₦airaland Forum

Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has decried the state of Nigeria’s education system following the release of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination figures, which revealed that over 78% of candidates scored below 200.

In a statement posted on his official social media handles on Tuesday, Obi described the outcome as “a reflection of the deep-rooted challenges in our educational system,” citing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s official figures.

According to him, out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the UTME, only about 420,000 scored above 200, leaving more than 1.5 million with scores below the 200 mark.

Obi blamed the alarming failure rate on years of neglect and poor investment in the education sector.

The latest JAMB results once again highlight the consequences of decades of underinvestment in education, a sector that should be central to our national development strategy,” he said.

He drew comparisons with other countries to underscore Nigeria’s lag in educational advancement.

Bangladesh, which once lagged behind Nigeria in virtually every measurable development index, now surpasses us in all key areas of development and in the Human Development Index (HDI),” he said.

Obi pointed out that while Nigeria has around 2 million students enrolled in universities nationwide, Bangladesh’s National University alone has over 3.4 million students, despite having only 75% of Nigeria’s population.

He also noted that Turkey, with a population of about 87.7 million, boasts over 7 million university students — more than three times Nigeria’s total enrollment.

“Education is not just a social service; it is a strategic investment. It is the most critical driver of national development and the most powerful tool for lifting people out of poverty,” he stressed.

Calling for immediate action, Obi urged the government to “invest aggressively in education — at all levels — if we are serious about building a prosperous, secure, and equitable Nigeria

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Saturday’s governorship election Edo State, on his victory at the polls.

The President said the victory testifies to the people’s support for the ruling party, “its progressive ideals and economic reengineering programme”.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

He said the President commended INEC for conducting a free and fair election while asking those that are aggrieved to seek legal redress.

The victory testified to the people’s support for the ruling party, its progressive ideals, its economic reengineering programme and its commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians.”

The President urged Senator Okpebholo not to gloat over his victory but to see it as a challenging call to service and encouraged him to demonstrate magnanimity by reaching out to his political rivals and uniting the people of Edo State to ensure its development.

President Tinubu also praised other candidates who participated in the election for their contributions to advancing Nigeria’s democracy, saying peaceful political contests, such as the one on Saturday, portray Nigeria as a stable democracy.

He also commended the people of Edo for their orderly and peaceful conduct during the election, underscoring the maturing of Nigeria’s democracy after 25 years.



“I commend the INEC and our security agencies for working round the clock to conduct a successful, peaceful and largely hitch-free exercise. INEC has once again demonstrated that it is committed to organising a free and fair election in our country”, President Tinubu said.

We heartily congratulate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the delivery, at last, of his new presidential jet, reportedly worth $100 million or about N150 billion. The president can now travel around the world for important state functions without the sort of fears for his security associated with his now retired 19-year-old former plane. Of course, we are aware that presidential jets elsewhere are much older, and that aircraft generally have a functional longevity well beyond 19 years.

The National Assembly, which as far as Nigerians know, has not appropriated any funds for the new jet, but which has not raised any eyebrows for its acquisition outside of due process, can also rest in the knowledge that it has served President Tinubu a good turn, just as he had reportedly served its members with billions of naira for official vehicles.

Still, we believe that all of this is not so well, and certainly not so good. We believe, strongly, that it is entirely unconscionable, by any moral standards, that the president and his government would be signing off on a new plane at the very time when hundreds of thousands of young Nigerians are thronging the streets in protest against hunger and hardship. But the hunger and hardship they are protesting against were predicted long ago. As far back as November, last year, the World Food Programme (WFP) predicted that 26.5 million Nigerians would starve in June and August this year due to conflict, insecurity, rising inflation, among other causes. Meanwhile, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has said that Nigeria has the largest number of food insecure people at 31.8 million, higher even than India which has a population more than six times Nigeria’s.

It is simply difficult to accept that buying a new presidential jet is okay in this same country, without any discernible effort to tackle acute hunger on the part of the government.

And beyond street protests, the hunger in the land is evident in many other ways. It is evident in the unprecedented rise in the prices of foodstuffs across the country. It is evident in the millions of stomachs, of children and adults alike, that go to bed empty in a nation of relatively abundant human and material resources. It is evident in the sort of “food” Nigerians eat daily now. It is evident in the shameful statistic of being diagnosed with a disease called “lack of sufficient food to eat”, an affliction from which thousands of Nigerian children and adults died last year, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). And it is evident in the family of six Nigerians who all died after eating what were basically no more than leaves.

A nation must take good care of its leaders, no doubt, but the leaders must also demonstrate basic human care for the people. The president might have sorted out his own security with a new jet, and as rumoured online, a new car. But what about the security of the rest of us? What about, for example, the security of Sarkin Gobir, Alhaji Isah Bawa, who was murdered by bandits almost on live television at the same time as the president was taking delivery of his new plane? What would his children think of Nigeria and its leadership for the fate of their father after serving the government for 45 years? The 20 medical students abducted by kidnappers in Benue State as President Tinubu was celebrating his new acquisition might have now been rescued, and for sure, we thank God for their lives. But had the security of ordinary citizens been top of the government’s agenda, would such incidents and threats be so commonplace throughout the country in recent years?

The actions of leaders are a moral compass for the rest of society. Nigeria cannot prosper if the leaders are fed and the people hungry. It cannot flourish if the leaders are secure and the people insecure in every respect. Most importantly, our leaders must recognise that they will not earn the genuine respect of their peers around the world merely by the clothes they wear, the food they eat or the planes they fly. That respect can only be earned by how much concern they show for the welfare and security of their ordinary citizens. After all, that is the basis of government and leadership.

THE purchase of another presidential jet by the Bola Tinubu administration underlines the disdain with which the country’s rulers hold the citizens. That the President finds it convenient to indulge in luxurious ostentation at a time when millions of Nigerians are wallowing in poverty, and misery is an affront to decency. It is provocative, insensitive, and self-serving.

How the Airbus A330 jet was purchased smacks of an appalling lack of transparency and accountability that the Tinubu administration has vowed to entrench in public finances. Media reports suggest that the plane, previously owned by a Saudi company, was secretly bought from a German bank for $100 million through United States and Swiss aircraft brokers and a further $50 million to retrofit it in France. Discussions about the purchase occurred at the National Assembly in June, generating a public outcry. Senate President, Godwill Akpabio, assured that approval would be given if sought.

Nigerians were shocked that the aircraft was listed among the three presidential jets reportedly seized by a French court over a legal dispute between a Chinese firm and the Ogun State Government. After the aircraft was released to allow the President to make his latest trip to France, a presidential aide revealed that the purchase was made from the service-wide vote and Nigerians presented with a fait accompli.

The Tinubu administration has demonstrated poor judgement. Spending $150 million or N240 billion, equivalent to two-thirds of the N362.9 billion 2024 budget for agriculture without appropriation, is an abuse of the SWV.

The Presidency argued that the purchase would save Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly. This argument is hollow. The aircraft is the largest ever bought by the Presidential Air Fleet and is estimated to cost between $10,000 and $12,000 per hour to operate, compared with $5,750 per hour for the Boeing 737-700 put up for sale. Timely and adequate maintenance makes aircraft safe.

While the President is entitled to privacy, and security concerning air travel, there are cheaper, more cost-effective options in purpose-built business jets, which can be leased. The UK prime minister flies leased aircraft.

Images emerged last Monday confirming that the Presidency has bought a new set of armoured Cadillac Escalade Limousine SUVs for a reported cost of N950 million each. These complete the trappings of an imperial presidency that Tinubu is imposing on Nigerians with the mile-long convoys of glittering SUVs that have defined his road trips. Nigerians are conscious that N21 billion was spent renovating a new house for the Vice-President.

State governors have taken a cue with several of them lavishing public funds on new limousines and other luxuries. Lawmakers have been paying themselves humongous sums, including N21 million in “running costs” a month and the official N750,000 in a country where 133 million or 63 per cent of citizens are multidimensionally poor.

The NASS, a rubber stamp, has kept mute about the extra-budgetary spending by the Presidency.

It is a travesty that Nigeria’s democracy serves the political class while their impoverished constituents are told to hope for better days.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fired Jalal Arabi, as Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Ajuri Ngelale, Presidential spokesman, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, August 19, in which he announced Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman as the new Chairman of the agency.

Professor Usman is a renowned scholar with qualifications from two Islamic centres of excellence — the University of Madinah and Peshawar University, Pakistan.


“He is also well-grounded in Hajj operations, having served as the Chairman of Kano State Pilgrims Board, and successfully superintendent the operations of the largest quota of state pilgrims in the country.

“The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate. The President expects the new Chairman of NAHCON to discharge his duties with integrity, transparency, and utmost fidelity to the nation.”

Arabi, who was appointed in October, ran into trouble over the 2024 Hajj which the Federal Government released N90 billion to subsidise.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arrested Arabi and the commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, over the issue.

An EFCC source had said a total of 314,098 Saudi Riyals was recovered from the sacked NAHCON chairman.

“The chairman fraudulently overpaid himself, the commissioners, secretary and directors for the 2024 hajj operational cost.

“The chairman was entitled to SR15,929 but he got SR50,000; three commissioners who were meant to get SR 15,929 each received SR 40,000 each. The secretary got SR 30,000 instead of SR14,336. Directors/Chief of Staff received SR 30,000 instead of the SR2,550 they were entitled to. The total of SR314,098 were recovered from all of them,” the source said.

Nigeria requires a desperate reboot, but systemic corruption poses a significant risk to stability. While the government appeals to citizens for sacrifice, the privileged elite plunders public resources unchecked.

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, approved the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration to address the continued exodus of Nigerian doctors abroad.

The policy, announced by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, on his X handle on Tuesday, aims to woo an estimated 12,400 Nigerian-trained doctors practising abroad

According to Pate, who also appeared on Channels TV on Tuesday evening, 67 per cent of Nigerian-trained doctors are practising in the United Kingdom alone.

“The recruitment countries, that recruit our professionals, should they not have some responsibilities to help us expand the training? Because the strain of health workers’ migration is continuous; it’s not going to stop tomorrow.

“the UK will need Nigerian doctors; 67 per cent of our doctors go to the United Kingdom and 25 per cent of the NHIS workforce is Nigerian.

“Nigerians are very vibrant, very entrepreneurial, and very capable wherever they are. If Nigerians hold back from the UK, for instance, the NHS will struggle to provide the services that many Nigerians are going there to get,” the minister said.

Pate said the policy signed by the President was more than just a response to the ongoing exodus of healthcare professionals but a comprehensive strategy to manage, harness, and reverse health workers’ migration.

While health workers believed the policy might be positive, they demanded the details and implementation plan.

Announcing the policy on Tuesday, the health minister said, ”This afternoon, HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR @officialABAT, in-council, approved a landmark policy set to transform healthcare human resource management in Nigeria.

“The National Policy on Health Workforce Migration addresses the critical challenges facing Nigeria’s health human resources. As the AU Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership, Mr President’s commitment to a resilient and robust healthcare system is powerfully reflected in this forward-looking policy.

“This policy is more than just a response to the ongoing exodus of healthcare professionals; it’s a comprehensive strategy to manage, harness, and reverse health worker migration. It envisions a thriving workforce that is well-supported, adequately rewarded, and optimally utilised to meet the healthcare needs of all Nigerians.”

Many Nigerian healthcare workers leave the country for greener pastures, leaving their colleagues to contend with additional workload and extended call hours.

The push factors, according to them, are inadequate equipment, worsening insecurity, poor working conditions, and poor salary structure.

The minister noted that central to this vision was the Nigeria Human Health Resource Programme, which sets a framework for regular reviews of working conditions, ensuring that health workers, especially in rural and underserved areas, receive the recognition and rewards they deserve.

“By fostering an environment conducive to professional growth and stability, the policy aims to retain top talent within Nigeria.

“In an increasingly digital world, integrating advanced health technologies is essential. The policy’s focus on digital health infrastructure—including electronic medical records, telehealth, and a comprehensive health workforce registry—marks a significant step towards a more efficient, data-driven health system. These innovations will streamline healthcare delivery and enhance the equitable distribution of health workers, ensuring access to quality care for all Nigerians.

“Capacity building is at the heart of this policy. It recognises the importance of continuous professional development, with strategic partnerships and opportunities for international training to equip our healthcare professionals with cutting-edge skills. This investment in human capital underscores our commitment to retaining and empowering our healthcare workforce,” he stated.

He added that the policy addressed the return and reintegration of Nigerian health professionals from the Diaspora.

The minister said by establishing streamlined registration processes and providing attractive incentives, the policy would not only encourage the return of talented professionals but also actively reintegrate them into the health system.

“This approach leverages the expertise of our Diaspora to bridge gaps within the health sector. Also, the policy champions reciprocal agreements with other nations to ensure that the exchange of health workers benefits Nigeria. These bilateral and multilateral agreements are designed to protect national interests while respecting the rights and aspirations of our healthcare professionals. We call on recipient countries to implement a 1:1 match—training one worker to replace every publicly trained Nigerian worker they receive.

“Recognising the importance of work-life balance, the policy includes provisions for routine health checks, mental well-being support, and reasonable working hours, especially for younger doctors. These measures aim to create a supportive work environment, reducing burnout and enhancing job satisfaction.

“The governance of this policy will be overseen by the National Human Resources for Health Programme within @Fmohnigeria, in collaboration with state governments. This ensures responsible implementation and alignment with broader sector-wide health objectives.

“With this decisive action, the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration is set to secure the future of Nigeria’s healthcare system. Under Mr President’s leadership, this policy will further catalyse the transformation of our health sector, ensuring access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians.

“As we embark on this journey, all stakeholders are invited to contribute to building a healthcare system that reflects our nation’s potential and promise,” Pate said.

Explaining the policy further, the Senior Adviser, Media and External Relations, Tashikalmah Hallah, said the government was negotiating with countries where Nigerian healthcare workers migrate to to help Nigeria improve health training facilities.

“We are talking to those countries that our health workers are going to, to see if they can now help Nigeria to improve provisions of some of the facilities that will enable Nigeria to train more health workers.

“The Federal Government has expanded our admission quota and improved on these medical institutions, so they are now encouraging all these countries where our health workers go, to assist us in maintaining these health institutions.”

Hallah said the implementation of the policy takes effect immediately.

“It’s a policy, it was adopted by the Federal Executive Council yesterday (Monday). So, it is immediate, and it has been approved. So, it’s a Nigerian government policy. This is a policy binding on healthcare workers.

He emphasised that the FG has established a policy allowing healthcare workers to travel abroad for training and then return to apply their new knowledge.

“Currently, there is a request by Qatar for 10 medical doctors to go there to study, especially in oncology. So, immediately after the training, they are coming back to the country,” he said.

Guarded optimism

The President of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, Prof. Muhammad Muhammad, said the policy looks more theoretical than real.

Muhammad also called for the details of the policy for a better understanding.

“The issue is that we need to see the detail, it’s not just the English that matters. People bring a lot of policies on the ground, very well drafted and crafted, but execution is usually a problem. It might be difficult to say we are fully in support or otherwise if we have not seen the document.

“I have planned to check on the Ministry of Health, maybe tomorrow (today), to see if we can get the document and look at it. They mentioned certain things that we have been advocating – the welfare of doctors, improvement of the work environment, and retraining, but how they are going to do it needs to be spelled out in the document.

“We were not consulted before drafting the document, so we don’t have an insight into what is in the document. If they are going to put it to work, what they have written might be beneficial to the system and to also the healthcare workers, but the problem is that there may be a lot of other things that we don’t know yet. For example, when they say they are going to stop the migration, in what way? Is it by preventing doctors from moving, or how are they going to do it?”

The MDCAN President noted that the public needs to know if the policy will improve or worsen the rights of healthcare workers.

He said the 1:1 match—training of healthcare workers to replace every publicly trained Nigerian worker might mean that, “They want any country that is hiring a healthcare worker, in addition to paying the healthcare worker, will also pay Nigeria for the cost of training that doctor. Let’s say Saudi Arabia or UK or Canada are going to employ a doctor that is trained in the public institution, they will expect that that country will pay Nigeria the same amount that was spent to train that doctor in Nigeria.”

The Secretary of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Lagos State Council, Toba Odumosu, acknowledged that the policy appeared promising but emphasised the importance of gaining a clearer understanding of its details.

He also expressed support for the 1:1 training match for healthcare workers, noting that this approach is successfully implemented in other countries as well.

“For everybody that migrates to particular countries, you have a bilateral agreement for active recruitment of our health workers, then you find a way to sponsor the training of another healthcare worker in Nigeria. So the burden of training is not just on the Nigerian government, but the people who also benefit. That’s essentially what so many countries have done. In some cases, they have bilateral agreements that would mean that you actually go there for a certain number of years, and then you also find an agreement to come back to your country for a particular number of years before you are now free to migrate back. So, it’s sort of like a controlled migration system.

“But, we need the details of the policy to understand how this works because we still need to allocate more funds in the health sector, and meet the 2001 Abuja health declaration,” he noted.

As of December 3, 2023, the number of Nigerian-trained doctors licensed to practice in the UK was now 12,198, according to data from the General Medical Council in the UK.

Also, no fewer than 281 Nigerian doctors are working in other African countries, according to the data obtained from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in 2023.

The MDCN data showed that 153 Nigerian doctors are practicing in Sudan; followed by South Africa with 41 doctors; Egypt 17; Ghana 17; Uganda 13; Gambia – seven.

Others are Lesotho -six; Cameroon – four; Namibia -four; Algeria -two; Ethiopia -two; Kenya -two; Liberia -two; Benin -one; Botswana -one; Equatorial Guinea -one; Niger -one; Rwanda -one; Sierra Leone -one; Seychelles -one; South Sudan -one; Tanzania -one; Togo -one; and Zambia -one.

So far, a total of 13,656 Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives are practicing in the United Kingdom.

This is according to the latest report on the number of nursing and midwifery professionals on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register as of March 31, 2024.

The report also showed that Nigeria is one of the top non-UK countries of education as of March 2024, and the number of Nigerian nurses and midwives practicing in the UK increased by 28.3 per cent in one year.

Other top non-UK countries of education as of March 2024, compared to last year are India (62,413), Philippines (49,092), Romania (7,378), and Ghana (5,536)

Like several others in the streets of Nigeria’s major cities, Glory Effiong Ekanem, a university graduate, hawks sachet water for survival. Glory buried her certificates in her wardrobe and settled for trudging the streets and campuses of higher institutions to hawk her wares because she has mouths to feed.

Glory’s existential story became handy when Saturday Tribune sighted her hawking with two transparent plastic buckets. She stuffs one with iced sachet water and soft drinks balancing it on her head while holding firmly to another containing snacks around the University of Uyo classrooms. Ironically, the 43-year-old mother-of-four, who’s now hawking before undergraduates, graduated from the University of Calabar some 25 years ago.

This is her story: “My name is Mrs Glory Effiong Ekanem from Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. I am a married woman with four children and my husband is working with the State Ministry of Works. I am 43 years old. My first child is 14 years old and she is in Senior Secondary (SS2).

“I am a graduate of the Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Cross River State. I graduated in 2000.

“After my National Youth service, I went for an interview in the Ministry of Health, Akwa Ibom State, but I couldn’t get a job there. I went to the State’s Fire Service, wrote their recruitment exams, came third but they didn’t take me.

“I went for another one after some time and we were asked to pay the sum of N300,000 to get the job. I don’t want to mention the place, but what I don’t understand is why would these people ask us for money when we were looking for a job?

Would I be job-hunting if I had that kind of money? I don’t think so. After doing several interviews in various sectors with no success or employment, I decided to go into business, no matter how small, instead of hoping and waiting for a job.

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“I am doing this business (hawking sachet water) because I need to have my own money to assist my husband in taking care of my family.


“The economy is hard, so every man needs all the support they can get and that is why I am selling “pure water” and soft drinks. It’s not every time you ask your husband for money.

“I have a shop where I sit down and keep my goods of soft drinks and sachet water, but I always come out to hawk because that way, I sell more.

“I started this business in 2022 after teaching in a private school. There, I was receiving N20,000 as salary. I had to stop the work because the cost of living was seriously increasing.

In that same 2022, my sister introduced me to this business and helped me purchase packs of biscuits, water and drinks and looked for an open space in the University of Uyo.

“I started the business with N10,000. Then, things were not that costly as we could still buy a carton of biscuits for between N1000 and N2000 and we bought a pack of sachet water for N150 and sold it for N10 per sachet.


“The business was profitable then because things were not that expensive. Now, we buy a bag of sachet water for N300 and sell N30 per sachet.

Then, I normally sold five crates of soft drinks and five cartons of biscuits daily and so I was making profits. But now, it’s not like that. What I sell daily then, I struggle to sell in a week now. Because of how expensive a bottle of soft drink is now, students no longer buy it. I can hardly sell a crate of soft drinks these days.

“It is not easy to make ends meet in this economy but I thank God. I am not too affected by the rising prices of some foodstuffs especially garri because I have cassava farms.

“I have a plantain farm and also a pineapple farm. So, most times, I make garri from my cassava farm and keep in the house for my family and that is how God is sustaining us. If not, it would have been very difficult to feed six mouths with the increasing price of garri. Even with that, it’s not easy to eat things.

“Fuel is the major problem we are facing in this country. If the price of petrol can be reduced, things will become better.

“The government should do everything possible to reduce the fuel price so that poor people can afford basic food in order to survive.

“There are empty spaces in government establishments, I am also calling on the government to give employment to everyone with the requisite experience and requirement.”

Against all expectations, Nigeria’s 19th appearance at the Olympic Games ended in a fiasco, failing to win a medal at Paris 2024, which rounds off on Sunday (today) after 16 days of intense jostle for medals, Sunday PUNCH reports.

After winning two medals (silver and bronze) at the last edition in Tokyo, everyone expected Team Nigeria to aim higher, but they fell short on all fronts despite the massive N9 billion funds from the federal government being the total budget the National Olympic Committee submitted to the presidency for approval.

The country featured 88 athletes in 12 sports and came off empty-handed, making it a chastening Olympics for Nigerian Sports, the country’s worst outing at the Olympics since London 2012, as notable medal prospects Tobi Amusan, Blessing Oborududu, Favour Ofili, Ese Brume, and Quadri Aruna fell short in their respective events.

As has been the case in almost all international outings, Nigeria’s campaign was dented by controversies. Ofili’s name was inexplicably omitted from the women’s 100m roster for which she had qualified. The age-old kitting crisis reared its ugly head as athletes had two kits separately supplied by the Athletes Federation of Nigeria and National Olympic Committee.

After Amusan’s failure, Hannah Reuben was the last athlete left to salvage a medal for the country, but she lost her second-round fight in the women’s freestyle wrestling 76 kg, 5-2 (victory by points) to Mongolia’s Davaanasan Amar Enkh on Saturday.

Only D’Tigress gave Nigerians something to cheer as Rena Wakama’s team braced the odds to reach the quarterfinals of the Women’s Basketball Tournament, becoming the first African team to reach that stage of Olympics basketball.

Their laudable performance lent credence to the objective selection of players by a coach with tactical and technical savvy.

Their adventure ended with an 88-74 defeat to perennial winners the USA, but Wakama made her charges totally outplay the Americans in the last quarter, being the only team to have put them on the back foot in many years.

The resonating outing is hinged on Wakama’s infectious passion for the game, being proudly Nigerian, and belief that leading the team is more than just a job.

“I’m so proud. We did this in one year, and I’m so happy. This is just the beginning. I’m Nigerian; this is home. I wanted to take the job because I wanted to inspire and build where I’m from,” said the record-making coach.

Meanwhile, it has been all gloom in Team Nigeria camp, with athletics and officials wearing long faces and the Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, fuming over the fiasco, threatening to rid the various sports federations of official bereft of requisite ideas for excellence.

“I know that elections into the Federations are coming, and it will be the perfect platform to get only those who have something to offer to lead the various sports. I am aware that the Sports Federation Elections in Nigeria are even tougher than our National Elections, and you will begin to ask yourself why it is so,” said Enoh, who is not happy about Nigeria being also-ran at the multi-sport event.

Meanwhile, interim Nigeria Boxing Federation President Azania Omo-Agege has called on the minister to pursue an inquest into the affairs of the federation following the controvery and failure in Paris.

The federal government has announced the establishment of an N200bn Consumer Credit Corporation aimed at funding Nigerians’ credit purchases in the wake of economic hardship.


President Bola Tinubu unveiled the plan on Sunday in his ‘State of Nation’ address after hunger led to a nationwide protest with a major theme: #Endbadgovernance.

But Tinubu maintained that floating the naira and removing fuel subsidy were necessary, adding that the government has made plans for palliatives.

According to him, since the removal of subsidy and floating the naira, aggregate government revenues more than doubled, hitting over N9.1tn in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023.

Tinubu said, “I encourage more of our vibrant youth population to take advantage of this opportunity. We established the Consumer Credit Corporation with over N200bn to help Nigerians to acquire essential products without the need for immediate cash payments, making life easier for millions of households. This will consequently reduce corruption and eliminate cash and opaque transactions.

This week, I ordered the release of an additional N50bn Naira each for NELFUND – the student loan, and Credit Corporation from the proceeds of crime recovered by the EFCC.”

Tinubu revealed that the government has released N570bn to state governors to support citizens.

“More than N570bn has been released to the 36 states to expand livelihood support to their citizens, while 600,000 nano-businesses have benefitted from our nano-grants. An additional 400,000 more nano-businesses are expected to benefit,” Tinubu said.

He said 75,000 beneficiaries have been processed to receive N1m Micro and Small Business single-digit interest loans which will commence this month.

According to the president, large-scale manufacturers are receiving N1bn low-interest loans to boost manufacturing.

We have also built 10 MSME hubs within the past year, created 240,000 jobs through them and 5 more hubs are in progress which will be ready by October this year.

“Payments of N1bn each are also being made to large manufacturers under our single-digit loans to boost manufacturing output and stimulate growth,” he added.

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities has said university students may likely be charged N80,000 or more to cover the high electricity tariffs.

Secretary-General, CVCNU, Prof Yakubu Ochefu, in an interview with our correspondent, said universities could not afford the over N200m they were being charged monthly for electricity.

They were charged N61m monthly before the introduction of the Band A system following the hike in electricity tariff.

In April 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission announced an increase in electricity tariff paid by Band A customers from N68/KWh to N225/KWh, which was a 300 per cent increment.


Band A customers are those who enjoy electricity supply for at least 20 hours per day.

Many universities have cried out over soaring electricity bill following the new policy.

For instance, Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State, and the University of Benin lamented receiving N3.6bn electricity bills, averaging N300m monthly under the Band A tariff.

Also, VC, UNIBEN, Prof Lilian Salami, said the university had been disconnected from the national grid because it could not afford to pay about N300m monthly for electricity

Last Saturday, Babcock University, Ogun said it paid N300m in May for electricity.

“Before the new tariff, universities were paying around N1bn annually, but now the cost has risen to N4bn per annum. How are they supposed to find such funds? How much is being allocated to universities for their overhead budgets?

“If the FG doesn’t step in to rescue the universities, the costs will be transferred to students as user charges, amounting to N80,000 per student. Alternatively, universities will have to limit their operations to four hours a day.

“For example, UNIBEN is currently running a generator for four hours daily, which costs them N60m a month. This is unsustainable given the need for a functioning library, internet access, and laboratory facilities,” Ochefu said.

He said vice-chancellors had written to the Federal Government and were waiting for the pro-chancellors to follow up with the request.

“The charges presented before us are unrealistic. Universities can’t afford to pay N200m or N300m monthly for electricity. The Federal Government needs to reconsider this decision. We have written to the President, requesting a concessionary rate or a return to the previous rate based on the funding provided by the FG to universities. There has been no response yet. We wrote the letter when the policy was first announced.

The matter is now in the hands of the pro-chancellors, as it is a critical funding issue. The Vice-Chancellors have done their part,” Ochefu said.

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities has said university students may likely be charged N80,000 or more to cover the high electricity tariffs.

Secretary-General, CVCNU, Prof Yakubu Ochefu, in an interview with our correspondent, said universities could not afford the over N200m they were being charged monthly for electricity.

They were charged N61m monthly before the introduction of the Band A system following the hike in electricity tariff.

In April 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission announced an increase in electricity tariff paid by Band A customers from N68/KWh to N225/KWh, which was a 300 per cent increment.


Band A customers are those who enjoy electricity supply for at least 20 hours per day.

Many universities have cried out over soaring electricity bill following the new policy.

For instance, Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State, and the University of Benin lamented receiving N3.6bn electricity bills, averaging N300m monthly under the Band A tariff.

Also, VC, UNIBEN, Prof Lilian Salami, said the university had been disconnected from the national grid because it could not afford to pay about N300m monthly for electricity

Last Saturday, Babcock University, Ogun said it paid N300m in May for electricity.

“Before the new tariff, universities were paying around N1bn annually, but now the cost has risen to N4bn per annum. How are they supposed to find such funds? How much is being allocated to universities for their overhead budgets?

“If the FG doesn’t step in to rescue the universities, the costs will be transferred to students as user charges, amounting to N80,000 per student. Alternatively, universities will have to limit their operations to four hours a day.

“For example, UNIBEN is currently running a generator for four hours daily, which costs them N60m a month. This is unsustainable given the need for a functioning library, internet access, and laboratory facilities,” Ochefu said.

He said vice-chancellors had written to the Federal Government and were waiting for the pro-chancellors to follow up with the request.

“The charges presented before us are unrealistic. Universities can’t afford to pay N200m or N300m monthly for electricity. The Federal Government needs to reconsider this decision. We have written to the President, requesting a concessionary rate or a return to the previous rate based on the funding provided by the FG to universities. There has been no response yet. We wrote the letter when the policy was first announced.

The matter is now in the hands of the pro-chancellors, as it is a critical funding issue. The Vice-Chancellors have done their part,” Ochefu said.

This was disclosed in a notice to residents and visitors which went viral on social media on Wednesday.

The notice read, “Please be informed that the Oro Festival will be observed in various communities across Lagos from 1st of August to August 15. This traditional Yoruba cultural event involves significant rituals.”

Suspiciously, the timeframe of the Oro ritual coincides with the #EndBadGovt, but the state government has however denied having a hand in the cultural event.

Speaking to Peoples Gazette on Wednesday, Gboyega Akosile, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, however noted that, like the youths intended to exercise their right to protest, traditional worshippers also have the right to perform their activities.

Mr Akosile however advised the protesters and Oro adherents not to stand in each other’s way to prevent breakdown of law and order.

He said, “I saw it just like every other person did. Did you see any signatory to this statement? The answer is no! If it’s not endorsed, then it’s a nullity. However, traditional religious worshippers have the right to carry out their worship at any time. Whether it coincides with the dates of the protests or not. I’m not sure it removes anything from the fact that they have their right to carry out their traditional worship.

“You want to protest, I want to do my worship, it’s my right. It is now right versus right. As long as your own right does not disturb my own right, there won’t be crisis, let everybody be doing their thing.’’

Mr Akosile however noted that if the protest turned violent, security agencies would be on hand to ensure that it didn’t turn bloody.

Recall that ahead of the 2023 general elections in the state, Oro Festival was also declared with residents witnessing pots of rituals placed on several junctions and in front of some houses across the state.

Three days to the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state, the traditional ruler of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, Saheed Ademola, was reported to have declared a three-day “Oro rites,” claiming the festival was an annual event.

It was however believed that the scheduling of the ritual event was to prevent voters opposed to the ruling party from voting freely for candidates of their choice.

#2024 UTME Top Scorers

1.⁠ ⁠Olowu David – 367- Ondo
2.⁠ ⁠⁠Alayande David- 367- Oyo
3.⁠ ⁠⁠Orukpe Joel-367- Edo
4.⁠ ⁠⁠Emmanuel Jeremiah - 366 - Akwa-Ibom
5.⁠ ⁠⁠Essiet Etini - 365 - Akwa-Ibom
6.⁠ ⁠Ezenwoko Zara - 365 - Abia
7.⁠ ⁠⁠Umoh Joshua-365 - Akwa-Ibom
8.⁠ ⁠⁠Mamudu Abdulraham - 364 - Edo
9.⁠ ⁠⁠Adeleke Abdulbasit - 363 - Kwara
10.⁠ ⁠⁠Echem Victor - 363 - Rivers
11.⁠ ⁠⁠Etute Emmanuel - 363 - Edo
12.⁠ ⁠⁠Jedidiah Chidiebube-363 - Imo
13.⁠ ⁠⁠Adesanya Oluwatimilehin - 363 - Ogun

1. South South - 7
2. South West - 3
3. South East - 2
4. North Central - 1
5. North West - Nil
6. North East - Nil

The Presidency has slammed the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for condemning plans by the Federal Government to buy new aircraft for President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Obi in a statement released on Monday, June 17, described the move as insensitive given the fact that many Nigerians were dealing with economic hardship inflicted on them by the Federal Government’s policies.

However, in a swift reaction to his stance, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Obi’s comment as insensitive, wondering if he would rather have the life of the President jeopardized by flying faulty aircraft.

Speaking with Punch, Onanuga said;

“Does Peter Obi want the President d£ad? Is that his wish? Does he want him to continue moving around in a rickety plane and die like the VP of Malawi and Iran President? Let him tell us. This is a basic thing any sane government will do. You can’t toy with your President’s welfare.

The plane he used now, I learnt, was bought during (former President) Obasanjo’s era. That was over 20 years ago and I learnt it was a very small plane. The plane developed a problem the last time he travelled to Saudi Arabia. The President had to go from there to the UK on a commercial airline. Even those managing them said the aircraft needed to be replaced.

Why would any right-thinking person still want the President to move around in it? In this way, it is the National Assembly that officially recommended that new ones should be bought. Sometimes, Peter Obi opened his mouth to make unnecessary statements.”

The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence had recently called on the FG to buy new aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has accused the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of heeding to ill advice from enemies of Kano State.

He said this in reaction to the emirate tussle in which Federal security agencies with constitutionally assigned responsibility of ensuring peace, law and order, have been backing the deposed Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony for the construction of 82 kilometres rural road networks at his hometown, Madobi, Kwankwaso said people of Kano would resist any attempt to undermine the constituted authority in the state.

“We have mass followership because people believe in us, we are pro-people and the NNPP administration is determined to serve them anywhere they vote for it.”

“We will not fold our arms and watch enemies of the state destroying the peaceful co-existence of our dear state, as we shall do everything possible to support the governor to succeed. I am happy that he is not distracted and is focused on achieving his goals.

“There are people from Kano, enemies of the state, who also suffer mental illness and are the ones advising the Federal Government on how to take over Kano through a State of Emergency. This is madness of the highest order that the good, peace loving and committed people Kano will resist.

“In the build ups to 2027, some desperate politicians are already on a mission of disruption, but we will rather prefer the two of us to lose than to allow them to crush us unnecessarily. We dare anybody, who thinks he can victimise us politically, to go and be rest assured that we are ready for the fight.

“We are not afraid to be out of power because we will remain politicians in or out of government, we cannot run away from our destiny, we are humans, we know what is good for us and we will pursue it vigorously,” the former Kano State Governor vowed.

The NNPP national leader further stated that the Federal Government is listening to some unpatriotic politicians from Kano, who will only contribute to its failure because, he said, the people of Kano will resist any attempt to undermine the constitutional responsibility of the Governor by any individual or group.

“We are open to dialogue, truce and reconciliation, but we will not accept intimidation and political harassment of any sort. We know how to play politics and we have all it takes to protect ourselves from any evil,” Kwankwaso warned.

Source: Trust

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in last year’s general elections, Peter Obi, has upbraided the federal government for contemplating the purchase of some new aircraft to add to the presidential fleet.

Obi, on Monday, on his X handle, said the move was unacceptable and a clear show of insensitivity to the suffering of the Nigerian people.

He wrote: “At a time when our country is on the front page of global newspapers for facing its worst economic crisis, marked by high inflation, a falling currency and widespread poverty, the government is contemplating buying new presidential jets.

“This demonstrates extreme insensitivity to citizens’ struggles. With rising insecurity, poverty, hunger and homelessness, this decision highlights the disconnect that is apparent between the government and the people.

It is unacceptable as the situation in the country today more than ever demands a more compassionate use of resources, prioritising citizens’ welfare. It’s on record that our presidential jets have an average age of 12 years, purchased when most Nigerians could afford necessities. Now, as our country faces significant challenges, including a high debt profile, our citizens are in even greater need.”

He noted that despite dropping down to the fourth largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of $252bn and a per capita income of $1,080, with huge debt burdens and borrowing to service debts, Nigeria spent $15m for “our” vice president’s residence, while the USA, the world’s largest economy with a GDP of $25trn, about 100 times Nigeria’s GDP, and a per capita income of $80,000, about 80 times Nigeria’s, still houses their vice president in Number 1 Observatory Circle, a house built over 100 years ago, and which value was less than the $15m Nigeria spent on the VP’s residence.

He further said, “A reputable real estate company reports that the US vice president’s official residence is valued at about $7.5m today. While we had earlier refurbished the old VP’s residence with $2m. The over 100-year-old US vice president’s house has only undergone wide-scale renovations twice, funded by taxpayers’ money; in 1993 and 2021. Every new US VP is free to finance any minor refurbishing from his funds.

“It’s, therefore, time to stop this impunity, insensitivity and shamelessness and refocus on the needs of our people. We must prioritise education, healthcare and lifting our citizens out of poverty. Let us work together to build a nation that truly serves its people; not just the interests of a few.”

* Reveals his govt in one year stopped further bleeding of country

*Accuses governors of suffocating local government

Deji Elumoye in Abuja, Nume Ekeghe and Kayode Tokede in Lagos

President Bola Tinubu yesterday, told Nigerians that the worst days are over for the Nigerian economy, assuring that his administration would continue to take steps to deliver the dividends of democracy.The President also accused State governors of being a clog in the wheel of development of the local government as the third tier of government.Speaking when he received a delegation of the Yoruba Leaders of Thought at the State House, the President, according to a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, emphasised that governance must be transformative and must address the critical needs of citizens.

According to him, the past 12 months have been fulfilling for his administration despite the presence of some challenges being addressed frontally.His words: “It has been challenging. It has been fulfilling as well. We took over, and we have stopped the bleeding. I can say categorically now that Nigeria is no longer bleeding. And it will not bleed to death, but rather will now move to prosperity. That is the promise that I made to you all, and it is also the charge that you gave to me.

“We are managing to swim through the pond. The current is not a good one. We will turn the tide. We are turning the bend. This I assure you. I am being very careful. The worst is over for Nigeria. We will prevail.“I thank the team who have been working really hard. All I can promise is that we will do whatever it takes. We are determined and we will work so that all Nigerians can feel the impact of good governance.”The President also called for more effective local government system that fosters community development and delivers the essentials of governance within a strengthened federal structure.

A former Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, has accused the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari of being full of manipulations and fraudulent approvals.

Shittu made the revelation during an interview session on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday.

“Let me tell you, there were a lot of manipulations, and we even heard that a lot of the so-called approvals did not emanate from President Buhari,” Shittu stated.

The former lawmaker in the Second Republic served as minister between 2015 and 2019 under Buhari

While reacting to comments that the immediate past government printed excess money to run the economy, he revealed that many persons close to the ex-president manipulated things in their favour, thereby plunging the country’s economy into crisis.

Shittu said, “There were a lot of manipulations and fraudulent approvals which did not emanate from the President.

There were a lot of people around the President who exploited their relationship with the President and conspired with the then-CBN governor.”

The former minister, however, called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to wade into the matter and ‘probe properly.’

“I hope the EFCC will probe properly as to how these things happen without the President knowing,” he concluded.

Recall that the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, recently stated that many approvals for releasing funds within the Central Bank of Nigeria under Godwin Emefiele did not have the immediate past President’s signature.

Emefiele was first appointed as CBN governor by President Goodluck Jonathan but was retained by Buhari, who renewed his tenure at the apex bank.

Three weeks from now, President Bola Tinubu will mark his first year in office. As we approach that first anniversary, it is only natural that the entire nation will be looking back and reflecting on the journey so far. In this piece, I would like to highlight some of the foundational elements of the thinking underpinning the work that Tinubu is doing to reset and remake Nigeria. I believe that the more Nigerians are able to understand the ‘whys’ behind the ‘whats’, the easier it will be to connect the dots between the vision and its outcomes.

I will start by reiterating the known facts that Tinubu came to the Presidency with eight years of experience as the governor of the largest subnational economy in Africa, during which he mastered the art of implementing enduring institutional and process reforms. The President also showed up with an unparalleled understanding of the private sector, honed by his high-flying career as a corporate executive in the oil and gas industry. These have no doubt shaped his approach to the task of leading Nigeria. It is with these in mind that I will now turn to highlight five core principles or ideas that underpin the President’s leadership vision.

Firstly, Tinubu is resolutely focused on policies and actions that will attract long-term local and foreign investments to Nigeria, knowing that every naira and dollar of new investment in the country means new jobs, increased productivity for local consumption and export, and much-needed economic growth. For these investments to happen, the business environment must be conducive. This is what is fuelling the painstaking rebuilding of the credibility and capacity of the Central Bank of Nigeria. It is also why we have extensive tax and fiscal reforms ongoing, to reduce the burden on businesses.

It is why Mr President has established the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, which is mobilising billions of dollars for infrastructure projects that will reshape the country’s landscape – our roads and highways, airports and seaports, power plants, and so on. It is equally what explains the constant engagement with local and foreign investors, in which the President plays the role of Chief Marketing Officer with great energy and enthusiasm — and with remarkable success. In one year, we have seen investment commitments in excess of $30bn, across various sectors.

Secondly, Tinubu is focused on policies and programmes that provide direct and targeted economic relief and benefits to the pockets and livelihoods of Nigerians, by way of grants, education loans, food and fertiliser distribution, cash transfers, health insurance, and consumer credit. As we speak, disbursement has since commenced of the nano-grants of N50,000 each intended for one million Nigerians, part of a larger N200bn MSMEs credit programme.

The National Social Investment Programme is currently being repositioned to ensure that it delivers maximum value to the intended beneficiaries, without the distortion of middlemen. This vision of targeted economic relief has also led to the launch, in recent weeks, of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation, as well as the work going on to negotiate a new minimum wage that will touch the lives of millions of Nigerians. A Presidential Compressed Natural Gas initiative to provide a cheaper alternative to petrol and diesel for transporters and commuters is also being finalised.

Thirdly, the President understands that desirable developmental outcomes often require a temporary period of pain and adjustment. He seizes every opportunity to be seen and heard asking for the understanding of the Nigerian people. Speaking recently at the World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he said, “Concerning the question of subsidy removal, there is no doubt that it was a necessary action for my country not to go bankrupt and to reset the economy and the pathway to growth. It was going to be difficult, but the hallmark of leadership is making difficult decisions when they need to be made.”

On the foreign exchange regime reforms, he said, “The currency management was necessary, equally to remove the artificial element of value in our currency. Hence, our local currency finds its level and competes with the rest of the world’s currencies as we remove corrupt arbitrage and opaqueness.”

Tinubu wants to build a Nigeria that is confident and competitive on the global stage. Because of this, we can no longer afford certain ways of doing things. We must push past the false comfort of certain ingrained habits and practices, and endure inevitable but temporary discomfort because we are certain that ahead of us lies lasting reward.

Fourthly, we have a President who listens very actively to the opinions of Nigerians, who does not allow ego to get in the way of doing what is best and who does not shy away from implementing adjustments in the policy-making process, where necessary. When the Students Loan Act required some more work, he wasted no time in getting this done. He sent the Act back to the National Assembly, where it was revised in record time, and returned for presidential assent. Today we have a much-improved Act that will deliver even greater value to the young Nigerians for whom it is intended.

Fifthly, Tinubu is an adept communicator who leads by example, and wants Nigerians to always be in the know regarding the decisions being taken on their behalf. As the Minister of Information and National Orientation, I can attest to the enthusiasm that I have always seen in him, which has helped greatly in my work. I have personally enjoyed the President’s support to inaugurate a pioneering National Communications Team that brings together key communications experts in the Presidency and the Federal Government, alongside the heads of our public information agencies. Our goal is to ensure that Nigerians are carried in a timely and transparent manner, as the President intensifies his determination to deliver on the Renewed Hope agenda. Nigerians will in the months ahead see even more effort from us to communicate this journey of transformation.

Let me now also add this: We were well aware, from the very start, that the task we signed up for as a party and a government — to renew the hope of Nigerians, and to convert that hope into genuine satisfaction, under the inspired leadership of President Tinubu — was never going to be an easy one. That is in fact why we put ourselves forward; because we know that at this critical juncture in our history, Nigeria requires thinking that is fresh, audacious, and pragmatic; and we are confident that we can deliver this, against the backdrop of a world assailed by myriad fiscal, geopolitical, and technological challenges. Under Tinubu’s watch, we will rebuild and restore the faith of Nigerians in their country.

As the implementation of our administration’s first full-year budget gathers momentum, Nigerians will increasingly see, across all sectors of the economy, concrete manifestations of the renewed hope they ushered in a year ago. This is where I will again ask for the continued understanding and support of all Nigerians, and for the media to strive to become fully alive to its democracy-nurturing obligations.

As a government, we must be held accountable for all that we have promised the people of Nigeria. At the same time, we also deserve to have Nigeria’s budding success narratives reported and amplified with enthusiasm, and without distortion. With a committed President and team, as we move into the second year of the administration, there is no doubt in my mind that things can only get better for this blessed and beautiful country of ours.