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In 2022, the well-known online casino, Betway, launched a mobile app that provides a flawless gaming interaction, including live dealer games and a extensive variety of slots. This step shows the industry’s change towards mobile-first strategies, catering to the increasing demand for on-the-go gaming. For more information into mobile gaming developments, visit The New York Times.
Mobile casinos employ advanced tech, including HTML5 and flexible design, to ensure that games run smoothly on various devices. This usability has drawn a newer demographic, with players aged 21-35 making up a considerable portion of mobile participants. Explore cutting-edge mobile gaming strategies at pokerdom casino.
While mobile gaming provides comfort, players should remain watchful about safety. It is important to select licensed and regulated platforms to safeguard personal information and guarantee fair play. As the mobile gaming landscape continues to develop, staying informed about the latest advancements will enhance the overall gaming interaction.
Jennifer Awele, the wife of late Nollywood actor Junior Pope, has shared an emotional tribute to mark one year since his tragic death.
Awele shared the tribute on her Instagram handle on Thursday.
In her touching post, Awele described the last 12 months as extremely difficult, saying, every day has been filled with thoughts of her late husband.
She wrote, “It’s been one year of standing in the face of our unimaginable loss, and not a day has gone by without a thought of you. Your love still surrounds us, your laughter echoes in our hearts, and your presence is felt in the quiet moments when we miss you most.”
She said staying strong has not been easy, especially with everything around them feeling like it’s falling apart.
“You have no idea how tough it’s been, trying to stay strong for each other even as the world around us seems fallen apart. The grief remains heavy, the absence left a void that words can never fill, but through it all, we look up for strength from heaven as a guiding light,” she added.
Awele added that the pain has taught them to live one day at a time, saying, “Oh death, you have taught us to live each day as it comes, one step at a time bearing such extreme pain that can never go away.”
She also shared the heartbreaking questions their children have been asking her.
“I still don’t have the right words to respond to Jason and Jaden wanting to know if Daddy will fulfil his promise of taking them to a proper football academy and be present at their first official match. They said, ‘Daddy told them he wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world’. Then the littlest one (J papa as fondly called by daddy), Jamon, keeps asking when daddy is bringing the big toy car he promised him.”
She expressed her gratitude to everyone who supported them during their time of sorrow.
She stated, “We appreciate everyone who sympathized with us and stood and still stand by us through our time of grief. Words cannot express our heartfelt gratitude for your love and support towards us.”
Jennifer ended her tribute with a deep message to her late husband, saying he is missed by many and that his legacy will never be forgotten.
“To our beloved, you did not only leave us, your family but so many who loved you and loved your works.
It is so difficult and unbelievable to say these words, but still, continue to rest in the bosom of the Almighty. You will always be in our hearts and our thoughts, and your memories and legacy will live on forever.
“Though you’re no longer by our side, you live on in every memory, every smile and every tear. We shall carry you with us always until we meet again. We cannot question God, right? May Your Soul Rest In Perfect Peace, My Love,” Awele noted.
Junior Pope lost his life, along with others, on April 10 while returning from a movie shoot produced by Adanma Luke.
They drowned in the Anam River in Anambra State.
The incident sparked public outrage, especially towards the producer, who was accused of not putting safety measures in place.
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has made his return to Calabar following a three-week annual leave, saying that he is back with “renewed vigour and a double dose of energy” aimed at accelerating the state’s transformation.
Addressing supporters and government officials at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar on Thursday, the Governor reiterated his dedication to fulfilling his administration’s development agenda, noting that his short break has refreshed him for enhanced service.
He said, “We have a manifesto to fulfil, and I believe that by the second year, we can already claim some of those promises are becoming reality. I missed all of you dearly, and I return stronger and clearer in my objectives.”
Otu emphasised that the solid groundwork laid by his administration is starting to pay off. “We have sown the seeds; now we must nurture them for a harvest,” he remarked.
He also highlighted the arrival of significant federal initiatives in the state, including the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone project and the long-awaited commencement of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. He characterized these as historic advancements that will fully integrate Cross River into Nigeria’s economic framework.
“The President of the African Development Bank and Nigeria’s Vice President are set to visit the state for the groundbreaking of a new Export Processing Economic Zone—a transformative initiative that will reshape Cross River’s economy and create new opportunities for jobs and investment.”
“There will be open opportunities for everyone to engage in this economic revival. The sky is the limit for Cross River,” Otu remarked.
Controversial media personality, Kemi Olunloyo, has renounced her family name and distanced herself from the family of her late father, former Oyo State Governor, Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo.
The former governor, a renowned Mathematician and politician, died on Sunday, April 6, at the age of 89.
In a series of posts and videos shared on her Facebook and TikTok pages, Olunloyo declared that she no longer considers herself part of the Olunloyo family and would not be accepting condolences over her father’s death.
“I am uploading video statements on my father’s death on TikTok. I am not part of the Olunloyo family anymore and told you that in 2024 that I will never return to Nigeria even if my parents died,” she said.
She added, “I am not accepting anybody’s condolences because I am not condoling with anybody.”
While she said she had forgiven her father, she described him as “two different people,” alleging that he presented a different image to the public than he did at home.
“You don’t know what’s going on in my family, and I don’t know what’s going on in your family.
“My father, Victor Omololu Olunloyo, is two different people. He was one person to the world; he was another person to the family. “My father destroyed our family unit; my father tortured us as kids. He tortured us emotionally and physically. My father ruined the family unit.
“My father marketed me as his favourite daughter and child to the world; he also marketed himself to me as that. But I was far from being his favourite. My father used me for a lot of things. My father did a lot to all of us. When I said he used me, he took advantage of my own positive energies.”
Olunloyo also alleged that the former governor was involved in occult practices until later in life when he became born again.
She added, “My father was into ‘juju’ heavily. My father was into occult practices and I called my father out on his 80th birthday. After I called him out, he went to Pastor E.A. Adeboye that he wanted to become born-again, and he did.”
According to her, a major source of conflict within the family stemmed from her father’s relationship with Aderonke Omololu Olunloyo, formerly known as Ronke Sonaike, whom he met during his 1983 governorship campaign and later married.
She claimed the union triggered a rift in the family, especially after Ronke became pregnant, a development she said devastated her mother.
“My mother married an intellectual, a man who got his Ph.D at 26 years old. And he turned into a polygamist. Not that polygamists are not good, but the way it happened to my family,” she said.
Neither the family nor representatives of the late governor have publicly responded to her claims as of the time of filing this report.
The Senior Pastor, Fountain of Life Church, Jimmy Odukoya, has shared the spiritual instruction behind his decision to keep his dreadlocks—a choice that sparked mixed reactions within and outside the church.
In a recent sermon, he shared on Facebook on Wednesday, the cleric revealed that his dreadlocks were not a fashion statement, and he would have cut it if God told him to.
“Before I came back, one of the things I asked the Lord was whether or not I should cut my hair. And the Lord told me not to cut my hair. I said, Lord, you sure? He said don’t cut it. I said alright. I don’t know what you’re trying to do but I’m crazy enough to follow you, lets do it together,” Jimmy said.
He added that even his sister, Associate Senior Pastor Tolu Odukoya-Ijogun, had expressed concern saying “This your hair… To clean a fish, you must first catch it.” In other words, if you’re going to reach people and bring about change, you must first be relatable and accepted.”
While Jimmy acknowledged her concern, he stood firm in what he had heard from God as he responded, “Sis, I hear you, but go and pray. God will speak to you.”
He said she later returned with clarity saying that she had a vision. “She saw me preaching with my hair and came back to say, ‘You’re not supposed to cut it.’ And I said, ‘I know. He already told me.’”
Jimmy further revealed how what followed next was a divine confirmation that stunned him.
He recalled, “A couple of weeks ago, on a Sunday, a lady from Zimbabwe came to see me and she flew in from Zimbabwe because she wanted to come to church. I said please bring the lady in and she begins to tell me her story.
“She says, ‘People think I’m crazy. I told everybody I am coming to Nigeria for the next three to four weeks. I’m just coming to church.’”
He continued, “She says, ‘It was 2016, I was in New York, it was thanksgiving and I had a vision, it felt so real. In this vision, I see you with your hair and you’re speaking to me and I have been dealing with some things in my life.
“There was this dog on my shoulder. I knew the dog represented the weight I was carrying and you had this long sword. You began speaking to me and it looked like thunder and lightning was coming out of the sword and it burnt the dog into ashes. And you began to declare over me and gave certain instructions. The vision was so real that I told everybody in my family.”
Though at the time she had never heard of Pastor Jimmy Odukoya. It wasn’t until 2025, while in the midst of depression following a painful divorce and the loss of her mother, that she stumbled upon one of his sermons on YouTube, the cleric revealed.
He continued, “She said, ‘Fast forward 2025, after that vision I went through a tough break-up, I lost everything in a divorce. My ex took the house. Everything I worked for… It was a tough time. To compound issues, my mom got sick and I watched her die in my arms. I was flown into depression, I wanted to end it all.
“All I knew was that I had to find God, like I need God to find me. I turn on YouTube to hear sermons, And all of a sudden your preaching pops up and you’re preaching Mercy Me.
person I saw, I did not know it was a real person. So when I saw the man from the vision with a long hair preaching I screamed, ‘This is the man I saw. I didn’t know any pastor would have long hair. It’s him!”
The cleric noted that at the time she had the vision, he didn’t have dreadlocks and cutting it against God’s instruction would have hindered him from saving a life.
“Here’s what’s crazy, in 2016, I didn’t have dreads. At the time she had the vision, I didn’t have my hair,” the pastor said.
“The God who sees, hears and knows, knew at some point in February 2025, one of His children will have to see a man preaching. Guess what? If He did not ask me to keep my hair, I would have cut it.
“And when I popped up on the screen, she would have seen me with no hair and it would have meant nothing. God was making me keep my hair to save a life.”
Recall that in 2023, Jimmy, who succeeded his father late Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, said he has a spiritual backing to his mode of dressing.
Akinbobola Folajimi whose pregnant wife died after a hospital allegedly refused to treat her without a N500,000 deposit has responded to criticism from a journalist Reuben Abati.
Abati, speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday, slammed Folajimi for not saving enough money ahead of his wife’s delivery.
“You had nine months to prepare. You impregnated a woman and showed up at the hospital begging for care without a deposit. That’s irresponsible,” Abati said.
Abati argued that it was irresponsible of the man to visit the hospital asking for his pregnant wife to be attended to without making any financial commitment.
Abati said; ‘‘The whole substance of this conversation is that according to Mr Folajimi, when he got to Al-Salam Convalescent Centre as the hospital is called, he was asked to deposit N500, 000 and the man was saying ‘please admit my wife, I will go and look for the money’.
“When you impregnate a woman, you can’t come at nine months and you are saying ‘just treat her, let me go and look for the money.’ There are many people who do that. They put you under pressure.
“Mr Folajimi behaved in an irresponsible manner”
Folajimi in a video shared online on Thursday, defended himself, saying he did his best with what he had.
He disclosed that he saved about N100,000. Unfortunately, his wife had an emergency and he did not have the N500,000 the hospital demanded, but would have raised it if he was given enough time.
‘’With due respect, this is not my first child. When my wife was pregnant, we were taking care of her to the best of my ability and I never came public or to you to ask for you to borrow me money for antenatal or feed my children.
“Excuse me Sir, I saved money but I didn’t save up to N500, 000. I saved money for that day but they asked for N500, 000 deposit, not full payment. I didn’t have that. All the money that I could have gathered that day wouldn’t have passed N100, 000,” he said.
He questioned the moral judgment placed on him for being unable to produce the sum on the spot.
“I don’t know if it is an offence not to have up to N500, 000 when your wife is about to give birth. I don’t know if it is an offence to now live below N500, 000 but you are now saying it is the ‘’highest irresponsibility” because I don’t have N500, 000. So it is even a crime to be poor in Nigeria,” he added.
Folajimi added that after his wife’s death, he and others managed to raise the N500,000, money that was then used for her mortuary fees and funeral arrangements.
The Federal Government has doubled down on its Naira-for-crude oil initiative, declaring it a permanent fixture in Nigeria’s long-term economic reform strategy — not a temporary fix.
In a statement posted Wednesday via the Federal Ministry of Finance’s official channels, the government emphasized that all domestic crude oil and refined petroleum sales will continue to be conducted in Naira, in a bid to strengthen the local currency and reduce pressure on foreign exchange.
“This initiative is not a stopgap solution,” the ministry said, describing it as a strategic national directive aimed at improving local refining capacity, bolstering energy security, and fostering economic sovereignty.
The Nigeria Customs Service has impounded a consignment of illicit drugs valued at N18m from suspected smugglers in Cross River State.
The seizure, which occurred at the Mfum Border, was carried out by the Cross River-Calabar Free Trade Zone and Akwa Ibom Area Command of the NCS.
A total of 659 units of controlled substances were recovered and have since been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution.
The intercepted drugs include 216 units of Pethidine 100mg, 216 units of Morphine Sulphate, 37 packets of Phenobarbital, 37 units of Sodium Sterop, 108 units of Fentanyl 50mm, 33 units of Midazolam Mylan, and 26 units of Sodium Injectables.
At the official handover ceremony held at the NCS Command Headquarters in Calabar on Wednesday, the Area Comptroller, Comptroller Gabriel Ogbonna, commended the vigilance and dedication of his officers, emphasising that the operation was a reflection of growing synergy between Customs and the NDLEA.
He said, “On behalf of the Comptroller General of the NCS, I hereby hand over these items to the NDLEA. This handover is in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between our agencies.
“Today’s event is not just about the seizure it is a learning point for younger officers in both agencies to understand the importance of collaboration. Together, we leverage each other’s strengths to promote national security and development.”
Receiving the items, the Commander of the NDLEA in Cross River State, Rachael Umebuali, applauded the NCS for its continued support and inter-agency cooperation.
She noted that such efforts enhance the operational efficiency of both organisations.
“We appreciate this gesture and partnership. This collaboration not only strengthens our operational capacity but also ensures our service to Nigerians is effective and impactful,” she said
The National Emergency Management Agency in Lagos, along with other important groups, have received 144 Nigerians returning from Libya at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Cargo Terminal, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to a statement from NEMA’s X handle on Wednesday, the group included 89 men, 35 women, 17 children, and three infants.
Officials of NEMA and other agencies receiving 144 returnees from Libya at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Cargo Terminal, Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, April 9. Photo: NEMA
They arrived on a chartered Boeing aircraft from Al Buraq with the registration number 5ADMG.
The evacuation was organised by the International Organisation for Migration in cooperation with NEMA, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Nigeria Immigration Service, the Department of State Services, Port Health Services, and the Nigeria Police Force.
Officials of NEMA and other agencies receiving 144 returnees from Libya at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Cargo Terminal, Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, April 9. Photo: NEMA
The statement read, “NEMA Lagos Operations Office, in collaboration with other stakeholders, received 144 vulnerable Nigerian returnees from Libya at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Cargo Terminal, Ikeja, Lagos on 8th April, 2025.
“The returnees arrived at 17:15 hours aboard an Al Buraq chartered Boeing flight with registration number 5ADMG.
“The group consisted of 89 males, 35 females, 17 children, and 3 infants. They were provided with necessary assistance by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in partnership with NEMA, NCFRMI, Nigeria Immigration, DSS, Port Health, and the Nigeria Police Force. Following the mandatory profiling and biometric exercise, the returnees were relocated to the Igando IDPs resettlement center for further reintegration programmes.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria has said that personal remittance inflows rose to $20.93bn in 2024, reflecting an 8.9 per cent increase year-on-year.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the apex bank while announcing a balance of payments surplus of $6.83bn for the 2024 financial year.
The statement was signed by the CBN’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mrs Hakama Sidi-Ali.
The figure marks a significant turnaround from deficits of $3.34bn and $3.32bn recorded in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The CBN said the improvement was due to a mix of macroeconomic reforms, stronger trade performance, and renewed investor confidence.
According to the statement, remittance inflows remained resilient throughout the year, with inflows through International Money Transfer Operators increasing by 43.5 per cent to $4.73bn, up from $3.30bn in the previous year.
The statement read, “Remittance inflows remained resilient, with personal remittances rising by 8.9 per cent to $20.93bn.
“International Money Transfer Operator inflows surged by 43.5 per cent to $4.73bn, up from $3.30bn in 2023, reflecting stronger engagement from the Nigerian diaspora. Official development assistance also rose by 6.2 per cent to $3.37bn.”
The current and capital account recorded a surplus of $17.22bn, underpinned by a goods trade surplus of $13.17bn.
Non-oil exports rose by 24.6 per cent to $7.46bn, while gas exports increased by 48.3 per cent to $8.66bn.
Meanwhile, petroleum imports fell by 23.2 per cent to $14.06bn, and non-oil imports declined by 12.6 per cent to $25.74bn.
On the financial account side, Nigeria posted a net acquisition of financial assets amounting to $12.12bn.
Portfolio investment inflows more than doubled, rising by 106.5 per cent to $13.35bn, while resident foreign currency holdings grew by $5.41bn.
However, foreign direct investment dropped by 42.3 per cent to $1.08bn.
The country’s external reserves also grew by $6bn to $40.19bn by the end of 2024, strengthening the country’s foreign exchange buffer.
In terms of data quality, the CBN reported a marked improvement in reporting accuracy. Net errors and omissions declined by 79.5 per cent to negative $5.10bn in 2024, down from $24.90bn in 2023, which the bank attributed to improved data capture and transparency.
Reacting to the figures, the Governor of the CBN was quoted as saying, “The positive turnaround in our external finances is evidence of effective policy implementation and our unwavering commitment to macroeconomic stability. This surplus marks an important step forward for Nigeria’s economy, benefiting investors, businesses, and everyday Nigerians alike.”
The bank further attributed the improved external position to policy reforms, including the liberalisation and unification of the foreign exchange market, a disciplined monetary policy stance, and coordinated fiscal and monetary interventions.
