Author: bibncollar

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Seplat Energy Joint Venture have graduated 127 teachers and education evaluators from their first cohort of the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) in Imo State. The ceremony, held in Owerri on Monday, marked the completion of training focused on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) teaching methods and alternative income-generating skills. The programme aims to strengthen professional capacity among primary and secondary school educators while boosting their economic resilience beyond teaching salaries. Chioma Afe, Seplat Energy’s Director of External Affairs and Social Performance, represented by Esther Icha, General Manager of Corporate…

Rumour has it that the State Government is mobilising the six NBA Branch Chairmen in Imo in a move that could spell trouble for the Imo Judiciary, allegedly dangling ₦350m dressed up as AGC support to make it happen: ₦100m for the Branch that leads the charge, and ₦50m each for the other five. The reported plan is for all six Chairmen to sign a letter to the NJC, supposedly on behalf of lawyers across Imo, urging the Council to hasten the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge and end the acting regime. Sounds harmless, right? Not quite. Such a…

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has alleged that directives have been issued for security agents to withdraw from polling units and collation centres across the state, warning that the move could endanger voters and electoral officials. In a post on X on Saturday night, Adeleke said he had been “reliably informed” that “some unscrupulous persons” gave the order. He claimed the withdrawal would leave innocent voters, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and other personnel exposed to “grave danger from rampaging APC thugs.” The governor, who is seeking re-election on the Accord Party platform, called on President Bola Tinubu to…

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has urged reflection following the death of Jason Arday, the former Cambridge University professor whose family say he endured years of sustained harassment amid plagiarism claims. Arday, 41, was found unresponsive at an address in south London on Friday, nine days after resigning as a professor at Cambridge and a fellow of Jesus College. The Metropolitan Police are treating the death as unexpected but not suspicious. A file is being prepared for the coroner, who will determine the cause at an inquest. Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Deborah Prentice described the news as “tragic.” Speaking to reporters in…

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has alerted the public, media and stakeholders after detecting an attempted unauthorised compromise of its official X (formerly Twitter) account. Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, said the incident is being treated as a cybersecurity matter. Appropriate technical measures have been activated to secure the account and prevent further unauthorised access. “The Defence Headquarters assures the public that efforts are ongoing to fully restore control of the official account,” Uba stated. He advised members of the public to disregard any suspicious, unauthorised or misleading content that may appear on the account during this period.…

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has completed its comprehensive review of Nigeria’s Revenue Allocation Formula, clearing the way for a revised framework for distributing revenues among the federal, state and local governments. Chairman Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu disclosed this on Saturday during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Lagos. He said the exercise involved extensive consultations with the three tiers of government, technical stakeholders and relevant institutions. It assessed fiscal responsibilities, revenue trends and comparative federal systems, producing a harmonised report and legislative proposals now ready for transmission to the appropriate…

A heated exchange broke out between Nigerian and South African parliamentarians at the 55th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference in Lilongwe, Malawi, over how to describe and address violence against foreign nationals in South Africa. More than 300 legislators and officials from across Africa gathered at the Bingu International Convention Centre for the meeting, held under the theme “Renewing the Social Contract: Parliaments as Catalysts for Inclusive Growth and Citizen Trust.” Discussions focused on democracy, human rights, governance and regional cooperation, but the session on migration and attacks on foreigners quickly escalated into a sharp diplomatic dispute. Nigerian…

South Africa has asked several African governments to repay the costs of returning tens of thousands of their citizens home, after a surge in deportations and voluntary repatriations linked to anti-immigration protests and violence. The Home Affairs department told lawmakers that the country has spent nearly $18 million on accommodation, transport and related expenses for more than 80,000 immigrants who left or were removed. Officials said the Foreign Ministry has sent formal requests for compensation to Malawi, Ethiopia and Nigeria. The outlays covered buses, temporary repatriation centers and staff overtime. Home Affairs Director-General Tommy Makhode described the costs as “unforeseen…

President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians living abroad to move beyond remittances and build lasting economic stakes in the country by organising professionally managed investment vehicles. The president delivered the charge while declaring open the three-day Nigeria Diaspora Economic Conference (NIDEC) 2026 at the Apollo Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada. He was represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. Tinubu described members of the diaspora as living proof that the Nigerian spirit can compete globally. “Nigeria sees you. Nigeria values you. Nigeria needs you,” he said, according to a statement from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM). He…

Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party recorded a decisive victory in his polling unit on Saturday, securing 421 votes at Ward 02, Polling Unit 009, Abogunde Compound in Ede North Local Government Area. The result sparked immediate jubilation among the governor’s supporters, who erupted in celebration as sorting and collation continued across the state. Adeleke, who cast his ballot at the same unit earlier in the day, had expressed confidence in retaining his seat. His main challenger, All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, also struck an optimistic note after voting at Ward 09, Polling Unit 011 in Ikire,…