President Bola Tinubu has announced that Nigeria is expected to allocate approximately US$11.6 billion for debt servicing in 2026. As stated by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu expressed these views on Tuesday while heading Nigeria’s government, diplomatic, and business delegation to the Africa Forward Summit held at the Kenyatta Convention Centre in Nairobi. According to him, the debt to be repaid in the year is nearly half of the projected revenue. “Every single dollar that leaves our treasury to pay punitive interest rates is a dollar that did not go into our steel sector, our textile mills, our agro-processing plants, or our digital industries. It is a dollar that did not train a young Nigerian engineer or provide affordable power for our factories. Our industrial base is being starved of the blood it needs — long-term, affordable finance — while creditors and rating agencies treat African sovereigns as permanent high-risk borrowers, regardless of our fiscal performan...

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has urged state governments to reduce their reliance on overdrafts and short-term financing. A statement released by the apex bank on Sunday indicated that this recommendation was made by its Deputy Governor overseeing the Economic Policy Directorate, Dr. Muhammad Abdullahi, during a discussion with sub-national stakeholders, organized through the Nigerian Governors Forum Secretariat. Abdullahi recommended that they ensure their borrowing decisions are in line with debt sustainability thresholds, enhance budget realism and revenue forecasting, prioritize expenditures, and better align fiscal calendars with current macroeconomic conditions. He highlighted the essential role of State Governments in facilitating a successful transition to an Inflation Targeting (IT) monetary policy framework, emphasizing that sustained price stability can only be achieved through coordinated fiscal discipline across all levels of government. Abdullahi characterized the tr...

  Nigerian artist and songwriter, Rema, is set to join other international performers as the 2026 World Cup will showcase a trilogy of opening ceremonies, with each of the host nations — Mexico, the United States, and Canada — having its moment in a star-studded celebration.  Other global music icons, such as Katy Perry, Future, Alanis Morissette, Michael Buble, J Balvin, and Lisa, will also participate, as confirmed by the world governing body FIFA on Friday. Mexico will kick off the festivities, 90 minutes prior to the commencement of the tournament’s inaugural match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11 at Azteca Stadium, which will be referred to as Mexico City Stadium for the duration of the tournament.  The event will feature Colombian megastar J Balvin, the multi-Grammy-award-winning Mexican rock band Mana, and pop sensation Alejandro Fernandez, the son of the legendary ranchero king Vicente Fernandez. Mexico’s Latino pop princess Belinda and singer-songwriter...

The World Health Organization announced on Friday that the public risk associated with a lethal strain of Hantavirus linked to a cruise ship outbreak is minimal, as it transmits only through "very close contact." "This virus poses a significant threat, but solely to individuals who are genuinely infected, and the risk to the broader population remains exceedingly low," stated WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier during a press briefing in Geneva.  He emphasized that even individuals who shared cabins on the affected MV Hondius cruise ship "do not appear to be infected in several instances." The health organization indicated on Thursday that additional hantavirus cases might arise following the deaths of three passengers from the cruise ship; however, it anticipated that the outbreak would be contained if appropriate precautions were implemented.  Another ill passenger from the MV Hondius arrived in Europe earlier that day, as the ship made its way to the Span...

Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI), has declared that FIFA, not the United States, is the true host of the 2026 World Cup.  This rhetorical stance aims to emphasize FIFA's administrative authority over the tournament amid severe political and logistical friction with the U.S. government. The remarks follow several recent incidents that have jeopardized Iran's participation: Visa Denials: Iranian officials were recently denied entry to Canada for a FIFA Congress, and several federation members were initially denied U.S. visas for the tournament draw. Taj is demanding formal guarantees from FIFA that the Iranian delegation and state symbols, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), will be treated with respect and not "insulted" while on U.S. soil. Iran previously asked FIFA to move its group-stage matches from the U.S. to Mexico due to security concerns; however, FIFA rejected this request. Meanwhile, Iran remains a qualif...

  The Ogun Magistrate’s Court 1, located in Sagamu within the Sagamu Local Government Area of the state, and overseen by Magistrate Olufunilayo Somefun, has postponed the trial of the driver of the Lexus SUV involved in the road accident with former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua to June 2, 2026. This marks approximately the fourth occasion the case has been postponed to permit the prosecuting team to submit a new charge to the existing information regarding the case.  The defendant, Adeniyi Mobolaji, faces four charges, which include accusations of dangerous driving resulting in death. Mobolaji is also charged with reckless and negligent driving, in violation of Section 6(1) of the same Act, as well as driving without due care and attention, causing bodily harm, and property damage, contrary to Section 7(1) of the Act. Additionally, he is accused of operating a vehicle without a valid national driver’s license, in violation of Section 10(1) of the Federal Highway ...