Author: Drum Africa Correspondent
US airline Delta will offer $30,000 to each passenger on a plane that crashed as it landed at Toronto airport this week, the carrier told AFP on Wednesday. “This gesture has no strings attached and does not affect the rights” of passengers, a company spokesman said. On Monday, a Delta Air Lines plane that departed from the US city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, hit the runway hard at Toronto’s main airport and flipped upside down. A fireball and thick plumes of black smoke engulfed the plane as it skidded to a halt on its roof but none of the 80 people…
The Member Representing Ezza South and Ikwo Federal Constituency bof Ebonyi State at the House of Representatives, Hon Chinedu Ogah has lampooned Abia State Media over alleged misleading narrative concerning the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, regarding the 2024 national budget’s alleged neglect of the South East. The Ebonyi State Federal Lawmaker in a statement by his media office, clarified that the issue of the South East’s allocation in the 2024 budget, which he raised, is already being addressed at the highest levels of government. “The role of the media, particularly bloggers and journalists,…
Veteran actor Dele Odule has addressed the false rumors circulating on social media about his death and alleged arrest. In a video shared on Instagram, Odule expressed disappointment and frustration with the baseless stories. He specifically called out a blogger for sharing a photo of him with the caption “RIP” Odule assured fans he’s alive and well. “There’s nothing wrong with me, I am very much alive. I don’t understand why someone would wish me dead. This is barbaric, uncalled for, and not fair,” he said. He also addressed another false report that claimed he was arrested for child molestation…
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has pledged to fully implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry on the End Bad Governance protest held on August 1, 2024. This is amid revelation by the commission that 10 people lost their lives, while properties worth N11 billion were destroyed during the protest. Receiving the report from the commission’s chairman, Justice Lawan Wada (rtd), during the 25th Kano State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, the governor also announced that a white paper would be issued, identifying those responsible for sponsoring and perpetrating the violent protest. A statement released…
The Netherlands is set to return 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, following a request from the Nigerian government, a statement from the country’s embassy said on Tuesday. The transfer agreements were signed on Tuesday by the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science and the Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM). According to the statement, the objects are expected to arrive in Nigeria later this year, with the restitution underscoring the strong partnership between the Netherlands and Nigeria. The signing ceremony took place at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden, the Netherlands, where the Benin Bronzes were…
Two suspected killers of Justice Azuka, a member of the Anambra House of Assembly, have escaped from police custody in the state. The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday night. Recall that gunmen, on 24 December 2024, abducted Mr Azuka, a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly. A joint security team, on 6 February, found the lawmaker’s decomposing body at Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State. The police in the state later confirmed that nine suspected killers of the lawmaker had been arrested. But Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of…
Nigerian singer Ayra Starr claimed two major awards at the 2025 MOBO Awards, held in Newcastle, United Kingdom. The MOBO Awards, which celebrate “music of Black origin,” recognized Aura Starr as the ‘Best International Act’, making her the first African female to win the category. She also took home the ‘Best African Music Act’ award—becoming the first female winner in 16 years. Other winners included Darkoo, a Nigerian-British rapper, who won ‘Best Female Act’, while Central Cee secured the ‘Best Male Act’ award. The popular podcast 90s Baby Show was named ‘Best Media Personality’, and Nigerian-born singer Odeal won ‘Best…
The Osun State Police Command, on Tuesday, began a manhunt for those responsible for the violence that erupted across the state, resulting in multiple deaths. This came as the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission dismissed reports that its office had been sealed by military personnel, insisting that the local government election scheduled for Saturday would proceed as planned. There was chaos in Osun State on Monday, following the insistence of sacked local government chairmen and councillors to return to council offices, a move resisted by the Peoples Democratic Party supporters. The APC members, on Monday, moved to enforce the judgment…
Timini Egbuson’s cinematic debut, “Reel Love”, has achieved unprecedented success, breaking multiple box office records since its premiere on February 14. The film has grossed an impressive N99 million, setting a new standard for the filmmaker. Egbuson took to Instagram to express his gratitude to his fans, attributing the film’s success to their unwavering support. He wrote: “Little drops of water make a mighty ocean, and every single one of YOU has been a part of this incredible wave! ‘Reel Love’ has shattered records at the box office, and it’s all thanks to your unwavering support, every ticket bought, every…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has celebrated the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, on the occasion of his 60th birthday, praising his leadership and contributions to economic and infrastructural development. In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described Dr. Otti as “an economist, banker, and politician” whose leadership in both the private and public sectors has been impactful. He commended the governor’s “enterprising leadership” and his efforts in driving transformation across Abia State. Acknowledging the progress made under Dr. Otti’s administration, Tinubu noted improvements in “infrastructure, education, and…