TheNewsGuru

Tag: London

  • THROWBACK: Former President Buhari asks for pardon [WATCH]

    THROWBACK: Former President Buhari asks for pardon [WATCH]

    Following his death, a video has surfaced on social media of Muhammadu Buhari asking Nigerians for pardon after serving as president.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Buhari served as Nigeria’s president between 2015 and 2023. He also served as military Head of State between January 1984 and August 1985.

    Buhari seized power after ousting President Shehu Shagari in 1983. He was overthrown by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida on August 27, 1985.

    In a video now circulating via social media, Buhari said: “Whoever thought that there has been some form of injustice on him we are all humans, there is no doubt I hurt some people, and I wish they would pardon me and those who think that I have hurt them, please pardon me”.

    Watch video below:

    TNG reports died in an undisclosed clinic in London, UK, on Sunday at about 4.30 pm, following a prolonged illness.

  • BREAKING: Former President Buhari is dead

    BREAKING: Former President Buhari is dead

    Former President Muhammadu Buhari is dead. The family of the former President announced the passing away of Buhari on Sunday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2015 to 2023,  died in an undisclosed clinic in London, as confirmed by the family.

    Born on 17th December 1942 in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari retired as a Major General from the Nigerian Army, and was military Head of State from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985.

    Meanwhile, official spokesperson to the former President, Garba Shehu, has confirmed the development.

    “The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London,” he wrote.

    Details shortly…

  • ICYMI: Ex-President Buhari ill, admitted in London hospital

    ICYMI: Ex-President Buhari ill, admitted in London hospital

    Muhammadu Buhari, former Nigeria’s President, is reportedly receiving medical treatment in a London hospital after falling ill.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that Buhari was President of Nigeria from May 29, 2015 to May 29 2023 – serving two terms as President.

    According to sources close to the former president’ family, Buhari initially travelled to the United Kingdom for what was described as a routine medical check-up, but subsequently took ill.

    “There are conflicting reports about when exactly he became unwell,” a source said.

    “Some say he fell ill in Nigeria and was flown out. Others insist he only took ill after arriving in London for regular medical checks.”

    This information was confirmed by Buhari’s former Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

    He said: “Following your enquiry, I wish to state as follows: It is true that the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, is unwell. He has been receiving treatment in the UK.

    “You would recall he made it known that he was going for his annual medical check-up. He became ill there, but I am happy to announce to you that he is doing well in his recovery while receiving treatment. We pray for his healthy recovery.”

    However, both Shehu and the sources failed to disclose Buhari’s ailment and the identity of the hospital where he is being treated.

  • Air Peace to begin Abuja-London flight in October

    Air Peace to begin Abuja-London flight in October

    Air Peace Airline has announced the commencement of Abuja to Heathrow Airport in London on Oct. 26 after receiving grant from the British authority.

    The Chairman of the airline, Dr Allen Onyema, made the announcement at a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Onyema disclosed that the grant was as a result of the confidence the international aviation community has in the airline.

    He also announced that before the end of year, the airline would add Congo, Garbon and Brazzaville to its schedule.

    Onyema said that the flights from Abuja to London Heathrow would be four times weekly, with
    Lagos to London Gatwick three time daily.

    He also said there would be direct flights to the Caribbean, particularly Antigua in September and later, to Barbados.

    The airline boss assured increased fleet capacity of Boeing 777, wide bodied aircraft acquisition as a result of the dry lease financing, among other new aircraft to match the schedules.

    According to him, the airline has 36 outrightly purchased aircraft and four on wet lease, with new aircraft expected soon.

    He assured passengers of on-time services, saying “since May 12, we have posted over 85 per cent on-time performance.

    “For the new Air Peace you are about to see, we assure our passengers of on-time services and we are upgrading our Customer Service.”

    On flight delays and cancellations, Onyema said 94 per cent were not caused by the airline but external forces.

    He identified the causes as: weather, infrastructure, bird strikes, inadequate landing equipment, sunset airports, unruly passengers, animal strikes, among others.

    He explained that “in the last five years, we recorded 100 bird strikes; this year alone, over 30 bird strikes, these strikes will affect other flights scheduled for that day.

    “We do not cancel for the fun of it, we cancel when necessary”, he said.

    Onyema noted that the airline has international validations because of its safety measures.

    He also announced that the airline would restart China route soon, as well as other regional and international routes.

    He commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, for ensuring ease of doing business in the industry.

    He added that “the sector had never had it so good, as Nigeria would soon take delivery of dry lease aircraft as a result of the doggedness of the minister.”

    He expressed the hope that Nigerians would patronise and support the airline.

  • FG denies relocating ministerial press briefing sessions to London

    FG denies relocating ministerial press briefing sessions to London

    The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has dismissed the reports circulating in both traditional and online media suggesting that the Ministerial Press Briefing Sessions have been relocated from Abuja to London.

    The Minister made the clarification in his opening remarks at the eighth edition of the briefing session on Friday in Abuja.

    The session was attended by the Ministers of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, and Works, Sen. David Umahi.

    “The insinuation that the press briefing session is relocating abroad is false because we have our responsibility first to the Nigerian nation.

    “That is why we invite these ministers to come here and address Nigerians and those outside the country, directly from the National Press Centre, here in Abuja.

    “The only platform that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation provided for the briefing session, is right here,” he said.

    Idris said, Umahi who was falsely reported to be among the ministers scheduled to unveil President Tinubu’s achievements at a press briefing in London, had denied the report and also present at the Abuja briefing.

  • Just in:‘Kyari must go home’ protest hits London(Photos)

    Just in:‘Kyari must go home’ protest hits London(Photos)

    …as Nigerians submit letters to UK Home Office, High Commission

    Hundreds of Nigerians stormed the Nigerian High Commission and the UK Home Office in London on Monday, May 12, 2025, demanding that ex-NNPCL boss Mele Kyari be deported to Nigeria to face corruption investigations.

    The demonstrators, under the banner of Rescue Nigeria Now, gathered outside the Nigerian High Commission and the UK Home Office, submitting formal petitions to both institutions.

    Protesters carried placards with bold inscriptions such as “Withdraw Mele Kyari’s residency now!”, “Mele Kyari go home and face EFCC now!”, and “London is not for public officials who abused public trust.”

    They accused Kyari of fleeing Nigeria to evade accountability for alleged financial misconduct during his tenure at NNPCL from 2019 to 2025.

    In a letter addressed to the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, the group said: “We are profoundly disillusioned and appalled by the effrontery with which Mr. Kyari has been walking in the street of London with impunity, while the tables of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria are flooded with so much petitions, audit queries, and evidences on the many alleged corrupt financial dealings and infraction that have been attached to his tenure which spanned from 2019 to 2025.”

    “We see this as an affront to the people of Nigeria and an insult to the esteemed anti-corruption crusade of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that an individual of such notoriety whose tenure in NNPCL was marred by unprecedented corruption and international embarrassment should not be allowed to roam freely on British soil without facing the consequences of his actions.

    “Your Excellency, this letter is not merely a petition—it is a demand— A moral, civic, and nationalistic demand. We, therefore, demand in the strongest terms that the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom refrains from according him any form of official reception, recognition, or diplomatic courtesy until he returns to Nigeria to submit himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant investigative bodies for the myriad allegations that trail his tenure.”

    The petition detailed several allegations against Kyari, including the misappropriation of funds earmarked for refinery rehabilitation.

    “It is on record till date that billions of dollars that were ostensibly budgeted for the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s decrepit refineries in Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt just unaccountably vanished into a bureaucratic abyss under the leadership of Mr. Kyari. While the nation was waiting expectantly for positive results, it was unfortunate that no tangible infrastructural improvement or reasonable output has been recorded as a justification to the gargantuan expenditures being made. Instead, Nigeria, a country known as the largest oil producer in Africa , continued importing refined petroleum products while its refineries remained moribund, mothballed, and perfunctorily maintained, further weakening the Nigeria naira,” the letter reads.

    “At present, the forensic opacity that surrounded these rehabilitation contracts which have collectively impoverished the nation and eroded public trust in governance has been a point of convergence and sensitivity to several anti-corruption watchdogs and international observers who have described the NNPCL under Kyari as an Impenetrable black box.

    Moreover, it was alleged that Mele Kyari was running a syndicate of racketeers who were massively benefiting from the fuel importation operations at the detriment of the nation’s wealth.

    “Under Kyari’s leadership, the controversial fuel subsidy regime mysteriously shrouded in confusion, crony capitalism, and unexplainable contradictions. opaque subsidy payments of over trillions of naira were disburses under the pretext of cushioning fuel costs. Yet, these payments lacked empirical substantiation and transparency on how it was spent. In demanding accountability, figures contradicted themselves, audits were ignored, and most damningly of this theatrics is that ordinary Nigerians were the ones that continued to suffer from the effects of fluctuating pump prices, artificial scarcity being created from his recklessness, and the nationwide persistent fuel queues that hit the country— a phenomenon that outrightly became emblematic of governance failure.

    “Subsidy removal, though a visionary idea by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, however became an ideological tool of deceit, not policy relief under Kyari’s watch. The EFCC has reportedly received whistleblower testimonies and documents alleging fraudulent invoicing, overblown subsidy claims, and clandestine offshore payments.”

    Addressing the UK Home Office, Rescue Nigeria Now emphasized the international implications of harboring individuals accused of corruption.

    The letters further alleged that Kyari transferred illicit funds to UK bank accounts.

    “We are aware that Mr. Kyari is currently residing in the United Kingdom, a development he carefully orchestrated to evade facing justice in Nigeria for numerous acts of corruption and shady dealings that took place during his tenure,” the letter added.

    “We have cause to believe that for Mr. Kyari to have fled to the United Kingdom, he has transferred parts of the proceeds of his crimes to bank accounts in London, which would be a violation of anti-money laundering legislation in your country.”

    The coalition called upon the UK authorities to act in accordance with international anti-corruption agreements.

    “The United Kingdom and Nigeria have established reciprocal treaties and agreements to curtail their citizens from willfully engaging in corruption and other criminal activities. This relationship is intended to ensure that justice is served and that fugitive criminals do not find safe havens in foreign countries.

    “Considering the extensive evidence of corruption and the severe impact on Nigeria, we hereby request that the Home Office expel Mr. Mele Kyari so that he can return to Nigeria. It is imperative that he faces justice for his actions and that the stolen funds are recovered to aid in the nation’s recovery and development.”

    The protest and petitions underscore the growing demand among Nigerians, both at home and abroad, for transparency and accountability in public service.

    As the EFCC continues its investigations into the alleged misconduct during Kyari’s tenure, the international community’s response remains to be seen.

  • Air Peace reduces London fare by N600,000

    Air Peace reduces London fare by N600,000

    Air Peace Ltd. has reduced its Nigeria-London airfare by N600,000 for all travellers emanating from Nigeria.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the airline’s Head of Corporate Communications, Dr Ejike Ndiulo, on Wednesday in Lagos.

    According to Ndiulo, the offer is in the airline’s latest promo.

    He said  that the airline’s passengers could enjoy up to N600,000 in savings when they connect London from any Nigerian city.

    Ndiulo said that the airline was also making an exclusive one free extra luggage offer.

    He said that the promo would last until March 31, with an extended travel period until April 15.

    According to Ndiulo,  the airline rewarded five lucky winners  of a raffle draw at the Silverbird Man of the Year  Awards held on Sunday in Lagos.

    He said that three winners won return economy tickets to any of Air Peace’s domestic destinations, while two won economy return tickets to London.

    He said that the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema, emphasised the airline’s commitment to driving Nigeria’s socio-economic development through its corporate social responsibility initiatives.

  • Three passengers arrested on Air Peace London to Lagos flight

    Three passengers arrested on Air Peace London to Lagos flight

    Air Peace Ltd. has said that security operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) arrested three unruly passengers aboard its London to Lagos flight for disruptive behaviours.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos by Dr Ejike Ndiulo, the Head of Corporate Communications, Air Peace.

    According to the statement, the three passengers were apprehended on Wednesday upon arrival at the Lagos airport.

    It said the apprehended passengers   endangered the safety of the flight, other passengers and crew members.

    “The incident occurred during flight when two of the individuals identified as Adedigba Adewale and Ashibogu Magnus, originally seated in Economy Class, unlawfully occupied seats in the Business Class cabin.

    “They refused multiple directives from the crew to return to their assigned seats. They bullied their way through to the business class unauthorised.

    “In spite of efforts to de-escalate the situation, the unruly passengers remained defiant, creating a tense atmosphere onboard,” the statement read.

    The statement also explained that the individuals openly consumed a bottle of rum they had brought onboard the flight while disregarding the crew’s instructions.

    According to it, the third unruly passenger, identified as Iwonze Benjamin, joined in the consumption of the rum.

    “This furthermore exacerbated their unruly conduct. Their behaviour raised security  and safety concerns among passengers and crew, prompting the captain to make repeated announcements from the cockpit.

    “Recognising the potential threat, the flight crew notified security agencies in Nigeria ahead of arrival.

    “Upon landing, law enforcement officials were on the ground to apprehend the individuals who were taken into custody for further investigations.”

    While reiterating its commitment to passenger safety and adherence to global aviation standards, the airline commended its crew for their professionalism in handling the threat to safety.

    The statement, which emphasised that the airline would not tolerate any form of disruptive behaviour, assured the public of its continuous efforts to uphold the highest levels of security and order on all flights.

    It also informed that the authorities were currently investigating the incident, “and appropriate legal action will follow.”

     

  • Super Eagles player, Iwobi gives out free food for Christmas in London

    Super Eagles player, Iwobi gives out free food for Christmas in London

    Alex Iwobi, the talented footballer from Fulham and the Nigerian national team, has taken the initiative to spread joy this Christmas season.

    He launched a temporary Christmas shop in east London where he is generously giving away food, including turkeys, to local residents facing financial difficulties during the holidays.

    In an effort to support those in need, Iwobi opened his shop, aptly named “Alexpress”, to provide free meals to families struggling to afford their Christmas feasts.

    This heartwarming activity highlights the football star’s commitment to his community and showcases the power of giving back.

    Local Engagement
    The initiative has attracted attention from various media outlets, including BBC Sport Africa, which visited Alexpress to witness Iwobi in action behind the counter, warmly handing out food items to grateful locals.

    Making a Difference
    Through this inspiring act of kindness, Iwobi is not only providing essential groceries but also fostering a strong sense of community among residents. His actions serve as a reminder of the importance of compassion and support during the festive season.

  • JUST IN: Fire outbreak rocks London high-rise building

    JUST IN: Fire outbreak rocks London high-rise building

    Seventy firefighters on Monday were deployed to combat a fire at a block of flats on Freshwater Road in Dagenham, London. The fire outbreak, which reportedly affected half of a flat and balcony within the building, prompted a swift response from the London Fire Brigade.

    Speaking about the incident, London Fire Commissioner, Andy Roe in a statement via the microblogging platform, X formerly Twitter said a full evacuation of the building and a significant search and rescue operation has been carried out. He noted that four people were treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews, with two taken to hospital.

    Roe stated that the brigade control officers used new equipment such as drones and our 64-metre and 32-metre turntable ladders, water towers to take out the fire.

    The statement reads: “We were called to the incident at 0244 this morning. The first crew arrived within five minutes and the second crew arrived within six minutes. An aerial appliance also arrived in under six minutes.

    “To allow us to focus our resources on the incident, we declared a major incident, which has now been stood down. I am immensely grateful to the crews and officers who have operated in the most dangerous conditions to both rescue people and bring the incident under control despite being faced with a significant building failure. 

    “The building has a number of fire safety issues known to London Fire Brigade. A full simultaneous evacuation of the building was immediately carried out and a significant search and rescue operation took place.  

    “I am pleased to confirm that everyone has been accounted for. More than 80 people were evacuated with firefighters leading residents out to safety and carrying out 20 rescues. This included using fire escape hoods, which can provide 15 minutes of clean, filtered air in smoke-filled environments, helping individuals stay safe until they can be rescued or reach safety.  Four people were treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews, with two taken to hospital.  

    “The Brigade’s Control Officers took 16 calls to the fire, including successfully giving vital fire survival guidance to a number of people using our Fire Survival Guidance App, which allows information to be exchanged between Control and the incident ground in a timely, accurate and consistent manner. They are also to be commended for their calm professionalism as the building began to fail. 

    “We also used new equipment such as drones and our 64-metre and 32-metre turntable ladders to provide incident commanders with a vantage point for assessing the scene. They were also used as water towers to deliver water on to the fire from above. 

    “The Brigade stood up full strategic arrangements to deal with the incident and a rest centre has been set up at Beacontree Health and Leisure Centre. London Fire Brigade officers and members of our dedicated community support team are stationed at the rest centre to support residents alongside partners. Crews will also remain on scene into tomorrow carrying out further operations. 

    “We will now begin a full investigation into the fire and its cause. This was a very dynamic and challenging incident, and we know there will undoubtedly be concerns around the fire safety issues present within the building and this will form part of our report.  

    “Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected and we will remain present in the local community throughout the coming days to provide support where needed.”