Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is celebrating its 52nd anniversary today, May 22, 2025. Events are being held nationwide to honour its long-standing role in youth development and national unity. The NYSC was founded in 1973 to rebuild national cohesion after the civil war. Since then, it has deployed graduates to serve in states outside their own, promoting integration and service. Officials praised the scheme for uniting young people and strengthening cultural awareness. They described it as a major force in shaping Nigeria’s future. “The NYSC has remained a strong pillar of unity for 52 years,”…

By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has commended CMA CGM Nigeria Shipping Ltd. for eliminating container deposit charges on all new bookings, a move expected to ease business for Nigerian shippers. The NSC Executive Secretary, Mr. Pius Akutah, welcomed the development in a statement issued Thursday in Abuja. He described the policy, which took effect on May 21, as a customer-friendly measure that promotes transparency and reduces trade barriers. “This is a milestone in efforts to improve port operations and reduce costs for shippers,” Akutah said. He added that the removal of container deposits would help lower financial…

By Atoyebi Nike  Employees of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) on Tuesday shut down operations at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja to protest unpaid allowances and salary arrears. The aggrieved workers, under the banner of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), accused the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, of failing to respond to repeated demands for their entitlements. According to the union, the dispute dates back to February 10, 2025, with several unresolved issues surrounding unpaid emoluments and the misapplication of agency funds. Clad in red shirts and chanting solidarity songs,…

By Atoyebi Nike The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), FCT Area Unit, has voiced deep concern over the continued strike by teachers employed under the Local Education Authority (LEA), urging immediate intervention from both political and community leaders. The strike, which began in March, has disrupted learning for over 300,000 students in public primary schools across the Federal Capital Territory. The teachers are demanding the payment of outstanding arrears and allowances, which they say have remained unresolved for several months. In a public statement signed by the Area Unit Amir, Barrister Adam Ahmad Adam, the MSSN described the situation…

By Atoyebi Nike Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has urged President Bola Tinubu to rely on accurate intelligence from security agencies and avoid listening to sycophants. In an interview with News Central TV, Zulum criticized delays in military procurement. He blamed what he called “contractocracy” — a system where contractors benefit more than the country. According to him, this is one of the key issues prolonging the fight against terrorism. The governor said Nigeria could defeat terrorism within six months. But this would require removing middlemen from arms procurement and prioritizing direct deals between governments. Zulum revealed that recent…

By Atoyebi Nike The Kaduna State Government has launched a youth skills development programme to train 12,000 people yearly. The goal is to boost self-reliance and create jobs, especially in the tech and industrial sectors. Commissioner for Business Innovation and Technology, Patience Fakai, announced the initiative during a briefing at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Wednesday. She said the state has built three Skills Acquisition Cities in Soba, Rigachikun, and Samaru Kataf. Each centre will offer training in 13 trades, including welding, aluminum work, fashion design, and solar panel installation. The state is working with the National Board for…

By Atoyebi Nike Imo, Jigawa, and Sokoto states recorded the highest average retail prices for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, in April 2025, according to the latest report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The NBS, in its Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch report released on Wednesday, revealed that residents of Jigawa paid an average of ₦1,588.50 per litre—the highest in the country—followed closely by Sokoto at ₦1,567.84 and Imo State at ₦1,550.00. These figures mark a shift from March 2025, when Jigawa, Kaduna, and Cross River topped the price chart with average retail prices…

By Moses Amos Bwari, Nigeria – In a tense semi-final clash at the Bwari Township Stadium, Abakaliki continued their remarkable run in the competition by edging past their opponents in a dramatic penalty shootout after a goalless draw in regulation time. The underdogs once again defied expectations, showing grit and composure as they triumphed from the spot, booking their place in the final. The result marks yet another major upset in what has become a fairytale journey for the team from Ebonyi State. Despite being held scoreless over 90 minutes, both sides created several chances, with the goalkeepers stepping up…

By Atoyebi Nike The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to step in quickly to stop the cholera outbreak in Zongo, Badagry West LCDA, Lagos State. The call came after Hon. Sesi Whingan moved a motion during Wednesday’s plenary. Lawmakers also held a minute of silence for those who died. Whingan warned that many lives are at risk due to dirty water, poor sanitation, and a weak healthcare system. He said things got worse after the Nigerian Air Force Mother and Child Care Hospital was relocated. A four-year power outage has also shut down water systems and vaccine…

By Atoyebi Nike The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has successfully completed the distribution of laptops to final-year students benefiting from its scholarship initiative across various universities in Nigeria. According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Mr. Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to the PAP Interim Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the distribution exercise took place between April and May 2025, covering 663 recipients in 26 partner institutions and 72 non-affiliated universities. The initiative, aimed at bolstering academic research and productivity, also coincided with the physical verification and orientation of 3,171 new scholarship beneficiaries for the 2024/2025 academic year. Led…