Pocket News Nigeria

Mali’s Defence Minister General Sadio Camara has been killed amid coordinated attacks on military sites across the country , sources told Al Jazeera. The news on Sunday came a day after his residence in the garrison town of Kati came under attack during the simultaneous attacks launched by al-Qaeda affiliate and Tuareg rebels on Saturday. Camara was a central figure in the military government that seized power after back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021. “He was one of the most influential figures within the ruling military leadership and had been seen by some as a possible future leader of Mali,” said Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque, who has reported extensively from Mali. “His death is a major blow to the country’s armed forces.” Haque said attackers carried out a suicide car bomb assault on Camara’s residence in Kati, a heavily fortified military town about 15km (9 miles) northwest of the capital, Bamako. “Kati is considered one of the most secure locations in the country, yet ...

It takes over a billion naira to maintain one senator in Nigeria in office for one year. There are about 109 senators in Nigeria. That amounts to over a hundred billion for salaries, allowances and constituency projects. These humongous sums which our political office holders have sworn that we can't afford because the nation is broke are being drained from our national coffers to maintain just about a hundred of freeloaders in office. Now, given the huge cost of maintaining just 109 senators, can anyone recall one single law that is beneficial to the Nigerian people which this particular senate has passed? Can anyone from any part of the country aside, perhaps, Natasha Akpoti say that the senator representing his or her senatorial district has sponsored any bill capturing the needs of that zone which has been successfully passed into law to benefit that zone? Can anybody really remember the campaign promises made by any senator representing his or her senatorial zone t...

By Onjefu Odaudu, Jos, Nigeria  The Iyaloja General of Nigeria and the daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo stormed  Jos the Plateau State capital on Friday April 24 2026 for the inauguration of the  State executive council of Dynamic Women for Tinubu 2027 at the Odilin's event centre.  Speaking to select journalists on the sidelines of the event, Folashade Tinubu Ojo's message centered on unity and  peace.  She commiserated with the victims of the unfortunate terror attacks in the Angwan Rukuba suburb of the city while urging calm  She admitted that her own invitation to the state was met with apprehension.  “When I received the invitation card, you know, some people were scared"  While dismissing the fears, she disclosed that her decision to come to Jos was  an act of solidarity.  “As far as I'm concerned, to me, the people that are here are human, like myself"  Her remarks was a...

By Mohammed Bello Doka 24 April 2026 For nearly three years, the Nigerian Senate has functioned less as a legislative chamber and more as a presidential appendage. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the upper chamber has approved borrowing requests, confirmed nominees, and passed amendments at a pace that would be admirable if it were accompanied by oversight—but it has not. Instead, what has emerged is a pattern of legislative surrender so complete that senators now find themselves begging for political survival from the very man they empowered. This week, the Senate leadership visited the Presidential Villa to request automatic re-election tickets for all 109 senators ahead of the 2027 general elections. Their logic was straightforward: after handing President Tinubu an automatic ticket for his own re-election bid—waiving primaries and party contests—they expected reciprocity. What they received instead was a political ambush. According to multiple sources familiar with t...

By Our Correspondent   Linus Kparbong  an aspirant for the Chairmanship of Langtang North Local Government has passionately articulated his vision for a brighter future, not just for his community but for the younger generation of Nigeria. As the patron of the Dynamic Women for Tinubu 2027 he spoke on the sidelines of the inauguration of the group at the Odilin's event centre in Jos Nigeria on Friday 24 April 2026.  Reflecting on his journey, Kparbong noted, “Many of us were told we are the leaders of tomorrow, yet we find ourselves waiting for opportunities that never come. Those who led when we were young still hold the reins today, leaving a generation in limbo.” Now in his 50s, Kparbong is determined to break this cycle and ensure that youth in his community have pathways to leadership roles. Kparbong emphasized the importance of collaborative leadership, stating, “When one person leads in isolation, they often fail. True leadership is about carrying ...

Tinubu Rejects Senators' Plea For Automatic Return Tickets, Backs Governors’ Control President Bola Tinubu has turned down a quiet lobbying effort by senators seeking automatic return tickets ahead of the next general elections, insisting instead that state governors retain decisive influence over candidate selection, a senior Senate source has revealed. Tinubu on Wednesday met with the extended leadership of the Senate at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in what lawmakers described as an “emergency and strategic” engagement following a closed-door executive session. The delegation, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, arrived at the State House shortly after the upper chamber adjourned plenary, amid indications that the meeting was triggered by resolutions reached behind closed doors earlier in the day. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed the development in a post on X (formerly Twitter), but did not disclose the substance of the deliberations. A communica...