Category: News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has disclosed that his frustration with the United States administration began after it issued a series of controversial comments five weeks after Trump’s inauguration.

Zelensky, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, were reported to have been involved in a heated verbal exchange at the Oval office.

The confrontation erupted after Trump and Vance accused Zelensky of not showing public gratitude for U.S. support in Ukraine’s ongoing war efforts.

Reacting to the altercation in an interview with Fox News, Zelensky said: “It’s not about mad.

“When you are in the United States, and for example, the president, vice president or somebody or senators — doesn’t matter, big politicians — when they, for example, say that Ukraine is almost destroyed, that our soldiers run away, that they are not a heroes, that Ukraine lost millions of civilians, that his president is dictator.

“The reaction is that, where is our friendship between Ukraine and United States?

“I do not want to lose our great partners in the United States.

“I respect the president, and I respect the American people,” he said. “I’m not sure that we did something bad.

“We want just and lasting peace. It’s true. We want security guarantees.

“If United States will support NATO … I think that is enough for Ukraine.”

Thousands of WhatsApp users across the globe have reported issues with the messaging app, experiencing difficulties in sending and receiving messages.

Frustrated users took to social media to confirm whether others were facing similar disruptions.

According to Down Detector, the outage began around 3:10 PM and has significantly affected users in both the UK and the US.

The disruption has impacted incoming and outgoing message traffic, with more than 21,000 complaints logged in the UK alone.

Of those reporting issues, 59% said they were unable to send messages, 22% faced server connection problems, while 19% experienced general app malfunctions.

Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, has yet to release an official statement regarding the outage.

Operatives of Delta state police command have rescued five victims who were kidnapped from a church in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta state on February 22, 2025. They also recovered the ransom of N1,300,000 and thirteen expended cartridges.

The operation, led by the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-Crime Squad, was carried out following the deployment of officers by Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda.

This was made known via a video on the X handle of the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe on Friday, February 28.

The caption reads: “The deployment to Ogwashi-uku by CP Olufemi Abaniwomda has paid off almost immediately as all five persons kidnapped from the church at Ogwashi-uku on the 22nd February 2025 have all been rescued and a ransom money of #1,300,000, and thirteen expended cartridges were recovered by operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and cyber-crime squad.”

A social media user has called on the Ogun state police command to take immediate actions against a man caught on camera, over an alleged case of child abuse.

In the video, the man was seen kicking the child to the ground.

The social media user, Aare Ayodeji, while sharing the video via his X handle, identified the man as Odukaye Kunle.

Sharing the video on X, he wrote: #OgunPoliceNG #Letter_to_Jack can you pls help look into this issue the name of the man is ODUKAYE KUNLE he lives at 16 Popoola Street Oko baale ado odo ota Ogun state people like this should not be a father look at how he treats the little boy people like this should not be a father.”

Reacting to the video, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, weighed in, calling on the State police command to take immediate action.

Adejobi wrote: “#OgunPoliceNG #PoliceNG take up this immediately and revert. This is sad and callous. Why?? Anger is destructive.”

Former Super Eagles star Jay Jay Okocha has dismissed comments by Jamie Carragher questioning the prestige of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), challenging the credibility of his stance on African football.

Carragher had sparked controversy by suggesting that Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or chances were hurt by his failure to win a “major” international tournament, such as the European Championship, Copa America, or the World Cup.

In response, Okocha criticized the comparison of AFCON to these tournaments, arguing that Carragher’s perspective fails to recognize the true value and significance of African football.

Okocha further criticised Carragher’s perspective, asserting that no father would encourage their son to pursue a football career following Carragher’s limited view on African football success.

Okocha said: “There are some players that will say something; you just overlook it. If you look at their careers, if you look at the type of football that they played, you can understand. I mean, you wouldn’t want your son to be like Carragher.

“So, he can never appreciate African football or the talents that come from Africa.”

Aminat Lawal, the sister of the abducted National Youth Service Corps member, Rofiat Lawal, who was kidnapped along the Benin-Ore Expressway on Tuesday, Feb. 25, has claimed that her Rofiat was handed over to the abductors by the driver conveying them.

Aminat told Punch on Thursday, Feb. 27, that Rofiat was abducted while returning to her Place of Primary Assignment in Oyo State.

Aminat said her sister narrated that the driver conveying them from Benin stopped at Ore where the kidnappers came out from a nearby bush and took them while the driver zoomed off.

She added that when the kidnappers contacted Rofiat’s family, they demanded N25m ransom for her release, which they pleaded they could not pay, but after several back and forth, they lowered the demand to N5m.

Aminat told Punch, “She contacted us on Tuesday to tell us that she was kidnapped and she said that the driver of the car she boarded was the one who dropped them at the spot where she was kidnapped alongside other passengers.

“When we spoke with the kidnappers, they asked us to bring N25m and we told them that we did not have such money. She is the one who sponsored herself in school. They have reduced the ransom to N5m.”

A friend of the victim identified as Agbakwara, who raised the alarm about Rofiat’s kidnap in a post on Facebook on Wednesday, Feb. 26,  stated that Rofiat struggled all her life, supporting herself through university by working at the Dufil company in Benin and her parents are less privileged and can’t afford the ransom.

Meanwhile, the family has resorted to crowdfunding to raise the ransom as requested by the abductors.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has ordered MultiChoice Nigeria, the operators of DStv and GOtv, to maintain its current subscription prices the investigation into its proposed price increase is completed.

The directive came after the company requested an extension for its scheduled appearance before the commission.

In a statement by the FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, it was disclosed that the commission had approved the company’s request, but the company must now appear at the rescheduled investigative hearing on March 6, 2025. The company is required to bring all relevant officers and provide a thorough response.

The statement reads: “The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has directed MultiChoice Nigeria to maintain its current subscription prices until the ongoing investigation into its proposed price hike is concluded.

“This directive follows MultiChoice Nigeria’s request for an extension regarding its scheduled appearance before the Commission. While the FCCPC has granted the request, the company is now required to attend the rescheduled investigative hearing on March 6, 2025, along with all relevant officers and a comprehensive response.

“Pursuant to this, MultiChoice is expressly instructed to maintain the existing price structure as of February 27, 2025, pending the Commission’s review and final determination on the matter.

“Maintaining the status quo on pricing is essential to prevent any potential consumer harm during this period.

“Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”

The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has made fresh allegations against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

She had earlier filed a N100.3 billion fundamental human rights lawsuit against Akpabio.

However, in an interview with Arise TV on Friday, February 28, Natasha accused Akpabio of making sexual advances at her in the presence of her husband.

During the interview, Natasha alleged: “It all started on the 18th of December 2023, which was a day before his birthday and my birthday, we are birthday mates. We were all in Akwa Ibom because he had a big fanfare in the stadium.

“Myself, my husband and a few of his close friends, we went to Akwa Ibom and at first we were at Ikot Ekpene, where his house is then we all moved to his house in Uyo. It was about 8pm and he held my hand and said he wanted to show me around his house.

“My husband was walking behind us. Just three of us. We were walking around from room to room. He showed me the beautiful interior.

“He noticed that he has to be spaced while still holding my hand. My husband was behind still on his phone but he was watching up whenever he could and then he got to this particular sitting room and he said, do you like my house?

“I said, of course, sir. Every room, beautiful, nice interior, quality taste. He said, now that you’re a senator, I’m going to create time for us to come spend quality moments here. You will enjoy it.

“At that point, I just pulled away and I was like, ‘I don’t really understand what exactly that meant.’ But then my husband when I turned around was already near me, and the way my husband looked at me and looked at him, I was beginning to wonder, did he hear part of that inciting statements or not?

“And then the Senate President too, I saw that he also had that thought like, did my husband hear the invitation to treat or not?

“So then the Senate President now said, oh, by the way, let me show you my chapel. He has a chapel in his house as well.

“So when we were going to the chapel. We know we walked in silence and all. So that evening before we left the Senate President’s house at about 11 midnight to the Four Point Hotel, my husband asked me, Natasha, what did the Senate President tell you. What was he telling you?

“I thought, should I tell him that he was speaking about bringing me in here at a special time for us to have a good time? Or should I just kill it there?

“I just gave him some words to mask what was said. After when we laid in bed to my right and my husband wrapped his hands around me and he said, my love you know you can tell me anything.

“What did the Senate President tell you? Again I was like don’t you believe me?

“I said nothing, nothing. Moreover it’s my birthday in a few minutes, let’s just be happy.”

Operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has carried out enforcement operations across multiple locations, shutting down several establishments that failed to comply with environmental regulations of the State.

The operations were carried out in Surulere, Lagos Mainland, Agege, and Kosofe axis of Lagos State.

Among the establishments shut includes Home Guest House, Feel at Home, Pholar Suites, Oak Spring Hotel, 18plus Hotel, Assemblies of God Church, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Anwarul Islam Movement, Chibuzor Gas, Dolax Gas, Eco Fresh.

The enforcement operations was disclosed via a statement on LASEPA’s X handle on Thursday, February 27.

The statement reads: “In a decisive move to curb environmental violations and safeguard public health and safety, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) carried out enforcement operations across multiple locations, shutting down several establishments that failed to comply with environmental regulations of the State.

“The agency’s enforcement team conducted operations in Surulere, Lagos Mainland, Agege, and Kosofe, targeting businesses and institutions involved in noise pollution and the illegal siting of gas refilling plants in residential areas. These infractions pose significant risks to public safety, prompting immediate action from the agency (LASEPA)

“As a result of the crackdown, several establishments, including hotels, religious centers, recycling plant, and gas refilling stations, pure water factory were sealed for violating environmental laws. The affected establishments include:

“Hotel & Guest Houses: Home Guest House, Feel at Home, Pholar Suites, Oak Spring Hotel, 18plus Hotel

“Religious Centers: Assemblies of God Church, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Anwarul Islam Movement

“Gas Plants : Chibuzor Gas, Dolax Gas

“Pure water factory : Eco Fresh

“The General Manager LASEPA, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, emphasized the agency’s commitment to ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all residents.

” ‘Environmental infractions, including noise pollution and the illegal placement of gas refilling plants within residential areas and the like, endanger lives and disrupt public peace . Our enforcement efforts are aimed at restoring order and ensuring compliance with the State’s Environmental Regulations. We urge all businesses and individuals to adhere strictly to the law, as defaulters will face strict penalties’, Dr. Ajayi warned.

“The General Manager reiterated that the enforcement actions would continue across the State to deter further violations.

“He also called on residents to report any environmental infractions in their areas to ensure a cleaner and safer Lagos.”

Some members of the Lagos state House of Assembly have insisted that Obasa is no longer the speaker of the assembly.

The spokesperson for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Stephen Ogundipe, expressed strong disapproval over the lack of communication from party leaders regarding the unexpected return of Mudashiru Obasa to the Assembly.

Ogundipe lamented that lawmakers were left in the dark about Obasa’s actions, creating confusion and uncertainty within the legislative body.

He called on the party leaders to take immediate action to clarify the situation, emphasising the need for transparency and a prompt resolution to prevent further chaos.

Ogundipe urged the leadership to address the matter urgently to restore order and ensure that the Assembly functions smoothly in light of the ongoing leadership dispute.

He said: “We’re shocked to see what’s happening here today. We expect our leaders, who earlier told us to remain calm, to come and address us and tell us where we went wrong or what really went wrong. We won’t take laws into our hands, but we belong to different constituencies and we have our mandates. Whatever is going to happen, the leadership should speak with us and not this charade we’re witnessing. We are humiliated by this action. I was stopped at the gate from entering the assembly chamber. This is an embarrassment, and it must stop. We are not against the leadership’s decisions, but they should call us and tell us instead of hearing rumours. They’re our leaders, we’ll still stand and obey their decisions.”

Shortly after, the lawmakers chorused, “We reject Obasa in all totality.”