Users of X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, are grappling with a widespread outage, leaving both the website and app inaccessible.
The Elon Musk-owned social network began experiencing issues around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 24.
According to DownDetector.co.uk, user complaints surged from just 66 to over 11,000 within minutes, peaking at 1:39 p.m.
This marks the second major disruption in a matter of days. On Thursday evening, May 22, millions were affected by another outage that disrupted key features, including direct messages, login pages, and access to various parts of the platform across both mobile and desktop.
A former Senate Leader and lawmaker representing Borno South, Senator Ali Ndume, has commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing several Northerners to key positions within federal agencies, calling it a step towards inclusive governance.
In a statement personally signed and issued in Abuja on Saturday, Ndume praised the President for responding to earlier concerns over regional imbalance in government appointments.
His comments followed Friday’s announcement of 12 new appointments from the region into strategic national positions.
Among the new appointees are Yazid Shehu Danfulani (Zamfara) as Managing Director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, Hamza Baba (Kano) as Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, Abubakar Jarengol (Adamawa) as Executive Director of Operations at NAIC, and Sama’ila Audu (Katsina) as Executive Director of Administration at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.
Others include Prof. Musa Tafsiri (Kebbi) as Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, and Isa Aremu (Kwara) as Director-General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies.
Ndume, who had previously criticised the administration for marginalising the North in appointments, referenced Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates fair representation of Nigeria’s diverse regions. He had earlier warned that any continued imbalance could deepen discontent and foster opposition against the administration.
However, in his latest statement, the senator commended Tinubu’s response, describing the recent appointments as a reflection of the President’s openness to feedback and commitment to national unity.
“President Tinubu is someone who surrenders to constructive criticism. I have known him to be a fair-minded, cosmopolitan person. No one is infallible,” Ndume said.
He continued, “When our leaders in the North, including myself, expressed concern over the lopsided nature of previous appointments, it wasn’t to attack but to highlight an important constitutional issue. This move by the President shows his ability to listen and adapt.”
Ndume emphasised that while he remains committed to holding the government accountable, he supports President Tinubu’s broader vision for Nigeria and believes in his capacity to deliver on democratic promises.
He congratulated the new appointees and urged them to justify the trust placed in them, warning that the expectations of Nigerians remain high.
Ndume pledged his continued loyalty to the President, reiterating that his criticisms would always be guided by patriotism and the national interest.
The Gombe State Government has taken a firm stance in defence of a 14-year-old girl who fled a forced marriage in Taraba State.
According to the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Asma’u Iganus, the minor’s husband has initiated legal action against her for refusing to return.
She made this disclosure on Friday while presenting relief items to the minor at the ministry.
Some of the items include bags of rice, maize, packs of sugar, macaroni, insecticide-treated nets, wrappers and stoves, among others.
Iganus said, “The Gombe state government is standing firm against all forms of child rights violations, including forced and underage marriages, rape, and all Gender-Based Violence.
“We have mobilised a legal team to ensure that this child is protected and allowed to study because that is what she wants.”
The commissioner disclosed that the girl’s husband, who already has two wives, allegedly subjected her to physical and emotional abuse adding, “The man used to invite some people into the room to help him tie her up on the bed and rape her without her consent.”
She added, “You can see the scars on both her wrists. We will not allow that to continue. “We are going to Taraba to defend her and ensure that the girl is protected by challenging any proceedings that violate her rights.”
Gombe State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Asma’u Iganus (right) with other government officials.
Iganus, while extending similar palliatives in the Aso area, where mentally challenged girls were continuously raped and Jauro Abare Zirin Gaza, where a two-year-old girl was raped by her stepfather, emphasised the government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of its citizens, especially minors subjected to abuse.
“The Gombe State Governor and the First Lady are not taking violence against women and girls for granted. Their actions demonstrate this administration’s dedication to combating child rights violations and promoting the well-being of citizens,” she added.
The 14-year-old girl, who was forced into marriage against her will, while narrating her ordeal, added, “Barely one month after I got there, my grandfather connived with my parents and arranged the marriage against my will. He started beating me and tying me down on the bed before raping me, sometimes, he will call some people to help him hold my hands and tie me.”
She lauded the government for providing her with food, shelter, and other essential support, expressing gratitude for the government’s intervention.
“The government has supported me and my relatives with foodstuffs, sleeping material, and other interventions, including money, and they have promised to support me to continue my education, which was stopped after primary school,” she said.
The Federal Government has trained 535 Nigerian youths in welding, fabrication, and metallurgy as part of its plan to reposition the country’s steel and metal sector for economic transformation.
The capacity-building initiative, tagged Bootcamp Training on Welding and Fabrication; Industrial Foundry and Metallurgy, and Instrumentation, Control and Mechanical Maintenance, ended on Friday, May 23, 2025, at the Metallurgical Training Institute, Onitsha, Anambra State.
In a statement signed by the ministry on Saturday, the training was to equip participants with practical skills and knowledge to enable contribute positively to the steel and metal sector.
The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, who presided over the closing ceremony, said the boot camp represented a significant step in the Federal Government’s strategic effort to revive the steel industry and equip young Nigerians with the skills required to contribute meaningfully to the national economy.
“This boot camp was not just about skills acquisition and equipment empowerment; it was about character development, discipline, and cultivating a mindset geared towards innovation, entrepreneurship, and national service,” Audu said.
He described the training as part of the administration’s broader plan to build a pipeline of skilled, patriotic professionals who will champion the growth of the emerging metallurgical and steel sectors in Nigeria.
Reeling out the achievements of the ministry under his watch, the minister restated the administration’s commitment to building a $1 trillion economy by 2030, as envisioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said the foundation of a self-reliant, industrialised Nigeria would be laid through investment in human capital and technical capacity.
“The success of this bootcamp is a testament to our commitment to youth empowerment through technical and vocational education. By investing in our youths, we are investing in the future of Nigeria,” he added.
Audu also lauded the facilitators from the ministry, as well as the management and instructors of MTI, for ensuring the smooth implementation of the programme.
He urged the graduating participants to act as ambassadors of the new industrial era and carry forward the values of diligence, excellence, and patriotism.
“As you receive your starter packs today, let them symbolise not an end, but a new beginning, the beginning of your journey into productivity, creativity, and national impact,” the minister charged the trainees.
The Governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Soludo, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Industry, Christine Udechukwu, hailed the federal initiative, describing it as timely and impactful in addressing youth unemployment and promoting wealth creation.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Steel, Senator Patrick Ndubueze, represented by Chief Etiebat Nwachukwu, advocated for the bootcamp to become an annual intervention programme with full legislative backing.
“This training is a laudable step towards continuous youth development and aligns with the Federal Government’s progressive agenda,” Ndubueze said.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Chris Osa Isokpunwu, emphasised that the boot camp was conceived not just as a training event but as a transformative platform for nurturing entrepreneurial talent within Nigeria’s metals and steel value chain.
He shared the story of a young man from Northern Nigeria who started with a single welding machine and grew a thriving business that now employs over 150 people and exports to three West African countries.
The story, he said, was intended to inspire the graduates to dream big and aim higher.
Director of the Metallurgical Inspectorate Department, Engr. Frederick Ewa, in his remarks, noted that the boot camp attracted 258,833 applications from across Nigeria.
Out of these, 700 youths were selected through a rigorous, merit-based process and trained in four intensive batches at MTI, which he described as a “citadel of excellence in metallurgical education and practice.”
“The initiative is more than a training programme — it is a movement, a clarion call to action. We are investing in Nigeria’s most valuable resource: its youth,” Ewa said.
Representing the graduating trainees, General Course Representative, Esemuede Omoruyi, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and pledged that the beneficiaries would be worthy stewards of the skills they had acquired.
“We will not let this opportunity go to waste. We are committed to becoming dynamic contributors to a skilled, innovative and industrious Nigeria,” he said.
The boot camp forms part of the ministry’s broader strategy to build a sustainable workforce that will drive the growth of Nigeria’s metallurgical and steel sectors, both seen as pivotal to achieving long-term industrial development and economic prosperity.
The Nigeria Customs Service has recorded a revenue of ₦1.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, more than double the ₦600 billion collected during the same period in 2023.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, attributed the growth to transformative reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
A statement issued on Saturday by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, stated that Adeniyi made the revelation in an upcoming State House documentary marking the President’s second anniversary.
Adeniyi highlighted that the revenue surge emanated from improved technological deployment, enhanced port operations, tightened enforcement on revenue leakages, and a renewed culture of accountability across Customs commands.
“We collected ₦1.3 trillion in Q1 2025 alone. This is not due to higher import volumes. Imports have dropped due to foreign exchange constraints. What has changed is efficiency, transparency, and enforcement,” he said.
The CG disclosed that the Service is preparing to launch the E-Customs Modernisation Project, adding that a $3.2 billion initiative will digitise cargo processing, surveillance, and payment systems across Nigeria’s ports and borders.
“We’re laying the foundation to move from a manual, paper-based system to a fully digital service.
“The E-Customs Project is central to our future. Once fully deployed, we project it will add $250 billion in cumulative revenue over 20 years,” he said.
Adeniyi added that the newly launched Authorised Economic Operator Programme is now onboarding pre-vetted importers, allowing compliant businesses faster processing and reducing port congestion.
“It’s about trust and efficiency. If you’re compliant, you get green-lane treatment. This is how modern customs systems work globally,” he said
The Customs CG confirmed that the Service has intensified its anti-smuggling operations and closed long-standing revenue leakages.
He said over ₦64 billion was recovered from previously under-assessed or undervalued imports in the last nine months, and major smuggling rings at the Seme, Idiroko, Katsina, and Sokoto borders have been dismantled.
He said the new joint border patrol task forces established in coordination with the Nigerian Army, DSS, and Police have also yielded positive results.
“We’re no longer just chasing smugglers in the bush. We’re using data, surveillance drones, and port intelligence to act in real-time. Once systemic leakages are now being plugged,” Adeniyi said.
To ease trade and reduce business costs, Adeniyi disclosed that NCS is fast-tracking the roll-out of the National Single Window, stressing that the digital portal will integrate all government agencies involved in cargo clearance.
The CG added that clearance timelines at Apapa and Tin Can Ports have already dropped from 21 days to 7–10 days for compliant importers.
“Right now, you deal with up to 15 agencies manually. With the Single Window, you’ll do it all online, in one place. This will slash clearance time and costs,” he said.
The Comptroller-General said the agency has introduced fast-track lanes for agro-exports and is working with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to streamline outbound cargo processes in line with the government’s push for non-oil exports.
“We’re promoting exports aggressively. Last year, Nigeria exported over ₦340 billion worth of solid minerals and agro commodities through formal channels, up by 38%. We’re targeting even more in 2025,” he said.
Adeniyi stated that the Customs Service is also undergoing internal transformation, with over 1,800 officers trained in advanced data analytics, risk profiling, and artificial intelligence.
“Customs is no longer just about physical inspection. We are becoming an intelligence-led organisation, and our officers are being retrained to match global standards.
“The President gave us a clear directive: block leakages, facilitate trade, and raise revenue without burdening Nigerians. That is what we are doing. And the results are beginning to speak for themselves,” Adeniyi said.
A member of the House of Representatives from Delta State, Mr Ngozi Okolie, has dumped the Labour Party for the All Progressives Congress.
Okolie, the member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, defeated Ndudi Elumelu of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections.
Addressing journalists on Friday in Asaba, the Delta State capital, the lawmaker cited unresolved internal crises within the LP as his reason for leaving the party.
He said, “A lot of people are resigning from their party and moving to APC and I, today, decided to resign from the Labour Party. I am no longer a member of the Labour Party.
“I am moving to the APC and you know the traditional rulers in Delta have endorsed the president. The state governor has moved to the APC. The PDP has moved to the APC but I think it would be to the advantage of my constituency to actually join them there too.
“To be honest, I think that the Labour Party for now is very disorganised, we don’t have any head way, no directions and the lingering problem that is actually drawing us back. So, staying in party that is not organised would actually not make me progress in the National Assembly.
“So, I felt that if I resign from the Labour Party, seek another party that will help me at least attract projects to my community and constituency. So best for me instead of waiting for the Labour Party’s problem to be solved which is unending.
“I have discussed with traditional rulers, discussed with some people in my constituency, of course, I couldn’t reach out to everybody and that is the sense of addressing you because I know you can reach out to alot of more people.”
Speaking further, the lawmaker said, “I have reached out to the party, some are for it, some are against it but there comes a time that you really have to weigh the options that are available to you and just make the decision you think is right at that point.”
The lawmaker asserted that two years remaining in his tenure would be best in joining the APC for the interest of his constituency, noting that he had consulted governor Sheriff Oborevwori before taking the decision.
Adeola Omotoso, the daughter of Nollywood actress Jumoke George, has recounted how she was sold for prostitution in Mali.
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Adeola was reunited with her mother after she was found in Mali.
The victim, who spoke in a recent interview, revealed that her ordeal started after she met someone who offered to help her travel to Mali for work.
When Adeola got to the country’s capital, she was informed that she had been “bought” and would have to work as a prostitute to repay 1.5 million CFA francs.
She said, “I met someone who introduced travelling to Mali to me. She said she knows someone who owns a pharmacy and asked if I could travel there to handle the business.
“I agreed but didn’t inform anyone at home. We travelled by road for four days through Cotonou, Togo, Ghana, and other countries.
“When I got to Bamako in Mali, I called the contact I was given. When I got to the person’s house, she said she is my madam and that she bought me from my sister. She said I’ll work to pay her 1.5 million CFA francs.”
Adeola further shared, “I was very confused and tried to confirm if I was at the right address. She said I was there for prostitution.
“I told her I can’t do it and would rather die. She threatened me, and I told her she’s free to do whatever she wants.”
For her refusal to comply, Adeola said her phone and travel documents were taken from her, leading to her being stranded.
She was later taken to a brothel but escaped after a sympathetic man helped her get a job as a food vendor.
“We later went to where we would stay. When we got there, I knew I wouldn’t be able to survive.
“I told her I can’t work as a prostitute, but I can do other jobs to pay her. She took my phone and travel documents,” she added.
“But I met a man there and explained my ordeal to him. He helped me in finding a job with a food seller in another location.”
She continued, “While working as a food seller there, I heard stories and saw Nigerians who died because of prostitution.
“I wanted to raise some money so I could come back home, and I didn’t want to return home empty. I thought about calling my mum and kids, but I couldn’t call because I felt ashamed of myself.
“I left home since four years and have nothing to show for it. I was suffering but didn’t know what to do. I even told my roommate to not post me on social media if I die.
“I don’t know how good my mum is before God that made him save me from all the evil that was about to befall me in Mali.”
The Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has assured the residents that his administration will implement decisive measures to end banditry across the state.
He made this commitment on Friday during a sympathy visit to Gobirawa village in Dutsinma Local Government Area, following last week’s bandits’ attack that claimed the lives of innocent citizens.
During the visit, Radda directed the Chairman of Dutsinma Local Government to present five community members for a crucial meeting to discuss how the state government can best support local security initiatives as a secondary defence measure.
“Government on hearing security report on the planned attack mobilised security personnel to the village,” Radda revealed, expressing regret that “the bandits attacked the village as soon as the security personnel left.”
While expressing deep sympathy over the tragic killings, the governor urged community members to remain vigilant and actively expose suspected informants collaborating with bandits, emphasising the critical role of community participation in combating insecurity.
The governor was received by the member representing Dutsinma in the State Assembly, Mohammad Khamis; Yandakan Katsina District Head Alhaji Sada Sada, Council Chairman, Kabir Shema; and other local dignitaries.
In another development, the governor inspected the ongoing special model secondary school project otherwise called Smart School in Radda, Charanci local government area of the state.
During the inspection, Radda engaged construction firms to ensure quality and speedy execution of the school project.
The governor also frowned at the slow phase of work by some contractors.
The inspected Smart School project in Radda is one of the three initiated by the Radda-led administration within the three senatorial zones to ensure access to quality education, especially children from humble backgrounds.
Tragedy occurred in Isseke, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Thursday, when some yet-to-be-identified assailants murdered a family of four comprising three females and one elderly man in their apartment.
It was gathered that the killers invaded their apartment while they were sleeping, killed them and left their lifeless bodies on the floor of their rooms.
The reason for the attack is yet to be known, however, eyewitnesses in the area said the gunmen unprovokedly attacked the elderly man and his family members.
The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident when contacted on Friday, identified the victim’s family as Ichie Kennedy Igboanugo from Ekwuru Isseke (Ichie Akuruoulo 1 of Isseke).
Ikenga said the joint security team has cordoned off the area for any untoward situation, adding that the bodies of the victims have been recovered and deposited at the mortuary while investigations continue.
He said, “Following the simultaneous onslaught/joint clearance operations involving the police, military and other security operatives to dislodge the criminal elements and deny them the space to commit havoc in the state, regrettably in the late hours of May 22, 2025, recorded a cowardly gruesome murder of a family of four, including three females and one man, by criminal elements at Isseke, Ihiala Local Government Area.
“Preliminary information revealed that the criminals unprovokedly attacked the elderly man and his family members. The family was later identified as Ichie Kennedy Igboanugo from Ekwuru Isseke (Ichie Akuruoulo 1 of Isseke).
“The bodies of the victims have been recovered and deposited at the morgue while investigations continue.”
According to him, the command, while commiserating with the relatives and friends of the victims, is currently working on some clues to arrest the perpetrators.
“The joint security team has also reinforced the area for any untoward situation. Further developments shall be communicated, please,” he added.
