News View Digest

Archbishop Akubeze Lived and Died Peacefully - Fr. Oyanoafoh Habiba Sam  The Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Oyanoafoh, has described the late Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze as a man of peace whose life and death reflected the tranquility he lived by. Fr. Oyanoafoh made the statement on July 16, 2026, while receiving members of the Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, CAMPAN, Archdiocese of Benin City Chapter, who paid him a condolence visit. The delegation was led by the chapter Chairman, Ruben Mario Brodrick. Speaking during the visit, the Chancellor said the Church takes consolation in the fact that the late Archbishop departed peacefully abroad. “We all know that the Archbishop died abroad. The consolation we have is that he was a peaceful man, he lived a peaceful life and died peacefully,” he said. He urged Catholics to hold on to the hope of resurrection, noting that while grief is natural, it must not override ...

INEC’s 2-Week CVR Extension Inadequate, Demands Continuous Registration, Diaspora Voting By  Emmanuel Iyoho                                    Dr Tommy Etim Okon ABUJA — The Coordinator of Arise with Renewed Hope Initiative, Abuja Chapter, Comrade Tommy Etim Okon, has described the Independent National Electoral Commission’s two-week extension of the Continuous Voter Registration as inadequate, urging INEC to adopt a continuous registration system and introduce Diaspora voting ahead of the 2027 general elections. INEC on Friday announced a two-week extension of the nationwide CVR to Friday, July 24, 2026. The exercise began August 18, 2025. The commission also announced a self-service online portal, `cvr.inecnigeria.org`, to go live July 8, 2026. Okon, in an interview in Abuja, said two weeks would not capture all eligible Nigerians, especially with campaigns expected to start in August. “INEC...

FG Waived N34trn Customs Duties in 2025, Earned Only N28.23trn — CSJ By Emmanuel Iyoho                             Eze Onyekpere ABUJA— The Centre for Social Justice, CSJ, has raised the alarm over what it described as fiscal recklessness by the Federal Government, revealing that N34 trillion worth of customs duties were waived in 2025 while only N28.23 trillion was accrued as consolidated revenue. The Lead Director of CSJ, Mr. Eze Onyekpere, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday. He cited a recent disclosure by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, before the House of Representatives Committee on Finance. According to Onyekpere, the NCS told lawmakers it implemented the waivers on the authority of the Minister of Finance, noting that the Service does not approve waivers under existing laws. The House Committee has since requested a full breakdown of beneficiaries, the legal basis, and purpose of the ...

Idem Pledges Expanded Empowerment for Abuja Indigenes After Third-Term Endorsement By Emmanuel Iyoho From Left, Dr. Enobong Umoessien, Trustee of Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency Indigenes Association, Abuja, Comrade. Josiah Emmanuel, President of the Association, Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem, member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives,  Barr. (Dr.) Sylvia Joshua Unyime Idem, wife of Hon. Unyime Idem and  Barr. George Enyiekpon, also a  Trustee of the association during the courtesy visit to the lawmaker in his office at the National Assembly, Abuja recently. The Member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem, has pledged to expand his empowerment and constituency development programmes to include more indigenes residing in Abuja.  He made the pledge recently while receiving a 23-member delegation of the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency Indigenes ...

Akwa Ibom Community Abuja Inaugurates 9th Mpape Branch Exco, Launches N5m Project By Emmanuel Iyoho Representative of the President of Akwa Ibom community Abuja, Mkpisong,  Barrister Gabriel Fan, by  Secretary -General of the community, Comrade Christopher Udoh with the Chairman of the occasion,  Pastor Okokon Etoabasi, the newly inaugurated 9th Executive Council, Akwa Ibom Community, Abuja, Mpape Branch, among others pose for the press shortly after being sworn   in  during the occasion in Abuja recently. The Akwa Ibom Community in Abuja has inaugurated a new 13-member Executive Council for its Mpape Branch, with a call on members to remain united and committed to the growth of the community. The inauguration took place at the Antho Padua Event Centre, Mpape, and featured the induction of patrons, the launch of a N5 million Community Chairs and Rental Items Project, and the presentation of awards to deserving members and other outstanding individuals who h...

Afegbua: Edo Sole State Providing N1M, Business Loans to Returnees Habiba Sam  The Edo State Government has become the first and only state in Nigeria to give direct financial and business support to indigenes evacuated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks. This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, during the Ministry’s monthly press briefing in Benin City on Tuesday. Afegbua said Governor Monday Okpebholo personally received the returnees at the Festival Hall, Government House, and announced immediate relief for them. “So far, Edo State is the only state that has received returnees from South Africa with a cash gift of N1 million each and a business proposal to assist them start a new life,” Afegbua stated. He explained that the N1 million was paid within 24 hours to assist with accommodation, while the government will also provide soft loans to help the returnees start businesses and reintegrate into society. Afegbua des...