Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Over 2 Million Candidates Register As JAMB Closes 2025 UTME Registration. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially closed registration for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), recording a total of 2,030,627 candidates. This year’s registration figures have surpassed the 1,989,668 candidates who applied in 2024, marking an increase in the number of prospective university entrants. The registration process, which commenced on 3 February 2025, will see these candidates sit for the UTME scheduled for 25 April 2025. Additionally, 200,115 candidates have registered for the optional mock UTME, set to take place on 5 April…

JUST-IN: NNPC Suspends Naira-for-Crude Deal With Domestic Refiners Including Dangote. In a surprising turn of events, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced the suspension of its naira-for-crude oil swap deal with domestic refiners, including the prominent Dangote Refinery and other private operators. The decision, reported by Businessday, marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s oil industry policy, raising questions about its implications for local refining and fuel prices. The naira-for-crude initiative, launched on 1 October 2024, was hailed as a groundbreaking move to bolster Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity. Under the scheme, local refineries were permitted to purchase…

FRSC Confirms Four Dead, Nine Injured In Lone Crash on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun has confirmed that four people lost their lives, while nine others sustained injuries in a lone accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Sunday. Mrs Florence Okpe, the spokesperson for the FRSC in Ogun, disclosed the details in a statement on Monday, attributing the crash to speeding and a tyre burst, which resulted in a loss of control. “The suspected causes of the lone crash were speed violation and a tyre burst, which led to loss of control. The…

Governor Soludo Bans Open-Air Preaching To Curb Noise Pollution. Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has imposed a ban on open gospel preaching, citing noise pollution as the main reason behind the decision. The announcement follows the recent arrest and release of a pastor who was caught preaching in a marketplace. A viral video captured the moment Governor Soludo personally confronted the preacher in Onitsha, warning that public preaching violated state regulations. While reaffirming the protection of religious freedom, the governor stressed that such rights should not infringe on the peace and comfort of others. “If you want…

El-Rufai Leaves APC, Joins Social Democratic Party. Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP). El-Rufai announced his decision in a statement on Monday, citing dissatisfaction with the APC’s leadership and direction in recent years. He stated that after repeatedly expressing his concerns about the party’s trajectory, both privately and publicly, he had decided to seek a new political platform aligned with his progressive values. “As a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I have fond memories of working with other…

IgniteHer Bootcamp Empowers Women Entrepreneurs With Digital And Business Skills. The IgniteHer Bootcamp, an initiative by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), concluded on 7 March after five days of intensive training for women entrepreneurs. The programme, which brought together 90 female entrepreneurs, aimed to equip participants with essential digital skills, business strategies, and mentorship opportunities to scale their ventures and contribute to economic growth. As part of NITDA’s commitment to fostering gender inclusivity and digital transformation, the bootcamp addressed systemic barriers that often hinder women’s involvement in…

Parents Express Concern Over Suspected Diphtheria Outbreak At King’s College, Lagos. Parents of students at King’s College, Lagos (KCL), have raised concerns over a suspected outbreak of diphtheria in the school, which has reportedly led to the hospitalisation of some students. Several parents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, attributed the situation to poor sanitary conditions within the school. They criticised the management for its perceived lack of transparency and slow response to the crisis. Parents Demand Answers A parent, who requested anonymity, questioned the school’s silence on the issue, noting that students had…

Concerns Grow Over Delayed Implementation Of Oronsaye Panel Report. One year after the Federal Executive Council (FEC), led by President Bola Tinubu, approved aspects of the 2012 Stephen Oronsaye panel report for implementation, concerns are mounting over the lack of progress. Nigerians are increasingly demanding updates on the status of the report’s execution, with the Federal Government remaining silent despite repeated inquiries. The FEC gave its approval for implementation on 26 February 2024, in what was described as a bold move to reduce the cost of governance. Following the decision, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris,…

Real Madrid Keep Title Race Alive With Victory Over Rayo Vallecano. Real Madrid moved level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga after securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano. Two quickfire goals in the first half put Los Blancos in control at the Estadio de Vallecas. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner after cutting inside, before Vinicius Jr doubled the lead moments later with a similar finish, which took a slight deflection off Rayo defender Andrei Ratiu. However, Rayo Vallecano responded just before the break, with Pedro…

Arsenal’s Title Hopes Fade Further After Draw At Old Trafford. Mikel Arteta’s 200th Premier League game as Arsenal manager ended in disappointment, as the Gunners could only manage a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The result all but extinguishes their slim hopes of challenging for the title, leaving them trailing league leaders Liverpool by 15 points. Despite dominating possession with 68.2%, Arsenal struggled to create clear-cut chances against a United side low on confidence. Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring for the hosts with a trademark free-kick in first-half stoppage time, before Declan Rice equalised in the 74th…

Abacha Family Rejects Babangida’s Claims On June 12 Annulment. The family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has dismissed claims by former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, that their late father played a significant role in the annulment of the 12 June 1993 presidential election. In a statement issued yesterday, Abacha’s son, Mohammed, criticised Babangida’s recently published autobiography, *A Journey in Service*, stating that the former leader missed an opportunity to provide a truthful and objective account of past events. Abacha Family Challenges Babangida’s Narrative The family insisted that General Abacha was neither Head of…

Trump Administration Pressures Ukraine For Ceasefire As High-Level Talks Begin In Saudi Arabia. The Trump administration believes Ukraine’s leadership is prepared to move forward with negotiations on a ceasefire with Russia, according to a senior US State Department official. The remarks come as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz are set to arrive in Saudi Arabia for talks with Ukrainian officials on Tuesday. US President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept a swift ceasefire with Moscow. However, despite the push for peace, the US has not offered…