Author: Prima News

By Adedapo Adesanya The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed claims that it plans to sell Ibom Power Company, describing the allegation as false and reaffirming its commitment to reviving the state-owned electricity asset through debt repayment and structural reforms. In a statement issued on March 18, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniekan Umanah, said a report by a Uyo-based tabloid alleging plans to dispose of the company was “a wicked fabrication” that should be disregarded. “At no time has the government approved the sale of Ibom Power Company as scrap or otherwise,” the statement said, adding that such claims…

The Presidency has addressed claims surrounding a recently signed migration agreement with the United Kingdom, stressing that the deal applies strictly to Nigerians residing illegally in the UK. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said the clarification became necessary following reports suggesting Nigeria had agreed to accept foreign deportees. In a statement posted on X on Friday, Ajayi explained that the agreement only concerns Nigerians who lack legal status to live and remain in the UK. He said: “For clarity, it is important to state that the agreement signed by the Minister of Interior,…

The Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, has prohibited the display of political materials and activities at all Eid prayer grounds in Osogbo ahead of the Eid-el-Fitr celebration. The directive includes a ban on the wearing of clothes, caps or any items bearing political party logos, as well as the hoisting of banners and posters at prayer venues across the town. The announcement was conveyed through the Asiwaju of Osogbo land, Justice Moshood Adeigbe, who stated that the decision was aimed at maintaining peace during the religious observance. According to the palace, political discussions have also been prohibited at…

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has invested in a new global chess tour aimed at expanding the sport’s international appeal and commercial reach. The Norwegian is backing the Norway Chess organisation, which is set to launch the Total Chess World Championship Tour next year. The tour will feature four tournaments held annually in different cities around the world, with an overall champion determined across three formats—classical, rapid, and blitz chess. As reported by BBC Sport on Thursday, the initiative is supported by the International Chess Federation, which described it as one of the most significant developments in modern chess. A pilot…

The National Film and Video Censors Board on Thursday honoured actress and filmmaker, Toyin Abraham, with a Box Office Champion Award. The recognition followed the success of her film, “Over Sabi Auntie,” which surpassed the N1bn mark at the Nigerian box office. The feat makes Abraham the first debut director to gross over N1bn in cinemas. The Executive Director of NFVCB, Shuaib Husseini, described the milestone as historic for Nollywood. “It is my honour to welcome you as we celebrate excellence and remarkable achievements within Nigeria’s film industry,” he said. Husseini added that the board remained committed to supporting a…

South Korea’s parliament passed a sweeping legal reform bill on Friday that will strip prosecutors of investigative powers, a move that the government argues will curb ​the risk of political abuse of one of the country’s most ‌powerful state bodies. The legislation will create a new agency that will exclusively handle indictments and prosecution and spin off the investigative function to a separate agency. The landmark vote formalises the separation ​of powers that President Lee Jae Myung and his liberal Democratic Party ​say is needed to prevent political abuse of unchecked prosecutorial power. The push by ⁠liberals to break up…

 South Africa has imposed steep import duties on structural steel imports from China and Thailand after finding evidence of ​dumping, the country’s trade watchdog has said. Structural steel imports ‌from China face tariff rates of 74.98%, while a 20.32% duty would be applied to similar products from Thailand, according to a government ​notice dated March 19. South Africa in 2024 imposed provisional ​anti-dumping duties of 52.81% and 9.12% on structural ⁠steel imports from China and Thailand, respectively. The tariffs cover structural ​steel used mostly in construction. The International Trade Administration Commission of South ​Africa said its investigation into imports from…

Denmark will hold a national election on Tuesday as it grapples with U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to seize Greenland, a semi-autonomous Arctic island of 57,000 people that has been under Danish rule for centuries. Following is a timeline of the saga: 2019 In ​a surprise announcement during his first term in office, Trump proposes to buy Greenland from Denmark but Danish ‌Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen calls it “absurd”. Trump scraps a planned visit to Denmark, calling Frederiksen’s statement “nasty”. JANUARY 2025 Two weeks before taking office, Trump says he will not rule out using military or economic force to take control of Greenland. His eldest son, Donald…

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said the Labour Party should campaign to rejoin the EU at the next general election. In an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica on Thursday, Khan highlighted the impact of Brexit on the capital. He said: “I see on a daily basis the damage Brexit has done to not just London, but to Londoners, the damage economically, socially and culturally.” “I’m quite clear in terms of what needs to happen, which is, we should join the EU.” Khan also referenced global instability, particularly with US President Donald Trump in the White House, as part of…

 Israel and Iran launched fresh attacks on each other on Friday, a day after Tehran struck an Israeli ​oil refinery and after U.S. President Donald Trump warned Israel against further attacks on an Iranian offshore gas field shared with Qatar. Israel struck Tehran, targeting the “infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime”, the military said in a brief ‌statement that did not provide details. Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel, the Israeli military said, triggering air raid sirens in Tel Aviv as explosions from air defence interceptors echoed across the city. The war on Iran has killed thousands, mostly in Iran and Lebanon,…