May 17, 2026 - Voice of Liberty NG

Confusion, as ISWAP commander, Minuki declared dead in 2024, again in 2026

May 17, 2026May 17, 2026 Aminu Imam

Confusion has emerged over the reported death of senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander Abu Bilal Minuki, after Nigerian authorities and international partners announced his elimination in a fresh joint operation despite earlier claims that he had already been killed in 2024. The controversy followed confirmation by the Joint Task Force, North-East ‘Operation Haɗin-Kai’, that Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki was killed during a coordinated military offensive in Borno State carried out with support from United States forces. The Nigerian military described the operation as a major counterterrorism breakthrough, stating that…

S&P upgrades Nigeria’s credit rating to ‘B’

May 17, 2026May 17, 2026 Aminu Imam

…Cites economic reforms, FX gains The Federal Government has described the latest upgrade of Nigeria’s sovereign credit rating by Standard & Poors (S&P) Global Ratings, as further evidence that the country’s economic reforms are beginning to restore international confidence in the economy. In a statement issued yesterday, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the government welcomed S&P’s decision to raise Nigeria’s sovereign credit rating from “B-” to “B” with a stable outlook. The Minister said the upgrades collectively reflect growing confidence among international…

Senate debunks viral Akpabio ‘North must back Tinubu’ threat claim

May 17, 2026May 17, 2026 Aminu Imam

The Office of the President of the Senate has dismissed claims that Senate President Godswill Akpabio threatened northerners over the 2027 presidential election. The reaction followed the circulation of a viral video alleging that Akpabio warned that the North must support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next election or risk being expelled from the country. The Senate President’s office described the allegation as false and dangerous. It said the claim was deliberately fabricated to create tension and mislead Nigerians ahead of the political activities leading to 2027. In a…

“Tinubu has destroyed democracy” ⁠- Buba Galadima

May 17, 2026May 17, 2026 Aminu Imam

…Says Electoral Act 2026 designed to frustrate opposition parties Secretary, Board of Trustees (BoT), New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP), Buba Galadima, has said that President Bola Tinubu-led government “destroyed democracy” in Nigeria. Galadima said this yesterday at the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) aspirants’ summit, which was held in Abuja. Furthermore, he held, the Electoral Act 2026 was designed to frustrate opposition parties. He also alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) set up a committee long before the electoral bill was presented to the 10th National Assembly. According to…

FG grants 30-day visa-free entry to Rwandan citizens

May 17, 2026May 17, 2026 Aminu Imam

Nigeria has officially begun the implementation of a 30-day visa exemption for Rwandan nationals, in what the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) describes as a landmark move to strengthen diplomatic relations and promote intra-African mobility. “Nigeria implements 30-day visa exemption for Rwandan nationals”, a statement issued by the NIS Service Public Relations Officer, DCI Akinlabi Akinsola on Friday, confirmed the policy shift. The announcement follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, where he outlined the reciprocal arrangement aimed at easing travel between both countries.…

Borno: Senator disburses ₦135m to APC executives for Sallah celebration

May 17, 2026May 17, 2026 Aminu Imam

The Senator representing Borno-Central, Kaka Lawan, has disbursed one hundred and thirty-five million, six hundred and fifty thousand Naira (₦135,650,000) to All Progressives Congress executives in his constituency ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration. In a statement shared on his Facebook page on Friday, the senator’s legislative assistant, Usman Alƙali, said the gesture marks the third time Lawan has made such a donation since he joined the National Assembly. The post, written in Hausa and translated by our correspondent, read: “Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan shares ₦135,650,000 to APC executives in Borno-Central…

Ɗangote Refinery takes FG to court over petrol import licences

May 17, 2026May 17, 2026 Aminu Imam

The Ɗangote Petroleum Refinery has dragged the Federal Government to court over the issuance of fresh petrol import licences to several oil marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), despite increasing local refining capacity. On May 15, 2026, court filings revealed that the refinery asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to nullify the import permits approved by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), arguing that the licences violate existing petroleum regulations and negatively affect local refining operations. According to reports, Ɗangote Refinery maintained that…

Kaduna H’Reps primary elections: Abbas, others emerge as candidates

May 17, 2026May 17, 2026 Aminu Imam

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has concluded its House of Representatives primary elections across Kaduna State, producing candidates for the 16 federal constituencies ahead of the next general election, with the exercise conducted in the presence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The primary election results, officially declared by party officials, featured a mix of decisive victories, competitive contests and a consensus emergence in some constituencies, setting the stage for the party’s campaign preparations across the state. One of the most prominent outcomes from the exercise…