LAGOS, May 6, 2025 – The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has thrown its weight behind the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First” policy directive, describing it as a bold step toward revamping the country’s manufacturing sector, creating jobs, and lifting the national economy through aggressive local content enforcement. The policy, which mandates prioritisation of made-in-Nigeria goods and services in all government procurement processes, is expected to be formalised through an executive order in the coming weeks.

IBADAN, May 6, 2025 – In a heartfelt moment of relief and hope, residents of Aleelo Village in the Akufo area of Ido Local Government, Oyo State, have celebrated the donation of a well—a critical lifeline in a community long abandoned by water infrastructure. The well was donated by Miss Namatai Tembo, a young student of IITA International School, Ibadan, whose gesture has brought tears and renewed faith to a forgotten people.

ABEOKUTA, May 6, 2025 – In a major boost to Nigeria’s industrialisation drive and Ogun State’s economic diversification push, Chinese-backed conglomerate Inner Galaxy Group has unveiled plans to inject $400 million into a state-of-the-art hot rolled coiled steel factory in Ewekoro Local Government Area, a move that could reshape the region’s manufacturing landscape. The company’s president, Mr. Li Shuang, disclosed this during a high-level delegation visit to Governor Dapo Abiodun at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta on Tuesday.

Lagos, May 6, 2025 – The Nigerian equities market sustained its bullish momentum on Tuesday, with investors pocketing a hefty N1.045 trillion gain in a trading session fueled by renewed confidence in blue-chip and tier-one banking stocks. Data from the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) shows that market capitalisation surged to N68.105 trillion, reflecting a 1.56% increase from Monday’s N67.060 trillion. The All-Share Index (ASI) also spiked by 1,662.60 points, closing at 108,361.10, up from 106,698.50.

Yenagoa, May 6, 2025 – A former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Udengs Eradiri, has issued a stern warning to embattled Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, urging him to shut out what he called “crisis merchants” and double down on his ongoing reconciliation with his political benefactor, Nyesom Wike. Speaking to journalists in Yenagoa, Eradiri – a former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) and ex-Commissioner for Youth and Environment in Bayelsa – praised Fubara for finally bowing to pressure to reconcile with the former Rivers governor.

Benin City, May 6, 2025 – In a significant political shift, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Blessing Agbebaku, on Tuesday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Agbebaku, who has served as the speaker since June 16, 2023, cited the development initiatives of Governor Monday Okpebholo, particularly in his constituency, as the main reason for his decision to join the APC.

Abuja, Nigeria – May 6, 2025 – In a robust post-recess address to the House of Representatives, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas unveiled plans for a high-level reconciliation committee aimed at resolving the lingering political crisis in Rivers State. The initiative, he said, would be in collaboration with the Senate and feature “respected national figures” to promote dialogue, restore peace, and reinforce democratic governance in the restive state.

ABUJA — May 5, 2025 — The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has issued a strong condemnation of the arrest and continued detention of social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as Very Dark Man (VDM), demanding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) either charge him to court immediately or release him unconditionally. In a statement released on Monday and signed by Minority Leader, Rep.

ABUJA — May 6, 2025 — In a dramatic realignment of political forces in Nigeria’s lower legislative chamber, six members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from Delta State and two Labour Party lawmakers from Enugu have officially defected to rival political camps, citing internal crises and leadership failure in their former parties. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, announced the wave of defections during Tuesday’s plenary session, welcoming the new members into the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP, respectively.

ABUJA — May 5, 2025 — Federal lawmaker Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi, representing Ndokwa East/Ndokwa West/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, has paid glowing tribute to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, describing him as “a leader of proven character, humility, and integrity” as the latter marked his 54th birthday on Monday. In a statement issued in Abuja during a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ezechi said Kalu embodies the qualities of “an exceptional gentleman” whose leadership style has won admiration across party lines.

— By Staff Writer, Naija247news ABUJA — May 5, 2025 — As Nigeria marked World Press Freedom Day, a clarion call has been made from the legislative chambers of Abuja to prioritize the welfare, safety, and freedom of journalists who continue to serve as watchdogs of democracy amid mounting socio-political pressures. Rep. Obi Aguocha (LP-Abia), Chairman of the House Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation of House Standing and Ad-hoc Committees, used the occasion to spotlight what he described as the neglected state of Nigeria’s media professionals, calling for improved wages, safer working conditions, and stronger legal protections for journalists across the federation.

ABUJA, May 6, 2025 — In a renewed bid to quell the deepening political turmoil in Rivers State, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, on Tuesday disclosed that the National Assembly would soon set up a high-powered Reconciliation Committee to mediate and restore democratic stability in the oil-rich state. Addressing lawmakers at the resumption of plenary following the Easter/Sallah break, Abbas stated that the committee, to be jointly established with the Senate, would include “respected national figures” tasked with promoting peace, dialogue, and a return to constitutional order in Rivers and other conflict-ridden states.

— Naija247news Legislative Report KADUNA, May 6, 2025 — The Kaduna State House of Assembly has officially passed the Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic Law, 2025, repealing the Kaduna State Polytechnic Edict of 1989, in a decisive move to realign the institution’s legal framework with its new identity and operational vision. The bill, which sailed through third reading during plenary on Tuesday, was championed by Hon.

— Naija247news National Assembly Report ABUJA, May 6, 2025 — Senate President Godswill Akpabio has issued a rallying call to federal lawmakers, urging them to rise to the demands of the Nigerian people amid worsening economic and security conditions, warning that the nation’s challenges require urgent and patriotic legislative action. Addressing the Senate on Tuesday as plenary resumed from Easter recess, Akpabio painted a sobering picture of the state of the nation — from surging living costs to festering insecurity across geopolitical zones — and charged his colleagues to respond with integrity, unity, and action.

ABUJA — May 6, 2025 — In a decisive political move following the suspension of democratic governance in Rivers State, the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday announced the formation of an 18-member bipartisan committee to provide legislative oversight on the state’s transition into emergency rule. Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement during plenary as lawmakers resumed from the Easter recess, underscoring the need for National Assembly oversight to mirror a similar committee constituted by the House of Representatives.

By Staff Writer | Naija247news | May 6, 2025 PORT HARCOURT — The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has issued a clarion call to youths from the South-East and South-West regions to actively enlist in the military, stressing the importance of balanced regional representation for the unity and strength of the armed forces. Speaking at a maiden NAF Open Day event marking the 2025 NAF Day Celebration in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Group Captain Abdulafeez Opaleye, Commander of the 115 Operations Group, lamented the low enlistment rate from Nigeria’s southern regions and called for a cultural shift in how military service is viewed.

ABUJA — The Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) has publicly challenged the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) recent downgrade of Nigeria’s economic growth projection for 2025, dismissing the forecast as overly pessimistic and disconnected from ongoing structural reforms under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The IMF had in its latest outlook cut Nigeria’s 2025 growth estimate from 3.2% to 3.0%, attributing the revision to projected lower global oil prices and their anticipated impact on Nigeria’s fiscal and external balances.

HOUSTON, TEXAS — The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its resolve to transform the nation’s massive natural gas resources into an engine for industrialisation, energy security, and global competitiveness, calling for decisive and unified action to unlock its full potential. Speaking at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) in Houston, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr.

ABUJA — The Federal Government of Nigeria on Tuesday called for pan-African collaboration to protect data across the continent as it inaugurated the Nigeria Virtual Privacy Academy at the 8th edition of the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA) Conference in Abuja. The high-level forum, themed “Balancing Innovation in Africa: Data Protection and Privacy in Emerging Technologies,” gathered participants from over 30 African nations, as well as representatives from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the U.S.

HOUSTON, TEXAS — The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has revealed that Nigeria’s active and consistent participation at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) has catalyzed over $8 billion in oil and gas investments, significantly boosting domestic capacity and global partnerships. Speaking during the PETAN Luncheon and Panel Session at the ongoing OTC in Houston on Tuesday, PETAN Chairman, Mr. Wole Ogunsanya, stated that the inflow was facilitated through equipment acquisitions, technical service partnerships, and project financing, all born out of relationships forged at OTC over the years.

LAGOS — Popular Nollywood actress and filmmaker Iyabo Ojo has cleared the air over her recent visit to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), revealing that she was unaware that spraying money—whether in naira or foreign currencies—was a criminal offense in Nigeria. In a candid post shared on her verified Instagram handle @iyaboojofespris, the actress said she had received an invitation from the anti-graft agency while she was abroad in the United Kingdom, prompting her to honour the summons immediately upon her return to Nigeria on May 5.

LAGOS – Nigeria’s capital market elite gathered on Tuesday at the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) headquarters in Lagos to pay heartfelt tribute to Dr. Pascal Dozie, the late financial titan who passed away on April 8, 2025, aged 85. The solemn yet celebratory event, themed “An Afternoon of Tribute and Closing Gong Ceremony,” marked a poignant moment in the country’s economic history.

...Sanwo-Olu’s Food System Revolution Gains Momentum LAGOS – In a bold stride toward transforming the state’s food economy, the Lagos State Government has announced that its Mid-Level Agro Produce Hub at Idi-Oro, Mushin, has recorded transactions surpassing N3 billion since its inauguration in December 2023. The revelation was made by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, during the 6th anniversary Ministerial Press Briefing of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.

By Staff Writer | Naija247news Editorial | May 6, 2025 In a continent often portrayed through the lens of dependency and dysfunction, few individuals have challenged this narrative as boldly and consistently as Tony O. Elumelu, Chairman of UBA Group and founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF). His recent decoration with Gabon’s Commander in the National Order of Merit is more than a personal achievement—it is a continental statement: African prosperity must be driven by Africans.

Abuja, Nigeria – A viral video showing a uniformed Nigerian police officer kneeling to tie the shoelaces of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has triggered nationwide outrage, with citizens and rights groups calling it a new low in the dignity of Nigeria’s security institutions. The footage, believed to have been captured during a recent political function in Kano, shows the former governor standing still as the officer crouches on one knee and laces his footwear — a moment many Nigerians describe as “colonial-era servitude dressed in a police uniform.”