The Benue State Government has declared Wednesday, June 18, 2025, a public holiday in honour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s scheduled visit to the state.

According to a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Serumun Deborah Aber, the President is expected to undertake a one-day condolence visit to commiserate with the government and people of Benue over the recent wave of violent attacks that have claimed numerous lives across various communities.

The statement emphasized that the public holiday is intended to allow residents the opportunity to come out en masse and give the President a warm and respectful reception.

This visit is of great symbolic and emotional significance,” the statement noted. “It offers the people of Benue the chance to hear directly from the President and receive assurances of support from the federal government in the wake of the tragic incidents.”

However, the government clarified that the public holiday does not apply to workers in essential services such as healthcare, security, and banking, who are expected to remain on duty to maintain critical services.

In a move to unite digital and online media  professionals in the state, the Kano State Online Chapel has announced the commencement of membership form sales for working journalists, particularly those in the digital and online media space.

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In a statement issued by the union’s Financial Secretary, Comrade Kabiru Basiru Fulatan, the forms are available for ₦5,000 only. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the NUJ Secretariat at Kano Farm Centre and contact the Chapel Secretary, Isiyaku Ahmed, between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM daily to obtain their forms.

The chapel urges all practicing journalists and online media professionals to seize this opportunity to join a dynamic and progressive association dedicated to fostering professionalism and unity among digital media practitioners.

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We encourage all practicing journalists and online media workers to take advantage of this opportunity to become part of a vibrant and forward-looking association committed to promoting professionalism and unity among online media practitioners”.

Nigeria has extended invitations to Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali to attend the 2025 West Africa Economic Summit, despite their recent withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb Yusuf Tuggar, announced this at a press briefing on Monday.

Burkina Faso and Niger, along with Mali, formally left the ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, following a period of diplomatic tensions and a six-month extension offer from the regional body.

The three countries had previously announced their withdrawal a year before, forming the Alliance of Sahel States.

Speaking at the press briefing on Monday, Tuggar stressed that the decision of the countries to leave ECOWAS did not diminish their role as key partners in the region’s economic development.

He explained that invitations were personally delivered by special envoys sent under the directive of the Nigerian President.