Tag: Nigeria

NELFUND under fire over loans to ex-students

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Some graduates from public tertiary institutions have raised concerns over the delayed disbursement of student loans, revealing that funds were sent to their schools months after they had already graduated. They also continue to receive N20,000 monthly upkeep stipends despite no longer being students. In separate interviews , the affected individuals explained that while they had applied for the Nigeria Education Loan Fund  before graduating, disbursements were delayed, forcing them to seek alternative means to pay their fees. To their surprise, the loans were eventually paid to their institutions long…

Only 1.16% of underage UTME candidates show exceptional ability — JAMB

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Out of the 40,247 underage candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), only 467 — which is 1.16 per cent —scored high enough to be classified under the exceptional ability category, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has revealed. This from a total of 1,955,069 processed results for the year. In a post made on X (formerly Twitter) via its official handle @JAMBHQ, the examination body on Monday, disclosed that although the underage candidates were permitted to showcase their academic prowess, “their performance in the subsequent…

Three Africans, 13 other cardinals emerge as potential successors to Pope Francis

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With no official campaigning or list of candidates and the election process shrouded in secrecy, speculation about who will succeed Pope Francis after the conclave beginning this week remains just that — speculation. But here are 16 cardinals who are among the potential favourites to succeed Pope Francis — so-called “papabili” — divided by region. AFRICA Peter Turkson (Ghana), 76, Archbishop emeritus of Cape Coast One of the Church’s most influential cardinals from Africa, Turkson has for years been mentioned as a possible first black pope. Made a cardinal by…

I dumped PDP for APC to avoid altercation with Adeleke — Oluwole Oke

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The member representing Oriade/Obokun in the House of Representatives, Oluwole Oke, recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party. Featuring on a programme aired by a private radio station in Osogbo, Rave FM, monitored by BOLA BAMIGBOLA, Oke said the need to support a Yoruba President and the refusal of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to fix decaying infrastructure in his Federal Constituency made him quit the PDP. After months of suspicions, you finally announced your resignation from the PDP. What pulled you out of the party? I decided to leave the…

‘Cabals’ still fighting against our refinery — Dangote

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The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, says he is still fighting for the survival of his $20bn refinery, stressing that the fight is not yet finished. Dangote expressed optimism that he would win the fight for the refinery, stating his determination to fight on. According to Semafor, an international news medium, Africa’s richest man spoke at an investor forum in Lagos on Friday. The report stated that Dangote pointed out that some individuals who “for a very, very long time” have “made a lot of money from” government-subsidised…

Power crisis: FG turns to banks for $23bn lifeline

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In a bid to end age-long power woes, the Federal Government is in talks with commercial banks and other investors to fund its ambitious universal electricity access, which requires a whopping $23.2bn investment. It was reported  that Nigeria will require $23.2bn of aggregate investment to achieve the planned universal electricity access in five to 10 years, reaching 120 million people across 22 million households. It was gathered that $14.1bn of the cost is an upfront investment to which multiple stakeholders must contribute. The $14.1bn initial investment is 60 per cent…

Interest boom: Nine local banks generate N14tn from loans

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Nine Nigerian banks raked in a combined interest income of N14.26tn in 2024, an analysis of the audited financial results of the financial institutions shows. As the banks made trillions of naira from the interest on loans given to customers during the review period, manufacturers counted their losses, groaning under the weight of soaring borrowing costs totalling N1.3tn for the same period. An analysis of the audited financial results of First Holdco, Guaranty Trust Holding Company, Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa, FCMB Group, Fidelity Bank, Stanbic IBTC Holdings,…

Boko Haram now on TikTok, operates unmanned drones – Security expert

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A security analyst and senior fellow of the Extremism Policy Unit at Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Bulama Bukarti, on Sunday, warned that the activities of the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram, have started gaining ground on major social media platforms like TikTok. Bukarti spoke when he was featured as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today. The revelation comes barely one week after the senator for Borno South District, Ali Ndume, lamented that Borno State lost 100 soldiers and 280 civilians to the onslaught carried out by Boko Haram…

[FULL LIST] U-20 AFCON: Flying Eagles coach unveils 24-man squad

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Head coach of the U-20 national team, Flying Eagles, Aliy Zubairu, has unveiled a 24-man squad for the upcoming U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 2025 U-20 AFCON will take place from April 27 to May 18. Zubairu named first-choice goalkeeper, Ifeanyi Harcourt, defender and captain, Daniel Bameyi, midfielder Sulaiman Alabi, and forward Kparobo Arierhi in the squad. The squad is a blend of home-based and foreign players who have intensified training in Abuja ahead of the tournament. Some of the…

Tinubu working remotely from overseas, returns after Easter – Presidency

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The Presidency has said President Bola Tinubu continues to direct the affairs of state from Europe, despite being outside the country for nearly two weeks. It also said the President will return on Monday, April 21, after the Easter holidays. In a statement signed Thursday, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained that the President, who travelled from Paris to London at the weekend, “remains fully engaged in Nigeria’s governance” and is in “constant communication with key government officials.” Onanuga added that the President had given “directives…