearly a decade after Nigeria introduced a whistleblower policy, the country still operates without the one safeguard that makes integrity sustainable: a clear, enforceable law that protects those who speak up. In 2025, AFRICMIL…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Ebonyi State Government and the major shareholder of the moribund Nigercem Cement Company, Cletus Ibeto, are at loggerheads over the stalled revitalisation of the cement factory. The state government has accused Ibeto of frustrating efforts to revive the plant, while the businessman insists he has concrete plans to restore Nigercem to its former glory. Speaking during an interaction with journalists, the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Mr Chidi Onyia, said the state would not allow itself to be held to ransom in its quest for industrial development. Onyia was responding to allegations by host communities of…

Our Reporter, Abuja  The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, over alleged abuse of office and multiple human rights violations by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Garki Police Station, Abuja, and officers under his command. In the petition dated 20 January 2026 and signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC accused the DPO, Mr. Ahmodu Mohammed, alongside officers identified as Francis Gukas, SP Aminat and others, of unlawful arrest and detention, denial of access to legal counsel, torture, extortion, sexual and gender-based abuse, and…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Human rights organisation, Christian Solidarity Worldwide–Nigeria (CSW-N), has accused soldiers of blocking access to Kaduna communities, insisting that despite denials by security agencies, no fewer than 100 worshippers were abducted by suspected bandits during coordinated attacks on churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. According to the rights group, the alleged abductions occurred on Sunday when heavily armed assailants attacked three churches in Kurmin Wali during worship services, forcibly taking over 100 congregants into the bush. But in a swift reaction, the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State, Mohammed Rabiu, dismissed the claims…

By Mukaila Kareem  Every January, the same story repeats itself. People are advised, or personally resolved, to eat less, move more, and finally “get disciplined.” A few weeks later, hunger intensifies, energy feels lower, and frustration sets in. The usual conclusion is often self or societal blame for lack of self-control or willpower. But this framing misses something fundamental about how the body works. As I wrote last December in an article titled The Dangers of Prolonged Sitting, and I quote: “Exercise is medicine, and this is how it works: eating imports energy, movement exports heat, and health depends on…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Abia State Government has approved the construction of housing estates across the state for civil servants and other members of the public. The State Executive Council also approved plans to regulate electricity distribution, as the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA) is expected to issue an order, before the end of January, to regularise all electricity activities in the state. The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this during a press briefing in Umuahia, explaining that the move to regulate electricity distribution followed the final transfer of regulatory authority from the National Electricity Regulatory Commission…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia No fewer than 649 new health workers, including medical doctors, nurses and other health professionals, have been recruited by the Abia State Government in its bid to improve healthcare delivery in the state. Meanwhile, Governor Alex Otti has been voted the Best-Performing Governor in the South-East by a forum of academic doctors in the zone. The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting. He explained that the newly recruited medical personnel were drawn from the 771 vacancies earlier advertised by the state government. Prince…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Social Democratic Party (SDP) senatorial candidate for Enugu North Senatorial District in the 2023 general election, Barr. Gideon Agbo, has lamented the death of Senator Okechukwu Ezea, describing it as a huge loss to the zone. Speaking with journalists in Nsukka over the weekend, Agbo said Ezea’s passing had created a significant vacuum, considering the late lawmaker’s impressive performance in the Senate despite being a first-term senator. “Ezea left at a time Enugu North senatorial zone needed him most. Despite being a first-termer in the upper legislative chamber, he was very vocal and bold in presenting…