General News
NUJ FCT AND CHINA CULTURAL CENTRE TO HOST 7TH NIGERIA-CHINA FRIENDSHIP TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council and the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria have announced the 7th Nigeria-China Friendship Table Tennis Tournament, scheduled to take place on November 15, 2025. The announcement was made during a courtesy visit by the NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, and her executive members to the China Cultural Centre in Abuja.
During the visit, Comrade Ike expressed her gratitude for the longstanding partnership between the NUJ FCT and the China Cultural Centre. She emphasized the importance of further cultural exchange and called for more opportunities for both countries to promote bilateral relations for national development. “We’re here to show appreciation for your continued support and to further strengthen our collaboration,” she said.
The NUJ FCT Council Chairman also highlighted the participation of the China Cultural Centre in other NUJ FCT events, such as football tournaments, and expressed hope that this active partnership would continue. She formally invited the Director of the China Cultural Centre, Mr. Yang Jianxing, and his team to the upcoming NUJ FCT Press Week, scheduled to take place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on July 22, 2025.
In response, Mr. Yang welcomed the NUJ FCT delegation and gave a brief overview of the China Cultural Centre, which was established in 2013. He shared that the Centre hosts various China-Nigeria cultural events every year, including the Spring Festival, International Women’s Day, and China Tea Day. He also mentioned upcoming performances featuring Chinese traditional music, dance, Kung Fu, and magic shows.
Mr. Yang assured the NUJ FCT that efforts would be made to secure training opportunities in China for their members. “I will do my best to speak with the Embassy and see what can be arranged,” he said. He highlighted the strong and mutually beneficial ties between Nigeria and China, describing the two nations as “brothers and family.” Mr. Yang also expressed appreciation for the role of the media in promoting understanding between the two cultures. “Through your work, people in China learn more about Nigeria, and vice versa,” he said.
A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has adjourned the hearing of the bail application of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to March 31, 2026, following his arraignment on alleged corruption-related charges.
El-Rufai was on Tuesday brought before the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and arraigned before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa.
During the proceedings, the former governor was docked on one count out of a 10-count charge filed by the anti-graft agency. The charge, according to his counsel, Ubong Akpan, relates to alleged deposits into a domiciliary account and the monetisation of earnings.
El-Rufai was arraigned alongside a co-defendant, Joel Adoga.
Despite pending applications earlier filed before the court, Justice Aikawa proceeded with the arraignment and subsequently adjourned the matter to March 31 to consider all outstanding applications, including the bail request.
No bail application was moved or granted during Tuesday’s session.
Speaking to journalists after the court sitting, Akpan maintained that there was nothing unusual about the proceedings, adding that the defence team was yet to be served with processes relating to other potential charges.
The case is expected to resume on the adjourned date for hearing of the bail application and other pending matters.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has introduced an urgent, coordinated strategy to safeguard food security across West Africa and the Sahel, as global economic disruptions and rising oil prices continue to threaten agricultural production.
The decision followed an extraordinary virtual meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Agriculture held on March 23, 2026, where regional leaders assessed the growing risks to food systems.
The high-level meeting, convened by the ECOWAS Commission through its Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture under Commissioner Kalilou Sylla, brought together key regional institutions, development partners, and financial stakeholders.
Participants—including representatives from the West African Economic and Monetary Union and the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel—reviewed the impact of rising fertiliser costs, driven by global market volatility and increasing energy prices, on agricultural productivity across the region.
Deliberations resulted in the adoption of a medium- to long-term operational framework aimed at strengthening food sovereignty and building resilience within regional food systems.
Key measures outlined in the plan include the immediate establishment of regional agreements to secure strategic fertiliser supplies, as well as the creation of emergency reserves to cushion the effects of future price shocks.
The ministers also approved the introduction of liquidity swap mechanisms through central banks to address foreign exchange constraints faced by importers—an intervention expected to improve access to critical agricultural inputs.
“Our collective response underscores the urgency of safeguarding food security in the face of external shocks,” Sylla said, noting that enhanced regional coordination and targeted interventions would help sustain agricultural production and protect vulnerable populations.
The initiative highlights ECOWAS’ commitment to deepening regional cooperation and implementing sustainable solutions to emerging threats to food security across West Africa and the Sahel.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Monday paid a Sallah homage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos.
The visit formed part of activities marking the Sallah celebrations, as top government officials and political leaders paid courtesy calls to the President.
During the meeting, President Tinubu also received members of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council, a key political body in Lagos State.
Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council
The engagements provided an opportunity for discussions on national issues and strengthened ties between the executive and legislative arms of government.
The Sallah homage is a long-standing tradition in Nigeria, where political leaders and stakeholders visit the President and other top officials during major Islamic festivities.