TOP 10 STATES WITH HIGHEST DEBT PROFILENigeria’s subnational debt profile witnessed a significant turnaround in 2024, with new data revealing that the combined debt stock of the 36 states dropped sharply by 32.32% year-on-year. The figures show a fall from N5.86 trillion in 2023 to N3.97 trillion in 2024, marking a substantial contraction in state-level borrowing. This decline is seen …

AMINU DANTATA: LIFE AND LEGACY With the benefit of hindsight, it could be said that prominent business man and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, looked forward to transiting the earthly realm. The business mogul, who breathed his last yesterday, at 94 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, had in December 2022, stirred emotions when he remarked that he was …

YAR’ADUA SIGNED LETTER TRANSMITTING POWER TO ME — HIS AIDE KEPT IT FROM NATIONAL ASSEMBLY – JONATHAN Former President Goodluck Jonathan says late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua did sign a letter empowering him to act in his absence during his prolonged illness, but the document was never submitted to the national assembly. At the time, Yar’Adua’s protracted absence from office, …

SGF AKUME NOT SACKED – PRESIDENCY The Presidency has dismissed reports claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has replaced the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume. The clarification was made known in a statement on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The statement titled ‘Akume remains SGF’, reads: …

IRAN HOLDS STATE FUNERAL FOR TOP COMMANDERS, SCIENTISTS KILLED BY ISRAEL A state funeral service is under way in Iran for about 60 people, including military commanders, killed in Israeli attacks, with thousands joining the ceremony in the capital, Tehran. State TV showed footage of people donning black clothes, waving Iranian flags and holding pictures of the slain head of …

FUBARA, WIKE SIGHTED TOGETHER IN RIVERS STATE AFTER PEACE TALKS Suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his predecessor FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule again appeared in public together barely two days after a fresh round of peace talks at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The trio were seen …

NIGERIAN ARMY MARKS 162 YEARS OF SERVICE, REFLECTS ON LEGACY The Nigerian Army has marked its 162nd anniversary with a solemn celebration of its rich history, achievements, and commitment to national and global peace. Speaking during the commemoration held at Giginya Jumaat mosque in Sokoto, the special guest of honour, General Officer Commanding 8 Division and Commander Sector 2 Operation …

SARAKI REVEALS LOOMING WORST OF DEFECTIONS FOR PDP Former Senate President and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reconciliation and Convention Committee, Bukola Saraki, has raised fresh concerns over an impending wave of defections from the opposition party. Speaking during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Friday, Saraki warned that the PDP is yet to witness the …

HOW GANDUJE WAS forcyed TO RESIGN AS APC NATIONAL CHAIRMAN Indications have emerged that Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was compelled to resign as national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State, reportedly tendered his resignation letter yesterday, citing health reasons. However, reliable sources, who spoke to Weekend Trust, linked Ganduje’s resignation to permutations …

FG ASKS STATES TO REINSTATE MONTHLY SANITATION EXERCISE TO PREVENT DISEASES As Nigeria prepares to mark the 2025 National Environmental Sanitation Day (NESD), the federal government has urged states that have not yet reinstated the monthly environmental sanitation (clean-up) exercise to do so. Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, made the call during a briefing on the 2025 National Environmental Sanitation …

WIKE VS FUBARA; PEACE DEAL LOPSIDED – EX-COMMISSIONER Former Rivers State Commissioner for Employment and Empowerment, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa, has rejected the recent peace pact between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his estranged political benefactor, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, branding the truce a humiliating capitulation rather than genuine reconciliation. Nwibubasa dismissed the deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu as lopsided and …

DANTATA, RENOWNED BUSINESSMAN, DIES AT 94 Renowned Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, has passed away at the age of 94. A family source confirmed that the elder statesman died on Friday night in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, after a brief illness. He died at about 3am Nigerian time at a hospital in Abu Dhabi. The source added …

TINUBU EMBARKS ON STATE VISIT TO SAINT LUCIA, ATTENDS BRICS IN BRAZIL President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday, June 28, 2025, on a two-nation visit to Saint Lucia and Brazil. This was made known in a statement on Friday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. A key highlight of the visit will be …

BUHARI MEDIA TEAM IMPLODES, WHATSAPP GROUP DISBANDED OVER INTERNAL WRANGLING The WhatsApp group of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s media team has been quietly dissolved following internal wrangling fueled by rising anti-Tinubu sentiments—especially from former presidential aide Lauretta Onochie—and deepening factional tensions among members. The now-defunct team, which Garba Shehu—former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to former President Buhari—had …

AS EDITORS MEET IN ENUGU, GOVERNOR MBAH CALLS FOR CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM The Governor of Enugu State, Mr Peter Mbah, has advocated greater synergy between government at all levels and the media to drive democracy and development. Gov Mbah spoke during the opening of the 2025 Biennial Convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Enugu on Friday. Mbah, who spoke …