US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting on Thursday, though there was no indication if Iran-backed Hezbollah was on board.

Trump said the truce followed “excellent” conversations with
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, taking place two days after Israel and Lebanon held peace talks in Washington.

“These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.

Trump said he had directed US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and top US military officer Dan Caine to work with the two countries “to achieve a Lasting PEACE.”

“It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let’s, GET IT DONE!” said Trump, who launched the war on Iran alongside Israel on February 28.

Hezbollah then pulled Lebanon into the Middle East war, firing rockets at Israel in support of its backer Tehran.

Since then, Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed more than 2,000 people and displaced more than one million, and Israeli ground forces have invaded the country’s south.

Trump said late Wednesday that Aoun and Netanyahu were due to speak on Thursday, but there was no confirmation that any such call had
happened.

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Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidency of attempting to subvert democratic principles
and silence opposition voices ahead of 2027 general elections.

Phrank Shaibu, spokesperson to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, made this known in a statement on X on Thursday.

Recall that a presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who, while reacting to a live interview granted by Atiku Abubakar on Arise TV, insisted that President Tinubu “must complete eight years” in office in line with the North-South power rotation arrangement.

Onanuga had argued that having succeeded a northern president who served two terms, it is now the South’s turn to retain power until 2031—an assertion that has since sparked a fierce backlash from opposition figures who describe it as unconstitutional and fundamentally undemocratic.

In response, Atiku’s spokesperson, Shaibu, wrote: “Dear @aonanuga1956, let me tell you clearly: no presidential aide, no matter how loud or reckless, has the authority to rewrite the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or reduce democracy to a regional entitlement scheme. Power rotation is a political convention, not a constitutional decree and certainly not a tool to silence credible opposition.

“This tired attempt to bully @atiku out of the race reeks of fear, not principle. The same people who shredded zoning within their own party when it suited them now pretend to be its custodians. Hypocrisy has never worn such a cheap costume,” he stated.

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President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with the 36 state coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors at the Presidential Villa.

Others in attendance at the meeting include Vice President Shettima, APC governors, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and
other party leaders.

On November 25th, 2025, President Tinubu established the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) appointing Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State
as the Renewed Hope Ambassador.

The RHA was established to promote Tinubu policies and support his bid for re-election in 2027.

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Ahead of the forthcoming legislative elections, the Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has unequivocally condemned and refuted what it termed the “malicious publication” alleging a so-called plot to impose candidates.

APC Lagos State Chairman, Pastor, Cornelius Ojelabi, made the remark on Thursday, following wide spread speculations by done groups on planned imposition.

According to Ojelabi, the report, purportedly based on claims by a faceless and self-styled group of “concerned and vigilant members,” eas nothing more than a desperate fabrication, a reckless exercise in mischief, and a calculated attempt to inflame passions within the ruling party.

“We state without equivocation that there is no plot, no clandestine meetings, and no predetermined list of candidates as falsely alleged. These claims are baseless, mischievous, and designed solely to create the false impression of crisis where none exists.

“It is deeply unfortunate that certain elements, unable to advance their ambitions through legitimate party channels, have now resorted to the tired tactics of propaganda, blackmail, and anonymous media sensationalism.

“Such antics will neither intimidate the leadership of the party nor derail our established democratic processes.

“The Lagos APC is by this statement formally putting security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and all relevant democratic stakeholders on notice regarding the activities of fifth columnists and political mischief-makers who are engaged in clandestine moves aimed at unnecessarily destabilizing and overheating the polity.

“These actors, through orchestrated falsehoods and deliberate attempts to manufacture tension, seek to create an atmosphere of distrust and apprehension where none should exist. Their actions are clearly designed to undermine public confidence in the party’s transparent processes and to provoke avoidable political anxiety.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Electoral Act as amended is crystal clear on the lawful process for the emergence of candidates for the coming elections.

“The Lagos APC remains fully guided by the provisions of the law, the constitution of our party, and the duly issued guidelines of the national leadership.

“We have made our position abundantly clear: where consensus cannot be reached through broad consultation and mutual agreement, there shall be direct primaries. This position is settled, lawful, and non-negotiable. Absolutely nothing will change that.

“No amount of sponsored misinformation, subtle blackmail, media propaganda, or clandestine scheming will alter the party’s firm commitment to due process and internal democracy.

“The Lagos APC remains a disciplined and institution-driven political family founded on consultation, inclusiveness, and respect for democratic norms. The voice of duly registered party members remains supreme, and that voice shall find full expression through duly sanctioned democratic mechanisms,” he stated.

Ojelabi, therefore, urged loyal members and the general public to disregard the antics of faceless groups and political opportunists whose stock-in-trade is false alarm and manufactured controversy.

“Let it be clearly understood that internal democracy will prevail, due process will be upheld, and the collective will of our members shall remain the ultimate determinant of candidate emergence,” he urged.

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, branding him a habitual election contestant with nothing to show for his repeated bids and predicting the opposition figure will be back on the campaign trail come 2031 despite promises to the contrary.

The minister unleashed the broadside on Thursday while conducting an inspection tour of ongoing road construction projects across Abuja.

Wike used the occasion to fire back at Atiku’s claims that the present administration has delivered no meaningful gains for ordinary Nigerians.

He said, “Atiku is a serial failure. He is a serial contestant and loser, and I am sure that in 2031, he will still contest.
Nigerians would be laughing at such a person making that kind of statement that nothing positive has been done.”

Far from backing down, the minister threw down a direct challenge, daring his critic to hold the FCT’s current state up against its condition during the years Atiku served as vice president.

“Let him compare the FCT now and when he was vice president.
Can he honestly say what we have now is the same as then?” Wike queried.

The minister also turned his attention to allegations from the African Democratic Congress ADC that FCT officials had attempted to sabotage its convention by targeting the Rainbow Event Centre.

“I don’t even know where that place is. There was no interference from anybody. These people should just stop looking for sympathy,” he said.

He made clear the administration would not be drawn into political distractions, drawing a line between electioneering and governance.

“The election will come, but people must work. Contractors
are not part of the election,” he declared.

On infrastructure, Wike offered concrete timelines for projects that residents in satellite communities have long awaited. He disclosed that work on the Airport-Kuje corridor is in its final stretch, with
a partial opening of the bridge imminent.

“From Airport Junction to Kuje, one part of the bridge is almost completed. Before the end of May, the entire job will be handed over,” he said.

On the Kuje-Gwagwalada route, the minister confirmed the first phase of the dualisation — covering roughly seven kilometres — is equally on course for completion within the same window.

“I am happy with the progress. We are satisfied with the quality of jobs being delivered,” he added.

Wike painted an optimistic picture of what these road links would mean for Kuje, forecasting its transformation from a peripheral satellite town into a thriving residential and commercial destination capable of relieving strain on central Abuja.

“Very soon, Kuje will no longer be a satellite town. People will move there and build houses, and the pressure on the city will reduce,” he
said.

He challenged the party to produce any written correspondence with the office responsible for Eagle Squar management, arguing that proper procedure had simply not been followed.

Wike reaffirmed that political activity would not blunt the pace of construction, disclosing that upwards of 80 per cent of planned works are on track for completion before January.

“Our focus is clear — deliver projects, improve lives, and keep Abuja moving,” he said.

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Unidentified gunmen have reportedly kidnapped at least 14 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, candidates in Benue State.

The candidates were reportedly abducted during an attack on
a commercial bus travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo in the state.

According to reports, the victims, largely young adults, were travelling to Otukpo, where they were scheduled to sit for their examinations on Thursday.

Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Makurdi, said the victims were heading to the town for their examinations when the attackers struck.

“The victims are young people coming to Otukpo to write JAMB. Security agents have been deployed and efforts are ongoing to rescue them,” Ogiri said.

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The Democratic Republic of Congo will prohibit all cash transactions in foreign currencies starting April 9, 2027, in a bold attempt to revive confidence in the Congolese franc and reassert control over the country’s monetary system.

The government’s decision targets the widespread use of the U.S. dollar, which has dominated daily transactions for decades amid repeated episodes of hyperinflation and chronic distrust in the local currency.

Authorities hope the ban will encourage greater use of the franc, strengthen monetary policy, and reduce dollarization that has long undermined the Central Bank of Congo’s influence.

“This measure is essential to restore the sovereignty of our currency and stabilize our economy,” a government spokesperson said. “For too long, the dollar has operated as a parallel currency, limiting our ability to manage inflation and economic policy.”

The DRC’s economy remains overwhelmingly cash-based, with more than 100 million people relying heavily on physical money for everyday transactions. While mobile money platforms like M-Pesa have grown in urban areas, large parts of the vast country especially rural regions and the mineral-rich east, still function almost entirely on cash.Economists warn that success will hinge on rigorous enforcement.

Past attempts to curb dollar use have had limited impact due to weak institutions, porous borders, and the practical difficulties of policing transactions in remote areas. Businesses and individuals may resist the change if they continue to prefer the stability and wider acceptance of the dollar.

The move comes as the government seeks to rebuild trust after years of economic turbulence. High inflation, political instability, and heavy reliance on commodity exports have historically eroded confidence in the franc. By forcing a shift back to the local currency for cash deals, officials aim to gradually reduce dollar dominance in pricing, contracts, and savings.

Implementation details, including penalties for violations and support measures for businesses and citizens, are expected to be announced in the coming months. The Central Bank has indicated it will ramp up production and distribution of higher-quality franc notes to meet anticipated demand.

Whether this ambitious policy can succeed where previous efforts fell short will be one of the most closely watched economic experiments in Africa in 2027. For a nation of over 100 million striving for greater financial independence, the stakes could hardly be higher.

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The Dangote Group has dismissed as false a viral claim alleging that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earns revenue from every bag of cement sold in the country.

The claim, circulated in a Facebook post and attributed to Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, stated: “Tinubu’s government takes 52k from every N1 on cement. That is, N6,240 from every bag of cement. And they are still borrowing, what are they doing with the money?”

Reacting on Wednesday, the company shared a screenshot of the post on X and labelled it “Fake,” without further comment.

The rebuttal comes amid growing misinformation on social media and proliferating abuse of AI generated videos and images for political narratives.

Meanwhile, Dangote has been named in the 2026 TIME100 list of the world’s most influential people, released by TIME Magazine on Wednesday.

The annual list features global figures across politics, business, technology and culture, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Pope Leo XIV.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dangote is the only Nigerian on the 2026 list and appears in the “Titans” category.

This marks his second appearance on the TIME100 list, having first been recognised in 2014 for his contributions to business and philanthropy.

TIME highlighted Dangote’s role in advancing industrialisation in Africa through investments in cement, agriculture, food processing, infrastructure and energy, as well as his focus on building globally competitive industries using local resources.

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Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said the 2027 general election will be his last attempt at the Presidency.

Atiku disclosed this on Wednesday in an interview on Arise
TV.

“This (2027) will be my last shot. The stakes are higher, because I believe that would be my last chance,” Atiku said.

Atiku had contested the presidential election several times but failed.

He was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 general elections.

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