Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says there is still no progress in its talks with the Federal Government, raising fresh fears of another strike. ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, told reporters on Tuesday that despite pressure from students, parents, and lecturers, the government has made “no concrete move” to resolve the issues. “As it stands, there is no update. Nothing has changed,” he said. The Abuja Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Al-Amin Abdullahi, also voiced frustration, saying members are losing patience with the Tinubu administration. He hinted that a strike could be imminent if the government continues to…

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, on his 59th birthday. In his congratulatory message, Kalu commended Vice President Shettima’s passion and dedication to the growth and development of Nigeria, citing his remarkable tenure as Governor of Borno State and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He noted that Vice President Shettima’s strides in governance, leadership, and legislative contributions have continued to inspire many, adding that his legacies speak profoundly of his deep commitment to public service. The Deputy Speaker wished…

The Lagos State Government has warned celebrities, influencers, and residents against giving money to touts on the streets, saying the act fuels insecurity and worsens environmental problems. Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said people who hand out cash to miscreants may think they are being kind, but they are in fact encouraging lawlessness. According to him, the handouts embolden the boys to remain on the streets, multiply, and make enforcement more difficult for the government. He stressed that Lagos can only tackle the menace if residents cooperate by refusing to patronise street urchins. “The public must support…

Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has taken a swipe at ex-governor Nasir el-Rufai, accusing him of never fighting for democracy and ruling with arrogance. Speaking on TVC’s Politics Tonight on Monday, Sani said el-Rufai has been “angry and frustrated” since leaving office in 2023, stressing that the former governor benefitted from the system without making personal sacrifices. “For people like Nasir, when they found themselves in the position of office, they don’t know what democracy is all about because they didn’t fight for it,” Sani said. The former lawmaker recalled his own struggles during the fight for democracy, noting…

The United Kingdom has launched a fresh crackdown on international students whose visas are expiring, warning them to leave the country or risk being removed. According to a BBC report on Tuesday, the Home Office has started sending direct text and email messages to thousands of students, cautioning against overstaying or using asylum claims as a way to remain in the UK. This is the first time the British government is contacting students directly on such scale. The warning follows what officials describe as an “alarming” rise in student visa holders attempting to switch into the asylum system after completing…

A Finnish court has sentenced Simon Ekpa, a known Biafra agitator, to six years in prison for terrorism offences and other crimes. The Päijät-Häme District Court delivered the judgment on Monday, September 1, after finding the 40-year-old guilty of supporting terrorist groups, inciting the public to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, aggravated tax fraud, and breaching the Lawyers Act. Court records revealed that between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa used social media to push for the independence of the Biafra region through illegal means. Judges held that he exploited divisions within the separatist movement to position himself as a…

Presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, has dismissed former governors Nasir El-Rufai, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi as “political laggards and underachievers,” insisting that their records in office cannot be compared to President Bola Tinubu’s performance in just two years. Onanuga, who is Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, made the remarks on Monday in a post on X (formerly Twitter). His reaction followed El-Rufai’s recent interview on Channels Television where the ex-Kaduna governor claimed Tinubu has no clear path to victory in the 2027 presidential election, even with the advantages of incumbency. El-Rufai had argued that like former…

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has faulted the Federal Government over meetings held on the welfare of university lecturers without its participation, warning that such gatherings are invalid and may worsen the crisis in the sector. CONUA, a breakaway union of university lecturers officially registered in October 2022, was formed after years of disputes within the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Speaking with newsmen, CONUA National President, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, said it was unacceptable for government to be meeting with only one union on issues affecting the entire university system. “As of today, we have the Congress of…

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has predicted that the 2027 presidential election may go into a runoff, with no candidate emerging as outright winner in the first round. Speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, El-Rufai argued that President Bola Tinubu has “no pathway to victory” in 2027, insisting that at best, he would come third if the election is free and fair. El-Rufai, who was a major campaigner for Tinubu in 2023, said Nigerians will cast their votes based on performance, not political party labels or defections. “I was governor of Kaduna state; I was one of Bola…

Union Bank of Nigeria has completed its merger with Titan Trust Bank Limited, following a final approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The deal comes three years after Titan Trust acquired majority shares in Union Bank, one of Nigeria’s oldest and most respected financial institutions, in 2022. It also happens at a time Nigerian banks are racing to meet the CBN’s new minimum capital requirements ahead of the March 2026 deadline. Under the new arrangement, Union Bank has fully absorbed Titan Trust Bank’s operations and assets. The combined entity will now continue under the Union Bank brand, while…