Author: bibncollar

Nigerian business moguls Aliko Dangote and Abdul Samad Rabiu have secured spots among Africa’s wealthiest individuals in the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, as reported by Daily Trust. According to the ranking, which tracks global wealth movements in real time, Dangote remains Africa’s richest man with an estimated net worth of $34.9 billion. Rabiu rose to become the continent’s third-richest billionaire with a fortune valued at $18.5 billion. South African businessman Johann Rupert ranked second in Africa with a net worth of $18.9 billion. On the global scale, Dangote was placed 67th among the world’s richest people, while Rupert and Rabiu…

Global pop sensation Shakira has announced the official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making a return to football’s grandest stage years after the massive success of her hit anthem, Waka Waka (This Time for Africa). The 49-year-old singer on Thursday previewed the upcoming track, titled Dai Dai, in a video shared on Instagram from the famous Maracanã Stadium. The song, set for release on May 14, also features Nigerian Grammy-winning star Burna Boy. The announcement has sparked excitement among football and music fans worldwide, considering Shakira’s strong history with the World Cup. Her 2010 anthem became one…

No fewer than 16 persons have lost their lives in a tragic road accident along the Okene–Osara–Lokoja highway in Kogi State. The crash reportedly happened in the early hours of Friday after an 18-seater commercial bus lost control and plunged off a bridge in Osara, located in Adavi Local Government Area. The Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lawal Fagge, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with Arise News. He disclosed that only two passengers survived the accident, though they sustained severe injuries and are currently receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital. According to…

Russian and Ukrainian forces continued launching drone, missile, and artillery strikes on Friday despite a unilateral ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin to mark Victory Day celebrations commemorating the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The war, now in its fourth year since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, remains Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II, with both countries accusing each other of violating the proposed truce. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defence units intercepted 264 Ukrainian drones overnight, including attempted attacks targeting Moscow and the Perm region in the Ural Mountains. Moscow…

Former England captain Wayne Rooney has criticised England manager Thomas Tuchel for repeatedly leaving Trent Alexander-Arnold out of the national team squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Alexander-Arnold has missed England’s last four squad selections despite returning to regular action for Real Madrid after recovering from a thigh injury earlier this year. Speaking on his podcast on Thursday, Rooney said he was surprised that Ben White was preferred ahead of the former Liverpool FC defender. Rooney stressed that although White is a quality player, overlooking Alexander-Arnold was “mind-boggling.” England’s defensive options for the upcoming World Cup warm-up…

The Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) has denied reports alleging the removal of its Chairman and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, following the submission of President Bola Tinubu’s presidential nomination forms. According to reports, an extraordinary meeting involving about 20 governors was held at the Ogun State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, where allegations of financial mismanagement, loss of confidence, and high-handed leadership were reportedly levelled against Uzodimma. Sources claimed the governors resolved to remove him and were considering Governor Peter Mbah as a possible replacement. The reports further alleged that Uzodimma failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the accusations…

The Federal Government has unveiled a major intervention plan worth over N250 billion to address the persistent shortage of student accommodation in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday during the inauguration of governing board chairmen and members of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education, alongside newly appointed and reappointed heads of federal institutions. Alausa described the initiative as the largest single-year investment in hostel infrastructure in the country’s history, noting that the intervention was approved by President Bola Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda. According to the minister, at least 50…

Ahead of the 2027 governorship election, Umo Eno has submitted his nomination form for the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging party members to support his bid for a second term. Speaking to Government House correspondents at the Victor Attah International Airport on his return from Abuja, where he completed the submission process, the governor said his decision to seek re-election was informed by the need to sustain and expand ongoing developmental projects across the state. He stated that his administration had achieved notable progress through the ARISE Agenda, but noted that several key projects would require…

Another passenger linked to the hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius arrived in Europe on Thursday, as health authorities intensified efforts to trace contacts and contain the spread of the rare virus strain. The Netherlands-based vessel is currently heading toward Tenerife, Spain, after at least three passengers died from the infection, sparking international concern. However, global health officials, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have stressed that the likelihood of a wider outbreak remains low. Confirmed and suspected cases connected to the cruise have now emerged in several countries, including Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and South…

Shell⁠ on Thursday announced better-than-expected first-quarter earnings, driven by soaring energy prices amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran and disruptions across global energy markets. The British oil major posted adjusted earnings of $6.92 billion for the first quarter, exceeding analysts’ expectations of $6.1 billion based on an LSEG consensus forecast. The figure also surpassed the company’s internal analyst projection of $6.36 billion. The latest earnings represent a significant rise from the $5.58 billion recorded in the same period last year and more than double the $3.26 billion reported in the final quarter of 2025. Reacting to the performance, Shell…