Royal News

Author: Ugochukwu Umeh

  • Tinubu Reappoints Buba Marwa as NDLEA Chairman For Second Term

    Tinubu Reappoints Buba Marwa as NDLEA Chairman For Second Term

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the reappointment of Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for another five-year term.

    Marwa, who first assumed office in January 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, previously served as Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse from 2018 to 2020. His renewed appointment, announced in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media, Bayo Onanuga, extends his leadership of the NDLEA until 2031.

    A former military governor of Lagos and Borno States, Marwa is a graduate of the Nigerian Military School and the Nigerian Defence Academy. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1973, he held several key military roles, including Brigade Major of the 23 Armoured Brigade, Aide-de-Camp to then Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Theophilus Danjuma, and Registrar of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

    He also served in diplomatic military positions, first as Deputy Defence Adviser at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and later as Defence Adviser to Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

    Marwa holds two postgraduate degrees: a Master of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.

    Under his leadership, the NDLEA has intensified its anti-narcotics operations. The agency has arrested more than 73,000 suspected drug traffickers and dealers and seized over 15 million kilogrammes of illicit substances. It has also broadened its national campaign against drug abuse.

    President Tinubu commended Marwa’s performance, describing his reappointment as “a vote of confidence” in his efforts to combat drug trafficking and drug abuse. He urged him to remain steadfast in tackling those behind the spread of hard drugs, particularly those targeting young people.

  • 4 Policemen, 3 Forest Guards Arrested Over Illegal Demolition In Ogun

    4 Policemen, 3 Forest Guards Arrested Over Illegal Demolition In Ogun

    Operatives of the X-Squad of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, have arrested four policemen and three armed forest guards for allegedly taking part in an unlawful demolition and land-grabbing operation in Orile Egun, Ijere, within the Pakuro area of Obafemi Owode Local Government, Ogun State.

    A site engineer, who claimed he was contracted by a church, was also taken into custody in connection with the incident.

    The arrests followed allegations that the group violated a restraining order issued by the Ogun State High Court in July 2025. The order, granted by Justice M. Dipeolu, barred any demolition, alteration, sale, or development on the disputed 76.15-acre property, identified in Survey Plan No. OG/126/2009/02 dated June 15, 2009.

    Despite the court’s directive, the demolition was allegedly carried out under heavy armed security. FCID sources said preliminary findings showed the policemen were unlawfully mobilised to provide cover for the operation. One officer reportedly claimed he was on a “special visit” from Kaduna State.

    A pistol and locally made firearms were recovered from the suspects, according to investigators, who added that efforts are underway to track down other fleeing members of the group.

    Detectives have also widened the probe to examine the alleged role of some officials of the Ogun State Task Force on Land Grabbing. They are accused of aiding the illegal demolition despite the subsisting court order.

    Police sources, who requested anonymity, said the arrests were made after a petition was submitted to the FCID alleging that the security personnel supervised an attack on the village and the destruction of uncompleted structures in defiance of the court’s injunction.

  • Senator Fires Back: I Didn’t Pursue Regina, Her Mother Did

    Senator Fires Back: I Didn’t Pursue Regina, Her Mother Did

    Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, has said he never pursued his estranged wife, actress Regina Daniels, for marriage, amid ongoing controversy surrounding their six-year union.

    The remarks come after Regina Daniels publicly accused Nwoko of domestic violence, stating two weeks ago that she was no longer interested in the marriage. In response, the senator alleged that Daniels struggles with substance abuse and suggested she should seek rehabilitation.

    The public dispute has drawn widespread criticism, with many Nigerians—including celebrities—condemning Nwoko for marrying Daniels when she was reportedly 17, calling for his resignation from the Senate.

    In a statement released through his Communication and Technical Action Team and shared with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nwoko clarified that it was Daniels’ mother, Rita Daniels, who brought her to him for marriage. He also disputed claims that he married her as a minor.

    “For clarity, Regina Daniels was born on October 10, 2000. If she has been married to me for six years, that means she married at 19, not 17. The public witnessed her family giving her away in marriage,” Nwoko said. “There were witnesses to the fact that her mother personally brought her to me. I never went after her

  • Police Kill Bandit, Rescue Kidnapped Victims in Kebbi

    Police Kill Bandit, Rescue Kidnapped Victims in Kebbi

    Kebbi State Police Command has neutralised one suspected bandit and arrested three others in coordinated operations across Maiyama and Shanga Local Government Areas.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, said the operations followed two separate attacks by armed bandits targeting residents in Botoro Gadi and Kwari communities.

    In Botoro Gadi, eight armed men invaded the residence of Alhaji Sani in Mungadi, Maiyama LGA, abducting two individuals identified as Muhafi Sani and Shamsiya Aliyu. Responding to a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer in Maiyama led a joint team of police operatives and local vigilantes, engaging the attackers in a gun battle. One suspected kidnapper was killed, and a Dane gun along with an empty cartridge shell was recovered.

    In a related attack, a gang targeted Kwari village in Giron Masa, Shanga LGA, abducting Suleiman and Yunwa Suleiman. The Divisional Police Officer in Shanga, working alongside army personnel and vigilantes, confronted the bandits, prompting them to abandon the victims and flee with fatal gunshot injuries.

    In a separate operation at Takware village, police arrested Musa Muhammad for unlawful possession of ammunition, recovering three rounds of live ammunition and 20 empty 7.62×39mm shells.

    All rescued victims have been medically examined and safely reunited with their families. CSP Abubakar reassured residents that the police remain committed to eliminating criminal activities and ensuring the safety of lives and property in Kebbi State.

    In October, the Command neutralised three suspected Lakurawa bandits during a gun battle in Dandi Local Government Area, demonstrating ongoing efforts to curb banditry in the state.

  • Trump Vows To Sue BBC Over ‘Fraudulent’ Speech Edit

    Trump Vows To Sue BBC Over ‘Fraudulent’ Speech Edit

    US President Donald Trump. Photo Credit

    US President Donald Trump said he felt an “obligation” to take legal action against the BBC over a misleading edit of his 6 January 2021 speech, though he stopped short of confirming any official lawsuit.

    In a Fox News interview aired Tuesday, Trump said the broadcaster “defrauded the public” and admitted the error. “I think I have an obligation to do it because you can’t allow people to do that,” he added. The interview was recorded Monday.

    Trump’s legal team sent a letter to the BBC on Monday, threatening a potential US$1 billion lawsuit. The warning came after the broadcaster apologised for an edit that appeared to show Trump urging supporters to march to the US Capitol and “fight like hell,” despite the original speech containing intervening statements that praised senators and congress members.

    “Britain is supposedly one of our great allies,” Trump said in the interview, referring to the BBC’s status as a publicly funded broadcaster.

    The controversy prompted the resignations of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness on Sunday. BBC Chair Samir Shah issued a public apology on Monday, describing the edit as an “error of judgment” and confirming that the broadcaster would review Trump’s legal letter.

    The dispute has drawn public attention in the UK, with a YouGov poll indicating that 57% of Britons believe the BBC should apologise directly to Trump, while 25% opposed such an apology.

    The issue comes amid preparations to renegotiate the BBC’s Royal Charter, which governs the corporation’s operations and is set to expire in 2027.

    Trump, who returned to political prominence in January, has faced criticism for repeatedly filing lawsuits against US media outlets. The BBC documentary featuring the edited speech aired last year, sparking intense debate over editorial standards and the broadcaster’s independence.

  • Africa’s Future: Davido Reveals Purpose of Meeting with French President Macron

    Africa’s Future: Davido Reveals Purpose of Meeting with French President Macron

    Nigerian music superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has disclosed the purpose of his recent meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

    The 32-year-old Afrobeats sensation took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday evening to share photos from the meeting, revealing that their discussion centred on ideas for global progress and social impact.

    “It was an honour meeting @EmmanuelMacron and sharing our visions for a better world,” Davido wrote.

    The singer was accompanied by his longtime manager, Asa Asika, and nightlife entrepreneur, Cubana Chief Priest, during the visit to the Élysée Palace in Paris.

    While Davido did not disclose full details of their conversation, his post has sparked wide reactions online, with fans praising him for representing African youth and creativity on a global stage.

    President Macron has previously shown keen interest in Africa’s cultural and creative industries. In 2018, he met with several African artists and entrepreneurs to promote cross-cultural collaboration between France and Africa — a vision Davido appears to be helping advance.

    The meeting adds another milestone to Davido’s growing international influence, reinforcing his role as not just a global music star but also a cultural ambassador for Africa.

  • Yemi Alade: How Lying About My Age for Three Years Drove Me Into Depression

    Yemi Alade: How Lying About My Age for Three Years Drove Me Into Depression

    Afrobeat powerhouse Yemi Alade has made a startling revelation about how a simple lie about her age spiralled into an unexpected battle with depression.

    In a heartfelt interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, the award-winning singer admitted that she spent three years falsely claiming to be 22, only to later discover that she was actually 25.

    “There was a time someone asked me how old I was, and for about three years I kept saying 22. Then one day, I calculated it and realised I was already 25,” Yemi confessed. “I was depressed for a few days because my mind couldn’t process it. It was mental — for three years I didn’t know my age.”

    The “Knack Am” hitmaker said the realisation shook her deeply, forcing her to confront the pressures and illusions surrounding fame, youth, and identity in the entertainment industry.

    She explained that the experience became a turning point in her life, teaching her how self-deception can quietly erode one’s mental health.

    “It taught me that lying to yourself — even in small ways — can be dangerous. I learned to accept myself and be honest about my journey,” she added.

    Yemi, known for her bold personality and electrifying performances, described those years as “a tough but eye-opening chapter” that reshaped her outlook on authenticity and self-acceptance.

  • Madagascar Coup Deepens Africa’s Leadership Crisis

    Madagascar Coup Deepens Africa’s Leadership Crisis

    While much of the world is embracing innovation, science, and technology to tackle the challenges of the 21st century, Africa continues to be trapped in the quagmire of poor leadership, political instability, and recurring coups. The latest upheaval in Madagascar underscores the continent’s deep-seated governance failures.

    In a dramatic turn of events, the Malagasy military seized power after President Andry Rajoelina fled the country and went into hiding. Colonel Michael Randrianirina, commander of an elite army unit, was swiftly sworn in as the new head of state. Ironically, Randrianirina had been imprisoned in November 2023 for allegedly plotting a mutiny and coup attempt, spending three months in detention before his release.

    Rajoelina’s political journey has been equally turbulent. He first assumed leadership in 2009 after a military-backed coup, stepped down in 2013, and returned to office following the 2018 elections. Mounting discontent over corruption, nepotism, high living costs, and crumbling infrastructure led to weeks of nationwide protests and his eventual impeachment by parliament, paving the way for the military’s intervention.

    The new junta leader has promised an 18- to 24-month transition period before holding elections. However, given Africa’s history of prolonged military rule under similar promises, skepticism abounds. Randrianirina must resist the temptation to entrench himself in power and instead focus on restoring civilian governance swiftly and transparently.

    Madagascar’s latest coup marks the third in its post-independence history. The first occurred in 1972 when protests forced founding president Philibert Tsiranana to hand over to a military council. Another coup in 1975 brought Didier Ratsiraka to power. In 2009, Rajoelina himself rode to power through military support after the ouster of Marc Ravalomanana.

    The island nation of 30 million people—rich in biodiversity and known globally for its vanilla exports—remains one of the world’s poorest, with over 75 percent of its citizens living below the poverty line.

    The resurgence of coups across Africa is a troubling pattern. From Mali (2020) to Guinea and Sudan (2021), Burkina Faso (2022), Niger (2023), Gabon (2023), and now Madagascar, the continent is witnessing an alarming rollback of democratic gains. Many of these coups have enjoyed popular support, reflecting deep public frustration with corrupt, self-serving civilian leaders who have failed to deliver development or uphold accountability.

    Even where the military has not seized power by force, “constitutional coups” remain rampant. Leaders like Paul Biya of Cameroon, in power for 43 years; Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, ruling for 45 years; Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, in office since 1986; and Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo, leading for 36 years, have manipulated constitutions and elections to perpetuate their rule.

    Africa’s enduring instability is a symptom of failed governance and eroded public trust. The path forward lies not in military interventions but in strong institutions, accountability, youth inclusion, and respect for democratic norms. Until African leaders embrace good governance and prioritize citizens’ welfare, coups—military or constitutional—will remain an ever-present shadow over the continent’s political landscape.

  • Niger Govt Holds Mass Burial for Tanker Fire Victims, Donates ₦10m Medical Aid

    Niger Govt Holds Mass Burial for Tanker Fire Victims, Donates ₦10m Medical Aid

    The Niger State Government has conducted a mass burial for victims of the tragic tanker explosion that claimed at least 39 lives and left over 60 others injured in Essan community, Katcha Local Government Area.

    According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Bologi Ibrahim, the government has also donated medical supplies worth ₦10 million to hospitals treating the survivors.

    Ibrahim explained that a delegation led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Dr. Murtala Bagana, visited the scene of the disaster to assess the extent of damage and coordinate relief efforts.

    He noted that the injured victims are receiving treatment for burns and inhalation-related injuries at various facilities, including the Federal Medical Centre, Bida; General Hospitals in Bida and Agaie; as well as the National Hospital, Abuja, and FMC Jabi.

    “The state government has provided medical supplies worth over ₦10 million to the hospitals caring for the victims and has also presented cash donations to affected families,” the statement added.

    A mass burial and special prayer session were held in Katcha for the deceased victims, while the government commended individuals and organisations that offered support during the tragedy.

    The statement further called on the Federal Government to urgently rehabilitate dilapidated roads across the state, particularly the Jebba–Mokwa–Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata highway, which it said contributed to the tanker accident.

    “The government has restored normalcy to the affected community and reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and well-being of all residents. It also cautioned citizens to desist from scooping fuel from fallen tankers to prevent similar incidents,” Ibrahim stated.

    Earlier reports indicated that the tanker had fallen in a lone accident, spilling its content on the road. Residents who rushed to scoop the fuel were caught in the explosion that followed, resulting in the deaths and injuries.

  • Lagos Begins Payment to Oworonshoki Residents Affected by Demolition

    Lagos Begins Payment to Oworonshoki Residents Affected by Demolition

    The Lagos State Government has commenced payment of compensation to residents of Oworonshoki in Kosofe Local Government Area, whose structures were demolished under the ongoing urban renewal and regeneration programme in the area.

    The payment exercise, which began on Thursday, October 23, 2025, marks the fulfilment of the government’s earlier pledge to support affected residents and ensure that redevelopment efforts are carried out with fairness and inclusivity.

    Speaking during the official ceremony at the palace of the traditional ruler of Oworonshoki, the General Manager of the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), TPL/ESV Olajide Animashaun, said the exercise followed extensive verification, engagement, and enumeration processes involving community stakeholders.

    Animashaun explained that the regeneration initiative became necessary due to the proliferation of illegal and dilapidated structures—many built on drainage channels and waterways—posing serious environmental and safety risks to the community.

    “Oworonshoki is one of the communities identified under the state’s comprehensive urban renewal plan. Many of the affected buildings were unsafe for habitation. However, in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s inclusive governance policy, verified residents are being compensated as promised,” Animashaun stated.

    He commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his commitment to humane urban development and transparency, adding that the initiative reflects the government’s sincerity and accountability in implementing renewal policies.

    According to LASURA, 79 beneficiaries were verified for compensation, to be paid in two batches—with the first group receiving their cheques on Thursday and the second batch scheduled for payment on Friday.

    Some beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the government for honouring its promise.
    Mrs. Ajimoh Oyenuga, one of the recipients, said:

    “The government gave us this money as compensation for the houses demolished on Precious Street. We are grateful because it shows they care about our well-being.”

    Another beneficiary, Mrs. Olaide Fatima, added:

    “My house was close to the water and not safe. The government promised compensation, and today they have fulfilled it. Promise made, promise kept.”

    The event was attended by representatives of the Oworonshoki traditional council, Community Development Associations (CDAs), Community Development Council (CDC), civil society groups, security agencies, and members of the media.

    The LASURA boss reaffirmed that the state government will continue to ensure that all urban renewal projects across Lagos are implemented fairly, transparently, and in the best interest of residents.