Author: GANUX

 

World leaders remembered Pope Francis as “a beacon of compassion”, reacting with sadness after the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics died on Monday.

 

Here are some of the first reactions to the death of the 88-year-old pontiff:

 

‘Stood for brotherly mankind’ – France

 

French President Emmanuel Macron said the Pope had always been “on the side of the most vulnerable and the most fragile” and that he stood for “brotherly humankind”.

 

‘A great man has left us’ – Italy

 

“Pope Francis has returned to the Father’s home. It is deeply sad news because a great man has left us,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.

 

‘A beacon of compassion’ – India

 

“Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

 

“I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development.”

 

‘Strong ties’ – Israel

 

“He rightly saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual respect,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog said.

 

‘Distinguished papacy’ – Ireland

 

“Pope Francis’ long and distinguished papacy was marked by his unwavering commitment to the principles of compassion, peace and human dignity,” Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said, adding that he would be remembered for his “expression of pain and shame” about historic child abuse in the Catholic Church during his 2018 visit to Ireland.

 

‘Profound legacy’ – Spain

“I am sorry to hear of the death of Pope Francis. His commitment to peace, social justice and the most vulnerable leaves a profound legacy. Rest in peace,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said.

 

‘Indefatigable commitment’ – Germany

Incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed “great sorrow” and described Pope Francis as a man “guided by humility and faith”.

He said the Pontiff “will remain in our memories for his indefatigable commitment to the most vulnerable, for justice and for reconciliation”.

 

‘A faithful friend’ – Palestinian President

 

“Today, we lost a faithful friend of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights,” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said, noting that the Pope “recognised the Palestinian state and authorised the Palestinian flag to be raised in the Vatican”.

 

‘Love and compassion’ – Egypt

 

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said the death of Pope Francis “is a profound loss for the entire world, as he was a voice of peace, love and compassion”.

 

He added that the Pope “worked tirelessly to promote tolerance and build bridges of dialogue… and was a champion of the Palestinian cause, defending legitimate rights and calling for an end to conflict”.

 

‘Service to humanity’ – Ethiopia

 

“May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his legacy of compassion, humility, and service to humanity continue to inspire generations to come,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.

 

‘A loss for humanity’ – Lebanon

 

“We will never forget his repeated calls to protect Lebanon and preserve its identity and diversity,” Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said.

 

He called Pope Francis’s death “a loss for all humanity, for he was a powerful voice for justice and peace” who urged “dialogue between religions and cultures”.

 

‘Servant leadership’ – Kenya

“He exemplified servant leadership through his humility, his unwavering commitment to inclusivity and justice, and his deep compassion for the poor and the vulnerable,” Kenyan President William Ruto said.

 

“His strong ethical and moral convictions inspired millions across the world, regardless of faith or background.”

 

AFP

President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria today after spending nearly two weeks abroad, his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has confirmed.

 

In a brief post shared on X on Monday, Onanuga wrote, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will return home today.”

 

Earlier, the Presidency had assured Nigerians that the President remained fully engaged with national governance despite his stay overseas.

 

In a statement released last Thursday, Onanuga said, “The President left Paris for London at the weekend and has maintained constant communication with key government officials, overseeing critical national matters, including directives to security chiefs to address emerging threats in some parts of the country.”

 

He emphasised that Tinubu’s absence was temporary and “in line with the communicated timeframe of approximately two weeks,” with his return scheduled for April 21, after the Easter holidays.

 

“The President’s commitment to his duties remains unwavering, and his administration continues to function effectively under his leadership.

 

“We appreciate the public’s concern and assure all Nigerians that governance proceeds without interruption,” the statement added.

 

Tinubu had departed for Paris on April 2, 2025, for what the Presidency described as a two-week working visit.

 

According to Onanuga, the purpose was to “appraise his administration’s mid-term performance and assess key milestones.”

 

However, his prolonged stay abroad sparked criticism from opposition leaders amid growing insecurity in parts of the country, particularly in Plateau and Benue states.

 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi had both questioned the President’s absence in light of the escalating violence.

Atiku, through his media aide Paul Ibe, criticised Tinubu’s continued stay abroad, describing it as “irresponsibility on the part of the APC-led government.”

 

“Tinubu is away while Nigeria burns—daily killings, attacks, and loss of territories. This is deeply troubling,” Atiku stated. “Nigerians are yearning for real leadership—someone who’s present and actively engaged.”

 

Meanwhile, Obi also urged Tinubu to return immediately to address the worsening security crisis.

“In the two weeks you have been away, over 150 Nigerians have lost their lives to insecurity,” he said, citing attacks in Plateau, Zamfara, Borno, and Benue.

 

“I urge Mr President to quickly suspend whatever he is doing in France and rush home to take responsibility by addressing these disturbing issues,” Obi added.

 

Responding to the criticisms, APC’s Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed claims of a leadership vacuum.

 

“Simply because the President is out of the country does not mean he is not piloting the affairs of the nation,” he said.

 

Ibrahim noted that the President had issued directives to the security agencies and that the Vice President continued to represent him effectively.

 

“You cannot say that a country where the Vice President is actively representing the President is in a vacuum.

 

“A country with that level of leadership engagement is not leaderless,” he said.

Protests broke out in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Monday morning over the continued killings of indigenous residents by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militants.

 

The demonstrations, led by Christian leaders including the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Polycarp Lubo, commenced on Monday morning at the Fawvwei Junction community road, causing a heavy gridlock and stranding commuters.

 

The latest protest comes amid a surge in violent attacks by gunmen in various communities, with over 100 people killed in Bokkos and Bassa LGAS in the past two weeks.

“We are not happy over the continuous attacks and killings by gunmen in our communities. That’s why we have come out again to protest these happenings,” said Gyang Dalyop, one of the protesters.

 

Another protester, Hannatu Philip, called on the government to intervene before it spirals out of control.

 

The protesters brandishing placards with different inscriptions were seen marching towards the Rayfield Government House.

The Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Boadi, has issued a strong warning to cattle rearers, stating that, effective May 1, any stray cow in the city will be seized and slaughtered.

 

Boadi added that the slaughtered cows would be fed to inmates at the Kumasi Central Prison.

 

He made the disclosure in a press conference held in Kumasi on Friday.

 

According to the mayor, the decision was a response to the growing problem of cattle roaming freely and disrupting public life—an issue he described as unworthy of the city’s stature.

He urged all herders to keep their animals out of the metropolis to avoid severe consequences.

 

“There is another thing I will want you to help me look at. If you have cattle and if they stray in the vicinity of KMA, be assured that from May 1, they will be killed and given to Kumasi Central Prison for food. Especially the route from the airport through to Manhyia Palace.

 

“I cannot sit for visitors come to Kumasi [and] from the airport to Manhyia, and all they see are faecal matter from cattle.”

The West African Examinations Council has revoked the licences of 574 secondary schools in Nigeria.

 

WAEC announced that the affected schools were found to have committed examination malpractices.

 

The examination body also stated that the schools will not be allowed to conduct examinations even as the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, commences from Thursday, April 24, 2025.

 

This was disclosed by the Head of WAEC’s National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, during a press briefing on Thursday at the headquarters of the examination body in Lagos.

Dangut said WAEC had forwarded the list of the affected schools to the Nigerian government.

“This year, we have shared with them a total of 574 schools that have had their recognition withdrawn, and that is also going to be the same for all examining bodies.

 

“So, these are those that have got their license revoked as far as the examination centre is concerned. So we will not conduct examinations there. We don’t know them as far as conducting examinations,” Dangut said.

 

For the forthcoming 2025 WASSCE, Dangut stated that 1,973,253 candidates registered for the examination from 23,554 schools.

 

Speaking further, he said 979,228 males and 994,025 females would take part in the examination.

 

Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski was diagnosed with a hamstring injury on Sunday and is set to miss the Copa del Rey final and Champions League semi-final, according to Spanish media reports.

 

The 36-year-old Polish forward, Barcelona’s top goalscorer with 40 goals across all competitions, came off during his team’s 4-3 La Liga win over Celta Vigo on Saturday.

 

“Tests carried out on Sunday have confirmed that first-team player Robert Lewandowski has a semitendinosus injury in his left thigh,” said Barcelona in a statement, without specifying how long he would be sidelined for.

 

Spanish media reported Lewandowski could be out for three weeks, meaning he would not be available next Saturday as Barcelona face Real Madrid in the Copa final in Seville.

 

The La Liga leaders also host Inter Milan on April 30 in the Champions League semi-final first leg and visit the Italians on May 6.

Lewandowski is set to miss league games against Mallorca on Tuesday and Valladolid on May 3, with a potential return against Real Madrid on May 11, a match which could decide the title race.

 

Barcelona, who won the Spanish Super Cup in January, are chasing a potential quadruple and are in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2019.

 

Coach Hansi Flick has used Ferran Torres through the middle as a replacement for Lewandowski before and has also experimented with Dani Olmo operating as a false nine.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Sunday said its operatives intercepted 500 grammes of cocaine concealed in the pages of religious books and bound for Saudi Arabia at a courier company located in Lagos State.

 

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday, noting that the illicit drug was intercepted on April 15.

 

He added that 2.8 kilogrammes of cannabis and a strain of Loud were intercepted at another courier firm in Lagos on the same day.

 

Babafemi said, “Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted a shipment of cocaine concealed in 20 sets of religious books going to Saudi Arabia.

 

“The cocaine consignment, consisting of 20 parcels with a total weight of 500 grammes and buried in the pages of the religious books, was uncovered at a courier company in Lagos on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, when NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation were searching through export cargoes going to Saudi Arabia at the logistics firm.

 

“At another courier company the same day, NDLEA officers intercepted five parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 2.8 kilogrammes, hidden in a carton coming from the United States of America.”

 

Babafemi also disclosed that no fewer than 10 suspects were arrested during various operations carried out by its operatives across the country.

 

Among the suspects was a suspected bandit supplier identified as Muhammad Mohammed, who was arrested in Kano, while another suspect, Mohammed Abdulaziz, was arrested with 68 blocks of skunk.

 

He continued, “In Kano, a 22-year-old supplier of illicit substances to bandits, Muhammad Mohammed, has been arrested by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bichi-Kano Road while heading to Katsina with 277 ampoules of pentazocine injection tied to his thigh and private part with Sellotape.

“He was intercepted on Sunday, April 13, while another suspect, Mohammed Abdulrahman Abdulaziz, 43, was nabbed the same day at Research Rimin Kebe area of Nasarawa, Kano, with 68 blocks of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 30kg.”

 

Babafemi added that “not less than 557.2kg of skunk, 5.6kg of methamphetamine and 29.8 grammes of heroin were recovered from a house along Major General Isaiah Allison Street, Opolo, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where four suspects were arrested when NDLEA operatives raided the premises on Wednesday, April 16.

 

“The four suspects arrested during the raid include: Sarimiye Suwa Kurtis, 46; Roland Prosper, 34; Sarimiye Tare Paul, 45; and Fidelis Ugbesla, 46.”

 

Babafemi said that a driver was arrested after its operatives recovered about 1,100kg of skunk from a delivery van in Lagos, while one Ike Ani was arrested in Kaduna at a hideout with 31,950 pills of Tramadol 225mg and Diazepam.

 

The NDLEA spokesperson stated that three suspects, Abubakar Ibrahim, 50; Mustapha Aliyu, 32; and Bashar Lawali, 28, were arrested in connection with the seizure of 97kg of skunk concealed in sacks of charcoal in Kebbi.

“A 48-year-old, Okafor Marcel, was nabbed with 11.5kg of skunk at Abatete, Anambra State, while NDLEA operatives in Osogbo, Osun State, on Tuesday, April 15, arrested Ajala Mercy, 27, with 43 litres of skushi, a mixture of blackcurrant, cannabis, and opioids, recovered from her room at Dada Estate, Halleluyah area of the state capital.

 

“Two cannabis farms in Egbeta Forest, Ovia North East LGA, Edo State, were raided by NDLEA operatives, who destroyed 3,717.8625kg of the psychoactive plant on 1.487145 hectares and recovered 136.5kg of processed cannabis.

 

“At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, a suspect, Basorun Usman Kayode, 40, who had been at large for two years, was arrested by NDLEA officers in connection with the seizure of 107kg of Loud imported from Canada in 2023, while another suspect, Dauda Yakubu, who distributes illicit drugs within the seaport community, was arrested by a team of operatives on Monday, April 14,” Babafemi concluded.

The Edo State Government said it registered over 9,000 Certificates of Occupancy between February and April 17, 2025.

 

The Managing Director of Edo State Geographic Information Service, Dr Tony Ikpasaja, disclosed this when journalists paid him a courtesy visit on Easter Sunday.

 

Ikpasaja said the feat was achieved despite the challenges of shutting down the agency’s digital system by the employees of the immediate past Government of Godwin Obaseki to run the agency’s operations.

 

The EdoGis boss, who Governor Okpebholo appointed in January 2025, said the feat was achieved within the period with the new software, as against 1000 recorded by the immediate past government between 2023 and February 2025.

 

He disclosed that the agency has recently purchased more sophisticated equipment to improve its productivity and to ensure that applicants’ applications are attended to as quickly as possible.

 

He also disclosed that the agency under his leadership inherited over 7500 files that were not attended to. He said the files belong to applicants who want their land registered and captured in the EdoGis database.

 

Ikpasaja, who assured applicants that their files for Certificates of Occupancy would be treated and captured into the database, advised property and land owners to legalise their property.

He noted that any landed property that is without a Certificate of Occupancy is not a legal asset.

 

He said, “As of today, I can boldly tell you that we have captured and processed over 9000 files of Certificate of Occupancy. We have also been signing and issuing Certificates of Occupancy.

 

“When I came on board, I met about 7500 total files of applicants that were not attended to. It is disheartening that people will pay for registration and just leave the files there unattended.

 

“Within the next few weeks or months, we will clear the applications we have, and we will give Nigerians and Edo people their Certificates of Occupancy.

 

“I also want to assure those who have applied that as far as their certificate is concerned, it is here and being processed, your land is secure because, by our system, nobody can come and process that particular land again.

 

“The kind of restructuring we did was a total departure from what it used to be before, or what we met on the ground, because the staff are operating on international best practices.

 

“What we have now today does not give you room to keep files because we are working accordingly to the World Bank standards, which is the international best practices,” he said.

The Ogun State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, on Sunday, praised Governor Dapo Abiodun for the approval and release of N6.7bn for the payment of the backlog of gratuities to pensioners in the state.

 

The chairman of the union, Waheed Oloyede, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday.

 

Oloyede said that while N3.2bn is allocated for the retirees of the state government, the remaining N3.5bn is for retired local government workers.

 

He stated, “Your Excellency, this gesture demonstrates your commitment to the welfare of senior citizens whose entitlements have been denied over the years.

 

“We are deeply grateful for the kindness and generosity you have shown towards us, the elderly.

 

“No doubt, the payment of the gratuities will bring great relief and comfort to many individuals and families.”

The union also took the opportunity to express its gratitude to the governor for the prompt and timely payment of monthly pensions, which has helped pensioners in planning for sustainable health services and other welfare packages.

 

Oloyede said, “We also express immense appreciation for the various palliatives and subsidies directed towards us pensioners in the recent past to cushion the effects of the present harsh economic realities.”

 

However, the union appealed to the governor to approve the long-awaited consequential increase in pensions, in line with the 2019 Federal Government circular on pension adjustments.

 

Oloyede noted that although Abiodun had set up a committee to look into the matter in July 2022, the adjustment had yet to be implemented.

 

He said the increase would further ease the economic pressure on pensioners as the prices of essential goods and medication continue to rise.

 

The union praised Abiodun’s leadership and urged him to remain committed to improving the lives of retirees and residents of the state.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has sued the National Broadcasting Commission over what it described as the “arbitrary and unlawful” ban of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song Tell Your Papa.

 

This was disclosed in a statement signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and made available to journalists on Sunday.

 

The song, reportedly critical of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, was banned from broadcast for allegedly violating “public decency standards”.

 

In the suit marked FHC/L/CS/797/2025 and filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is seeking an order to set aside NBC’s directive, describing it as inconsistent with the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.

 

SERAP is also seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the NBC — whether jointly or severally — or any other authority, person, or group of persons from preventing the airing of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song on all broadcast stations and similar media platforms in Nigeria.”

 

Additionally, SERAP is seeking “a declaration that NBC’s directive, issued via a letter dated April 9, 2025, to all broadcast stations in Nigeria banning the airing of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song, is unlawful and inconsistent and incompatible with the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.”

 

Filed by Oluwadare and two other lawyers, the suit states that the ban fails the legal tests of necessity and proportionality, and violates Nigerian and international laws on freedom of expression.

SERAP added, “Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code is overbroad and excessively intrusive, as it breaches the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.”

 

The organisation maintained that artistic expression plays a critical role in democratic discourse and that censorship stifles social debates and undermines democratic values.

 

“The ban on Eedris’ song fails to meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality.

 

“The requirement of necessity also implies an assessment of the proportionality of the grounds, with the aim of ensuring that the excuse of ‘objectionable nature’ and ‘public decency’ is not used as a pretext to ban Eedris’ song and unduly intrude upon Nigerians’ human rights,” SERAP stated.

 

The statement added, “Article 19(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights establishes the right to freedom of opinion without interference. Article 19(2) establishes Nigeria’s obligations to respect ‘the right to freedom of expression,’ which includes the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information, regardless of frontiers.”

 

“Under Article 19(3), restrictions on the right to freedom of expression must be ‘provided by law’, and necessary ‘for respect of the rights or reputations of others’ or ‘for the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health and morals’.”