🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Nollywood's Toyin Abraham and former protégé Abike Shugaa offer differing accounts of their fractured relationship
via Punch Nigeria5 min read
Nollywood actress Toyin Abraham and her former protégé, Abike Shugaa, have publicly offered contrasting narratives regarding the breakdown of their three-year relationship. Abike Shugaa, also known as Pelumi Olawuni, released a YouTube video detailing her journey from early struggles to her current independent career, asserting that Abraham did not buy her sewing machine but supported her with N50,000 after seeing her viral post. Abike stated that she was paid N50,000 for her role in "Ago Alago" and another N50,000 for two scenes in "Ijakumo," which were later cut without her knowledge. She also claimed to have earned $600 and $800 from promotional campaigns, highlighting her financial independence. The relationship reportedly deteriorated during the promotion of "Malaika," for which Abike said she received N500,000. Tensions escalated when Abike accepted a PR package from Funke Akindele for "A Tribe Called Judah," which Abraham allegedly viewed as disloyal. Abike further alleged that Abraham threatened to ruin her life if she left and that she later lost an acting opportunity due to the fallout. Toyin Abraham, in response, stated she views Abike as a daughter and would not engage in a detailed public exchange, though she disputed aspects of Abike's claims, particularly regarding compensation, stating that no upcoming actress would be paid N500,000 for "Malaika." Abraham's management also issued a statement denying a conflict and asserting that all obligations were fulfilled,
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Former presidential aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen has officially joined the African Democratic Congress ADC presidential race for the 2027 general elections. He committed to uniting the country, addressing insecurity, and implementing economic reforms to improve Nigeria's economy. Speaking on Arise Television, Hayatu-Deen stated that current challenges require leadership capable of recognizing and addressing the daily hardships faced by Nigerians. He highlighted rising food and petrol prices, and the depreciating Naira, noting that many Nigerians struggle daily. Hayatu-Deen also expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation, stating that more is spent on ransom payments than on funding security agencies. He criticized the government for not acting with urgency despite the strain on households and businesses, asserting that the current situation is not what Nigeria deserves. Hayatu-Deen promised a realistic alternative focused on economic stability, improved security, and renewed confidence in public institutions, offering himself as a calm and steady leader with over four decades of experience in reviving organizations, creating jobs, attracting investments, and advancing educational programs. He emphasized the importance of party unity for victory in 2027, urging ADC members to offer a credible alternative to secure the country, grow the economy, and restore hope. Hayatu-Deen exited the Peoples Democratic Party on April 12, citing escalating insecurity, rising
Must ReadNigeria and the African Union Commission are intensifying efforts to improve access to safe water and sanitation across Africa. This follows a high-level meeting in Abuja with the African Ministers’ Council on Water AMCOW. Joseph Utsev, Nigeria's Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, welcomed an AU delegation led by Harsen Nyambe, Director for Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy at the African Union Commission, and Nelson Gomonda, Officer-in-Charge of the AMCOW Secretariat. The Minister emphasized the importance of the visit for continental collaboration on water governance and policy, highlighting that water security is crucial for Africa’s transformation, including food security, industrialization, and climate resilience. He noted the AU's 2026 Theme of the Year, "Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems," as a significant step in elevating the sector within Agenda 2063. Nigeria is prepared to lead in developing an actionable implementation plan for the Africa Water Vision 2063, which will translate commitments into practical programs. Nyambe commended Nigeria's leadership and its role as host of the AMCOW Secretariat since 2002, stating that the visit aims to deepen collaboration with key member states like Nigeria to implement the Africa Water Vision 2063 and ensure universal access. Despite increased policy attention, over 400 million people in Africa lack access to safe drinking water, and more than 700 million lack adequate sanitat
Must ReadPope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Bata prison in Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday, as part of his extensive African tour. The prison is known for its challenging conditions, including overcrowding, poor sanitation, and mistreatment of inmates. During his visit, the Pope will meet with prisoners, families, and young people at Bata’s stadium. He will also honor the victims of a 2021 accident in the coastal city, where a fire at a munitions depot caused over 100 deaths and approximately 600 injuries. Pope Leo XIV arrived in Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday, following stops in Algeria, Cameroon, and Angola. He urged the country to prioritize "law and justice," remarks made in an authoritarian nation frequently accused of human rights abuses. The Pope's itinerary also includes a visit to Mongomo for a mass and a school tour. Equatorial Guinea, a country where 80 percent of its two million people are Catholic, is rich in oil, but faces significant wealth inequality. Hydrocarbon production accounts for 46 percent of its economy. The Pope will conclude his 11-day, 18,000-kilometer African journey on Thursday with an open-air mass in Malabo before returning to Rome.
Must ReadAssad Hassan, National Coordinator of the World Bank-backed HOPE Governance Programme, has called on Nigerian federal and state governments to fully utilize concessional loans to build strong institutions and maintain governance reforms beyond external funding. Speaking in Enugu during the South-East Implementation Support Mission, Hassan warned that Nigeria risks repeating a cycle of abandoned reforms if deliberate steps are not taken to institutionalize ongoing interventions. He emphasized that while the World Bank provides soft loans, the responsibility lies with Nigeria to ensure the sustainability of these programs. The HOPE Governance Programme aims to strengthen institutional frameworks in basic education and primary healthcare. Hassan expressed concern over Nigeria's history of not sustaining reforms from previous World Bank-supported programs, such as the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability SFTAS program. He stressed that the success of the current initiative depends on state governments translating financial support into lasting institutional changes and taking ownership of reforms to attract further international support. As of December 31, 2025, Nigeria's debt to the World Bank's International Development Association reached $18.7 billion, making it the third-largest borrower in the IDA portfolio. Ikechukwu Nweje, Task Team Lead of the program at the World Bank, noted that the Programme-for-Results model is used to ensure reforms are tied