Author: Standard Focus

By Halima Abubakar BENIN CITY - TRAGEDY struck at the main gate of the University of Benin, as a yet-to-identified person suspected to be a University was shot dead by masked gunmen in his GLK Mercedes Benz while driving out of the main gate of the campus at Ugbowo on Sunday evening. The vehicle was marked Lagos AAA 601 HT... Read more

By Andrew Emmanuel The political camp of Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has been unsettled following the outcome of the screening exercise conducted by the All Progressives Congress, APC, for aspirants seeking to contest the State House of Assembly election. The APC Screening Committee for the Rivers State House of Assembly carried out the exercise at the party’s secretariat... Read more

By Kenneth Lawal The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has expressed strong reservations over a new Memorandum of Understanding between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Chinese firms for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, warning that Nigeria cannot afford another failed refinery turnaround project. In a statement issued in Lagos, NECA Director-General Adewale-Smatt... Read more

By Kingsley Ojeme Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have uncovered a massive cache of illicit drugs worth over N5.8 billion in a mansion located in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, as part of ongoing nationwide operations against drug trafficking and abuse. The agency said operatives of its Special Operations Unit raided the property on May 8 and recovered... Read more

By Rosemary Nwanpka Nigeria’s maritime sector recorded strong growth in the first quarter of 2026 as the Nigerian Ports Authority posted a 19.5 per cent increase in vessel tonnage, while cargo throughput climbed to 32.38 million metric tons. According to the NPA’s Q1 2026 Operational Performance Review, vessel traffic rose to 46.75 million Gross Registered Tonnage, reflecting increased deployment of... Read more

By John Kefas The Delta State Police Command has uncovered a disturbing case of human trafficking involving a 19-year-old girl from Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, who allegedly lost her womb after being trafficked to Ivory Coast for prostitution. The victim, identified simply as Ejiro, was reportedly lured abroad with promises of a better job opportunity by a... Read more

By Clement John Fresh industrial unrest may be looming in the Federal Public Service as the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council has rejected the implementation formula for the newly approved 40 per cent peculiar allowance for federal workers, accusing the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission of acting without transparency. The council warned that workers could embark on a... Read more

By Musa Abubakar Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI have repelled another attempted attack by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on a military formation in Yobe State, killing scores of insurgents during a fierce overnight battle.The attack targeted the 120 Task Force Battalion in Goniri, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, late on Saturday and continued... Read more

By Adamu Yahaya Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has assured members of the All Progressives Congress that the party would conduct fair, credible and transparent primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections if consensus arrangements fail. The governor said the APC had not ruled out direct primaries to produce candidates for elective positions in the state.Buni stated this in... Read more

By Clement John ABUJA-THE Senate has made a U- turn on its Tuesday’s decision as it has rescinded a controversial amendment that barred first-time senators from contesting presiding offices, reopening the 2027 race for Senate President and Deputy Senate President. On Tuesday, the Senate amended its Standing Orders after a marathon executive session with the introduction of stricter eligibility criteria... Read more