FG Officially Fixes Age For Tertiary Institutions’ Admission

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July 8, 2025

By Akinwale Kasali

The Federal Government has formally set 16 years as the minimum age for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, made this disclosure during the opening session of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, 2025 Policy Meeting today in Abuja.

Alausa stated that 16 years is non negotiable, as it is a matured and cognitive age in seeking admission into Tertiary Institution.

”This policy decision reflects a balance between cognitive maturity and academic preparedness. 16 years is non-negotiable,” he said.

Alausa warned that the heads of institutions found to be engaged in admission fraud would face prosecution.

He stressed that the age requirement is mandatory and non-negotiable, adding that heads of institutions found complicit in admission fraud will face strict legal consequences.

Ondo Doctors Give Notice Of Warning Strike

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Ayodele Oni

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July 8, 2025

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By Ayodele Oni

Medical doctors in Ondo State, under the aegis of the National Association of Government General and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), have declared a three-day warning strike starting from Monday, July 14, 2025.

The strike is in response to what the doctors described as gross neglect of the health sector and the welfare of medical professionals by the State Government.

According to a statement signed by Dr. Richard Obe, Chairman of the NAGGMDP, and Dr. Adekunle Owolabi, Secretary, the doctors have several grievances against the state government.

These include a crippling shortage of medical personnel, with some general hospitals operating with just one doctor per entire local government area. The doctors also condemned a sudden increase in taxation from April 2025 without prior consultation.

Others are non-payment of salaries and allowances to eight newly recruited doctors employed since October 2024, and unpaid hazard allowances for October to December 2023 and January 2024.

They also mentioned outstanding promotion arrears from June to December 2024, and salary shortfalls as well as unpaid allowances for other members.

The NAGGMDP called for immediate recruitment of more doctors across Ondo State, full payment of salary arrears and statutory allowances, reversal of the new tax regime and

It warned that failure to address these demands during the warning strike would result in an indefinite industrial action, with widespread consequences for the state’s already fragile health system.

While assuring the public of their commitment to healthcare delivery, the doctors emphasized that they could no longer continue to work under such difficult conditions.

The NAGGMDP had issued a 14-working-day ultimatum to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, which expired on July 1, 2025.

However, the state government ignored the ultimatum, prompting the doctors to declare the warning strike.

Abia Alleges Plans To Disenfranchise Voters, Compromise 2027 Polls

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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July 8, 2025

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Alex Otti - Abia State Governor — Governor Alex Otti of Abia State

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Abia State Government again has raised the alarm over an alleged ingenious plan by some yet-to-be identified political forces to subtly manipulate elections in the State through the disenchantment of unsuspecting voters.

A statement late on Monday, July 7 2025, from Ferdinand Ekeoma ,the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media Matters alleged that some political actors have deployed their agents to various wards in the state to “fraudulently obtain information contained in the Voters Cards PVCs of prospective voters in the rural areas in exchange for the sum of N10,000 each.”

“The State Government further alleged that the exercise is being carried out under the guise of creating a nonexistent e-wallet empowerment for the victims.

According to the authorities, the intention of the sponsors of the alleged criminal act is to compromise the integrity of the PVCs, and subsequently render their owners ineligible to vote during future elections, particularly the 2027 polls.

“The Abia State Government has carried out empowerment programmes for the youth and elderly across the State, and will continue to carry out empowerments, like the Abia State Interest Free Loan Empowerment Scheme for over 10,000 Abians, the Abia Techrise Project , Training of Abia Youth in Agricultural skills in Nasarawa state and subsequent funding by the Government etc without politicization ,and or attaching questionable preconditions aimed at violating the rights of the people.

“Government views this deliberate act of criminality as an irresponsible act and warns that any person or group of persons, no matter how highly placed, caught indulging in this criminality , directly or through agents ,shall face severe consequences beyond their imagination.

“Finally, Government wishes to call on Abians, especially, rural dwellers, to henceforth distance themselves from any individual or group who may approach them for the purpose of obtaining information contained in their PVCs or any other personal details that can disenfranchise or endanger them in any way”, the statement reads in part.

The Source reports that this is the second time in less than two months that the Abia State Government will allegedl plans by the opposition in the State to compromise the 2027 polls.

About fives weeks ago, the State Government had equally accused the immediate past Governor of the State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of perfecting plans to rig the 2027 elections.

The Government’s allegation, however, came against the backdrop of the alarm earlier raised by the former Governor and his Peoples Democratic party, PDP, over the alleged disruption of their gathering at his country home in Umuobiakwa Community in the Obingwa Local Council.

They alleged that the State Special Joint Security Taskforce “Operation Crush”, acting on the directives of Governor Otti, invaded and violently disrupted a meeting between the former Governor and those who served under his administration.

But the State Government had insisted that the meeting was ill-motivated, ill-timed and sinister, noting that the former Governor, at the said meeting, was rehearsing a general plan on how to manipulate the 2027 elections in the State.

CBN Explains ‘New” $50 BVN Fee

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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July 8, 2025

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The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has disclosed that the $50 it’s charging Nigerians living oversee is a processing fee to obtain their Bank Verification Number, BVN. The government bank said the fee is part of the Non-Resident BVN, NRBVN, initiative, recently launched and designed for Nigerians in the Diaspora.

The apex bank response comes on the heels of reports that extra financial burden is being placed on the Nigerian banking public.

According to a statement signed by Hakama Sidi Ali, Acting CBN’s Director of Corporate Communications the charges is to process the BVN for Nigerians living abroad, as BVN enrolment remained entirely free for Nigerians resident in the country.

She explained that the fee covers cost for remote biometric and due diligence verification for non resident Nigerians. .

“The nominal charge of approximately $50 is not a fee for obtaining a BVN but a recoverable processing cost for remote biometric and due diligence verification.

“This cost covers secure identity authentication, data handling and technology infrastructure required to support the overseas enrolment process.

“Nigerians in the diaspora previously paid $200. The associated fee of $50 is strictly a processing charge for remote verification and not a payment for the BVN itself,” the statement said.

She urged Nigerians to disregard reports that extra BVN charges are being imposed on Nigerians, adding that the system will enable Nigerians anywhere in the world to access seamless banking services.

“The NRBVN is more than just a one-time initiative; it forms the foundation of the Bank’s broader digital transformation strategy aimed at improving and expanding access to financial services for Nigerians globally.

“The platform, launched in collaboration with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), marks a transformative step in enabling Nigerians living overseas to obtain a Bank Verification Number remotely.

“With this system, Nigerians can access banking services from anywhere, saving time and travel costs while ensuring safe and secure transactions,” she said.

NIMASA Re-Affirms Commitment To Strengthening Nigeria’s Ship Building Capacity

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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July 8, 2025

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The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s shipbuilding and repair capacity during an inspection visit to Nigerdock at Snake Island integrated Free Zone, Lagos

Mobereola was at Nigerdock to assess the ongoing maintenance work on the DB Lagos, a special mission vessel used for maritime surveillance and national security operations. The vessel plays a vital role in combating oil theft, smuggling, illegal immigration, and other maritime crimes within Nigeria’s waters.

Speaking during the inspection, the agency’s DG expressed satisfaction with the progress made and described the project as a clear demonstration of Nigeria’s capability to handle sophisticated ship repairs and construction. “What I am seeing here today is a testimony to the fact that we have the ability not only to repair but also to build here in Nigeria,” he stated.

He further emphasized that the inspection aligns with the vision of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who has prioritized the development of local capacity in shipbuilding and repairs. “We at NIMASA are demonstrating our belief in this vision by maintaining our own vessels here,” Mobereola stated.

This visit underscores NIMASA’s drive to promote indigenous maritime infrastructure, enhance national security, and advance sustainable growth in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

ADC Exposes Tinubu’s Moves To Hijack Party

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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July 8, 2025

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The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has raised the alarm over alleged plan by some elements working in a cahoot with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to destabilize the party.

As part of the plan to undermine the party some former Chairmen and other members of the ADC state executives have been summoned to a secret meeting with a top official of the president.

The ADC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi made the allegation in a statement he released to journalists on Monday, accusing the ruling APC and President Tinubu of trying to sabotage the party.

Abdullahi said ADC is a party that came at the right time, to rescue the country from the “lies, the manipulation, and the hardship,” imposed on Nigerians by the Tinubu administration, stressing that the party which belongs to well meaning Nigerians will “restore decency, vision, and justice to governance” in the country

“We have credible intelligence that the aim of this meeting is not for national security or peacebuilding. It is to intimidate, coerce, and if possible, co-opt these individuals into a fabricated scheme against the opposition coalition. This is not politics. This is sabotage,” the statement reads.

According to the ADC, the motive is clear: to sow confusion within the party, delegitimise its new leadership, and derail its rising momentum as the new face of the opposition in Nigeria.
“Let it be clear, this surreptitious dalliance with the ADC State Chairpersons by appointees of the federal government who should be focused on urgent national security priorities and challenges that the country is facing is a coordinated assault on multiparty democracy. This is how one-party states are born—through intimidation,” the ADC said.

“The July 1st Coalition Declaration, and the July 2nd unveiling of the ADC, have clearly rattled the ruling party. It is now obvious that the Tinubu administration—having lost the trust of the Nigerian people—cannot withstand the pressure of a united and credible opposition. But rather than correct its ways, it has resorted to its old playbook of destabilising opposition parties.”

“Let it be clear: the coalition movement is an idea whose time has come. This party belongs to every Nigerian who is tired of the lies, the manipulation, and the hardship. It belongs to every Nigerian who wants to restore decency, vision, and justice to governance. We would therefore not allow a handful of desperate men to turn Nigeria into a one-party dictatorship. And it would be our patriotic duty to resist it with every democratic means available to us.

“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take note of this sinister moves by some of his appointees and call them to order. The president needs to prove to Nigerians that he is indeed a Democrat. He needs to remind his men that if the Goodluck Jonathan administration were as intolerant and as subversive of the opposition, the APC would not have come to power in 2015 and he would not have been a President today,” the statement noted.

The magazine reported that the ADC, the coalition of key opposition elements in the country such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, former governors Ahmad Nasir El Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola, and others have last week vowed to challenge the ruling APC and President Tinubu in the next election.

Recruitment Scandal: Nasarawa House Of Assembly Summons Police, NSCDC

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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July 7, 2025

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly, on Monday, July 7, 2025, waded into the teachers recruitment scandal rocking the State, with a firm promise to assist victims recover their money from the employment racketeering gang.

The Source reports that the Nasarawa State Teachers Service Commission, TSC, under its suspended Chairman, Mohammed Gada, was recently immersed in money-for-employment scam in which about 3000 unsuspecting applicants were fleeced of several millions.of Naira for non-exist teaching positions in the State’s Primary and Secondary Schools .

Most of the applicants were said to have paid as much as between N500,000 and N1 million each to agents and proxies of the suspended TSC Chairman.

Mr Adigizi Abaya, in his submission to the House Adhoc Committee investigating the scandal, revealed that as a front for the former chairman, he received about N 14 million, from 28 applicants ,and remitted same into his account without getting any single appointment letter.

Similarly, an Evaluation Officer with the State Ministry of Education, Yamusa Amos informed that as an agent for the former TSC chairman, he collected funds from several applicants with none receiving an appointment letter.

The Chairman of the House Investigating Committee, Hon Daniel Ogazi, while sympathizing with the aggrieved and beleaguered victims, assured them that every necessary stepsl will be taken to recover their money.

He enjoined them to be honest and straightforward in their submissions to the Committee so as not to create unnecessary bottlenecks in the course of the investigation .

” We invited you here to avail the House Committee of all you know about the entire exercise .We will be expecting you to tell us who issued you with the appointment letters ,and how much you paid to get the job.

“Be sincere as you are speaking on oath. We want to assure you that justice will be served at the end of the day”, Onazi ,stated .

This is as the Committee asked the embattled former TSC chairman to re-appear before it ,on Wednesday July 9, 2025, to throw light on some issues, particularly regarding the claims by some of the victims.

The Committee Chairman further informed that a formal directive has been issued to the State Commissioner for Education to produce one Michael Jonyi of the Area Inspectorate Division, as well as all other staff of the Ministry directly or remotely connected with the scandal same Wednesday.

“We will write to the Commissioner of Police and Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC to bring their officers involved in the scandal on Wednesday this week by 10 .am”, the House Committee chairman noted.

Earlier, the victims separately and collectively appealed to the law makers to assist them in recovering their money.

How Armed Men Stormed Police Checkpoint In Imo State, One killed, Another, Missing

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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July 7, 2025

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Imo State Police Command on Monday July 7, 2025 vowed not to leave any options unexplored in its quest to apprehend killers of one its personnel along Okigwe/Umuahia Road.

The Source reports that some yet-to-be identified gunmen early Sunday morning, July 6, attacked a police checkpoint on Okigwe/Umuahia road in the Okigwe Local Government Area of the State. They killed one officer ,and abducted another.

The attackers suspected to be members of the militant arm of the Simon Ekpa led Autopilots faction of the also allegedly carted the officers’ service rifles.

The assailants launched a sudden and surprise attack on the security personnel at about 9.00 am on the day, leaving their victims harpless .

While the dead officer was simply identified as Oluebube, his kidnapped colleague a Superintendent of police SP ,was named as Casmir.

In a video online ,a group which claimed to be part of the Biafra Liberation Army owned up to the attack .

The group in the said video also displayed two AK- 47 rifles seized from the affected security personnel.

It however did not state its reason for the attack.

In a statement issued by its spokesperson Henry Okoye, the Imo state police authorities while blaming the attack on the proscribed militant wing of the IPOB ,the Eastern Security Network ESN , informed that all necessary machineries have been activated to ensure that the hoodlums behind the dastardly action are hunted down.

According to Okoye, an intense and coordinated operation is underway to fish out the miscreants.

The Police, however, noted that it is yet to confirm the actual situation with regard to the missing personnel. The police spokesman, informed that the Service is yet to establish if the officer in question was abducted, and or simply fled the scene of the attack.

Nonetheless, Okoye assured that concerted efforts are ongoing to locate him.

FRSC Confirms Death Of 21 Persons In Kano Expressway Crash

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Akinwale Kasali

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July 7, 2025

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has announced the death of 21 persons in a fatal crash that occurred on Sunday at the Dakatsale Expressway in Kano State.

According to Olusegun Ogungbemide, FRSC Assistant Corps Marshal, who also doubles as FRSC Public Education Officer, “The incident occurred at Kasuwar Dogo, Dakatsale, along the Zaria-Kano Expressway, around 8:20 a.m, involving a DAF Truck and a Toyota Hiace Bus”.

Preliminary investigations by the FRSC revealed that the accident was caused by a route violation committed by the commercial bus driver, who drove against the traffic.

It was gathered that it collided head-on with the oncoming truck, resulting in multiple fatalities and serious injuries, according to the FRSC official.

“Tragically, out of 24 people involved, 21 died — 19 male adults and two female adults — while three sustained injuries,” Ogungbemide stated.

He said the deceased were taken to Nasarawa Hospital, Kano morgue, while the injured were receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility.

FRSC personnel, assisted by other emergency responders, cleared the scene and restored traffic flow shortly after the incident.

FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, in his reaction to the incident expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.

Mohammed confirmed that a full-scale investigation was underway to determine the exact cause of the crash.

He warned motorists, especially commercial and truck drivers, against reckless behaviours like route violation and driving against traffic.

He added that speeding and dangerous overtaking were major contributors to fatal crashes on Nigerian roads.

The Corps Marshal stressed that traffic regulations were meant to protect lives and ensure safe road use nationwide.

He reaffirmed FRSC’s commitment to strict enforcement and intensified public education on highway safety.

Mohammed urged the public to report dangerous driving through the FRSC app, the toll-free number 122, or any patrol team.

Babachir Lawal Dumps APC

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Akinwale Kasali

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July 7, 2025

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By Akinwale Kasali

Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, has dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The former SGF officially resigned from the Party, stating that his resignation takes immediate effect.

It is being speculated that Lawal is planning to join the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Lawal failed to give reasons behind his decision to dump the Party but he has had a very strained relationship with President Bola Tinubu his estranged bosom friend and political ally over the Tinubu’s choice of a Muslim, Kashim Shettima as his Vice Presidential Candidate in 2023.

Lawal served under former President Muhammadu Buhari during his first term but was removed from office and replaced with Boss Mustapha.

He announced his decision in a letter dated June 29, 2025 addressed to the Chairman of APC in Bangshika Ward, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The letter partly read: ”I write to formally notify you of my resignation from the All Progressive Congress.

“In due course, I will make public my current political affiliations where I plan to join other compatriots to work towards making Nigeria a better living place for all its citizens.

“This resignation takes immediate effect.

“Please, remain blessed and extend my warm regards to other members of your party.”

Lawal is believed to be part of a growing political coalition seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu and end APC’s dominance in the 2027 general elections.