President Bola Tinubu has expressed grief and extended his condolences to the family and friends of Nigerian boxing icon Obisia Nwankpa, who passed away on June 2, 2025, at the age of 75.
Nwankpa, a towering figure in Nigerian sports, carved a distinguished career that saw him represent the nation on the global stage.
He proudly competed for Nigeria at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich in the light-welterweight division.
His golden era continued as he secured gold medals at the 1973 All-Africa Games in Lagos and the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, both in the welterweight category. Throughout his illustrious career, Nwankpa held multiple prestigious titles, including Nigerian Lightweight Champion, African Boxing Union Light-Welterweight Champion, and Commonwealth Lightweight Champion.
In a statement signed and released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, Tinubu paid tribute to the deceased, noting that Nwankpa’s contributions extended beyond his active fighting days.
“Nigeria’s sporting community and Nigerians will long remember the legendary boxer and coach for the honour he brought to the country in the ring and the exciting moments he gave to fans throughout his career,” the president stated.
Tinubu further emphasised the nation’s indebtedness to the late champion for his post-retirement impact.
“The nation owes him a debt of gratitude for nurturing a new generation of boxers after retiring from active competition, including leading Nigeria’s boxing team to the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympics,” he added, acknowledging Nwankpa’s role in mentoring aspiring talents.
The President concluded by offering prayers for the peaceful repose of Obisia Nwankpa’s soul and for divine comfort to all who mourn his passing.
Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli forces killed at least 13 Palestinians on Saturday, six of them in a shooting incident near a US-backed aid distribution centre in the territory’s south.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that at around 7:00 am (0400 GMT), “six people were killed and several others wounded by the forces of the Israeli occupation near the Al-Alam roundabout” in southern Gaza’s Rafah area.
Gazans have massed at Al-Alam almost daily since late May to collect humanitarian aid at a centre about one kilometre (0.6 miles) away, operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Samir Abu Hadid, who was there early Saturday, told AFP that thousands of people had gathered near the roundabout.
“As soon as some people tried to advance towards the aid centre, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire from armoured vehicles stationed near the centre, firing into the air and then at civilians,” Abu Hadid said.
Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military said it was looking into the incident, the latest deadly fire near the Al-Alam aid point.
The GHF began operations in late May as Israel partially eased a more than two-month blockade on the Gaza Strip.
The United Nations, which has refused to cooperate with the GHF over neutrality concerns, has warned that Gaza’s entire population of more than two million people was at risk of starvation.
In the territory’s north early Saturday, Bassal said seven people were killed in an Israeli strike that hit a house near Gaza City’s Al-Shifa hospital.
The Israeli military said it was looking into the report.
Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has called on Muslims in the state and across the world to reflect on the values of sacrifice, obedience, and faith as they mark the Eid-el-Kabir, also known as Eid-al-Adha.
In his Sallah message on Friday, Fubara encouraged Muslims to use the occasion as an opportunity to pray for peace, unity, and prosperity, especially at a time when Nigeria faces serious challenges from insecurity and economic difficulties.
This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi.
The statement read, “The governor, speaking on behalf of his wife and family, encouraged the Muslim community to recommit themselves to the principles of sacrifice, faith, and obedience.”
Fubara described these values as critical to building a stable and united society, even as he emphasised that without a shared vision and determined action, meaningful progress cannot be achieved.
He also appealed to Muslims to use this period to show kindness to those in need, especially the poor and vulnerable.
He further urged them to reach out in reconciliation, forgive past wrongs, and foster stronger ties within their communities.
Reflecting on recent times, Fubara acknowledged the patience and sacrifices made by the people in support of the state’s growth.
He admitted that while many aspirations remain unmet due to political challenges, notable achievements have still been recorded.
He reassured citizens that ongoing steps are being taken to stabilise governance and revive the economy, and pledged that their concerns will be addressed with practical solutions.
The governor also called for continued prayers for the peace and progress of Rivers State, while reaffirming his administration’s unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and welfare of all residents.
President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation barring citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, citing national security concerns.
The full travel ban affects nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
The restriction will take effect on June 9, 2025.
In addition to the full bans, the proclamation imposes partial restrictions on citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
There are some exemptions, including athletes travelling for major sporting events, some Afghan nationals and dual nationals with citizenship in unaffected countries, according to the BBC.
Trump stated that the measure is intended to prevent individuals considered potential security risks from gaining entry into the US.
“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen,” he said in a video message posted on X on Wednesday.
According to the White House, the countries facing the harshest restrictions were deemed to have a “large-scale presence of terrorists,” poor cooperation on visa-related security measures, and inadequate systems for verifying travelers’ identities.
The administration also cited issues such as poor record-keeping of criminal histories and high visa overstay rates as contributing factors.
The new directive builds on Trump’s broader immigration crackdown initiated at the beginning of his second term.
On January 20, the president signed an executive order mandating stricter security checks for foreign nationals and instructing federal agencies to review which countries should face entry suspensions due to inadequate vetting procedures.
This move echoes Trump’s controversial travel ban during his first term, which initially targeted seven predominantly Muslim countries and was upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018.
The ban was later repealed by President Joe Biden in 2021, who described it as “a stain on our national conscience.”
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has criticised the current chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, alleging that the All Progressives Congress would not have been registered or won the 2015 general elections if Yakubu had been in charge at the time.
Speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday night, Amaechi praised former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for ensuring a transparent electoral process that led to the APC’s registration and eventual victory in 2015.
He said, “The current chairman of INEC, if he was the chairman of INEC in 2015, we would not have won. That’s an important point. May God bless (Attahiru) Jega. Because the ground rules were clear. The current chairman of INEC can only be compared to Iwu.
“When we were to register APC, Jega opened the door and we complied with the registration requirements. He got APC registered. The current man, if you comply with all these, he would not register you.”
He further alleged that INEC under Yakubu is already showing signs of bias.
“Already, INEC is biased. So, the only thing I can tell you now is that, looking at the way Nigeria has run the election, even the Option A4 led us forward. At least a lot of transparency. You were sure of what was going on. Then we came back to meet people like Iwu and others and the current one and things got worse.
“So, you don’t know whether to say we are progressing or we are regressing. There’s a state capture using the electoral institution as a machine.”
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has debunked claims that he consulted a native doctor regarding his re-election prospects ahead of the state governorship election on November 8, 2025.
Some reports and video clips have circulated online claiming that the governor consulted a native doctor to “brighten” his chances of re-election.
However, in a press statement released by his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, on Tuesday, the governor described the allegations as “totally false.”
He said the video clip being circulated and misrepresented, as evidence of native doctor consultation, was taken during a recent official government meeting with Anambra-based content creators.
The statement read in part, “The attention of Anambra State Government has been drawn to a malicious and deliberately fabricated online publication and social media comments making spurious claims that the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, consulted a native doctor regarding his re-election prospects.
“The state government hereby debunks the allegations as totally false. For the interest of the general public, the video clip being maliciously circulated and misrepresented, as evidence of native doctor consultation, was taken during a recent official government meeting with Anambra-based content creators.
“The session, facilitated by the Special Senior Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, was organised to strengthen the partnership between the state government and the creative industry as part of Soludo’s commitment in encouraging and supporting Anambra’s creative economy.”
Aburime said during the interactive session, content creators were encouraged to showcase their talents, ask questions, and share their concerns about the creative industry in the state.
According to him, as part of the presentations, one of the content creators performed a native doctor skit, a common comic genre in Nigerian entertainment, to demonstrate their creative abilities to the governor and other officials present.
“This was purely an entertainment performance by a content creator, not a consultation session. “The state government thus found it deeply disappointing that critics and political opponents would stoop so low as to deliberately fabricate malicious narratives from an innocent entertainment performance and spread misinformation to mislead the public.
“Rather than engage in frivolous consultations, Soludo has consistently demonstrated his commitment to developing Anambra’s creative economy through investment plans as part of the state’s economic diversification strategy.
“The recently commissioned Solution Fun City project is part of such investment plans. The state government also clarified that Soludo does not need consultations with any native doctor to win reelection, as he relies solely on the support of Ndi Anambra based on his impressive performance and focus on delivering the ‘solution agenda’ by transforming Anambra State into a livable and prosperous homeland,” he added.
The governor, therefore, called on Ndi Anambra, media channels and social media users to disregard the misinformation concerning the circulated video clip.
“The public is also urged to always verify information before sharing or amplifying content and reject malicious stories sponsored to mislead the public.
South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung pledged to reach out to the nuclear-armed North and “heal wounds” as he assumed office on Wednesday, following a decisive victory in a snap election triggered by his predecessor’s controversial martial law declaration.
The centre-left leader also warned that “rising protectionism and supply chain restructuring” pose an existential threat to Asia’s export-dependent fourth-largest economy, which has been unsettled by global trade disruptions, notably under former US President Donald Trump.
Lee secured a commanding 49.4 per cent of the vote, defeating conservative Kim Moon-soo, who garnered 41.2 per cent. Kim conceded defeat after being hampered by internal party divisions and a third-party candidate splitting the right-wing vote. Lee’s term began immediately after the official certification of the results on Wednesday.
Upon taking office, Lee spoke with South Korea’s top military commander and formally assumed operational control of the armed forces, urging vigilance amid potential provocations from Pyongyang. However, in his first public remarks, he emphasised his readiness for dialogue.
“We will heal the wounds of division and war and establish a future of peace and prosperity,” he said. “No matter how costly, peace is better than war.”
Lee vowed that Seoul would “deter North Korean nuclear and military provocations while opening communication channels and pursuing dialogue and cooperation to build peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
His inauguration came just hours before US tariffs on steel and aluminium were set to take effect, imposing a 50 per cent levy on key South Korean exports.
“The rapid changes in the global order, such as rising protectionism and supply chain restructuring, pose a threat to our very survival,” Lee warned.
Markets responded positively to the election outcome, with the benchmark KOSPI index and the South Korean won both rising on Wednesday.
A Significant Shift
Lee’s approach to North Korea marks a “significant departure” from his hawkish predecessor, as he did not immediately impose preconditions for dialogue, said Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification. This signals “his desire to resolve disagreements through talks,” Hong told AFP.
Lee held a modest inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly — the same venue where his predecessor deployed armed troops during an attempted suspension of civilian rule.
He also announced key appointments, including long-time adviser Kim Min-seok as prime minister and former unification minister Lee Jong-seok as head of intelligence.
Lee’s first day in office is expected to conclude with a series of congratulatory calls from world leaders, with US President Donald Trump likely to be among the first.
Trump’s top diplomat, Marco Rubio, swiftly congratulated Lee and expressed hope for cooperation, despite Lee’s previous calls for greater distance from the United States.
US Secretary of State emphasised that the Washington-Seoul alliance remains “ironclad,” citing “shared values and deep economic ties.”
The White House described the election as “free and fair” but expressed concerns about “Chinese interference and influence in democracies around the world.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Lee, highlighting the “great importance” of China-South Korea relations and expressing willingness to “firmly maintain the direction of good-neighbourly friendship” based on mutual benefit.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed a desire to “energise cooperation” between Seoul and Tokyo, South Korea’s former colonial ruler.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Lee on social media, expressing hopes to “strengthen” ties with South Korea.
A Positive Outlook
Lee assumes power with his party holding a parliamentary majority secure for the next three years, positioning him well to advance his legislative agenda.
On the streets of Seoul, citizens welcomed Lee’s conciliatory stance towards the North.
“Since our economy and many other aspects of society are closely linked to inter-Korean relations, I hope we can take a long-term perspective and move in a more positive direction,” said Choi Ki-ho, 55.
Lee Ju-yeon, a 42-year-old public sector employee, expressed hope that Lee “will devote himself to uniting our divided nation.”
The Presidency on Tuesday refuted criticisms by a faction of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, which claimed that the administration’s policies have resulted in economic hardship, democratic decline, and social regression.
A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, described the group’s assessment as “deceitful,” “prejudiced,” and “not grounded in facts.”
The statement is titled ‘Response To Afenifere Faction’s Deceitful Statement On President Bola Tinubu’s Mid-term’.
Dare maintained that the Tinubu-led administration has made notable progress in stabilising the economy, strengthening democratic institutions, and implementing far-reaching reforms under its Renewed Hope Agenda.
“A balanced assessment based on available data reveals a more objective and progressive picture, with significant achievements amid the challenges expected from a country like Nigeria with decades-old problems,” Dare stated.
The Presidency’s reaction comes days after the factional Afenifere, in a widely circulated statement, accused the Tinubu administration of worsening human development indices, mismanaging the economy, and eroding democratic freedoms.
The group had labelled the President’s key reforms—such as fuel subsidy removal and naira floatation—as “unforced errors” that have deepened poverty and unrest.
But in Tinubu’s defence, Dare argued that these policies were necessary to stop the bleeding of public finances and build a sustainable future.
According to him, the removal of the fuel subsidy saved the government over $10bn in 2023, while exchange rate unification boosted foreign reserves and helped Nigeria record an N18.86tn trade surplus.
He also cited improvements in inflation control, foreign direct investment commitments, and debt service-to-revenue ratios as evidence that the economy is stabilising.
On the social front, the Presidency listed several interventions including the cash transfer programme reaching 5.7 million households, NELFUND student loans, and a raised NYSC allowance from N33,000 to N77,000.
Other highlighted achievements include the disbursement of palliatives to states, the rollout of CNG buses, the revitalisation of over 1,000 primary health centres, and the training of 150,000 youths under the 3 Million Technical Talent programme.
Addressing Afenifere’s claim that corruption is festering under Tinubu, Dare pointed to the suspension of a cabinet minister over mismanagement, the EFCC’s 4,111 convictions in 2024, and the forfeiture of high-value assets, including a 725-unit estate handed over to the Ministry of Housing in May.
On democratic governance, the Presidency dismissed claims of creeping authoritarianism, noting that the judiciary has upheld opposition victories and that recent electoral appointments have not been proven partisan.
“What is excused backstage will not be excused under the spotlight,” said Dare, quoting a widely shared maxim.
The Presidency concluded with a call for collective responsibility in nation-building and an appeal to political actors to work with the administration to fight disinformation, stabilise the economy, and deliver lasting change.
“Nigeria’s comeback story is not yet complete — but it is firmly underway,” the statement concluded.
The Oluwo of Iwoland in Osun, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanni, has said that there is no he does not know any other title in Yorubaland that is superior to the Alaafin.
Oluwo, who described the Alaafin title as supreme to all other traditional titles in Yorubaland, said that the title was originally for oduduwa descendants.
He made this known, on Tuesday, when the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade paid him a courtesy visit.
Oba Akanbi thanked Alaafin for the visit, adding that it would boost the relationship between the two towns.
He said, “I don’t know any other title in Yorubaland that is superior to the Alaafin.
“Alaafin will continue to be Alaafin because that is the title that Oramiyan adopted and I will also adopt the saying.
“Henceforth, I will also want to be called Alafin of Iwo and we will inform the government about it”, he said.
Akanbi also said that with the humility and exposure of the Alaafin, Oyo would witness peace and unprecedented development.
According to him, the existing good relationship between the towns will continue to flourish.
Earlier Owoade,who was accompanied by his wife, Abiwumi, and other chiefs, said that he came to the town to thank the Oluwo for attending his coronation ceremony in April.
The traditional ruler also said that Oluwo called to congratulate him when his name was announced as the Alaafin-elect.
“I came to see Oluwo because he was at my coronation ceremony in April.
“Even when my name was mentioned as Alaafin-elect, Oluwo called to congratulate me.
“It is also good to come around to pay him a courtesy visit”, he said.
The Alaafin, who noted that Oyo and Iwo had been enjoying a good relationship for years, said that he also came to Iwo to ensure that the relationship continued.
Owoade, who spoke in Yoruba, said that his predecessor, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, had a good relationship with Iwo, hence, the relationship should be sustained.
“Iwo and Oyo have been enjoying a good relationship for years, even with my predecessor and I want that relationship to continue”, he said.
Owoade urged other traditional rulers in Iwo to continue to work with Oluwo with an open mind.
He said they should also continue to support and cooperate with the traditional ruler for the development of the town.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Owoade was crowned the 46th Alaafin of Oyo in April 2025 as the successor to the late Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III.
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry for Works to repair the damaged bridge linking the north and southern parts of the country washed away by recent flood in Mokwa, Niger State.
The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, disclosed this on Tuesday when he led a delegation from the ministry on a condolence visit to Mokwa to commiserate with the people over the flood disaster.
NAN reports that the flood disaster, which occurred on May 29, claimed the lives of 158 people.
Goronyo told the village head of Mokwa during the visit that the president directed the ministry to provide an access road for vehicular movement and to do everything possible to restore the damaged bridge.
“The President gave a clear directive for me to come and commiserate with the government and people of Niger state over the ugly incident.
“In his directives, he said we should do everything possible to restore the access road for vehicular movement on the damaged bridge washed away by the flood.
“The president directed that we provide an access road for vehicular movement and create an access road due to the high volume of articulated vehicles carrying goods from the north to the south,” he said.
He said that the ministry would continue to do more in areas of infrastructure in the country, particularly in Niger that host alot of Federal road networks due to its strategic location connecting North and South.
Responding, the village head of Mokwa (Ndalila of Mokwa), Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, disclosed that over 200 houses and four bridges collapsed, with many people still missing.
He said the affected bridges included the rail bridge and the main bridge connecting the North and South.
He appealed to the government to resettle affected persons.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Niger, Yakubu Garba, thanked President Tinubu for the condolence visit and expressed happiness over the show of concern from the Federal government.
