Day: August 18, 2025

Top Russian general seriously wounded in Ukraine – Officials

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Russian officials say a senior Russian officer has been gravely wounded on the battlefield in Ukraine. Sergei Melikov, the leader of the Russian republic of Dagestan, stated that Lt.-Gen. Esedulla Abachev, a prominent commander in the Leningrad Military District, has been on the front line from the start of the conflict. Melikov posted on Telegram on Monday, saying, “He has held several important commanding positions, but has always been at the very front, at the most responsible and therefore most dangerous sections of the front.” He gave no other information…

Oyo declares Wednesday work-free for Isese festival

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In honor of this year’s Isese Day celebration, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has authorized Wednesday, August 20, 2025, as a public holiday. This was communicated to reporters in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, via a statement released Monday by Prof. Olanike Adeyemo, secretary to the State Government. According to Adeyemo, the governor kindly allowed the day off from work so that state citizens and followers of traditional religions could commemorate the event. Governor Makinde asked everyone to take the opportunity to pray and reflect for the stability, harmony,…

ADC condemns ‘intimidation campaign’ against Aregbesola

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The African Democratic Congress has denounced what it called a concerted intimidation campaign against Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the former interior minister. The attempt to paint him as a traitor to the Yoruba people is risky and undemocratic, the party cautioned. Aregbesola recently left the ruling All Progressives Congress for the ADC, where he is currently the national secretary, It is “amazing to see the zeal with which some President BAT supporters are trying to mobilize the Yoruba and South West people against Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for merely exercising his democratic…

JAMB orders universities to conclude 2025 admissions by October

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Nigerian public institutions are required by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to complete their 2025 admissions procedures by October 31, 2025. The board’s plan states that all private universities must finish admitting students by November 30, 2025, while all Nigerian postsecondary institutions, whether public or private, have until the end of the year. This is contained in a weekly bulletin delivered by the board on Monday. According to JAMB, the orders follow the agenda that was decided upon during the 2025 Policy Meeting, which was presided over by…

NOA backs Imo ban on primary school graduation parties, yearly textbooks change

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The Imo State Government‘s decision to forbid lavish graduation celebrations for students in nursery, primary, and junior secondary schools has been applauded by the National Orientation Agency, which sees the move as a daring move to inculcate discipline and responsible moral reorientation in young students. In a statement released on Monday by the Director of Communication and Media, Bala Musa, the Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, claimed that the custom of hosting extravagant graduation ceremonies promotes wastefulness, irrational expectations of immediate reward, and needless financial strain on parents. “The values…

UTME: 6,458 results under investigation for high-tech cheating

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The results of 6,458 applicants from the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are being investigated by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) due to allegations of technology-driven malpractice. This was announced on Monday in Abuja by JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede during the formation of a 23-member Special Committee on Examination Infraction. He bemoaned the increasing complexity of exam fraud, pointing out that it had beyond traditional means. We discovered a lot of odd things this year, so we thought it would be best to increase our resources.…

Kano approves N40.8bn for road construction, rehabilitation

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Contracts worth more than N40.8 billion have been granted by the Kano State Government to build and repair 17 township roads in the Kano metropolitan region. These projects cover important local government areas, such as Gwale, Nasarawa, Kumbotso, Fagge, Kano Municipal, Tarauni, Dala, and Ungogo, according to a statement. During a tour of finished and ongoing road projects with Alhassan Yahaya, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, on Tuesday, Ibrahim Waiya, the Commissioner for Information, made the revelation. Waiya emphasized that the contracts include the Tudun-Yola-Gwarzo Road…

Why Jonathan should not contest in 2027 — Shehu Sani

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Senator Shehu Sani, a former congressman from Kaduna Central, cautioned former President Goodluck Jonathan from running for president in 2027, stating that the political climate has changed. Political circles have been speculating about Jonathan’s return ever since the African Democratic Congress launched a new opposition coalition and discussions on a one-term Southern presidency have continued. On Sunday Politics on Channels Television, Sani made the case that the Peoples Democratic Party, which Jonathan led to victory in 2011, is today weak and dispersed. In the South-West, the PDP is supporting the…

FULL LIST: 20 teams compete as 2025/26 NPFL season begins Friday

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The 2025–26 Nigeria Premier Football League season, which is set to begin on Friday, August 22, 2025, will feature 20 clubs. This season promises to be an interesting campaign under its current moniker, as it marks the 54th edition of Nigeria’s top-flight football league and the 36th since it became professional. Reigning champions Remo Stars FC and Rivers United FC will play the first game of the 2025–26 NPFL on Friday. The game will start at Remo Stars Stadium at 4:00 p.m. Four privately owned clubs are among the NPFL…

‘How’s the market?’ Presidency taunts opposition parties

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Following the All Progressives Congress’s resounding victory in Saturday’s bye-elections, the Presidency took a scathing stab at opposition leaders Peter Obi, a past presidential candidate for the Labour Party, and Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress. “How is the market now?” was the caption for a picture of Atiku, Obi, and other ADC leaders that presidential spokeswoman Bayo Onanuga shared on X on Monday. —a blatant jab at the opposition’s poor polling results. He did not mention specific names, but the meaning was clear: it was a subliminal jab…