Presidency Dismisses Peter Obi’s Resignation Call as ‘Childish Distraction’

The Presidency and the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), Peter Obi, are locked in a war of words over Obi’s recent call for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resignation. Obi had, in a statement on Monday, demanded Tinubu’s resignation, basing his call on the decision of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign from office. According to Obi, the developments that led to Starmer’s resignation—mounting public frustration over a stagnant economy, a worsening cost-of-living crisis, and a perceived failure to honour key campaign pledges—are similar to what Nigerians are experiencing with the Tinubu administration.

However, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Monday, condemned Obi’s call as childish and an unwarranted distraction. Onanuga insisted there is no basis for comparison between happenings in the two countries, adding that Tinubu is popular with Nigerians and was elected for a fixed four-year term, unlike the parliamentary system run by the UK. He charged Obi to wait for the 2027 elections to test his popularity at the polls.

Plateau Attack Death Toll Rises to 22

The death toll from Sunday night’s attack on Kawel village, Mushere district, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, has risen to 22. Gunmen were said to have attacked the community around 11:40 pm on Sunday, killing scores of residents and injuring others. No fewer than 22 persons, including health workers and security personnel, were killed in the attack.

The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued Plateau State, underscoring the persistent security challenges facing the North-Central region.

Oriire Abduction: DIG Promises Rescue of Schoolchildren

The Nigeria Police Force has assured Nigerians that efforts to secure the release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government, Oyo State, are ongoing. Recall that armed men, in June 2026, abducted 39 students and seven teachers during attacks on several schools in Oyo State.

A Deputy Inspector-General of Police, addressing newsmen on the matter, promised that the children would be rescued soon. Plans are also underway to recruit 40,000 additional personnel to strengthen national security. The development comes as protesters blocked Iwo Road Interchange in Ibadan over rising insecurity in the city.

Niger State Communities Terrorised by Armed Groups

Tension is gripping rural communities in Niger State after heavily armed suspected terrorist groups openly stormed several villages in the Borgu Local Government Area. For over two hours on Sunday afternoon, the armed men moved freely on motorcycles through Zugurma, Kulho, Soba, and Adogon Malam, preaching extremist ideologies and warning community leaders of imminent attacks if they refuse to cooperate.

Making matters worse, traumatised residents allege that local police officers abandoned their duty posts and fled into hiding the moment the alarm was raised.

Senate Reconvenes on State Police, Security

The Senate has said national security concerns and the proposed State Police Bill will dominate deliberations at its emergency plenary session scheduled for today, Tuesday, 23 June 2026, at 11:00 a.m.. The Senate formally notified lawmakers of the sitting through a memo issued on 15 June by the Clerk of the Senate, Mr Emmanuel Odo.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs and Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, disclosed that the State Police Bill ranks among the most critical issues before the upper legislative chamber. “The Senate will be considering matters of public interest, especially national security,” Adaramodu said. “The State Police legislation will undoubtedly be a priority issue.”

The proposed State Police Bill, which the House of Representatives passed in the penultimate week, remains one of the most consequential constitutional reform initiatives before the National Assembly in recent years. Advocates argue that decentralising policing powers would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community-based security operations and enable state governments to respond more effectively to local security threats. Nigeria currently operates a centralised policing system under the control of the Federal Government through the Nigeria Police Force.

Sowore Remanded in Kuje Prison Over Cybercrime Charges

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The development follows the revocation of the bail the court earlier granted him. The activist will remain in custody until Wednesday, when proceedings will resume on a two-count cybercrime charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) against him for calling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” in a social media post.

Trial Justice Mohammed Umar had, in a ruling on June 16, not only revoked the bail but also issued a warrant of arrest against the defendant after he failed to appear before the court for the continuation of his trial. Sowore had earlier opted to represent himself before the court after his legal team withdrew from the case.

El-Rufai Phone-Tapping Trial Continues

A lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, on Monday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, admitted during a television interview that the conversation of the National Security Adviser was listened to. Adeyanju, who appeared as the second prosecution witness in the trial of the former governor over alleged phone tapping and breach of national security, said he was present when El-Rufai allegedly made the statement during the interview. The court also replayed a controversial television interview that forms part of the prosecution’s evidence.

Police Rescue Pastor’s Wife, Children in Ondo

Residents of Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Council of Ondo State, were thrown into panic following separate attacks by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers in different parts of the ancient town. At the Ojana area, six armed men invaded the residence of Pastor Taiwo, a community leader, at about 7:00 p.m. and attempted to abduct him. However, after members of his family raised the alarm, security operatives from the B Division of the Nigeria Police swiftly responded and foiled the abduction attempt following a gun battle with the suspects.

In a separate incident at about 11:30 p.m., another gang of kidnappers invaded the home of 39-year-old Daniel Ologun in Gbegun Community and shot him in the left leg. The attackers then abducted his 34-year-old wife, Taibat, and their two children, aged four and two, and whisked them into a nearby forest. Following a distress call by residents, security operatives, including personnel of the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Army, launched a pursuit into the forest. The victims were rescued unharmed in the early hours of yesterday after the abductors abandoned them in the bush and fled.

Confirming the incidents, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said security operatives had commenced intensive combing of adjoining forests to track down the fleeing suspects. He commended the officers involved in the rescue operations and reassured residents of the command’s commitment to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.

DPO Suspended Over N500,000 Extortion in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command has suspended a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) following allegations of extortion and misconduct.

IED Explosion in Lagos Suburb Injures One

An improvised explosive device (IED) concealed beneath a vehicle exploded on Monday in Oke Mushin area of Lagos, injuring one person. The explosion occurred at about 6 am at 22 Wey Street, Oke Mushin, triggering panic among residents and traders.

Lassa Fever Claims 214 Lives as Fatality Rate Hits 25%

Lassa fever has claimed 214 lives in Nigeria, including a medical doctor in Benue State, with the case fatality rate rising to 25 per cent. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) ‘Lassa Fever Situation Report’ for Week 23 (June 1 to June 7, 2026), the fatality rate represents an increase from the 18.9 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.

“New confirmed cases remained steady in Week 23, matching the number recorded in Week 22. Infections were reported in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi and Ebonyi states. The outbreak has spread across 23 states and 109 local councils since January 2026,” the report stated. Five states account for 84 per cent of all confirmed cases: Ondo leads with 28 per cent, followed by Bauchi (25 per cent), Taraba (15 per cent), Edo (10 per cent) and Benue (six per cent).

Benue Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Paul Ogwuche, confirmed the doctor’s death in Makurdi. According to him, the deceased, who worked with the APIN Foundation in Konshisha Local Council, died while battling the disease for more than two weeks. The commissioner disclosed that the doctor, who hailed from Kwande Local Council, was buried on June 20, 2026.

“There is a fresh case of Lassa fever in the state. One doctor died. The victim worked with APIN Foundation in Konshisha but hailed from the Kwande axis,” Ogwuche said. He explained that the doctor initially treated himself at home and later sought care at a private hospital before the possibility of Lassa fever was raised. “For over two weeks, he struggled with the illness. When there was no improvement, one of his friends suggested that his symptoms were indicative of Lassa fever. A preliminary test was conducted and it returned positive,” he said.

Naira Steadies as External Reserves Surpass CBN Target

The naira strengthened marginally across foreign exchange market segments on Monday as Nigeria’s external reserves exceeded the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) year-end target of $51.04 billion. The reserves continued their upward trajectory, rising to $51.06 billion as of June 19, 2026. On the external front, Nigeria’s gross foreign exchange reserves strengthened further, rising by 1.05 per cent week-on-week to $51.04 billion as of June 18, 2026.

FG Eyes Bigger Trade Gains as Capital Inflows Hit $21bn

The Federal Government is eyeing bigger trade and investment gains as capital inflows hit approximately $21 billion within the first 10 months of 2025, while non-oil exports exceeded $6.1 billion. The Minister said Nigeria would deepen implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), improve export logistics and support more businesses to access international markets.

Carbon Economy Offers Nigeria New Path Beyond Oil

Nigeria’s emerging carbon economy could evolve into a multi-billion-dollar source of jobs, investment and export earnings, offering the country a new growth engine beyond crude oil, according to Debola Ibiyode, founder and chief executive officer of Carbon AI.

Wema Bank, EIB Global Sign €50m SME Investment Agreement

Wema Bank has signed a €50 million (N78.5 billion) financing agreement with the European Investment Bank’s development arm, EIB Global, to expand access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a focus on women and youth-owned businesses.

Lafarge Africa Becomes HBM Nigeria Plc

Lafarge Africa Plc has officially changed its name to HBM Nigeria Plc, marking a major milestone in the company’s transformation and strategic realignment following changes in its shareholder structure.

GTCO, Zenith Bank Lead NGX Rally as Investors Add ₦1.52 Trillion

Nigerian equities gained ₦1.52 trillion as the NGX All-Share Index rose 0.97 per cent, with GTCO, Zenith Bank and FirstHoldco leading a strong rally in banking stocks.

FG’s Ranching Push Reopens RUGA Wounds

Ranching is a sensitive topic in Nigeria, and the federal government’s latest push to establish estate-based livestock ranches across the country is stirring fresh controversy. For many stakeholders, the new drive brings back the echoes of the controversial Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) programme, a fiercely rejected initiative many saw as a hooded attempt to snatch ancestral lands from Nigerians and hand them over to pastoralists.

Unveiling the proposal in Abuja, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, said the ranching model is aimed at expanding economic opportunities, particularly for young people and women, while improving productivity across the livestock value chain. “The programme is projected to create about 7,000 direct jobs while supporting growth across the dairy, red meat and leather value chains,” Maiha stated.

However, a public affairs analyst, Jide Ojo, argued that livestock farming is a private initiative that business owners should be willing to buy plots of land for without the government spending taxpayers’ money. “It is the right way to go. I fully support the government to promote ranching as a means of livestock rearing,” Ojo said. “It is quite antediluvian and archaic that in 2026 the giants of Africa would tolerate open grazing. It is long overdue for us to ban this and you cannot ban open grazing unless you make alternatives for those who are involved.”

Ogundiran Emerges New Sprint Queen at Commonwealth Games Trials

US-based sprinter Blessing Ogundiran announced herself as Nigeria’s new women’s 100m champion on Monday, powering to victory at the 2026 Commonwealth Games National Trials in Lagos. Ogundiran clocked 11.12 seconds in the final to emerge as Nigeria’s new national champion in the event.

Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, praised the Athletics Federation of Nigeria for its commitment to grassroots development, describing the performances on display at the trials as evidence of a system beginning to bear fruit.

2027: Atiku-Amaechi Ticket Faces Litmus Test

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) last Tuesday unveiled former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as its vice-presidential candidate, to pair with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 general election, signifying its readiness to battle the All-Progressives Congress (APC) for the occupation of Aso Rock Villa in next year’s contest.

Meanwhile, a crisis of sorts may be brewing in the opposition Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) as a presidential aspirant, Yakubu Kingsley, has approached the Federal High Court seeking to drop former Governor Donald Duke as the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) also entered a new phase in its leadership journey as its National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, formally assumed control of the party’s national headquarters in Abuja following official recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In Ekiti State, the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the results of Saturday’s governorship election won by incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it was still “studying results”.

Passport Reform Brings Comfort to Diasporans

For many Nigerians living abroad, renewing a Nigerian passport was once a task dreaded almost as much as losing the passport itself. However, Nigerians who once spent months waiting for passports were now speaking about processing applications from their living rooms and receiving new passports at their doorsteps within days.

Spike in Bus Fares, Rents Force Nigerians to Live in Cars, Offices, Shops

Over 50,000 families have been evicted and pushed into homelessness, with rents increasing by over 300 per cent in two years. With inflation at 16 per cent and a spike in food prices, experts are calling for social housing and a workable safety net for Nigerians.