Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

ICRC Unveils New Guidelines To Accelerate Public-Private Partnership Projects In Nigeria. The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has introduced new guidelines to streamline Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects across Nigeria, decentralising approval powers to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Unveiled on Sunday, 17 August 2025, during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja, the framework aligns with a presidential directive from President Bola Tinubu to overhaul Nigeria’s infrastructure delivery and attract private sector investment. The guidelines, issued under the ICRC Act of 2005, aim to expedite project delivery while maintaining rigorous oversight. Under the new rules, federal ministries can now…

Niger State Police Arrest Salesgirl For Alleged N29m Theft From Phone Shop. The Niger State Police Command has apprehended a 23-year-old salesgirl, Sarah Ogbonna, for allegedly stealing phones and other items worth over N29 million from a phone shop in Minna, the state capital. The arrest, confirmed by Police Public Relations Officer SP Wasiu Abiodun on Monday, 18 August 2025, followed a report lodged on 8 August by the shop owner at Obasanjo Complex, Minna, who suspected Ogbonna of pilfering goods entrusted to her. According to Abiodun, Sarah, a resident of Okada Road, Minna, had been employed at the…

Olubadan-Designate Oba Rashidi Ladoja Returns To Ibadan Amid Warm Welcome. Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the Olubadan-designate and former Governor of Oyo State, arrived in Ibadan, the state capital, on Monday, 18 August 2025, marking his return after weeks away from the city. The 44th Olubadan-designate was warmly received by family, friends, and well-wishers at the Ibadan-Lagos tollgate before proceeding to his family compound in Isale-Osi, Ibadan South East Local Government Area. The homecoming signals the start of preparations for his coronation as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland, following his unanimous nomination by the Olubadan-in-Council on 4 August 2025. Upon arrival at…

NOA Endorses Imo State’s Ban On Nursery And Junior Secondary Graduation Parties, Textbook Changes. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has thrown its weight behind the Imo State Government’s bold decision to ban lavish graduation ceremonies for nursery, primary, and Junior Secondary School (JSS3) pupils, as well as the practice of annual textbook changes. Announced on 15 August 2025, the policy, outlined in a memo by Imo’s Commissioner for Education, Professor Bernard Ikegwuoha, aims to alleviate financial pressures on parents and refocus attention on academic excellence. The NOA, in a statement on 18 August 2025, hailed the move as a vital…

JAMB Mandates October Deadline For Public Universities To Complete 2025 Admissions. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has directed all public universities in Nigeria to finalise their 2025 admission processes by 31 October 2025. The directive, announced in JAMB’s weekly bulletin on 18 August 2025, also sets deadlines for private universities to conclude admissions by 30 November 2025, and all other tertiary institutions, whether public or private, by 31 December 2025. The decision, approved during the 2025 Policy Meeting chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, aims to stabilise Nigeria’s academic calendar and ensure equitable access to…

Nigerian Senate Urges Local Governments To Tap Capital Market For Infrastructure Funding. The Nigerian Senate has called on Local Government Areas (LGAs) to explore the capital market as a viable means to fund critical infrastructure projects, moving away from reliance on federal allocations. The directive, issued by the Senate Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, aims to address Nigeria’s growing infrastructure deficit through innovative financing solutions such as municipal bonds and Sukuk. Osita Izunaso, chairman of the committee, made the announcement ahead of a national stakeholders’ summit on municipal bonds and Sukuk, set to take place in Uyo, Akwa…

Finnish MP Eemeli Peltonen Dies By Suicide In Parliament House. A profound tragedy has struck Finland’s political community as Eemeli Peltonen, a 30-year-old Member of Parliament from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was confirmed to have taken his own life in the Parliament House in Helsinki earlier today. The incident, which occurred around 11:00 AM local time, has prompted an outpouring of grief from colleagues, friends, and the public. Peltonen, a first-term MP representing the Uusimaa constituency, was elected in 2023 with nearly 6,000 votes. A rising figure in Finnish politics, he served on the parliament’s Administrative and Legal…

Trump Pledges To Ban Mail-In Ballots Ahead Of 2026 Midterms, Citing Fraud Concerns. Washington, 19 August 2025 – US President Donald Trump has announced plans to eliminate mail-in ballots and electronic voting machines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, citing concerns over electoral fraud. In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump vowed to lead a “movement” to restore “honesty” to the electoral process, claiming that mail-in voting and voting machines are “highly inaccurate” and prone to manipulation. He further stated that an executive order is being drafted to enact these changes, a move that has sparked immediate…

NCAA Mandates Passengers Switch Off Phones During Flights. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has introduced a stringent new regulation requiring all passengers to switch off their mobile phones and other electronic devices during aircraft take-off and landing. The directive, announced today by Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, follows an emergency meeting with aviation stakeholders aimed at bolstering flight safety across Nigeria. The decision comes in response to recent incidents of unruly passenger behaviour at Nigerian airports, which have raised concerns about safety and compliance with aviation protocols. Captain Chris Najomo, NCAA Director-General, revealed the…

President Tinubu Pays Heartfelt Tribute To Late Mama Lydia Yilwatda, Mother Of APC National Chairman. President Bola Tinubu has expressed profound condolences to Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the passing of his mother, Mama Lydia Yilwatda, at the age of 83. The revered matriarch died peacefully on Sunday, 17 August 2025, at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital in Plateau State, leaving behind a legacy of faith, service, and community upliftment, as highlighted by the President in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Tinubu described…

Benin Football Legend Razak Omotoyossi Dies At 39. Benin Republic and African football have been struck by tragedy with the passing of Razak Omotoyossi, a revered striker who died at his residence on Tuesday morning, 19 August 2025, at the age of 39. The Nigerian-born star, who represented Benin internationally, had been battling an illness prior to his untimely death, sources close to the family have confirmed. Omotoyossi, widely regarded as one of Benin’s finest footballers, leaves behind a remarkable legacy. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, on 8 October 1985, he chose to play for Benin, earning 55 caps and…

Akwa Ibom Civil Service Recruitment Attracts 15,000 Applicants For 3,000 Posts, Governor Eno Confirms. Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has revealed that over 15,000 young people have applied for 3,000 civil service vacancies, highlighting the intense demand for employment in the oil-rich state. Speaking at the monthly prayer service at the Latter House Chapel, Government House, Uyo, on 16 August 2025, Eno announced that the recruitment process would be merit-based, transparent, and conducted via a computer-based test (CBT) to ensure fairness. The initiative, part of the state’s ARISE Agenda, aims to address the high unemployment rate, which stands…