Author: Prima News

Colombian pop star Shakira and Nigerian singer Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, delivered a high-energy joint performance at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday, lighting up the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City ahead of the tournament’s opening match between hosts Mexico and South Africa. The ceremony took place at the renovated 80,000-capacity stadium, featuring fireworks, large-scale choreography and a giant World Cup trophy display as the global football spectacle officially kicked off across the United States, Mexico and Canada. FIFA World Cup Estadio Azteca venue. Photo credit: FIFA The expanded 48-team tournament will…

The fast-moving outbreak, which has also spread to neighbouring Uganda, is caused by the rare and deadly Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus. WHO’s Health Emergency Alert and Response Operations Director, Dr Abdirahman Mahamud, told reporters in Geneva that as of 8 June in DRC, there have been 550 confirmed cases and 101 deaths.  “The good news [is], we have 19 cumulative recovered patients, so early identification and treatment save lives,” he said.Speaking from Bunia in Ituri Province, which accounts for 94 per cent of total cases in the country, Dr Mahamud explained that the rise in confirmed cases “is due to…

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund has approved 174 research grants valued at N7.5bn under the 2025 National Research Fund grant cycle as part of efforts to strengthen research and innovation in the tertiary institutions. The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, announced the approval on Thursday, during a press conference in Abuja, saying the Federal Government was increasing support for research and development as a catalyst for economic transformation, job creation and national development. Echono said research remained critical to unlocking Nigeria’s vast human and natural resources and driving innovation across key sectors of the economy. “We believe strongly that…

TikTok says it removed more than four million videos and interrupted over 86,000 LIVE sessions in Nigeria in the fourth quarter of 2025 as part of efforts to strengthen safety and integrity on the platform. The social media platform disclosed this in its Q4 2025 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report released on Tuesday. It noted that it “removed 4.02 million videos in Nigeria for violating its Community Guidelines” during the period under review. It added that “99.9 per cent of the offending videos were detected and removed proactively before users reported them, while 98.4 per cent were taken down within 24…

The Senate on Thursday called on security agencies to urgently intensify surveillance and enforcement actions against bandits and terrorists who openly showcase their criminal activities and financial proceeds on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, amid growing concerns over the brazenness of criminal networks operating online. The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District, on the rising wave of bandit attacks and terrorist incursions in Kogi West and other parts of the country, as lawmakers again confronted the widening security crisis across multiple regions. During deliberations, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial…

Nigeria’s crude oil production rose above its Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries production quota in May 2026, with the country recording its highest crude output in 15 months amid improved operational stability and the absence of major disruptions across key oil facilities. Data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission showed that Nigeria produced an average of 1,530,354 barrels of crude oil per day in May, representing 102 per cent of the country’s 1.5 million barrels per day quota approved by OPEC. When condensate production of 170,446 barrels per day is added, Nigeria’s total oil output climbed to…

By Adegboyega Adeleye The management of Afrobeats singer Ruger has revealed that the singer’s prolonged absence from the music scene was caused by a legal battle with a former girlfriend who allegedly sued him for emotional distress and damages. In a statement released by Blown Boy Entertainment, the label founded by the singer, the management said Ruger had been dealing with a series of personal challenges after an ex-partner initiated legal proceedings against him, a situation that contributed to his silence and delayed music releases. “We know it’s been a while since Ruger dropped new music. For some time, Ruger…

Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has said that political support from state governors will not determine the outcome of future elections, insisting that his past electoral performance shows that governors backing means nothing. Speaking during an interview on Noire TV, Obi argued that despite not having the backing of a single governor in the previous election, he was still able to win 12 states, alleging that two states were “taken away through rigging.” He said “It doesn’t matter whether 36 governors are with the president, I didn’t have one governor in the last election and…

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America, I find myself asking a question that millions of African football fans have asked for decades: can an African country finally win the World Cup? For the first time in history, Africa will have 10 representatives at football’s biggest tournament. Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia will carry the dreams of more than a billion people across the continent. When I look at that list, I see more than just football teams. I see decades of struggle, progress, heartbreak and…

Nollywood actor Stan Nze has condemned the reported theft of several mobile phones during the service of songs held in honour of late actor Alexx Ekubo, saying the incident reflects a deeper crisis of values among Nigerians. The Nigerian entertainment industry gathered on Wednesday to pay tribute to Ekubo, who died on May 11, 2026, after a battle with kidney cancer. However, reports of missing phones at the event sparked controversy on social media, with some attendees confirming that their devices were stolen. Speaking in a video posted after the ceremony on Thursday, Nze, who hosted the event, revealed that…