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 ‎The National University Commission's programme stipulates that You can become a professor by the reason of your practice so that makes me right- Engr Dave Umahi  ‎The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has defended his claim on national TV to be a professor in the engineering field, the minister cited the National Universities Commission’s clarification on who qualifies as a professor, noting that practical experience in the field also counts as expertise. ‎ ‎“I’m happy that the NUC programme on who is a professor also made me right. You can become a professor by the reason of your practice. And I think God has made me one when it comes to practical, field engineering programmes, that’s what it is; you can’t take it back" ‎ ‎Speaking during an inspection tour of the Keffi Bridge and the Nasarawa–Toto Road projects, alongside the state governor, Abdullahi Sule, on Saturday, ‎the Minister also fired back at Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over his recent comments questioning th...

 Police Rescue 10 Kidnap Victims In Kaduna The Kaduna State Police Command has announced the rescue of ten people abducted by bandits in Kagarko Local Government Area since May 2025. According to a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, the victims including children aged one, three, and thirteen were kidnapped from their homes in Kushe Makaranta village by heavily armed bandits. The attackers took them into a dense forest near the Rijana community. Hassan explained that the victims were freed on October 7, following sustained pressure from a joint team comprising the police, Department of State Services (DSS), and military personnel. The coordinated operation forced the kidnappers to abandon the victims and flee from their hideout. The rescued individuals were identified as Helen Abraham, Rosemary Elisha, Jummai Istifanus, Hauwa’u Sule, Mary Sunday, Kelvin Abraham, Devine Elisha, Jeremiah Istifanus, Christabeth Abraham, and Hauwa Sulaiman — all nat...

 EFCC Commences Investigations of Two Suspects for Undeclared $6,180, £53,415 Cash at Lagos Airport  Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos have commenced investigations of two travelers arrested by operatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, for allegedly failing to declare the sums of $6,180 and £53,415 cash in their possession.  The suspects, Mamud Nasidi and Yahaya Nasidi, were intercepted during a routine check on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. Upon arrest, the suspects, who were scheduled to travel to Abuja, after arriving the country from Dubai enroute Addis Ababa, were immediately handed over to the Department of State Services, DSS, who subsequently handed them over to the Commission for further investigations and prosecution.  Also found on the suspects are three mobile phones.  The suspects a...

 NEW BENUE COMMISSIONERS REJECT OLD OFFICIAL VEHICLES Some newly appointed commissioners in Benue State have reportedly declined to accept the official vehicles previously used by the sacked members of the State Executive Council. According to sources, the commissioners informed Governor Hyacinth Alia that they were unwilling to take possession of vehicles that had been in use for about two years by their predecessors. However, Benue info-pedia gathered that commissioners who were reappointed to the cabinet have reclaimed their earlier assigned vehicles without objection.

 When my mother became governor, I was still living in the United Kingdom. The fact that she was governor did not bring me back to Nigeria from the UK. I returned to Nigeria after her tenure as governor and after she handed over- Ben Etiaba(First Son of Former Governor of Anambra state, Virgy Etiaba) Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Chief Ben Etiaba, is the first son of former Anambra State governor Dame Virgy Etiaba. In this chat with FRED IWENJORA, Ben Etiaba discussed the challenges of being a governor's(Former)son  He also shed more light into the life and character of his mother, Dame Virgy Etiaba also fondly known as Mama Anambra, whose widowhood at 43 years of age later transformed into a great public figure in Nigeria, raising a young family of four sons and two daughters and now, Matriarch of 27 including six spouses and 14 grandchildren. "When my mother became governor, I was still living in the United Kingdom. The fact that she was govern...

 Peter Obi Donates ₦2 Million for the reconstruction of Tungan Nasara LEA Primary School in FCT In yet another demonstration of compassion and exemplary leadership, former presidential candidate Peter Obi has made an initial donation of ₦2 million to Tungan Nasara LEA Primary School in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Obi, who visited the school alongside Dr. Moses Paul, the ADC AMAC Chairmanship candidate, shortly after returning from Rome, expressed deep concern over the deplorable condition of the school’s facilities — particularly the toilets, which he described as a serious health risk to pupils. True to his long-standing commitment to education, Obi made the ₦2 million donation to kickstart the reconstruction of the school’s toilet facilities and pledged to visit periodically to monitor progress. He also used the occasion to urge prominent Nigerians, especially politicians, to prioritize investment in education, stressing that “education remains the most critical investme...

 Prof Wole Soyinka suddenly became deaf, dumb under Tinubu – Fr Kelvin Ugwu Catholic missionary priest working in Gambia, Rev Fr Kelvin Ugwu, has criticised Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka over what he described as the writer’s silence on the hardship facing Nigerians under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. In a Facebook post titled ‘Prof Soyinka then vs Prof Soyinka now’, on Saturday, the priest compared Soyinka’s past activism under previous administrations to his perceived quietness in recent times. Ugwu recalled that during the administrations of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, Soyinka was outspoken, describing him as a “movement” and “social crusader” who openly challenged government excesses. He noted, however, that Soyinka’s criticism became less vocal during late President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure and has now, according to him, completely faded under Tinubu’s government. “Then came Tinubu, a man with no clear identity and whose academic re...

 Umahi deserves to call himself a professor of engineering, When I Saw Arise TV Anchor Trying To Be Hard On Umahi I Was Laughing,He Doesn't Know Umahi---- Sen Nwebonyi Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi has stated that Minister of Works, David Umahi, is a highly capable and result-driven leader. He said he has worked closely with Umahi in different roles, first as his party chairman and later as his commissioner, so he knows him well. In an interview with TVC, Nwebonyi said he laughed when he saw an Arise TV anchor trying to challenge Umahi over the Coastal Road project during an interview. He said the anchor did not truly know the kind of person Umahi is. Nwebonyi stated that the quality of Umahi’s work as Minister of Works clearly shows that he is an exceptional engineer. He said Umahi deserves to call himself a professor of engineering because of his experience and performance. The senator said the Lagos-Calabar coastal road being built with concrete is proof of Umahi’s expertise and th...

 Two Women Get Justice Through Anambra Ministry of Women Affairs Mrs. Ogochukwu Onyema and Mrs. Nneka Jennifer, through the Ministry of Women Affairs, Anambra State, has expressed their profound appreciation to the government of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo for his continued support in the fight against gender-based violence. Mrs. Ogochukwu, who had been deprived of her late father’s property, successfully reclaimed her inheritance with the intervention of the Ministry and the support of the Governor. Similarly, Mrs. Nneka Jennifer, who had been denied access to her children following a domestic dispute with her husband, also received justice after her case was presented in court. Despite not being an indigene of Anambra State, Mrs. Nneka was granted fair hearing and justice through the efforts of the Soludo-led administration. The Ministry of Women Affairs reaffirmed its commitment to fighting all forms of gender-based violence in the state. It also called on women facing simi...

 One Hour After My Swearing In, Those Aka Odo Boys Troubling Our Traders Will Go- Dr George Moghalu( Labour Party Governorship candidate) Dr. George Moghalu, the Labour Party's nominee for Anambra State's upcoming gubernatorial race, outlined his immediate post-inauguration priority in a recent social media update, vowing swift action against local enforcers called "Ndi Aka Odo" who he said harass market vendors and drivers. The declaration appeared on his verified X account early Saturday, October 11, 2025, building momentum for the statewide polls set for November 8. In the clip, Moghalu addresses a crowd at what appears to be a community event in front of tents and banners, emphasizing the need for transformative leadership to reshape the region's fortunes. In the exact words from his post:  "One hour after my swearing-in, those Aka Ọdọ boys troubling our traders and transporters will go." The message quickly drew engagement online, with supporters ex...

 Any society that wants to grow must first acknowledge the uniqueness of the girl child and do all that it can to protect and guard them.- Dr Nonye Soludo (Anambra First Lady) The wife of the Anambra State governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, says girls are treasures, changemakers, better leaders, better leaders, adding that any society that wants to grow must first acknowledge the uniqueness of the girl child and do all that it can to protect and guard them. The Anambra First Lady, who is the founder of ‘Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo’, urged families, work and worship places, schools, and communities, to do the best it can to establish the best environment for every girl to succeed in. She stated this in a statement released on Saturday to mark the International Day of the Girl Child, adding that as a government that thrives on inclusivity, the state has taken extraordinary steps to build a healthy society for every gender to live and excel in. "Girls are treasures. To be a girl child i...

 WE KILLED THE WOMEN AND FED THEIR BODIES TO PIGS TO CONCEAL EVIDENCE  Rudolph de Wet, who has since turned state witness has given a chilling testimony in the Sebayeng pig farm murder trial at the Polokwane High Court on Wednesday.  De Wet told the court that Zachariah  Olivier had given him a hunting rifle, who then instructed him to shoot at people who trespassed on the farm.  Maria Makgato and Lucia Ndlovu were shot dead at Overwatcht farm on August 17th last year while looking for dairy products.  The 20 - year old says he and accused number 1, Zachariah Olivier, were intending to destroy the evidence when they destroyed the firearms and bullet cartridges used to shoot the two women whose bodies were thrown into a pigsty in August last year.  "A day after the  incident happened, Olivier dismantled the firearms into small pieces while I watched and kept a lookout for anyone who was approaching," said De Wet  "We also picked up the bullet ...

 Gospel Singer Nathaniel Bassey Shares Heartbreaking Story of Wife’s Five Miscarriages During Hallelujah Challenge Renowned gospel singer and pastor Nathaniel Bassey has revealed a deeply personal trial, disclosing that his wife, Sarah Bassey, endured five miscarriages, including an ectopic pregnancy, during a period when he was leading the globally celebrated Hallelujah Challenge. The revelation came during the ongoing October 2025 edition of the virtual worship program, which began on October 7 and will run for 25 days until October 31, with nightly sessions starting at 11:59 p.m. WAT. Speaking in the early hours of Friday, October 10, while leading thousands of participants worldwide in worship, praise, prayer, and fasting, Bassey opened up about the emotional weight he carried during past editions of the Hallelujah Challenge. The program, now marking its eighth anniversary, has become a cornerstone of spiritual renewal for countless believers. Reflecting on his personal struggl...

 Madagascar army contingent calls on security forces to 'refuse orders' A Madagascar army contingent near the capital on Saturday called on soldiers and security units to "join forces" and "refuse orders to shoot" at protesters, while several thousand marched in the capital. The United Nations on Friday called on the Madagascar authorities to avoid unnecessary force against protesters. "Let us join forces, military, gendarmes and police, and refuse to be paid to shoot our friends, our brothers and our sisters," soldiers of a large military base in Soanierana district, on the outskirts of Antananarivo, said in a video released Saturday morning, AFP reported. They called on soldiers in other camps to "refuse orders to shoot your friends". ‘Await our instructions’ "Close the gates and await our instructions," they said. "Do not obey orders from your superiors. Point your weapons at those who order you to fire on your comrades-...

 PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES NIDCOM CHAIRMAN/CEO, ABIKE DABIRI-EREWA ON HER BIRTHDAY President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), on her birthday.   In a statement by Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President, Information & Strategy, "the President rejoices with the devoted public servant, who started her career as a broadcaster with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and was elected member of the House of Representatives in 2003, 2007 and 2011.   Mrs Dabiri-Erewa was chairman of the House Committee on Media & Publicity and chaired the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs.   President Tinubu affirms that the Chairperson of NIDCOM has demonstrated love for the country and humanity, over many years by consistently placing the welfare and well-being of the underprivileged at the centre of her work.   It adds, "The President notes the passion, diligence, and foresight th...

 FRSC CONFIRMS 10 PEOPLE DEAD, 11 INJURED IN A FATAL CRASH ALONG LOKOJA - OBAJANA ROAD The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, has urged passengers to remain vigilant and proactive in cautioning or reporting drivers who exhibit reckless behaviour behind the wheels. He stated this in the wake of a fatal road traffic crash that claimed 10 lives and left 11 others injured on Friday, night 10th October 2025, along the Obajana–Lokoja route, specifically at Apamaru. Preliminary investigations conducted by the FRSC crash investigation team  revealed that the crash was caused by speed violation and wrongful overtaking on the part of the driver, who lost control of the vehicle while on a night journey.  The Corps Marshal, while expressing grief over the incident, reiterated that night travels, excessive speeding, and wrongful overtaking have continued to be major causes of fatal road crashes in Nigeria, while urging commercial vehicle operators to adher...

 FG/Health Partners Flag Off Measles-Rubella Vaccine Awareness Campaign In Abuja Nigeria's commitment to improving child health continues to gain momentum as the Federal Government, in collaboration with national immunization programme partners, launched a Road Show and market campaign to promote the newly introduced Integrated Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine, now part of the country's routine immunization schedule. Oluseye Adeagbo reports that the campaign aims to raise awareness and ensure the vaccination of over 100 million Nigerians, particularly children, against preventable diseases. Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that presents with fever, rash, cough, and red eyes. Without timely vaccination, it can lead to severe and potentially fatal complications. In addition to the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine, children between the ages of 9 months and 14 years will also receive vaccines for human papillomavirus (HPV), which helps prevent cervical cancer, as well as poli...

 Chairman ‎House Committee On Women Affairs Pledges Effective Oversight Of Budgetary Allocations ‎ ‎House of Representatives has pledged effective oversight of budgetary allocations aimed at empowering women across the country.  ‎ ‎Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs Kafilat Ogbara stated this during an oversight visit to the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Abuja.  ‎ ‎The lawmakers told the management of the centre that it is a critical component of legislative duties to ensure that funds allocated for women development are effectively utilized and translate into meaningful outcomes for Nigerian women.  The lawmakers described the centre as pivotal to a brighter future for women.  ‎

 STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE Details of The Presidential Pardon and Clemency  Illegal miners, white-collar convicts, remorseful drug offenders, foreigners, Major General Mamman Vatsa,  Major Akubo, Professor Magaji Garba,  capital offenders such as  Maryam Sanda,  Ken Saro Wiwa, and the other Ogoni Eight were among the 175 convicts and former convicts who received President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mercy on Thursday. President Tinubu granted clemency to most of them based on the reports that the convicts had shown remorse and good conduct. He forgave some due to old age, the acquisition of new vocational skills, or enrolment in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). President Tinubu also corrected the historic injustice committed by British colonialists against Sir Herbert Macaulay, one of Nigeria's foremost nationalists.  In all, the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Pri...

 LAGOS STATE EXAMINATIONS BOARD ANNOUNCES YEAR 2025 TRADE TEST FOR ARTISANS, TECHNICIANS The Lagos State Examinations Board, under the supervision of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, has announced the conduct of the Year 2025 Trade Test for artisans and technicians across the State. According to the statement issued by the Director/Registrar of the Lagos State Examinations Board, Mr. Orunsolu Adebayo, the exercise is designed to evaluate the competence, skill, and proficiency of artisans and technicians in various trades, to promote technical excellence and professional certification.  He emphasised that the Trade Test remains a vital instrument in enhancing productivity, employment opportunities, and socio-economic development in Lagos State. Mr. Orunsolu disclosed that candidates will be examined in different trades such as tailoring, electrical installation, carpentry and joinery, hairdressing, barbing, catering and shoe making, among others. The test will be ...

 HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT VISIT LAWMA Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, today, visited the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), as part of their oversight function.  The committee members, led by the chairman, Hon. (Engr.) Adebola Shabi, were received and briefed by the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin.  They were later taken on a tour of the agency's facilities, accompanied by the management staff. More photos below. 

 PRESS BRIEFING TEXT  Delivered by the Force Public Relations Officer, on Saturday, 11th October, 2025 at the FCT Police Command Headquarters, Garki, Abuja.   Good morning, distinguished members of the press. Thank you for joining us today and for your continued partnership in disseminating verified information that helps keep the public accurately informed. 2.​In today’s briefing we shall be providing an update on the armed robbery incident that occurred on 29th September, 2025, at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Mabushi, Abuja, and the significant progress recorded in the ongoing investigation. 3.​You will recall that in the early hours of that day, just twelve days ago, an armed robbery attack was reported at the said location. Tragically, two lives were lost during the incident: Ms. Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, a journalist with ARISE News, and Mr. Barnabas Danlami, a security guard attached to the premises. 4.​Following the incident, operatives of the FCT P...

 Abia Police arrest Landlord for defiling tenant’s female child A 40-year-old man, identified as Mr. Iheanacho from Umuoju village, Umuelechi Obuzor, in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State has been arrested by the Obehie Police Division for allegedly def!ling a 12-year-old girl. The landlord was alleged to have committed the crime in September, against the victim who is a daughter of his tenant. His arrest was made possible through the efforts of men of Abia chapter of Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation and Obehie Police Divisional Headquarters. Confirming the development, Abia State Director of Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation Abia State Chapter, Ochiegbu Marvelous Chimaraoke said the matter was first reported to his office on September 18, 2025, noting that the suspect fled after committing the crime. He said that through relentless efforts and coordination of his foundation, the suspect, Iheanacho was finally apprehended around 2 am on Friday. Chimaraoke thanked the members of Behin...

 Sudan paramilitary drone strike kills 30 in Al-Fasher camp - activists A paramilitary drone strike killed at least 30 people at a displacement shelter in the besieged city of Al-Fasher in western Sudan on Saturday, a local activist group said, AFP reported. The resistance committee for Al-Fasher said the Rapid Support Forces hit the Dar al-Arqam displacement centre on the grounds of a university. Bodies remained trapped in underground shelters, the committee said in a statement, describing it as a "massacre" and calling on the international community to intervene. The local resistance committees are activists who coordinate aid and document atrocities in the Sudan conflict. ‘Open-air morgue’ The RSF has been at war with the regular army since April 2023. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions and pushed nearly 25 million into acute hunger. Al-Fasher, the last state capital in the vast region of Darfur to elude the RSF's grasp, has become ...

 World Bank remains Nigeria’s top creditor as debt hits N152.4tn — DMO Nigeria’s total public debt stock has risen to “N152.40 trillion as of June 30, 2025, according to the latest figures released by the Debt Management Office” on Saturday. The figure represents a N3.01tn increase from N149.39tn recorded at the end of March 2025, marking a 2.01 per cent rise within three months. In dollar terms, the debt profile grew from $97.24bn to $99.66bn, reflecting a 2.49 per cent increase. The new data underscore the government’s growing reliance on both domestic and external borrowing to plug fiscal deficits, even as revenue reforms and foreign exchange liberalisation continue to reshape the macroeconomic landscape. A breakdown of the figures shows that “Nigeria’s external debt climbed to $46.98bn (N71.85tn) in June, up from $45.98bn (N70.63tn) in March. “The World Bank remained Nigeria’s single largest external creditor, with $18.04bn outstanding, mostly through the International Developm...