₦airaland Forum

Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has said the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has shown more accountability in the wake of the 2025 UTME technical challenges than some prominent Nigerian politicians and religious leaders.

Omokri made the statement on his official Facebook page following the public apology issued by the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, over the system glitch that affected several candidates during the examination.

He commended the Registrar for taking personal responsibility and offering remedial steps to address the issue, describing the move as an uncommon gesture.

“Not only did the Registrar General of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board take full personal responsibility, but he also provided remedial solutions to indemnify those affected by the unfortunate incident,” Omokri stated.

He argued that public figures in Nigeria rarely accept responsibility for errors, using examples from politics and the church.

“If you think it is easy, ask yourself this: How many big politicians, pastors, churches, and others in society have made errors and admitted them?” he asked.

Omokri referred to a leaked audio involving former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, where he was heard describing the 2023 general elections as a “religious war.”

“Has he ever admitted to that? We know it was his voice,” Omokri claimed, adding that two years later, Obi had yet to pursue legal action against the media platform that leaked the audio.

He further recalled an interview on Arise TV where Obi reportedly declined to directly answer whether it was his voice on the tape, despite the question being asked multiple times.

Turning to religious leaders, Omokri referenced past statements by Pastor Tunde Bakare of Citadel Global Community Church. He cited an interview Bakare granted to *Punch* newspaper in 2006, where the pastor declared by the “Spirit of God” that certain Nigerian political figures, including Muhammadu Buhari, represented the old political order.

Omokri noted that Bakare later became Buhari’s running mate in the 2011 elections, contrary to his earlier declaration.

“He later said that he was the anointed ‘sixteenth’ President of Nigeria and that the matter had been settled,” Omokri stated, quoting Bakare as saying: “I make it plain this morning, I let you know it this morning, nothing can change it in the name of Jesus. He (Buhari) is number 15, I am number 16.”

Omokri said Bakare had yet to apologise for his earlier claims, yet continues to critique others.

He also criticised Pastor Paul Enenche of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, referencing an incident where Enenche urged his congregation to instruct others on who to vote for, including mentioning specific names and images. Omokri described the act as unethical, claiming it breached both the church’s registration status and Nigeria’s Electoral Act.

“By engaging in open and partisan political campaigning while on the pulpit, even to the point of telling people who to vote for, with their photos, Pastor Enenche violated that provision, and the Body of Christ would not tolerate that coming from a prominent Muslim cleric,” Omokri said.

He alleged that Enenche’s conduct, if done in countries like the United States or the United Kingdom, could have attracted sanctions, including revocation of preaching licenses and tax exemptions.

Omokri also referenced a statement Enenche made on January 29, 2023, where the pastor criticised an unnamed political candidate, describing them as lacking transparency in key aspects of their background.

Omokri argued that such statements could lead to unrest in Nigeria’s multi-religious society.

He added that, rather than apologise, Enenche pursued legal action against him, which Omokri claimed was dismissed in his favour.

He reiterated that the JAMB registrar’s apology demonstrated a level of courage that is uncommon among public figures in Nigeria.

“In light of this, Nigerians should understand that what JAMB did took courage. Courage that is in short supply in Nigeria,” Omokri said.

By Mohammed Ibrahim Yaba


Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has explained the reason behind the dispute between him and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state and his Deputy, Muhammad Auwal Jatau.

On April 19, the minister was among dignitaries who accompanied Vice-President Kashim Shettima to Bauchi.

Hours later, reports alleged that Jatau dished a slap on Tuggar in a bus conveying dignitaries from Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa international airport to the emir of Bauchi’s palace.

The reports claimed the slap occurred after the minister made disparaging comments about the governor.

The Deputy Governor denied the claims.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, the Minister shed more light on what led to the misunderstanding that escalated into a confrontation.

According to him, contrary to some claims that he clashed with the Deputy Governor, the issue actually started with the Governor himself, while they were in a bus with the Vice President during the latter’s visit to the state.

He said: “We were traveling in a vehicle accompanying the Vice President on a visit to Bauchi State. The Vice President spoke to me, and the Governor, who was sitting beside him, interjected in a conversation that didn’t concern him.

“After that, he insulted my late father—my father who has been dead for over twenty years—and then went further to threaten to slap me. But I saw that if left alone there is no way he can have advantage over me, so I stood up to show him my height.

“After that, his deputy came rushing from the back of the bus, saying he too would slap me, but he couldn’t even get close to me, especially since the Vice President was in the same vehicle.”

He stated that the security personnel present were not from Bauchi but had been brought in from Abuja.

Tuggar further said, “There was no physical contact between the Governor and 1—he merely said he would slap me, but when he realized he couldn’t actually reach me, the matter ended there. However, the Governor’s son, who is trying to meddle in politics, went online spreading the story that Deputy Governor Auwal Jatau slapped me.”

“The Deputy Governor himself later admitted the story wasn’t true and began spreading a different version that he didn’t slap me.”

Regarding suggestions that the rift between the Minister and the Governor stemmed from Tuggar’s alleged ambition to run for Governor of Bauchi in the future, he responded: “Whether I have such an ambition or not, if you look at my history, you’ll see that when it’s time to speak the truth, I do so. What’s happening directly affects my local government and our town, Udubo.”
Ambassador Tuggar attributed the rift to differences over how the Bauchi State government is being run.

He said: “Everyone can see how farmlands and grazing lands are being taken away from farmers and herders and handed over to companies. These companies then come in under the pretense of engaging in agriculture, taking loans in the process.

“This is disheartening, because when farmlands or grazing areas are seized from people, some end up being pushed into criminal activities.”

He added that if these actions were truly aimed at developing the state as claimed, “then why hasn’t Bauchi State become a leader in grain production or cattle rearing? Instead, things seem to be going backward.”

Both Tuggar and Jatau hail from the Bauchi North Senatorial District, a region that has never produced a state governor since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

Although Tuggar has not formally declared his intention to run for governor in 2027, strong indications suggest he is eyeing the position.

Afolabi Ayantayo, the commissioner for establishments and training in Lagos, says 30 percent of civil servants sent abroad for training do not return to Nigeria.

Ayantayo spoke on Wednesday during a press briefing to mark the second anniversary of Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s, governor of Lagos, second term in office.

The commissioner noted that the state government’s aim of initiating international trainings is gradually being undermined by the increasing number of Nigerians seeking to leave the country for better opportunities.

“While 70 percent returned, 30percent failed to come back,” Ayantayo said.

“For those that are still receiving their salaries, we didn’t pay for their courses, but those who no longer receive salaries, we paid for their courses, and it has added to productivity.

“This cuts across multiple cadres, skill levels and thematic areas relevant to public sector efficiency, leadership development and regulatory compliance.”

He said the state has trained 23,420 officials from May 2022 to December 2024, adding that about 8,000 civil servants across various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) have been granted study leave to improve their qualifications and skills.

Ayantayo noted that the government has paid the medical residency training fund, rural allowance for primary healthcare workers, and also provided bonuses and wage awards to staff of the Lagos State College of Medicine.

He added that the state also approved N35,000 minimum wage increases for workers to reduce the effect of economic hardship.

“It covers areas such as digital transformation, emotional intelligence, policy analysis and project management,” he added.

“The ministry processed 742 sign-off training requests for various ministries, departments and agencies.

“A total of 5,342 officers participated in the 2024 civil service examination in Lagos State, with only 15 candidates failing. The outcome is highly encouraging and reflects the quality of the state’s workforce.”

By Dirisu Yakubu


A member of the House of Representatives from Zamfara State, Aminu Jaji, has decried the worsening security situation in his state, alleging that armed insurgents have degenerated to the point of feeding newborns in captivity to their dogs.

Jaji, who represents Kaura-Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency and is a member of the All Progressives Congress, made the shocking revelation on Wednesday while addressing journalists at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

Narrating the ordeal of residents in his constituency, the visibly distressed lawmaker said: “A pregnant woman was abducted. She gave birth to a set of twins in captivity. Then the leader of the bandits took the twins and threw them at his dogs. The dogs ate them up, one after the other.

“This is something that we need to rise to the occasion. We need to speak to ourselves. Something needs to be done.”

Jaji, however, dismissed calls for the deployment of mercenaries to assist the military in combating insecurity, insisting that Nigeria’s armed forces are capable of securing the country if properly equipped and motivated.

He also opposed the idea of declaring a state of emergency in Zamfara, arguing instead for a strategic shift in military operations, particularly through the use of technology.

“I don’t believe that in Nigeria we need mercenaries to prosecute the war against terrorists.

Our gallant soldiers have the capacity to secure the country. But the only thing that we need to do as a country is to step up a little bit and be more digitalised in the way we operate.”

“Honestly, I don’t subscribe to the idea of hiring mercenaries. We must make sure the resources given to our security agents by the Federal Government are satisfactory. But let’s ensure the monitoring and the efficacy of how they discharge their duty, and then, how they can continue to be supported in terms of their welfare. If they are being motivated in terms of their welfare and so many other things, they can step up to fight these people.”

Speaking in an emotionally charged tone, Jaji struggled to convey the horrors being inflicted daily on the people of his constituency.

“In my constituency alone, over 200 people have been kidnapped by bandits. Two weeks ago, 60 people were abducted in Banga. Ten of them were later killed because the community could not raise the N30m ransom demanded by the abductors. As we were grieving, another 25 were taken from Gabake. Just yesterday, fresh attacks occurred in Kungurki,” he said.

He further lamented that bandits had effectively seized control of large portions of his constituency, operating with impunity and acting as de facto authorities over the local population.

Jaji called for an urgent overhaul of the nation’s security architecture and expressed concern that President Bola Tinubu may not be receiving accurate reports about the situation in the North-West.

Oil marketers have declared that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and others in Nigeria may raise the pump price of petrol to N1,500 per litre once there is an outright ban on fuel importation.

While the National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Udadike, affirmed this, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria said PETROAN could not predict any price, but stressed that there will be a surge in price if the Federal Government stops fuel importation.

However, officials of the Dangote refinery dismissed the projection, saying the marketers made the claims to justify their intention to continue importing “substandard” fuel.

The PUNCH reports that the marketers spoke amid concerns that President Bola Tinubu might ban fuel importation as part of his ‘Nigeria First Policy’, which ordered government agencies to stop the importation of products that can be produced locally.

With the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote refinery and other modular refineries coming on stream, there are speculations that the Federal Government might end fuel importation, which is now about 14.7 million litres per day.

Also, the fact that the Dangote refinery dragged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to court, alongside other players in the industry, is a source of concern to importers, depot owners, and marketers.

As a result, the stakeholders voiced out, saying the Dangote refinery does not have the capacity to meet local demand. But Dangote refuted the claim, saying it has enough to satisfy local consumption and export to other countries.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, Ukadike argued that importation is necessary to check the local refiners and prevent profiteering. The IPMAN spokesperson argued that even the modular refineries producing diesel still sell at prices higher than the prices offered by the importers.

According to Ukadike, the rumour that Tinubu may ban fuel imports was not welcomed by IPMAN, asking the President not to consider such a move.

He noted that importers were the only hope of the nation at a time when there were no functioning refineries in the country, saying it was pertinent to allow them to continue their businesses to check domestic fuel prices.

Ukadike warned that refiners might resort to extortion if there are no alternatives from other sources.

“Importation has been long there, and it has been sustaining us. Now that we have the Dangote refinery that has been producing petroleum products and the NNPC that has been struggling to see whether they can produce one keg of petrol for this country, it is also pertinent to allow importation to check the domestic prices of fuel in this country.

“We won’t want refiners to start extorting Nigerians because there are no more imports. Sometimes, import helps to regulate the prices of petroleum products. You will also agree with me that the modular refineries producing diesel are not selling it cheaper than the imported one. I will appeal to Mr President to allow the importation of petroleum products,” he explained.

Ukadike said fuel importers will stop importing once they notice that the local price is lower than the cost of imported fuel.

“It is the factor of price that will ban importation. If the prices of local fuel are cheap, the marketers will buy, and importers will ban themselves from importing. Allow the importers to look at the indices of the market and see when local refineries are becoming exploitative. Once you ban them from importing, Dangote will raise its PMS to N1,500, and this is not good for Nigerians,” he stated.

Instead of banning importation, Ukadike urged the government to support local refiners with financing, tax waivers, reduction in interest rates, and other incentives that could make them exporters of petroleum products.

“We, the independent marketers, don’t encourage the banning of petroleum products imports. Let the government give aid and support to our local refineries and manufacturers. Look at the taxes, look at the bank charges to ensure their prices are good for export, not only for internal consumption. The government can give a mandate to local refineries to export petroleum products after meeting domestic consumption,” he noted.


PETROAN agrees

Meanwhile, the National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, agreed with IPMAN that petrol prices could surge without importation, saying the current price reductions by the refinery were artificial.

While saying PETROAN would not speculate on any price, Gillis-Harry warned that the country should not allow only one source of securing its energy needs.

According to him, banning fuel importation is against the Petroleum Industry Act, which created an open market for all players.

“There will be price surges if fuel importation is banned. Even these price reductions, as far as we are concerned, are artificial. And if there are no empirical values to give us any clear-cut financial engineering that will give us the prices we see in the market, it means something is wrong and something will be wrong in the future, too.

“So, the authorities need to do quite a lot. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission should also do quite a lot to check everything and make sure that the industry is stable,” he said.

When he was reminded that the Dangote refinery had boasted that it could supply fuel to the nation and export to other countries, Gillis-Harry replied, “I’m a businessman. When you ask me what my capacity is or what I do, I will not tell you that it’s not possible. But the taste of the food is in the eating.

“We stopped importation from November for six months. What was the result? And today, we have a situation where somebody just wakes up to increase the fuel price or reduce it. How does that work? We need to find a different way to work. The size of the product that’s needed is big, now, we are fluctuating between 46, 47, and 48 million litres a day. So, where’s the production capacity in the country that’s doing that? Even if it can be done on the first 100 per cent of production, how long can it be sustained? So, the thing is, at this point, I don’t think anybody should be bothering about trying to create a kind of panic in the system.

“What we should do is, everybody should do their bit. All refiners should refine their products, storage facility owners should continue to give the best service to Nigerians, and make sure that we have products at affordable prices, not prices that are engineered to suit a need or appetite. Let the logistics companies, NARTO, NUPENG, PTD, and others do their work. That way, the entire value chain is busy. Nigerians will be better for it. The economy will be more robust and taxes will be paid from all sectors.”

Asked what his reaction would be if the court grants Dangote’s request to stop fuel importation, the PETROAN boss said the court will base its judgment on the provisions of the law.

“What will be the basis on which the court is working? Nigeria is operated by our constitution and laws. There is a law that guides everything we’re doing in this country, and the court’s job is simply to interpret it properly, not by assumption. We have a business law that should make us very disciplined. So, we should be able to get that working. If the laws are working, we should refer to all the extant laws.

“Doesn’t that decision to go to court tell you that something is wrong? Why would you control somebody else’s business? That in itself signals the present danger. Let us not speculate. The facts are clear that everybody is entitled to do business, provided they are qualified.

“And these licences don’t come cheap; they’re very expensive. So, when you go around and then qualify for it, and somebody says, Oh, stop! Is that good?” he asked.


Dangote counters dealers

However, the Dangote refinery refuted the assumption that it would raise petrol price to N1,500 a litre if there is a halt on fuel importation. It argued that the marketers said this so as to continue the importation of low-quality fuels.

A top official of the refinery, who spoke to our correspondent in confidence due to the lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, said there was no logic in the claim that prices would just be hiked from N890 to N1,500.

“That is the marketers’ wish. They want to keep importing substandard and dirty fuel. There’s nothing like that,” the source said.

Another Dangote official said the refinery was built to make life better for Nigerians and not for profiteering. He emphasised that the refinery can meet local demands and send more to other countries.

He explained that prices are determined by crude oil cost and the exchange rate, not by mere speculations.

Earlier, the Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria said the naira-for-crude deal will prompt a reduction in fuel prices.

CORAN spokesperson, Eche Idoko, said with the naira-for-crude deal and the crash in crude prices, petrol prices could drop below N700 per litre or N350 if crude crashes to $50 per barrel.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, disagreed with claims that the recently approved procurement policy could enable a monopoly over petroleum products importers, particularly from the Dangote refinery.

He argued that any fear of a monopoly may arise from downstream sector players categorising the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited as one of the government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies with procurement powers.

Yusuf queried, “What has the importation of oil got to do with government procurement? Well, maybe the NNPC people are seeing themselves as one of the government MDAs.”

He urged players in the downstream sector to allay their fears by working to set up extra refineries while maximising the four NNPC-operated refineries, especially those in Warri and Port Harcourt.

“If they want to compete with the Dangote refinery, they should go and set up their own refinery. What the government is saying is that whatever we are producing, if it is sufficient, don’t go and import it. So, if they don’t want a monopoly, let all the other refineries work. NNPC has four refineries. If they are not able to refine, whose fault is that?” he asked.

Yusuf further argued that the claims of a monopoly appear improbable because of the absence of a level playing field between importers of petroleum products and local refiners.

“There is no level playing field. Imported fuel and fuel that is locally produced are not the same thing. There is no fair competition because, for the person importing petroleum products, the environment is different, the cost of production is different, the regulatory environment is different, and maybe the quality itself is different. When we are talking about competition, it has to be somebody producing locally, competing with another person producing locally,” he stressed.

Hussaini Ibrahim


The management of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria has ordered the immediate closure of Al-Ansar Indabo female students’ hostels located at Hotoro and UDB Road in the Kano metropolis over safety and disciplinary concerns.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday, by the university’s Vice President, Campus Life, Dr. Hamza Garba.

The university also announced the withdrawal of its approval for the use of the hostels following reported violations of its code of conduct.

According to the statement, the decision was taken as part of MAAUN’s efforts to ensure the provision of safe, secure, and morally upright accommodation for its students.

“I am directed by the management to write, inform, and bring to the attention of our esteemed parents and students that the university has withdrawn its approval for Al-Ansar Indabo female students hostels located at UDB Road and Hotoro,” the statement read.

Garba noted that the hostels failed to comply with university regulations guiding the operation of private student accommodations.

He said the non-compliance had led to various infractions, including reported cases of immoral behaviour, poor water and electricity supply, student violence, unauthorised movement at night, and the sharing of facilities with unknown tenants.

“These issues pose a serious threat to the well-being of our students,” he said.

The university, therefore, directed all affected students to vacate the hostels immediately after the conclusion of the current semester examinations and warned them against further association with the facilities for their own safety and security.

“Management is working closely with relevant security agencies to ensure total compliance with the directive,” the statement added.

Students and parents were advised to contact the Office of the Vice President, Campus Life, via the official email address — vp-campuslife@maaun.edu.ng — for guidance on approved and secure hostel options.

The university further stated that it would not take responsibility for any consequences arising from non-compliance with the directive.

by Chinagorom Ugwu


Peter Ogban, the disgraced Nigerian professor convicted and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for rigging a 2019 senatorial election for the country’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has been walking free instead of serving his jail term, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report.

Many Nigerians, including journalists, erroneously think Mr Ogban has served or is still serving his jail term.

Mr Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a strong ally of President Bola Tinubu.

The Court of Appeal, Calabar, on 30 April, upheld the lower court conviction and the three-year jail term for Mr Ogban, a professor of soil science at the University of Calabar and a returning officer in the 2019 general elections in Akwa Ibom North-West District.

A State High Court in Uyo, on 25 March 2021, found Mr Ogban guilty of announcing fake election results in two local government areas—Oruk Anam and Etim Ekpo—in Mr Akpabio’s favour and sentenced him to jail the same day.

Mr Ogban was taken from the courtroom in Uyo to a federal prison in Ikot Ekpene, still in Akwa Ibom, to serve his prison term.


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However, the professor spent only about four months in prison as another judge, Pius Idiong of the State High Court, Ikot Ekpene, granted him bail on 12 July 2021, despite the opposition from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which prosecuted the professor.

The professor was freed on bail while pursuing his appeal against his conviction and sentence by the lower court.

The Court of Appeal judgement, which upheld Mr Ogban’s conviction and jail term, was delivered virtually.

A lawyer knowledgeable about the case told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that the professor was not at the Court of Appeal courtroom when the judgement was delivered.

“The officials of the Nigerian prisons ought to have made sure Prof Ogban was present in the courtroom during that judgement, and they should have taken him straight to Ikot Ekpene prisons immediately after the judgement,” he said.

A lawyer, identified by Truecaller App as Eddy, a member of the Kanu G. Agabi & Associates, admitted to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that the convicted professor ought to be in jail but said she did not know his exact location “at the moment.”

Richard Metong, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Correctional Service in Akwa Ibom, said he did not know if Mr Ogban was in any of the prison facilities in Akwa Ibom. He asked our reporter to give him time to run a check, but did not call back or respond to further calls from our reporter.

How jailed professor got his ‘freedom’
Clement Onwuenwunor was the INEC lawyer during the hearing of Mr Ogban’s bail application, while Kanu Agabi, SAN, represented the professor.

Mr Agabi claimed Mr Ogban had high blood pressure and tuberculosis.

According to a court document seen by PREMIUM TIMES, he pleaded with the court to grant his client bail because of ill health, while he was about to go to the Court of Appeal to challenge his conviction and sentence.

He argued that the professor may suffer injustice if he remained in prison and the Court of Appeal eventually reduced his sentence, gave him an option of a fine, or discharged and acquitted him, an argument Mr Idiong upheld in his ruling on the bail application.

According to the court document, the INEC lawyer, Mr Onwuenwunor, in his argument, said the professor’s claim that he was ill, neither qualified for an exceptional circumstance nor an unusual reason for him to be granted bail. He said what the Supreme Court has qualified as such exceptional circumstance or unusual reason is where the convict’s ailment cannot be treated in the prison and the prison authorities are unable to arrange for such treatment outside the prison facility.

Mr Idiong said in his ruling, “The Court agrees with the senior learned counsel (Agabi) that it is a possibility that the appeal may be allowed and the applicant (Ogban) discharged and acquitted.

“It is also possible that the sentence imposed on the applicant by the trial court may, at the end of the day, be reduced. At the end, the appellate court may also resolve to give the applicant an option of a fine in count 2 of the charge. And above all, the applicant may be cautioned and discharged by the appellate court.”

In addition, the judge ruled that “This court holds the view that although the applicant’s so-called health conditions and medical report cannot constitute such an exceptional circumstance, he has nonetheless made out a case to warrant being granted a temporary reprieve.”

According to a court document seen by our reporter, Mr Agabi is going to the Supreme Court to challenge the Court of Appeal’s judgement affirming Mr Ogban’s conviction and sentence for election fraud.


Another professor jailed for election fraud, but also enjoying freedom

Another professor, Ignatius Uduk, was recently jailed by a State High Court in Uyo for election fraud.

Mr Uduk, a professor of Human Kinetics in the Department of Physical and Health Education at the University of Uyo, was jailed for three years.

INEC prosecuted him on three charges: announcement of false election results, publication of false results, and perjury during the 2019 general elections in Essien Udim State Constituency, where he served as INEC’s collation and returning officer.

The professor falsified the election results to the advantage of the APC candidate, Nse Ntuen, who was then an ally of Mr Akpabio.

However, Mr Uduk was recently granted bail by a State High Court in Uyo.

Nineteen-year-old Opesusi Faith Timilehin on Monday took ‘Push Out’ rodent poison after scoring 190 in the just-released results of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), organised by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Timilehin, from Abeokuta, lived at Odogunyan in Ikorodu, Lagos State, with her elder sibling.
The Guardian Newspaper learnt that neighbors and residents mourned Timilehin, whom they described as “gentle and humble.”

A family source said the deceased, who applied for microbiology, also sat for the same examination last year.

“She said her last year’s result was better than this year’s,” one of her close allies (name withheld) told our correspondent on the phone.

According to information, Timilehin scored higher than her current 190 in the previous JAMB result in 2024.

Ironically, JAMB gave her provisional admission just about 30 minutes after she was confirmed dead at Kolak Hospital in Odogunyan.

“The shocking revelation is that she was given an admission message via her Gmail yesterday, immediately after she was confirmed dead at Kolak Hospital, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos,” the source stated.

Meanwhile, Timilehin’s parents, on hearing the sad news, arrived in Ikorodu, allegedly to pick up her remains back to Abeokuta for burial, leaving the residents to rain curses on JAMB for the general mass failure recorded in the examination.

By Philip Shimnom Clement


The World Bank on Monday queried the remittance of the proceeds of the petrol subsidy removal by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

At his inauguration on May 29, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy; the policy triggered a hike in price of the product and virtually all goods and services across the nation.

The policy was projected to save the federal government billions of dollars annually.

The petrol subsidy removal, as justified by the government, was expected to free up funds for critical infrastructure and social programmes.

But the World Bank noted on Monday that while the subsidy was fully removed in October 2024; the NNPCL did not begin transfer of the gains to the federation account until January 2025.

It also stated that since then, the national oil company has been remitting only 50 per cent of the subsidy proceeds and using the rest to offset “past arrears.”

An insider at the NNPCL, who does not want to named, said the declaration by the World Bank and some officials of the government was not strange to them.

“The truth is that Nigeria has been entrapped in these loans for nearly three decades and considering that subsidy has been removed, and in principle the government is getting more money, it is time to pay debts,” he said.

“Nigeria has a lot of commitments with the multinationals and it is repaying those loans now. It is not a matter of whether what is being paid has been captured in the budget or not because it depends on the agreement.

“Some of the loans came about from production sharing contracts and they were not captured as revenue which under normal circumstances must be remitted to the federation account to pass through the rigours of budgeting and releases.

“Some of the monies are being deducted at source. You should also understand that there is international politics in some of these arrangements and the federal government must abide by them,” he said.


What the World Bank said

Alex Sienaert, World Bank’s lead economist for Nigeria, who stated these in Abuja, yesterday, while presenting the May 2025 Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report, urged the federal government to increase transparency of oil revenues.

The NDU is the World Bank’s regular flagship report on Nigeria. It covers at least every six months, providing a dive into the Nigerian economy, covering recent developments in economic policy and providing perspective on the outlook for the economy going forward.

The current issue of the May 2025 NDU focuses on inclusive growth, especially for the poor and economically insecure.

The NDU report also builds on the last edition in October 2024 that focused on jobs.

“Despite the subsidy being fully removed in October 2024, NNPCL started transferring the revenue gains to the Federation only in January 2025.

“Since then, it has been remitting only 50 per cent of these gains, using the rest to offset past arrears,” the World Bank said in its latest report.

“PMS subsidy was effectively ended last October, but revenue gains from this are yet to fully flow to the federation (account). As of January, NNPCL was still only transferring about half of the resulting revenue gains from the subsidy elimination to the federation,” the World Bank said.

The World Bank noted federal government’s revenues for 2025 were anticipated to be 70 per cent from oil and 30 per cent from non-oil sources, assuming full remittance of the fiscal savings from the PMS subsidy removal.

“However, as of March 2025, this full remittance had not yet occurred, as NNPCL claims it has large PMS-related subsidies that should be settled first,” World Bank said.

It urged the government to sustain the ongoing reforms, including the removal of foreign exchange (FX) controls, and undertake more reforms to further improve macroeconomic and fiscal environment, that is critical for economic stability.

“Eliminating the PMS subsidy and eliminating the FX subsidy have really been critical reasons why the fiscal situation has improved so dramatically. But of course, there’s still a range of fiscal policy and fiscal management issues where more can be done to safeguard the gains that have already been achieved

Sienaert commended the impact of reforms initiated so far, reporting that Nigeria had witnessed a notable acceleration in economic activity as GDP growth in 2023 reached its fastest pace since 2015, while the FX reforms helped achieve a more unified and stable exchange rate.

He said foreign reserves also rose from a low of $32 billion to over $37 billion, with net reserves showing significant improvement.

“The bottom line is a 4.5% of GDP increase in total revenues in 2024, which is not something that, as economists, looking across different countries and recovery stories, we see very often,” Sienaert noted.


Cost of living still high

Sienaert noted that despite these improvements in the economy, the cost of living was still high.

According to him, although the federal government has an ambitious targeted cash transfer programme for three months for 15 million recipients, the implementation has been quite slow.

“So, only about a third of those recipients have received transfers so far”, he said.

He added, “In order for the economy to meet the government’s aspiration of achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030 and deliver poverty reduction and shared prosperity, the pace of growth needs to accelerate further and its composition rebalanced towards those economic sectors and firms that are most productive, generate positive spillovers, and create jobs and opportunities at scale, especially for the poor and economically insecure.

“At present, the best-performing sectors of the economy, like finance and ICT, are important drivers of growth but are not sources of mass employment as many Nigerians do not yet have the skills and opportunities to participate in them.

“A private sector-led, public sector-facilitated growth strategy can boost inclusive growth. Key elements of this strategy to include addressing major infrastructure gaps, such as in electricity and transportation; fostering healthy competition, market openness, and improving the business environment to spur business dynamism; improving access to finance for new and existing firms to grow and improve productivity and improving policies in key sectors to help unleash the potential of these sectors.”

He noted that international experience suggests that the public sector cannot sustainably generate growth and jobs by itself.

“Nigeria is no exception, particularly since public resources remain constrained.

“A useful strategy is to position the public sector to play a dual role as a provider of essential public services, especially to build human capital and infrastructure, and as an enabler for the private sector to invest, innovate, and grow the economy,” he said.


Inflation could average at 22% in 2025

The World Bank also predicted that inflation could get to an annual average of just over 22 per cent in 2025 if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) maintains its current tight monetary stance.

Taimur Samad, the World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, during his presentation, said: “There is a lot to be positive about on Nigeria. Growth is up. The exchange rate is market reflective and more stable. Foreign reserves have increased.

“The fiscal position is much improved on the back of a surge in federation revenues. Now, needless to say, the war is not won.

“It will be crucial for the CBN to stay the course with tight monetary policy to anchor stability. But if it does so, as we anticipate it will, we expect that inflation will fall to an annual average of just over 22% in 2025. That is a major achievement”, Samad added.

He further highlighted that a key point of the NDU report is the recommendation for Nigerian government to stay the course on tough macro fiscal reforms, and undertake yet more reforms to fire up and drive growth, job creation and share an economic opportunity.

According to Samad, doing this will strengthen macroeconomic foundation as a launching pad to build on an economy that is conducive for the private sector to grow and generate more productive jobs for Nigerians.

Samad stressed that the NDU is more than just a report. “It is a tool for collective reflection and action”, he said.


Our plan is to improve macroeconomic stability – Edun

In his presentation, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the economy, Olawale Edun, said what the government was doing now was to ensure macro-economic stability.

“But in doing that, there is still a need to push for transparency and fiscal data in oil sector.

“We had a meeting with Revenue generation agencies and other key government officials to clarify the type of data we will be putting out so that it is consistent.

“Next is to ensure high quality jobs to lift Nigerians out of poverty. We have the National Development Plan to boost growth and ensure macro-economic stability in the medium term,” the minister stated.


House cleaning needed to ensure transparency – Expert

An economist and oil and gas, Dr Marcel Okeke, in an interview with our reporter yesterday, said that the revelation on the NNPCL by the World Bank justified the recent change in the leadership of the national oil company.

“The president must have noticed some of what the World Bank is now revealing and that led to the sudden change of leadership in the NNPCL and even the topmost leadership has also gone ahead to continue the reform.

“That goes to say that from the World Bank’s revelation, there is a lot of job for the new leadership to do in terms of house cleaning and ensure transparency going forward,” the expert stated.

Also speaking to Daily Trust, the Executive of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFPTI), Umar Yakubu, alleged that the opacity in the operations of the NNPCL had led to the accumulation of huge debt in the petroleum sector.

According to him, there is a need for forensic audit of those debts.

“The amount of NNPCL’s debt has skyrocketed to trillions of Naira which is billions of dollars.

“When subsidy was removed due to lack of transparency and inefficiency, importation of fuel was already in the books for government which took them almost two years to offset, so they finally decided to start remitting.

“It still boils down to the lack of transparency and opacity in the oil and gas industry. There is no country in the world that cannot accurately give you a figure of how much its crude oil sales has amounted to.

“This is because there are allegations that some oil blocs are not adequately documented. We also have the highest rate of oil theft. It is unfortunate that we are paying debt of what we don’t even have the date on. The petrol could have even been smuggled.

“Luckily, the subsidy has gone and they ought to have audited all the past debts they said they are owing companies importing fuel. Therefore, there should be forensic audit to ensure transparency going forward,” Yakubu said.


Nigeria spent N13trn on fuel subsidy in 15 years – NEITI

A report from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) had stated that the sum of N13.7 trillion ($74.386 billion) was spent on the payment of fuel subsidy between 2005 and 2020,

According to the report, the subsidy payments in 2005 stood at N351 billion ($2.66 billion), N219.72 billion ($1.70 billion) in 2006, N236.64 billion (1.89 billion) in 2007, N360.18 billion (3.03 billion) in 2008, N198.11 billion ($1.60 billion) in 2009 and N416.45 billion ($2.76 billion) in 2010.

The report had also showed that subsidy payments for 2011 stood at N1.9 trillion ($12.18 billion), N690 billion ($4.34 billion) in 2012, N495 billion ($3.11 billion) in 2013, N482 billion ($2.92 billion) in 2014, N316.70 billion ($1.62 billion) in 2015, N99 billion ($0.39 billion) in 2016, N141.63 billion ($0.44 million) in 2017, N722.30 billion ($2.36 billion) in 2018, N578.07 billion ($1.88 billion) in 2019 and 134 billion ($0.37 billion) in 2020, respectively.


Background

President Bola Tinubu in his inauguration speech on May 29, 2023, said petrol subsidy was gone.

That was after reports had shown that former President Muhammadu Buhari spent N10.7 trillion on petrol subsidies between 2016 and the first six months of 2023.

Additionally, Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, had revealed that the country was spending more than N400 billion monthly on fuel subsidy.

He added that the benefits of the fuel subsidy regime were enjoyed by members of a cabal rather than the masses that it was targeted at. Kyari had explained that the subsidy was removed because it was characterised by fraudulent activities.

He had said the fuel subsidy was not beneficial to the masses who are the original target beneficiaries, therefore the federal government removed it with a plan to reinvest on projects that would have a direct impact on the masses.

“The crude oil is a global commodity and its price is not hidden, everyone can calculate and know how much is the cost of every final product from the crude at the international market. But, since the inception of oil importation, the government has been paying subsidy on petrol to make it cheaper for Nigerians to buy below the cost price.

“This subsidy is designed to assist Nigerians. That is the intention. But in reality, the masses are not the beneficiaries. First, the masses are not the owners of the exotic cars, buying fuel, owning the filling stations, and doing the oil business.

“This subsidy that the government has been paying over the years is the root of all the atrocities and fraud committed in this country,” Kyari had said.

Ismaeel Uthman and Olufemi Adediran


*Protests rock councils over controversial list
*Party defends consensus, denies allegations

Crisis is brewing within the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the July 12 local government elections, as many chairmanship aspirants and party leaders have kicked against what they described as a plot to impose candidates.

The aggrieved members and leaders, drawn from various local government areas and local council development areas, accused key figures within the party of attempting to sideline grassroots democracy by handpicking candidates rather than allowing a level playing field.

The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission had, in April, released the timetable and guidelines for the commencement of the electoral process for the 57 council chairmanship seats and 376 councillorship positions spread across the state’s 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs.

The announcement came as the tenure of the current local council officials is set to end in July.

The PUNCH reported that the party pushed for the adoption of consensus in selecting candidates for the party’s council primaries, scheduled for Saturday (today).

Following the party’s decision, Saturday PUNCH gathered that party leaders in various LGAs set up internal committees to screen aspirants and streamline those to be adopted as consensus candidates.

However, the move has sparked outrage among some aspirants and party members, who allege that the process was being used to impose preferred candidates rather than allowing for fair competition.

The situation is said to have led to protests in some local councils, with party members alleging subversion of the democratic process.

In Ojokoro LCDA, a group of party leaders, under the auspices of Ojokoro Apex Council, reportedly screened three chairmanship aspirants, out of which one Mobolaji Sanusi, emerged as the consensus candidate.

Sanusi’s emergence was announced in a letter signed by former members of the House of Representatives, Ipoola Omisore and Adisa Owolabi, and addressed to the state APC chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi.

Attached to the letter was the signature page of the consensus resolution, showing the names of the party leaders and their signatures.

The signatories included the incumbent chairman of the LCDA, Idowu Tijani.

However, trouble started a few days later when one Rosiji Yemisi emerged as a chairmanship candidate from another screening conducted by a different group of party leaders.

A member of the group, who spoke with one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, accused the apex council of attempting to impose a “foreigner backed by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa”, on them as their chairmanship candidate.

He warned that imposing an outsider with no electoral history in Ojokoro would have negative consequences.

Protests also erupted in Yaba LCDA over an alleged plot to impose one Babatunde Ojo as the chairmanship candidate of the party.

A coalition of concerned landlords, electorates, and political stakeholders in the LCDA raised the alarm over a plot to replace the name of the aspirant who emerged top during the screening exercise with that of Ojo.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that another aspirant, William Babatunde, scored 85 per cent to emerge top while Ojo polled 65 per cent and came 11th out of the 14 aspirants screened.

The coalition, led by Amoo Ismail, petitioned the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, urging her and the President to intervene and prevent what they described as a repeat of past political imposition that hindered development in the area.

“It is important to emphasise that we have credible leaders within our community who are capable of selecting the most qualified candidate from the broad pool of aspirants. It is simply unjust and disheartening to the political stakeholders in the local government that a single individual continues to unilaterally impose a chairmanship candidate upon us.

“In light of this, we humbly implore Your Excellency, and His Excellency the President, to kindly intervene and consider alternative options that will better serve the interests of our community.

“A more inclusive and consultative approach, one that values the voices of grassroots mobilisers and other key stakeholders, will likely yield a more favourable outcome for both the local government and our great party,” the coalition said.

An aide to one of the aspirants, who spoke on condition of anonymity, accused the party leaders in the LCDA of using the name of President Bola Tinubu to justify the imposition of candidates.

“They are going around telling us that the President has given the directive on who should emerge. This is false and disrespectful to the President, who is known to support internal democracy,” he said.

Lamenting the adoption of the consensus method, Opeyemi Ahmed, the media aide to the outgoing Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Dele Osinowo, accused some party leaders of imposition by single-handedly picking their preferred candidates.

Ahmed, in a now-deleted post on Facebook, said the situation, if not checked, might cost Tinubu his re-election bid.

“The party is not sincere with its guidelines; from direct to indirect to consensus. We can do better. Let’s give a sense of belonging to everyone. Tinubu needs to win Lagos, but if a few are writing names at the top and using fake strategy to call for consensus at the bottom, then Tinubu should be ready to lose come 2027,” Ahmed said.

Speaking on the issue, a chieftain of the party, Fouad Oki, issued a stern warning to party leaders, urging them to embrace internal democracy or risk electoral backlash.

He issued the warning in an open letter titled, “Lagos APC’s crisis of Democracy: Internal strife and the risk to President Tinubu’s stronghold”.

“The Lagos APC must choose democracy over cliques. If party managers still believe they know better than voters, permit me to remind you of the stakes: disenfranchised grassroots can sabotage not only council polls, but also general elections to come. Unity forged under injustice is brittle; lasting strength requires inclusivity,” he warned.

He added that the APC could either learn from previous political missteps and legal precedents in Lagos or repeat them and suffer the consequences.

“Let this op-ed be a rallying cry within the party: abandon the politics of imposition, honour the rights of members, and give Lagosians a real voice. Failing that, our party risks losing Lagos not to an opposition challenger, but to its own internal discord – a disaster that would echo all the way to 2027,” Oki concluded.

Reacting to the allegations, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Lagos, Seye Oladejo, dismissed claims of imposition, insisting that the party had not concluded its primary processes and that consensus remained a legitimate and constitutionally recognised mechanism.

He noted that consensus had always worked for the party and helped manage post-primary fallout.

Oladejo said, “We have not concluded the process of the primaries, which will be held on Saturday. For those who have been able to reach consensus, there will be affirmation, but for those who have not reached consensus, their delegates will decide who their preferred candidates will be in their respective local governments.

“If we have not concluded the process, nobody can allege imposition. Then, where there is consensus, their leaders will need to sign off to indicate that they all agreed on a particular candidate. And when an aspirant is not happy, he can insist on going to the primary and, if he wins, good luck.

“Nobody is imposing anything on anybody; we cherish internal democracy in our party, and we have always strived on all of this. So, you cannot allege an imposition, even when the process has not been completed.”

Speaking on the reason for the party adopting consensus, he said, “As a party, we see ourselves as members of the same family. Consensus has always been easier to manage, whatever fallout might arise from the process of electing candidates for elections. So, consensus, over time, has worked for us and is recognised by our constitution.

“We have an internal mechanism for resolving conflicts or disagreements, and that machinery will be ignited to resolve whatever grey areas arise as a fallout of the primaries. I can assure you that we will take care of it as we have always done.”

by Jerrywright Ukwu


Pat Utomi, professor of political economy, has berated the All Progressives Congress (APC) for denigrating his launch of a shadow cabinet.

Felix Morka, spokesperson of the APC, had referred to Utomi as an “intellectual drama king” after the professor unveiled his ‘Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government’.

In a series of posts on X, Utomi said the ruling party’s reaction shows that the government is afraid of scrutiny.

“Many years ago, Felix Morka sat in the back of my car with me as the driver sped to appointments,” he wrote.

“His mission was to urge me to do some of the things I am doing today. Now I am a drama king. Many playwrights would like that title. Think I love it. Will not dignify him with response.”

Utomi said the level of anxiety from the government over basic civic engagement is alarming.

“I have never seen a democratic government panic so much because citizens are getting together to make rational requests of how they are carrying out the agency function,” he said.

“Wow. There must be so much to hide, scrutiny frightens them. How did we sink so low?”

He said a mature government would have welcomed the initiative as part of the democratic culture.

“If Abuja people were smart, their response to the shadow cabinet would have been to say that as true democrats they welcome scrutiny and opening up of the public sphere to a robust marketplace of ideas,” Utomi said.

“Even those who thought the worst of the state of our democracy are shocked at the panic.”

On April 24, Utomi said he was working to mobilise 7.2 million Nigerians to converge on Abuja in protest against Nigeria’s political elite.

Utomi said the protest, tagged ‘Freedom Converge’, is aimed at reclaiming the country from “entrenched systems of state capture and self-serving leadership”

By Dare Olawin


The President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has said the Dangote refinery is not competing with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

According to a statement released by the NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, on Friday, Dangote stated this yesterday when he visited the new Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, in Abuja.

The visit, Soneye said, was part of ongoing efforts to promote mutually beneficial partnerships and foster healthy competition between the NNPC and the Dangote refinery.

It could be recalled that there seemed to be an unhealthy rivalry between the state-owned energy company and the $20bn refinery until recently, especially with the supply of crude oil in naira.

Dangote recently alleged that some cabals were still fighting against his refinery, though he clarified that the cabals were the major marketers and not the new NNPC board.

Speaking at the meeting yesterday, Dangote pledged to collaborate with the new NNPC management to ensure energy security for Nigeria.

“There is no competition between us; we are not here to compete with NNPC Ltd. NNPC is part and parcel of our business, and we are also part of NNPC. This is an era of cooperation between the two organisations.” Dangote added.

The two firms agreed to deepen collaboration aimed at ensuring Nigeria’s energy security and advancing shared prosperity for Nigerians.

While congratulating the GCEO and the Senior Management Team on their appointments, Dangote acknowledged the enormity of the responsibility ahead, noting that the GCEO should be shouldering a monumental task, which he expressed confidence that, with the capable hands at his disposal in NNPC, the task is surmountable.

In his remarks, the GCEO, Ojulari, assured Dangote of a mutually beneficial partnership anchored on healthy competition and productive collaboration.

Ojulari highlighted the exceptional caliber of talent he met in the company, describing the workforce as dedicated, highly skilled, and hardworking professionals who are consistently keen on delivering value for Nigeria.

Expressing the company’s readiness to build a legacy of national prosperity through innovation and shared purpose, Ojulari said NNPC will sustain its collaboration with the Dangote Group, especially where there is a commercial advantage for Nigeria.

“Both executives also committed to being the relationship managers for their respective organisations through sustained productive collaboration and healthy competition, thereby envisioning limitless opportunities for both organisations,” the statement concluded.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) lacks the legal authority to regulate or interfere with how companies set prices in Nigeria’s free market economy.

Justice James Omotosho delivered the verdict in a suit filed by Multichoice Nigeria, the operators of DStv and GOtv, which challenged the FCCPC’s attempts to intervene in its subscription pricing.

The company also sought protection from a previous lawsuit by lawyer Festus Onifade, which aimed to stop Multichoice from increasing its pay-TV prices.

Although the judge dismissed the suit as an abuse of court process—since a similar matter involving the same parties was already pending—he issued a clear and binding interpretation of the limits of the FCCPC’s powers.

Justice Omotosho held that the FCCPC, under current Nigerian law, cannot dictate or control pricing, citing Section 88 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA). He clarified that only the President of Nigeria has the constitutional authority to fix prices—and only under specific circumstances, such as when regulating essential goods or services.

He further ruled that any delegation of such presidential power to another body must be made through an official and gazetted instrument—something that does not currently exist for the FCCPC.

“The power to fix prices cannot be exercised by any other person or agency except the President,” the judge stated.

“If delegated, it must be via an instrument published in the official gazette. There is no such delegation before this court.”

Justice Omotosho also ruled that price controls, even if permissible, must apply to an entire industry and not single out a specific company unless there’s evidence of monopoly or market dominance.

He criticised the FCCPC’s action as discriminatory, noting that other operators in the same sector had not faced similar scrutiny.

“The FCCPC presented no proof that Multichoice holds a dominant position in the market, or that its price adjustments were excessive,” he said.

The court reinforced the principle of consumer choice in a free market, noting that customers are not compelled to subscribe to Multichoice services and can choose alternatives.

“This is a classic case of a willing seller and a willing buyer,” the judge noted. “The FCCPC’s role is to monitor for anti-competitive behaviour—not to police prices.”

Justice Omotosho also referenced an earlier ruling by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT), which similarly upheld Multichoice’s right to set its own prices, describing the decision as “well-considered.”

In his concluding remarks, the judge stressed that any government intervention in pricing must adhere strictly to constitutional and legal processes, affirming that businesses operating in a free market economy are entitled to determine their own prices.

President Bola Tinubu says he is working with Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, for the growth of the state.

Tinubu on Thursday arrived in Anambra for his first official visit to the state since he became president.

During the visit, the president inaugurated the newly constructed Anambra government house, Soludo Fun City, and other projects.

While speaking at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Tinubu applauded Soludo for laying a good foundation in the state, adding that Anambra is on the rise.

The president said the massive infrastructural projects in the state aligns with Soludo’s vision for Anambra to become the Dubai, Taiwan, Silicon Valley of Africa.

Jokingly, the president asked Soludo, who he described as his friend, to get him a land in Anambra for him to build his retirement home.

“I have just commissioned two landmark projects—the Solution Fun City and the government house mini-city as part of the initial steps on the path towards your audacious vision of Anambra as African-Dubai-Taiwan-Silicon Valley (ADTS),” Tinubu said.

“Together with the massive infrastructural transformation and human capital development, these are bold statements of vision and what leadership can achieve in such a short time.

“A few years ago, Dubai was largely a desert. Today, it is a global hub, because one man dared to dream. I remember when Soludo wanted to consolidate the Nigerian banks, and many said it was impossible.

“It was done and Nigeria became better for it. I also recall when we dared to tame the Atlantic Ocean, and many naysayers doubted it. But we made it happen. Anambra has huge potential and with Soludo, we can all work together to fast-track the vision.

“Going forward, we are not just friends: I am now a bona fide son of the soil — one of you, your own son! Maybe my friend and your governor, Charles Soludo, should find me a plot of land for my retirement home, after service.”

By Adam Umar

https://dailytrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/wiv.jpg

Two co-wives residing in Dakwa community, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have reportedly been hospitalised after they drank an herbal mixture with the intent to sexually arouse their husband, who is said to have taken a third wife, recently.

According to African Journals Online, the herb, popularly called ‘kayan mata’ in Hausa language, is one of the silent and emerging acts that threaten women’s health and lead to female genital mutilation in the country.

The herbs are said to be taken in order to arouse greater sexual desire in male partners.

The women, names withheld, allegedly took the herbs three days after their husband wedded a third wife from his home town in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

The husband in the centre of the herbal arousal story, Musa Muhammad, while confirming the incident to our reporter, said his two wives were rushed to a clinic in neighbouring Madalla town in Niger State, where they were diagnosed with damage in some of their organs allegedly caused by the herbs they consumed.

He revealed that the two women underwent surgery at the hospital and were discharged on Monday.

The husband further revealed that it was gathered that a herbalist usually supplied them with the liquid herb preparation which they mixed with milk before drinking, but that this time around, she gave them a different one, which was in powdered form.

“My attention was called from my main house that my two wives were not feeling fine because I passed the night at a different house where my new bride is residing.

“So, I rushed there and found them rolling on the ground, complaining of stomach pain. Initially, I invited a nurse from within the community who placed them on drip, but without any improvement. So, I took them to a clinic in Madalla town where they underwent a test and surgery.

“They were discharged after about a week there,’’ the husband narrated.

Muhammad further disclosed that a search to locate the female herbalist was on to get her investigated and save others from being her next victims.

A medical doctor, Mrs Taiye Anifowose, has warned women to desist from consuming such herbs, saying they could be dangerous to their organs.

Taiye, who is a gynaecologist, said such herbs could also affect their reproductive system in the long run.

She called for proper enlightenment by the relevant government agencies, families and communities’ leaders on the dangers associated with such herbs.

By : Jimisayo Opanuga


Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed a new lawsuit against suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing her of mocking him in a satirical apology posted on social media.

The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja under case number CS/384/25 and dated May 7, seeks to compel the suspended Kogi Central senator to delete the post from all her platforms.

Akpabio is also demanding a written apology to be published in at least two national newspapers and an affidavit of compliance confirming she has met these conditions.

The satirical apology was shared on Facebook by Senator Natasha on April 27, in which she wrote, “Dear Distinguished Senate President Godswill Akpabio, It is with the deepest sarcasm and utmost theatrical regret that I tender this apology for the grievous crime of possessing dignity and self-respect in your most exalted presence.

“I have reflected extensively on my unforgivable failure to recognise that legislative success in certain quarters is apparently not earned through merit but through the ancient art of compliance — of the very personal kind.

“How remiss of me not to understand that my refusal to indulge your… “requests” was not merely a personal choice, but a constitutional violation of the unwritten laws of certain men’s entitlement. Truly, I must apologise for prioritising competence over capitulation, vision over vanity, and the people’s mandate over private dinners behind closed doors.

“I now realize the catastrophic consequences of my actions: legislation delayed, tempers flared, and the tragic bruising of egos so large they require their own postcodes. For this disruption to the natural order of “quid pro quo,” I bow my head in fictional shame.

“Please find it in your magnanimous heart — somewhere buried deep beneath layers of entitlement — to forgive this stubborn woman who mistakenly believed that her seat in the Senate was earned through elections, not erections.”

Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, argued that Senator Natasha’s post was a violation of a court order issued on 4 April, which barred both parties from making public statements regarding ongoing sexual harassment allegations until the conclusion of the case.

By Olasunkanmi Akinlotan


The United States of America’s National Transportation Safety Board has linked the unfortunate helicopter crash that killed the former Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe, alongside his family, to ‘pilot’s spatial disorientation.’

The NTSB report further indicted the helicopter company, accusing it of “inadequate oversight of its safety management processes.”

This was contained in the NTSB final report unraveling the reasons for the helicopter crash in February 2024.

A preliminary report earlier showed that the helicopter, registered as N130CZ, crashed while operating under visual flight rules in what ultimately became instrument meteorological conditions, requiring different flight protocols and instrumentation.

According to the report, investigators determined the “probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control.”

The crash, which occurred near the California-Nevada border on February 9, 2024, claimed the lives of all six people on board, including Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc.

The US accident investigators further reveal that the helicopter company failed to ensure pilots properly completed flight risk analyses, recorded maintenance issues, and followed required regulations before departure.

“The pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation while maneuvering the helicopter in IMC [instrument meteorological conditions], which led to his loss of helicopter control and the resulting collision with terrain,” the report stated.

Significantly, the investigation showed that the helicopter’s radar altimeter was non-functional prior to the fatal flight.

The report detailed that during an earlier flight, the pilot had texted the maintenance director about an issue with this critical instrument.

“A company mechanic performed some troubleshooting on the radar altimeter; however, he was unable to rectify the issue, and the radar altimeter remained non-functional.

“The mechanic reported that the pilot and the DOM [director of maintenance] were aware that the radar altimeter was not functioning, yet they departed at 1822 on the positioning flight to pick up the passengers,” the report noted.

The investigation further found that after arriving to collect the charter passengers, the pilot and flight follower exchanged messages but “did not discuss the status of the radar altimeter or weather conditions.”

By Nafisat Abdulrahman


The Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, has raised the alarm over a disturbing case involving an 18-year-old apprentice who allegedly impregnated 10 girls within a span of five months, including his master’s daughter and a salesgirl.

Obinabo made the revelation during a live video broadcast on social media on Wednesday, calling on members of the public to assist in finding a solution to what she described as a situation “beyond her capacity.”

The commissioner explained that the teenager was sent to serve as an apprentice under a businessman but was dismissed after just three months when it was discovered that he had impregnated both his master’s daughter and a salesgirl working in the same establishment.

“He was sent to learn a trade at the age of 18, and within three months of apprenticeship, he impregnated his master’s daughter and his salesgirl. He was sent packing,” Obinabo said.

According to her, the situation escalated after the boy returned to his village. In the two months that followed, he allegedly impregnated eight other girls.

“This boy returned to his village and within a short time, eight more girls were confirmed pregnant,” she said. “I want advice from the public because this one is beyond my capacity.”

Obinabo also shared that the boy’s mother visited her office to express deep concern over the situation.

“She told me, ‘Anytime I see a girl coming towards our house nowadays, my heart would jump. Please, I need help,’” Obinabo recounted the boy’s mother saying.

When questioned on how he managed to convince the girls to sleep with him, the teenage boy allegedly told Obinabo that he simply professed love and made promises of marriage.

“I asked the boy the magic he uses in luring the girls to bed, but he told me he always says he loves them and would like to marry them once he makes money,” the Commissioner stated.

Obinabo refrained from disclosing the name of the boy, his mother, or the community involved, citing the sensitivity of the issue. However, she urged members of the public to suggest possible interventions, asking whether the problem could be spiritual.

“This problem is beyond me because of the boy’s age and the number of pregnant girls involved,” she stated. “That’s why I need help to solve it.”

By Kamal Ibrahim


A former governor of Sokoto State, Dalhatu Bafarawa, has said political leaders in the country are losing a sense of patriotism which engenders national growth and development.

Bafarawa noted that shrinking opposition politics in the country poses a great threat to Nigeria’s democracy, saying he is worried to see opposition parties and politicians decimated into the ruling party for personal gains and not for the interest of the people.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa Service aired on Saturday and monitored by our correspondent in Bauchi, Bafarawa who recently resigned from partisan politics, said if things are allowed to continue to degenerate, it spells doom for both the country and its people.

“Northern governors and politicians are self-centered but pay poor attention to improving the welfare of their people,” he said.

He noted that the ball is now in the hands of the electorate who are now witnessing Nigeria retrogressing, adding that it is enough to make them wise and choose competent leaders in the next general elections.

Bafarawa insisted that he would not stop critiquing the current situation of the country, warning that everyone is guilty for the mess in the country.

By Daniel Abia, P/Harcourt


Since March 18, 2025 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency, there has been relative peace in Rivers State.

The eventual suspension of Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Ordu, and the entire Legislative Arm of government is the biggest setback that may likely affect the economy and other social fabrics of the state.

For close to two months, Fubara has been stripped of the paraphernalia of office as governor elected by his people in 2023.

Having understood what it means to stay inactive without political power for this long, the suspended governor has chosen to go full throttle to seek for genuine peace with his mentor, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

It was reported that on April 18, Fubara came down from his high horse and went to meet Wike in his Abuja residence to ask for forgiveness.

Why the suspended governor chose to meet with the Minister in the company of some respected Yoruba political leaders like Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and former Governor Segun Osoba, among others, other than the elders in Rivers State, is relatively understandable.

The FCT Minister believes that some of the elders in Rivers State were those stoking the embers of crisis between him and Fubara.


Political problems

These elders, nearly all of them, had political problems with Wike in 2023 because of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the run-up to the general elections.

After the PDP presidential congress, where Atiku emerged as the favorite to confront the APC candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Wike felt betrayed and refused to support Atiku.

A time was also when Wike thought he could be compensated with the running mate slot, again, PDP backtracked and went for Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, then governor of Delta State.

Okowa has since defected to the APC he contested against as the PDP vice presidential candidate.

Recall that the Atiku supporters had all abandoned Rivers and relocated to Abuja to give support to his dream of becoming the next President.

Wike was the man alone at home showcasing Fubara in the campaigns to become governor.

Some of the Atiku supporters openly condemned the choice of Fubara as governor, wondering what political sense Wike was mooting to play up a political neophyte as the next governor of a sensitive state like Rivers.

While Wike attempted to calibrate his political structure in support of Tinubu of APC, the likes of Prince Uche Secondus, a former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, Sir Celestine Omehia, Rt. Hon Austin Opara, Senator Lee Meaba and Tele Ikuru, among others, formed a formidable political bloc against Wike in the state.

But when the table turned and Wike became the FCT Minister and relocated to Abuja, these elders took the reverse flight back to Port Harcourt and suddenly began to give Fubara the energy to stand up to a man who made him governor against all odds.

This set of politicians formed what looked like an iron cast structure for Fubara with a deliberate design to castigated Wike in the war against then governor.

This same bloc of politicians was alleged to have asked the governor to have a rethink in his implementation of the 8-point peace agreement initiated by President Tinubu. This presidential move could have, according to some analysts, ushered peace into the state a long time ago.

Nevertheless, in his wisdom, Fubara has come to clearly realize that only genuine peace devoid of intrigues can resolve the lingering political tension in Rivers.

This explains why he has chosen to walk the path of peace alone without the involvement of the Rivers elders.

Undoubtedly, the suspended governor has seen that Wike has what it takes to take the fight to its conclusion which was initiated to end in impeachment but the intervention of the president with the tool of state of emergency to stop what would have been the end of Fubara’s political career.

Wike has the financial war-chest. He enjoys the backing of Tinubu. He is a master strategist in all forms and shapes.
Dealing with a man of this political caliber would only call for wisdom and that is exactly what Fubara chose to do even if it meant standing alone.

In his last media chat in Abuja, Wike had made it clear that if Fubara should genuinely apologize to him, he would let go. A fortnight ago, the governor made a trip to London enroute Frankfurt, Germany where he met with the president in a closed door meeting.


Details

The details of their discussion in that meeting were not divulged but close sources believe that it was the prelude to a symbiotic agreement for the betterment of Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 while Fubara returns as governor.

Having met with the president, Fubara never rested on his oars.

He went on a remorseful visit to Wike to let him know how sorry he was and begged for forgiveness.
It is not clear what lies in the offing after the two high stake meetings.

But Nigerians are of the opinion that having shown sufficient regrets for his actions or inactions, Fubara deserves to be reinstated.

There are speculations that Tinubu, who is alleged to be under intense pressure by prominent Nigerians, may reinstate the suspended governor by May 29. “Everything is in the realm of speculations”, said Prince Ogbonna Nwuke, a former member of the House of Representatives.

“I think as a democrat, the president should use the May 29, which is a big day in our country’s political history, to convince the whole world that he is indeed a true democrat by reinstating Governor Fubara , his deputy and the House of Assembly”.

On her part, Ann Kio Briggs, spokesperson for Ijaw Republican Assembly, IRA, believes that reinstatement of Fubara on May 29 would make more sense to the people of the state.

“He has to be reinstated on May 29, being Democracy Day, so that the governor can join his colleague governors to celebrate his second year in office”.

Briggs explained that the entire Rivers people will appreciate Tinubu if he could “bring back our governor on May 29. That is our Democracy Day. It will bring a lot of succor to the people of the state who have suffered as a result of the crisis in the past two years”.


History

Corroborating the IRA’s spokesperson, the President of Ijaw National Congress, INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba, said Tinubu would make history if he reinstates Fubara on May 29 as with stringent lines drawn to demarcate power play between the two warring factions.
“Fubara’s visits to the President and Wike are welcome developments. The president can make history by returning Fubara earlier than expected”, he said.

“Besides, he should make himself the president of all Nigerians, not to a particular person. Let the Minister mind his job in Abuja and allow the Rivers people to enjoy the governor they voted for.

“I am not interested whether Fubara wants to defect to APC or not. After all, our politicians do not have ideology. And the country is cascading to a one party state. “What we want is his return to power for the interest of Rivers people”.

For Dr. Joseph Ambakederimo, Convener of the South-South Reawakening Group, SSRG, “Fubara has shown that he is a man of peace. He has shown enough remorse and deserves to return to his duty post.

“The stakes are high. Expectations are also high. Nigerians are eagerly waiting to hear what Mr. President will have to tell us on Democracy Day.

“I know that the president won’t disappoint. Our prayer is that Fubara should be returned to power. I was privileged to meet with him recently in Port Harcourt and I saw a man who was ready to do anything for the sake of peace”.


Agreement

More than anything else, what is more worrisome to the Rivers people is the terms of agreement between the FCT Minister and the suspended governor for the return of peace in the state and his subsequent return to power.

There are speculations that appointment of commissioners must be shared in a formula that will give the Abuja bloc a comfortable stand.

This same formula will apply to the appointment of all offices when normal democratic institutions are restored.
For local government elections which were earlier scheduled to be conducted on August 9, “the Minister’s interest will be highly protected”, a source privy to the arrangement hinted.

“The template has been set already. There is a change in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.

“Interested contestants would be selected, it does not matter which political parties they belong. They will be there to serve the interest of those who nominated them”.

How then will Fubara’s second coming to office look like? Is he going to be a puppet governor who will dance whenever the string is pulled from outside the state?

What will be the political fate of the Atiku supporters (elders) when normalcy returns and Fubara returns to the saddle? All eyes are on May 29 while Nigerians sit on edge.

https://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/04022822/Ooni-and-Alaafin.jpeg[i]In a video that went viral on social media, the Alaafin remained seated and greeted the Ooni casually, while other traditional rulers stood up to shake hands with Oba Adeyeye[/I]

Facts have emerged on the genesis of the brewing rift between the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

The seeming rift came to public attention on Tuesday, April 29, when Oba Owoade refused to stand up to greet the Ooni, who had approached to exchange pleasantries with him and other monarchs at a programme organised by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

In a video that went viral on social media, the Alaafin remained seated and greeted the Ooni casually, while other traditional rulers stood up to shake hands with Oba Adeyeye.

The video has been generating mixed reactions from the public.

However, Alaafin’s Personal Assistant, Kolade Oladele, dismissed the reactions, describing them as a deliberate attempt to sow discord among Yoruba traditional rulers.

He described the controversy as a distraction from more pressing issues affecting the region, including insecurity, economic hardship, and youth development.

However, Sunday PUNCH gathered from credible people familiar with the matter that the rift between Alaafin and Ooni started in March 2025 at the Oyotunji African Village in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States.

Oyotunji African Village is a unique intentional community established in 1970 by Oba Efuntola Adefunmi I.

It was founded as a cultural and spiritual haven for African Americans seeking to reconnect with traditional Yoruba heritage.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that Adefunmi was crowned by the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

After Adefunmi’s passing in 2005, his son, Adejuyigbe, succeeded him and was crowned by the same Oba Sijuwade as the leader of the community.

However, Adejuyigbe was stabbed to death in July 2024 by a 53-year-old woman identified as his sister, Akiba Meredith, during a domestic dispute.

Sources told our correspondent that the current Ooni had sent a team of monarchs to the Oyotunji Village to perform traditional rites following Adejuyigbe’s murder.

The team included the Salu Edunabon, Oba Adesoji Oladepo, the Obalufe of Ife, Oba Idowu Adediwura, the Araba Agbaye, and the priest in charge of the Oranmiyan staff in Ife, Owa Iredumi.

According to the sources, Oba Owoade, who was in seclusion at the time, called one of the traditional rulers and demanded that they vacate the village, claiming it was Oyo territory.

One of the team members said: “We were at Oyotunji Village on the directive and sponsorship of the Ooni to perform traditional rites after the killing of the traditional leader of the village.

“We spoke with the family and performed every necessary rite. We left Nigeria in March and returned in early April.

“I was in my room when Oba Owoade, who was still in seclusion then, called one of us and told him we should leave the place because the village belongs to him, claiming it is part of Oyo territory.

“I regarded that call as disrespectful. Oba Owoade should have done his research on who usually installs the Oyotunji leader in the US before calling us.”

“We thought that was all. During Oba Owoade’s coronation, he didn’t recognise the Ooni. Baba went with 38 traditional rulers from Osun.

“I challenge anyone to produce the clip where the Alaafin recognised the Ooni at the event.”

The source, however, said Ooni didn’t read any meaning into that.

“Till I am speaking with you, the Alaafin has neither called nor visited the Ooni to say ‘thank you’ after the coronation.

“Painfully, the first time they met after that was during Tuesday’s programme in Ibadan, and the Alaafin behaved in such a manner.

“Ooni is not in a supremacy battle with anyone because his position in Yorubaland is not disputable.”

Oladele, however, dismissed the monarch’s claims as baseless and untrue.

“They are creating things that don’t exist. We know that truth does not need defence, and it will always prevail,” he said.

Oladele said the Alaafin did not issue any directive to anybody regarding Oyotunji village, stating that Oba Owoade had been busy with the governance of Oyo Kingdom right from his seclusion.

He said: “Kabiyesi was at Ipebi, preparing himself for the governance of the most sophisticated town. So, he didn’t have time for such a thing.

“Even if there was any issue of that nature, Alaafin has always advised people to be patient and investigate matters thoroughly before acting.

“Without putting words in Alaafin’s mouth, the Oyotunji Village has its own history, beginning with the name itself.

“The founders of the community had their reasons for naming the place Oyotunji. However, what I know is that Alaafin has not given any direct verdict to anybody. He has been focused on governance and is committed to the development of Oyo Kingdom.”

On the claim that the Alaafin did not recognise the Ooni during the coronation and appreciate his presence, Oladele said: “People are just conjuring issues anyhow. We don’t even need to dissipate our energy on this issue because it is a fallacy.

“Why would the Alaafin raise a powerful delegation to invite the Ooni to the coronation and then not recognise him? How can anybody make such a claim?

“Let us have a direct complaint from the Ooni’s palace, maybe we can take the matter seriously then.

“In summary, it is the Oyotunji people who reached out to the Alaafin. Oba Owoade didn’t call them. Alaafin has no issue with the Ooni. I know there is no rift between the two respected traditional rulers.”

By Igho Oyoyo


The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has condemned Friday’s walkout on the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, by a group of women loyal to the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, describing it as an embarrassment to the people of Rivers State.

The Minister, who apologised to the First Lady and President Bola Tinubu on behalf of the people of Rivers State, said “insult on anyone representing the First Lady of Nigeria in an event is a direct insult on the office of the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and as a leader in Rivers State, I apologise.”

A statement signed by Wike’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka, on Saturday, claimed that some women, led by some sacked Local Government Vice Chairmen had staged a walkout during the Renewed Hope Initiative empowerment programme organised by the office of the First Lady of Nigeria, held at the EUI Event Centre in GRA, Port Harcourt, on Friday. The programme was meant to benefit 500 women in the state with various empowerment items.

According to the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media ton the FCT Minister, he said his principal, who is in China for official engagements, described the incident as “very disturbing and embarrassing,” cautioning supporters of the suspended governor to desist from ridiculing the State.

The Minister counselled the suspended governor to demonstrate honesty by being bold enough to tell President Tinubu what exactly he wanted, “rather than saying something today, and doing another thing tomorrow.”

He said; “It is not enough to be visiting people to plead for peace, those who genuinely want peace work and act for it.

“These are the same people pleading for peace, but at the same time doing things that are contrary to what they are pleading for.

“How can you say you want peace and at the same time, you are sponsoring people to insult everyone, including the President and his wife?

“All those shenanigans won’t bring peace, and I am sure they know that, because they are not sincere with their up and down pleadings for peace.

“As for me and those who subscribe to my leadership, we condemn in totality that yesterday’s show of shame and we apologize to our First Lady for the embarrassing conduct of those few women who do not represent the characters and ideals of the people of Rivers State,” the statement quoted Wike as saying.

By Dotun Omisakin and Adebayo Gbenga,


Customers and stakeholders yesterday expressed concerns over commercial banks’ SMS transaction alert charge increment, further compounding their woes on the multiple charges.

The banks on Wednesday made the announcement of the increment vía messages sent to their respective customers, taking effect from Thursday, May 1, 2025.

“Dear Valued Customer, please be informed that effective Thursday, May 1 2025, the SMS transaction alert fee will increase from ₦4 to ₦6 per message. This adjustment is due to a recent increase in telecom rates as communicated by the telecommunication service providers,” the message read.

Daily Trust’s finding showed that the increment came on the heels of the approved 50 per cent increment by the federal government on telecommunications service providers to increase their tariffs across board.

Already, Nigerian banks impose various charges on their customers, including transfer fees, account maintenance fees, SMS alert fees, ATM withdrawal fees, and levies like the cybersecurity levy.

For instance, if a customer is sending money to another person using a different bank, this attracts three charges including the transfer fees or commission, Value Added Tax (VAT) on the transfer as well as an SMS charge. Then if the transfer is N10,000 or more, the receiving account is also charged N50 as electronic money transfer levy.

Many Nigerians migrated to fintechs to avoid some charges imposed by the deposit money banks until recently when the federal government implemented the EMTL charge on fintechs which means that any transfer from N10,000 and above, the receiving account would be charged N50.


What customers are saying over new charges?

Kayode Gabriel, a financial consultant, said, “I received the SMS notification from GTBank this morning, informing me that they’re increasing their SMS alert charges from N4 to N6 starting May 1. Honestly, it’s just another reminder of how everything keeps going up in this country—with no corresponding value or improvement in service.

“As someone who pays close attention to financial trends, I understand that the banks are trying to adjust to the rising costs driven by the new telecom tariffs and the general economic conditions. But still, it feels like customers are always bearing the brunt without being given sufficient alternatives or communication ahead of time.

“I’m already looking into banks or fintechs that offer free notifications through mobile apps or emails. At this point, we all need to be intentional about minimising avoidable charges.”

Shaba Victor, a resident of Akure, said, “Yes, the SMS alert fee used to be N4 and now GTBank says it’s going up to N6. Honestly, I’m not surprised. Once they increased the cost of calls and data recently, I knew it was only a matter of time before SMS charges would follow. It’s all connected.

“The thing is, these banks won’t miss any chance to push extra costs to the customers. Even if it’s just N2, when you add that across all your transactions in a month, it adds up. It may look small, but it makes a difference—especially now when everything is expensive.

“I don’t blame them completely though. The telecom operators increased their rates first, and the banks are only reacting. Still, it would have been better if they gave customers more options—like switching to app notifications or emails for free. Not everybody wants to keep paying for SMS they didn’t ask for.”

Another customer of a commercial bank lamented that given the consistency with which he carries out transactions on a daily basis, it means more money would be deducted as SMS alert charge.

“For instance, I was charged N1,148 as SMS alert fees for just one month. I received the notification yesterday. So going by the number of alerts I receive on a daily basis, it means I would be spending more on SMS alerts going forward. I will probably find a way around it,” he said.

Emmanuel Okon, another bank customer, said, “I just hope it would not take till eternity to immediately deactivate my SMS alert in any of the banks. I think this is the next step to take now to avoid this new increment.”


Stakeholders weigh in on new charges

In an interview with stakeholders, they acknowledged the rising cost of operation exacerbated by the country’s economy, however promising to slam telecom operators provided the increment does not match service delivery.

President, National Association of Telecom Subscribers, Deolu Ogunbanjo, said the banks’ SMS increment was borne out from the 50 per cent increment in telecom tariff.

He revealed that the increment to N6 could have been N5 if the proposed 35 per cent increment on telecom tariff was not jettisoned during the stakeholders’ engagement over tariff increase.


‘Banks should avoid sending debit, VAT messages separately’

“In February, NLC and some stakeholders, including the NATCOM, met with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and we agreed on a 35% increase.

“So, in that wise, it should have been N5 for SMS, if it was a 35 per cent increase but unfortunately, they ignored our calls and then they have now started charging a 50 per cent increase,” he said.

He described the increment as unfortunate, urging the banks to reduce sending debit and Value Added Tax (VAT) alerts separately.

The National President of Association of Telephone Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS), ATCIS-Nigeria, Prince Sina Bilesanmi, called for quality delivery, saying the increment was propelled by the 50 per cent increment on telecom tariff.

“You know the rate of the normal SMS has also increased, so I do not see any reason why banks should not increase their charges.

“But the question should be when they are charged, do they deliver based on the increased rate? ATCIS is in support of the 50 per cent that applies to voice, data and SMS,” he said.


‘Customers have option of deactivating SMS alert’

A bank customer, Adegbaju Adeolu, said he has deactivated receiving SMS alerts.

“I am quite indifferent about it. I never liked the idea of being charged for transaction alerts and it is why I disabled it a long time ago and this is just to avoid these additional charges which constitute a burden on me,” he said.

Another commercial bank, Union, also reiterated in the message sent to customers that they have the option of deactivating SMS alerts.

The bank said, “Our Telecommunication Service Providers have recently reviewed their service rates applicable to SMS notifications upwards. Consequently, effective Thursday, 1 May 2025, your SMS Transaction Alert Fee will increase from Four Naira (N4.00) to Six Naira (N6.00) per message. Please note that alerts to international phone numbers are subject to higher charges.

“Transaction Alerts are essential as they help you monitor and control your account activities in real time. We encourage you to retain your subscription to this service.

“If you would like to opt out of receiving Transaction Alerts via SMS, please update your preferences by completing the Transaction Alert form available on our website.”

Professor of Economics, Ndubisi Nwokoma, in a recent chat with our correspondent said the multiple charges imposed on banking transactions are limiting the trust Nigerians have with the financial institutions.

He said, “The charges on the bank are quite enormous and the returns are very little. Many people don’t want to use banks these days; some people prefer cash payment because any money for any transaction that takes place, the receiver actually gets less than the value,” he said.

By Leadership News


Nigerians would now pay more for the National Identity Numbers and other services as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) announced a upward review of its service fees.

The new service charges, which will be revealed, today, May 2, 2025, is the first adjustment in over ten years, as it seeks to align with current economic realities and sustain efficient service delivery.

Recall that the National Identity Number (NIN) Enrolment and Issuance of NIN Slip is offered free of charge as well as the national e-ID Card Issuance (first issuance).

However, NIN slip reprint attracts N500; Modification of Biodata (excluding Date of Birth): N500 per field; Modification of Date of Birth: N15,000 and third-party verification services, attracts N5,000.

The revised pricing structure, which takes effect immediately, will be published on NIMC’s official website on May 2, 2025. It applies to NIMC’s range of services and products, including those offered through its licensed Front-End Partners.

The Commission emphasised that while the fees have increased, the goal is to preserve service quality, maintain affordability, and ensure transparency.

NIMC, in a press statement, released on Thursday, and made available to LEADERSHIP, warned all partners to strictly adhere to the newly approved rates, stressing that any Front-End Partner caught charging beyond the official prices will face severe penalties, including suspension or revocation of their license.

“We remain committed to providing secure, reliable, and fairly priced identity services for all Nigerians. We encourage the public to report any cases of overcharging to our Inspectorate and Enforcement Unit,” NIMC said in a statement.

In a related development, NIMC’s director general/CEO, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and all supporting agencies for their continued commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s identity infrastructure.

By Mohammed I. Yaba


Comrade M. B. Muhammad, one of the victims who was abducted from a Kaduna-bound train in 2022, has narrated his encounter with one of his kidnappers at a mosque in Kaduna State.

According to him, the encounter happened a few days ago when he stopped at a Shema Mosque near Bakin Ruwa Junction in Rigasa community, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna.

Identifying the kidnapper as Abubakar, the comrade said he was shocked after seeing him inside the mosque.

In a social media post, he wrote: “Last night, after praying the Isha’i prayer at Shema Mosque near Bakin Ruwa junction in Kaduna, by the will of God, just as the imam ended the prayer, I ran into one of the men who kidnapped us aboard the AK-9 train that was attacked on March 28, 2022, during the Abuja–Kaduna journey.

“His name is Abubakar. He told me he has repented and left terrorism behind. He now works as a motorcycle (okada) rider.

“After a lengthy conversation with him, I learned that some of the kidnappers have been killed, while others have continued with their acts of terror.

“In the end, I told him I forgave them, and I gave him some charity because of the state I saw him in. Oh Lord of all the worlds, guide us all and guide them too,” he said.

Daily Trust correspondent met with Comrade Muhammad at his office within Kaduna Metropolis and he confirmed authenticity of the post.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to depart Abuja, on a two-day official visit to Katsina State, on Friday.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement on Thursday, disclosed that during the visit, the President will meet with key stakeholders to assess the security situation in the state.

As part of the visit, President Tinubu will also honour an invitation to attend the wedding of the governor’s daughter before returning to Abuja.

According to Onanuga, “During the visit, the President will meet with key stakeholders to assess the security situation in the state.

“He will commission the Katsina Agricultural Mechanized Centre and a 24KM dual carriageway completed by Governor Dikko Umar Radda.

“President Tinubu will also honour an invitation to attend the wedding of the governor’s daughter before returning to Abuja,” he said.

Days after carrying out sweeping changes in the management team, Bayo Ojulari, the group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd, has removed the managing directors of the three refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri.

This sweeping move, TheCable understands, is aimed at halting “continued value erosion” in Nigeria’s refining sector.

The previous management, led by Mele Kyari, spent billions of dollars on revamping the refineries but insiders say they are far from delivering optimal output.

Ojulari, who replaced Kyari four weeks ago, is working on a broader initiative to assess the true state of NNPC’s refineries and explore the most efficient management models going forward, according sources in the know of the decision.

“The primary objective of the restructuring is to halt the ongoing loss of value in the short term and to develop a credible, long-term strategy that will restore and maximize value for the federation,” a source said.

Ojulari has also inaugurated a high-level assessment team led by the executive vice president, downstream, Mumuni Dagazzau, to embark on an immediate operational assessment tour of all NNPC refineries to determine their current status and provide recommendations.

TheCable reported on Monday that the NNPC terminated the services of a number of senior staff members.

Bala Wunti, former chief of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), and Ibrahim Onoja, managing director of the Kaduna Refinery, were asked to leave.

Lawal Sade, the chief compliance officer and former managing director of NNPC Trading, was also affected.

Over 200 employees have been impacted, marking the beginning of what may be a series of staff changes.

There are increasing calls for the probe of Kyari’s tenure as GCEO

The Kano State government has disclosed that 240 of its employees are receiving double payments while 217 others are operating under the same Bank Verification Number (BVN).

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Dr Sulaiman Wali Sani, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Civil Service Matters and Chairman of the State Coordinating Committee, said the discovery followed a biometric verification exercise and the work of two standing committees – one on state payroll and another on local government payroll.

Sani, who represented the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) at the briefing, said the revelations were part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the state’s civil service and fulfill Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s campaign promise of ensuring prompt and full payment of workers’ entitlements.

“Inherited shortcomings in the payroll system have continued to disturb the government. We discovered that 240 employees are drawing double salaries while 217 individuals are operating under the same BVN, suggesting possible cases of ghost workers or identity manipulation,” Sani said.

He added that a total of 1,335 workers had also failed to report for verification for over six months, raising further concerns about the authenticity of many names on the government’s payroll.

In his remarks, Alhaji Umar Idi, Chairman of the Local Government Standing Committee, revealed that a recent audit uncovered 247 questionable names on local government and primary healthcare payrolls, including retirees, deceased persons, and cases of unauthorised staff elongation.

“Out of these 247 workers, only eight appeared before the committee to confirm their employment status. The remaining 239 names have been flagged for deletion, saving the government a total of N27,824,395 monthly,” he explained.

Dr Sani emphasised that the government’s motive was not punitive but corrective, aiming to ensure that genuine workers and pensioners continue to receive their full salaries and entitlements without arbitrary deductions.

He added that with the payroll cleansing exercise, workers should expect even more transparent and efficient salary payments.

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja


The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Friday, said Nigerians are paying electricity tariffs that are more than the new minimum wage of ₦70,000 that was approved by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The NLC also said that inflation has eroded the new minimum wage, as it cannot take workers home at the end of the month.

Ajaero lamented that the tax regime introduced by the current administration, especially the tax on salaries, was almost higher than the N70,000 new minimum wage.

He said that the exorbitant prices of rents and transportation have rubbished the new wage approved for Nigerian workers.

The NLC President said, “We have fought battles on minimum wage, and we are still fighting on it. We have fought battles on fuel subsidy and we are still fighting battles on tax regimes. It is a period where tax on your salaries is almost higher than the minimum wage increase on your salaries. It is a period we need to sit and reflect on our survival.

“What are those things that affect us most? The social safety nets that are obtainable in some developed economies of the world we need to fight for them. Very important, the cost of living index. We need to look at it. How does it affect an average worker?

“The manner in which the minimum wage was implemented – me, Osifo and others – we fought and got the N70,000 minimum wage, but how was it implemented? In the local government, for teachers, for workers, in the formal and informal sectors of the economy.

“Whatever we got in terms of minimum wage has been eroded by inflation. The landlords have taken it all; the transporters have taken it; electricity tariff is more than our minimum wage; the tariff on telecom is going high by the day.”

According to him, there was need for the NLC and TUC to stand united and revive their relationships with Nigerians and players in the civil society space to collectively fight the numerous issues affecting workers; else, workers would not be able to survive the current situation they have found themselves in.

“It is a period we need to reenact our relationship with not just the trade union movement but our civil society allies and the mass of Nigerian people.

“The NLC is extending their hand of fellowship to the TUC for us to work together, hand in hand, for the interest of Nigerian people and workers. History beckons that if we fail to work together, we will all perish. At this point in time, we have to work on those things that affect us most.

“An assembly of this nature is such that we should look at our survival strategies. If you do this, and we are ready to work with you, history beckons to show that we can, at a time when we have a difficult situation, and we work together as a movement to rescue the workers of Nigeria.

“The challenges that the workers face here are not a drill; they are real challenges that require a robust, strong trade union to be able to face hands-on,” Ajaero added.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says it has arrested 22 Nigerians for allegedly being connected to financially motivated sextortion schemes that have led to a rise in suicides among American teenagers.

In a statement released on its official website, the FBI said the suspects were arrested during a first-of-its-kind global operation in collaboration with law enforcement agencies from Nigeria, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom (UK).

Out of the 22 suspects arrested, the FBI said, “approximately half were directly linked to victims who took their own lives”.

The US agency said it has observed a 30 percent increase in sextortion-related tips between October 2024 and March 2025 compared to the previous year.

“According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or IC3, there were over 54,000 victims in 2024, up from 34,000 in 2023,” the statement reads.

“Over the last two years, there have been nearly $65 million in financial losses due to this crime.

“Most of the victims are boys aged 14 to 17, and more than 20 minor victims have died by suicide.

“Given the alarming rise and similarities of these cases, the FBI opened investigations across the country with the goal of bringing answers and closure to grieving American families.

“Information gathered by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit (CEOU) allowed the FBI to work collaboratively with all 55 of our field offices to identify nearly 3,000 victims of financially motivated sextortion.

“It was during these investigative steps that the commonality of perpetrators residing in Nigeria began to grow and paint a larger, more international scope of this crime.”

According to the FBI, the Nigerian suspects arrested during the operation codenamed “Operation Artemis” allegedly posed as young women on social media, building trust with teenage boys before coercing them into sharing explicit content.

The agency said the perpetrators would then demand payment via gift cards, mobile payments, or cryptocurrency while threatening to make public the content, adding that in many cases, the harassment continued even after money was paid, leaving victims ashamed and hopeless.

“As a result of Operation Artemis, a Nigerian man was extradited to the U.S. in January and charged with causing the death of a South Carolina teenager who took his own life after being extorted by the suspect posing as a woman,” the FBI said.

“Additionally, two men were extradited from Nigeria to the United States last year to face charges related to the sextortion and death of a young man in Pennsylvania. These subjects will now be held accountable in the American justice system, with more subjects still awaiting extradition in Nigeria.”

Kash Patel, FBI director, said, “Operation Artemis exemplifies the FBI’s never-ending mission to protect our most vulnerable and to pursue the heinous criminals harming our children—no matter where they hide.”

“This operation highlights the critical need for international cooperation to address this growing threat, and it’s a fight we can’t take on without our valued partners across the globe.

“We hope this message encourages parents and guardians to continue to educate their children about online safety and serves as a reminder of the FBI’s relentless pursuit of keeping our children safe.”

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, on Friday, re-elected Comrade Festus Osifo as its National President for a second term in office.

He was returned un-opposed at the congress’ first Quadrennial Delegates Conference held in Abuja.

Osifo, who will now lead the union from 2025 to 2029, pledged a more vigorous pursuit of workers’ rights, welfare and union expansion.

Speaking after his re-election, Osifo expressed deep gratitude to the delegates for the renewed mandate and promised to “work day and night” in advancing the interests of Nigerian workers.

The TUC president also outlined agenda for his new term, including intensified advocacy for better remuneration, increased state subventions, and the establishment of national secretariats across all states.

He also vowed to challenge private sector employers who resist unionisation, stating that the congress will take the battle to them.

Reflecting on the strength of the newly elected 19 members of National Administrative Council, Osifo described them as “men of timber and calibre,” representing diverse sectors from construction to civil service.

“We will no longer beg for fair treatment; we will demand it, with strategy, with strength, and with solidarity.

“This is not a time to be quiet; this is a time to be bold, to speak truth to power, and to build a future that honors labour,” he declared.

Festus Osifo first assumed leadership of the TUC in 2022.

By Okiki Adeduyite


https://dailytrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/cbex-1.jpg


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared four individuals wanted for their alleged involvement in a fraudulent scheme linked to an online trading platform known as Crypto Bridge Exchange, popularly known as CBEX.

In a public notice issued by the Commission on Friday, the suspects include Seyi Oloyede, Emmanuel Uko, Adefowora Oluwanisola, and Adefowora Abiodun Olaonipekun.

In the notice signed by the Head of Media & Publicity for the Commission, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to tackling financial crimes, especially in the increasingly exploited crypto space.

They are accused of defrauding unsuspecting investors through the crypto platform.

According to the EFCC, Oloyede and Uko were last traced to No. 166, Idimu Egbeda Road, Lagos State.

Meanwhile, Oluwanisola and Olaonipekun were last known to reside at 13, Jimoh Odutola, Ogungpa, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The commission has urged members of the public with any useful information regarding the whereabouts of the suspects to reach out to the EFCC through its offices in Ibadan, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt, or Abuja.

PUNCH Online reports on Thursday that the Federal High Court in Abuja granted the EFCC the authority to arrest and detain six individuals allegedly linked to CBEX fraud involving over $1 billion.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Thursday following an ex parte application brought by the EFCC and argued by its counsel, Fadila Yusuf.

Those named in the court motion include Adefowora Olanipekun, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, Seyi Oloyede, Avwerosuo Otorudo, and Chukwuebuka Ehirim..