Author: Atoyebi Adenike
By Atoyebi Nike The EFCC has arraigned Adepoju Emmanuel Abiodun, promoter of Bigibet, before a Lagos High Court over an alleged ₦855 million fraud. Abiodun and his firm, Noblesteed Nigeria Limited, face 10 charges of stealing and obtaining money under false pretence. In 2021, he allegedly convinced a petitioner to invest in a fake lottery business. The petitioner and others transferred ₦855 million to Abiodun’s account. The EFCC said he promised returns but failed to refund investors. One charge states that Abiodun obtained money by lying it was for buying shares in Noblesteed. He pleaded not guilty. The EFCC asked…
By Atoyebi Nike Israeli forces have dropped an estimated 20 powerful “quake bombs” on Jaffa Street in the densely populated Tuffah neighborhood of eastern Gaza City, according to eyewitness reports and local media. The airstrikes, which occurred without any prior warning, have reportedly flattened several residential buildings, including a four-story structure that was directly hit by at least two missiles. “The bombs shook the ground like an earthquake,” said one survivor, who described scenes of chaos and destruction as buildings collapsed with residents still inside. Civil defence crews and paramedics are currently unable to access the area due to the…
By Atoyebi Nike Stakeholders, including researchers, civil society organisations, and farmers, have expressed concern over the poor application of agricultural research to support food production in Nigeria. Speaking at a national workshop in Abuja, Dr. Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), criticised the underutilisation of research outcomes despite significant funding for agricultural institutions. “We pay researchers to improve our food value chain, not just to publish papers,” he said. “Farmers must benefit from this research.” The workshop, organised by CSJ in partnership with the Heinrich Böll Foundation, focused on strengthening ties between agricultural research, extension…
By Atoyebi Nike The United Kingdom has approved duty-free or reduced-tariff access for over 3,000 Nigerian products, including cocoa, cashew, and textiles, under its Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). The DCTS, introduced in 2023, aims to simplify trade and reduce tariffs for over 60 developing countries. Nigeria is a major beneficiary. Mark Smithson, UK Department for Business and Trade Country Director, announced the update in a video shared by the UK in Nigeria, calling the scheme “one of the most generous in the world.” “Up to 3,000 Nigerian products now qualify for low or zero tariffs. The UK is open…
By Atoyebi Nike The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) has inaugurated a Review Panel of experts to refine the methodology and scoring matrix for the second edition of the Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking of Nigeria’s 36 states. The panel was tasked with strengthening the transparency, objectivity, and relevance of the assessment tool, which evaluates subnational climate governance. Welcoming members during the virtual session, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, lead convener and climate policy expert, said the ranking aims to highlight and motivate climate action across states. He emphasised that in contexts where climate legislation is weak, tools like performance…
By Ibrahim Babangida Lawal The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Prof. Salisu Shehu, has called for more regular and timely reviews of the Senior Secondary Education Curriculum (SSEC) to align with fast-evolving global trends. Speaking at the opening of a writing workshop for the curriculum review on Monday, July 7, 2025, in Keffi, Shehu warned that allowing ten-year gaps between revisions like the last one in 2011 was no longer sustainable. “In the next two years, the curriculum could become obsolete. So, we may need to revisit it sooner than we did in the…
By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has clarified that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is not on strike, urging the public to disregard any misinformation suggesting otherwise. Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, Dr. Alausa credited the current stability in federal tertiary institutions to ongoing dialogue, mutual respect, and the federal government’s consistent efforts to meet the demands of academic and non-academic staff. “It is not by coincidence that Nigerian public tertiary institutions have remained open and stable for the past two years,” the minister said. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to staff welfare…
By Atoyebi Nike The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate removal of street beggars, traders, scavengers, miscreants, and “one chance” syndicates from Abuja and its satellite towns. The directive, announced by Lere Olayinka, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, marks the launch of “Operation Sweep Abuja”, a new security and sanitation initiative. “Our nation’s capital should not be a haven for street beggars or criminal elements,” the statement read. “Security is everyone’s responsibility.” A Joint Task Force, including security agencies and FCT departments, has been deployed to enforce the order. Arrested individuals…
By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian Senate has criticised the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for years of lopsided recruitment that violates the Federal Character Principle. This came during a Senate Committee hearing on Tuesday, chaired by Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East), as part of a wider probe into recruitment practices in federal agencies. Onyesoh described NAFDAC’s staffing pattern as imbalanced, blaming poor leadership in past administrations. NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye admitted to legacy issues and pledged future recruitments would be fair and merit-based, pending government approval for new hires. The committee gave NAFDAC two…
By Atoyebi Nike At least 70 members of a local vigilante group have been killed in an ambush by armed bandits in the Kukawa and Bunyun communities of Kanam Local Government Area, Plateau State. Chairman of the Kukawa vigilante unit, Aliyu Baffa, confirmed the attack, stating it occurred as a combined team of vigilantes from Wase LGA advanced into Madam Forest, a known criminal hideout near the borders of Bauchi and Taraba States. “The bandits were waiting for us and opened fire with sophisticated weapons. Over 70 of our members were killed instantly,” Baffa said, adding that mass burials were…