Author: Prima News

Mr Aniefiok Assian, a pastor of the Solid Rock Kingdom Church in Akwa Ibom State, shares with CHUKWUDI AKASIKE the pain of his 23-year-old son’s abduction and his hope that he will return to him hale and hearty How did you get to know about your son’s abduction? It was on December 3, 2025, that the kidnappers called us and told us that my son, Utibeabasi, had been kidnapped. They told us that we needed to pay a N30m ransom. So, we negotiated and agreed to pay N500,000. The ransom was paid into the account of one Uzo Onuoha Enterprise…

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Benue State University branch, on Monday, ordered the commencement of an indefinite strike over non-payment of promotion arrears, among others. This was conveyed in a statement by the branch’s chairman, Dr Ali Ako and secretary, Prof Daniel Chile,  on Monday. The union said the strike was called following the failure of sustained engagement with the BSU administration, the Governing Council, and the state government on critical welfare and governance issues affecting lecturers and the university. The statement added that the union at its congress meeting held on Monday, June 1, 2026, resolved to embark…

Africa’s ambitions to become a major player in the global artificial intelligence economy could be constrained by persistent power shortages and weak infrastructure capacity, a senior Schneider Electric executive has warned. The warning comes as African governments and private investors increase focus on digital infrastructure, even as power shortages and grid instability continue to challenge long-term technology expansion plans across the continent. Speaking at the IDC CIO Summit 2026 in Sandton, Johannesburg, Vice President for Secure Power, SSA, at Schneider Electric, Steven Santini, said global technology firms are increasingly positioning Africa as an emerging frontier for AI-driven investment but warned…

Flutterwave has promoted 25% of workforce and introduced economic relief package for employees worldwide. NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Flutterwave has announced a company-wide employee recognition and support initiative that includes the promotion of 25 per cent of its global workforce, cost-of-living adjustments, tax support for employees in Nigeria, and a one-time economic relief payment for staff worldwide. The move underscores the fintech giant’s commitment to employee welfare, career development, and building one of Africa’s most people-focused technology workplaces amid rising living costs and evolving global economic conditions.  In a statement published by the company, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Olugbenga Agboola, said the…

A growing dispute within Nigeria’s electronic payments industry has raised concerns about the future processing of Verve card transactions after a group of licensed payment operators threatened coordinated action against the domestic card scheme. The coalition, which includes payment processors, acquiring institutions, switching companies and Point of Sale operators, has formally challenged certain operational practices within the Verve ecosystem, arguing that they create barriers to competition and limit flexibility within the country’s digital payments market. In separate communications directed to Verve International and its parent company, Interswitch Limited, the operators called for a series of changes which they believe are…

The Labour Party has unveiled Mrs Julie Obeta as its deputy governorship candidate for the forthcoming general elections in Benue State, describing the move as part of efforts to strengthen women’s participation in governance. The announcement was made on Monday at the party secretariat along Otukpo Road, Makurdi, shortly after the emergence of the party’s governorship candidate, Mathias Byuan. Byuan said Obeta was unanimously selected following consultations with stakeholders across the state. “We have consulted widely with the party stakeholders across the state and today and they unanimously elected Mrs Julie Obeta as the first female governorship candidate who by…

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has alleged that the Oyo State Government orchestrated the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in parts of the state as part of a plot to embarrass President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Fayose made the allegation while speaking on a televised programme, where he questioned the response of the Oyo State Government to the incident and suggested that political considerations may have influenced its handling. The former governor’s comments followed the kidnapping of pupils and teachers by gunmen in some local government areas of Oyo State on Friday, an incident that drew national attention and…

Sokoto United caused one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 President Federation Cup after knocking out defending champions Kwara United with a hard-earned 1-0 win in the Round of 32. The result brought Kwara United’s title defence to an early end and opened the door for other contenders as the battle for a place in the Round of 16 intensified. Former champions Rivers United secured their passage with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Rangers International in one of the standout matches of the round. Enyimba also moved into the next stage after edging past Gombe United 1-0. Bendel Insurance…

Gospel singer Steve Crown and his wife, Ruth Thomas, have welcomed their first child. The singer announced the birth on Instagram on Saturday, sharing a video of himself and his wife dressed in white, with Ruth visibly pregnant. Expressing gratitude to God, Steve Crown described the arrival of their baby as a blessing worth celebrating. “Some blessings cannot be explained, they can only be celebrated. Thank You, Jesus, for all You have done. Thank You Jesus for the gift of our baby,” he wrote. He also prayed for others hoping for a similar testimony. “A new chapter, a new blessing,…

In the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis, where tents stretch across the sand and snaking queues form for water and food, Asaad Al-Azzabi prepares for a match a world away from what he once knew.Before the war, Mr. Al-Azzabi played for Al-Tajammu Club in Rafah, where he and his teammates had access to pitches, training halls, coaches and equipment.  UN News Asaad Al-Azzabi’s torn boots. Borrowed bootsNow, he’s lucky if he can find boots to play in. “Sometimes I borrow a pair from a friend or patch them up with tape,” he says.His home is now a tent in…