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Angat Dam’s water level dips further below critical mark

The Angat Dam recorded 151.45 meters above sea level (masl) on Thursday, July 23, dipping further below the 160-meter critical water level threshold, the state weather bureau reported.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the reservoir fell 0.67 meters from Wednesday’s 152.12 masl.

The Angat Dam’s water level also declined on Tuesday, plummeting to 152.20 masl from Monday’s 152.53 masl.

The normal high water level of Angat Dam is around 210 masl, with a minimum operating level of 180 masl.

Previously, Pagasa said during a climate forum last June that the reservoir would start to replenish by the second to third week of July due to the southwest monsoon rains.

The National Irrigation Administration Irrigation Management Office in Bulacan said farmlands in Pampanga and Bulacan are heavily dependent on rain water due to the state of the water level of Angat Dam, the critical watershed of the National Capital Region (NCR).

Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected to prevail over parts of the NCR on Thursday due to the southwest monsoon, or habagat, according to Pagasa’s 5 a.m weather bulletin

Kiyapo to make possible landfall in Babuyan Islands on Friday

Tropical Depression Kiyapo may make landfall in Babuyan Islands between Friday afternoon or evening, the state weather bureau said on Thursday.

In the 5 p.m. bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Kiyapo was last located 640 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan as of 4 p.m.

Kiyapo maintained its strength as it was still carrying a maximum wind speed of 45 kph and gustiness of up to 55 kph. It accelerated as it was moving northwestward at 25 kph.

Pagasa said that the tropical depression will continue moving west-northwestward until Saturday towards Luzon Strait before heading northwestward for the remainder of the forecast period.

‘On the forecast track, the center of KIYAPO may pass very close to the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan between tomorrow (July 24) morning and afternoon, then pass very close or make landfall in the vicinity of Babuyan Islands between tomorrow afternoon and evening,’ the bureau noted.

Kiyapo is also forecast to develop into a tropical storm on Friday and will continue to strengthen while traversing the Extreme Northern Luzon. It may reach a severe tropical storm category after moving past the Babuyan Islands.

Pagasa also said that Kiyapo may exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, the bureau shared that Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte will experience heavy to intense rainfall (100 to 200 millimeters of rainfall) from Thursday to Friday afternoon. Moderate to heavy rainfall (50 to 100 mm of rainfall) will prevail over Isabela, Batanes, and Ilocos Sur on the same dates

Tinubu approves four new divisions for Nigerian Army, recruitment of 28,000 personnel

In a major push to tackle insecurity in the country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to 12 divisions and recruitment of additional 28,000 personnel.

Under the restructuring, new Divisions of Nigerian Army will be established with Headquarters in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City.

The presidency said establishment of the new divisions will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counterinsurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.

The landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army was announced in a statement by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga on Thursday.

According to the statement, the approval underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.

‘The expansion builds on the Administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation,’ Onanuga said in the statement.

Giving further in information of the major push against insecurity by the President, Onanuga said under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country

Division one of the Nigerian Army with headquarters in Kaduna will cover Kaduna Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States, while division two with headquarters in Ibadan will cover Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States.

Also, division three with its headquarters in Jos will cover Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States while Division four with headquarters in Makurdi will cover Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States. T

The headquarters 6 Division will be in Port Harcourt with Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States as its coverage areas, while the 7 Division with Headquarters in Maiduguri covers Borno and Yobe States.

The 8 Division will have its Headquarters in Sokoto with Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States as its coverage areas while the 9 Division with Headquarters in Ilorin would have responsibilities for Kwara and Niger States.

The Headquarters of the 10 Division will be Jalingo with its areas of responsibility as Taraba and Adamawa States just as the 81 Division Headquarters is in Lagos with Lagos and Ogun States as its coverage areas.

Also, the 82 Division Headquarters with Headquarters in Enugu will cover Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States while the 83 Division with Headquarters Benin City will cover Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States.

The presidency said in the statement that implementation of the new structure of the Nigerian Army will be done in two phases.

‘The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, will be completed by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026’

The statement also quoted President Tinubu as commending the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

‘The President reaffirmed his Administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians,’ the statement said.

Yanga target Sundowns striker Shalulile to strengthen attack

Mainland Tanzania Premier League defending champions Young Africans (Yanga) are planning a move for experienced Namibian striker Peter Shalulile as they seek to strengthen their striking force ahead of the 2026/2027 season.

Sources within the club have revealed that Yanga’s top management has already initiated early negotiations with both Shalulile and his South African club, Mamelodi Sundowns, in an effort to secure the services of the prolific forward.

The move comes at a crucial time for Yanga, who are looking to bolster their squad for both domestic competitions and the Caf Champions League campaign. At present, the Jangwani-based side has only two available strikers in its senior squad: Laurindo ‘Depu’ Aurélio and newly signed Hussein Mihambo, who joined the club from Mashujaa FC during the current transfer window. Yanga’s striking department has been significantly weakened following the departure of dependable Zimbabwean striker Prince Dube, who recently left the club to join Hardrock FC of Zimbabwe. Dube was an important figure in Yanga’s attack and played a key role in the team’s success over the past seasons. The situation has been further complicated by the injury setback suffered by young forward Clement Mzize. Reports indicate that Mzize is yet to make a full recovery and is expected to regain match fitness only in November, leaving Yanga with limited options in the attacking department for the opening months of the new season.

A source close to the club confirmed that Yanga are actively searching for a striker capable of leading the line in both local and continental competitions.

‘Top management is working on the matter. Soon we will give what is going on. But we are searching for a striker ahead of both local competitions and the CAF Champions League,’ said the source.

Shalulile, one of Africa’s most experienced and decorated strikers, has built an impressive reputation during his time at Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Namibian international has been instrumental in Sundowns’ dominance of South African football, helping the club win multiple Premier Soccer League titles and competing regularly in the CAF Champions League.

Known for his pace, movement, and clinical finishing, Shalulile would bring a wealth of experience to Yanga’s attack if the deal materialises. His arrival would also provide coach Manqoba Mngqithi with a proven goalscorer capable of handling the demands of both the Mainland Premier League and the high-pressure environment of continental football.

JAMB-Rite Award: UNILAG, FUT Minna scholars benefit

Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede, has explained why the board partnered with Rite Foods Limited on its new N35 million annual National Academic Excellence Award, stating that the initiative finally corrects the ’embarrassing’ practice of celebrating high UTME scores for students who ultimately fail to secure university admission.

Speaking in Lagos at the official launch of the maiden award, Professor Oloyede revealed that JAMB accepted the strategic partnership because the selection process looks beyond Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results to evaluate actual, finalised admissions into Nigerian universities.

‘Somebody can score a very high mark in UTME and still not be admitted if he or she does not have the O’Level results requirement, proper subject combination, or do well in the post-UTME assessment.

‘So, what is the essence of celebrating somebody with a high UTME score who is not admitted? It will be very embarrassing. That is why JAMB accepted to partner with Rite Foods on this project, because it shows they are doing things differently and rightly,’ Oloyede explained.

The N35 million annual fund targets the highest-performing, newly admitted students in public universities across the six geopolitical zones of the country, alongside a beneficiary from the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group, which supports candidates with disabilities. Each recipient gets N5 million to support their education.

To ensure absolute credibility and transparency, JAMB led a rigorous aggregate assessment evaluating three critical touchpoints: O’Level results, UTME scores, and post-UTME performance.

Professor Oloyede commended Rite Foods Limited for the initiative, describing it as distinctive and unprecedented in the history of the UTME.

The launch event featured the presentation of dummy cheques, mentorship packages, and internship slots to the winners, who include Nigeria’s highest overall aggregate scorer, Okeke Chinedu Christian (Mechanical Engineering, UNILAG), and visually impaired scholar, Ogunsua-Dixon Tijesuni Mitchelle (Mass Communication, UNILAG), among five others from various regional public universities including the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, speaking through his Special Adviser, Dr Ismaila Adeatu, also praised the initiative as a vital private-sector support mechanism for government educational investments.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Rite Foods Limited, Mr Seleem Adegunwa, emphasised that the multi-million naira commitment is a national imperative aimed at converting Nigeria’s massive youth demographic into a strong economic lever.

Adegunwa urged recipients to remain committed to their studies and also be disciplined, and learn to solve societal problems and lift Nigeria to a first-world country.

AAAN’s 53rd AGM/Congress Begins in Lagos, Sets Agenda for Advertising’s Next Chapter

The Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) will today commence its 53rd Annual General Meeting and Congress in Lagos, bringing together leaders across advertising, marketing, media, government, and the creative economy to examine the forces shaping the future of the industry.

The two-day event, which will take place at Providence Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, is themed ‘AdVolution: The End of Advertising as We Know It and How to Win What Comes Next.’ The theme explores how the advertising industry is adapting to rapid changes driven by technology, artificial intelligence, evolving consumer expectations, and emerging creative models.

The AGM/Congress will begin with AAAN’s business session, where members will receive updates on the Association’s activities, committee reports, and strategic priorities. The session will also provide an opportunity to reflect on the Association’s progress and discuss key issues shaping the industry.

The main conference, scheduled for Friday, will feature the official opening by the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, alongside participation from government officials, regulators, and industry stakeholders, including the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, and the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr. Lekan Fadolapo.

A major highlight of the conference will be keynote sessions from Tomiwa Aladekomo, Chief Executive Officer of Big Cabal Media, and Dr. Meksley Nwagboh, Head of Brand and Communications at Fidelity Bank Plc, who will share perspectives on the evolving advertising landscape, brand building, and the role of communications in a rapidly changing marketplace.

According to AAAN President, Lanre Adisa, the theme of this year’s congress reflects the need for the industry to confront change while preserving the creativity and human connection that define effective advertising.

‘The theme is a wake-up call to the reality we are dealing with. Traditional advertising is not dead; it has evolved. The need to communicate will never change, it is only fast evolving. The question is how well we are embracing this challenge.’

Adisa noted that while technologies such as artificial intelligence are reshaping the industry, agencies remain central to developing ideas and solutions that connect with audiences, with technology serving as an enabler of human creativity rather than a replacement for it.

The congress will feature conversations around the evolving role of agencies, the creator economy, technology-driven innovation, and the need for businesses to demonstrate greater value in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

The event will conclude with a Gala and Awards Night, which will recognise outstanding individuals and celebrate achievements across Nigeria’s advertising industry.

Motorcycle back-rider dies, 2 hurt in Quezon road crash

A motorcycle back-rider died while two others were injured when their vehicles collided on Wednesday, July 22, in Sariaya town, Quezon province.

The Quezon Police Provincial Office, in a belated report on Thursday, said the mishap happened along a national road in Barangay Lutucan 1 at around 5:30 p.m.

Motorcycle driver ‘Jerome,’ a minor and Grade 11 student, and his pillion rider, ‘Michael,’ 26, were about to turn left when their vehicle was accidentally sideswiped by another motorcycle ridden by ‘Jeffrey.’

The three riders were thrown off the vehicles, landed on the pavement, and sustained injuries. Rescuers rushed them to two different hospitals in Sariaya and Lucena City for immediate treatment.

However, Michael was declared dead on arrival at ACE Medical Center in Sariaya.

The report did not state whether the three riders were wearing crash helmets, as required by the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009.

Police said Jerome had no driver’s license because he was a minor.

Both parties were working on an amicable settlement, police said.

BREAKING: 68 passengers escape death as Enugu Air crash lands in Benin

No fewer than 68 passengers escaped death as an Enugu Airlines plane crash-landed at the Benin Airport on Thursday.

Tribune Online gathered that the aircraft with registration number 5N-ENR had 68 passengers on board apart from the crew members.

A source at the Benin Airport who pleaded anonymity said that the aircraft was on an Enugu-Benin-Lagos commercial flight when the incident happened.

The source further volunteered that the aircraft overshot the runway and entered the nearby bush.

‘The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAN) immediately swung into action, and all the passengers were evacuated. No casualty was recorded,’ the source disclosed.

The source could not disclose the actual number of crew members aboard the aircraft at the time of the incident

Miss Universe 2026 coronation just hours apart from Miss International’s

Pageant fans in the Philippines will have a long day on Nov. 25 as two major international competitions will crown their winners just hours apart from one another – Miss Universe and Miss International.

The Miss Universe Organization has announced that the coronation show of its 75th edition in Puerto Rico will take place at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Jose Miguel Agrelot on Nov. 24. The announcement was made on social media on Wednesday evening, July 22.

But because of the time difference, it will already be the morning of Nov. 25 in the Philippines when the Miss Universe pageant rolls out its final competition where the successor to reigning Mexican queen Fatima Bosch will be chosen.

The Miss International pageant has already made its announcement, as early as April, that the 2026 final gala will take place at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 25.

This will be the first time that the two major international pageants will hold their final competition just hours apart from one another. In the past, November has been a busy month with up to three major organizations holding coronation shows. But it has never happened that the dates would overlap in some time zones.

The Miss Universe pageant has also announced the dates of the major preliminary events leading to the final competition. The much-awaited National Costume Show is scheduled on Nov. 21 (Nov. 22 in Manila).

The preliminary competition in swimsuit and evening gown will be held on Nov. 22 (23 in Manila), just hours before the Miss International pageant’s preliminary evaluation reportedly happening on Nov. 23.

American-Filipino activist Bea Millan-Windorski will represent the Philippines at the 75th Miss Universe pageant, hoping to score the country’s fifth win. She will attempt to succeed Mexico’s Fatima Bosch, who won during a controversial finale in Thailand last year.

Meanwhile, Davaoeña pharmacist Katrina Anne Johnson, is competing for the Philippines’ seventh Miss International victory, as she tries to succeed reigning queen Catalina Duque of Colombia.

2027: ‘Ganduje is just blabbing’- NDC defends Obi-Kwankwaso ticket

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Obidient Movement have fired back at former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje over his attack on the Peter Obi-Rabiu Kwankwaso presidential ticket.

Ganduje had described the ticket as ‘dead on arrival,’ insisting that Obi and Kwankwaso lacked the political strength and governance records required to win the 2027 presidential election.

Reacting, NDC Deputy National Publicity Secretary Abdulmumin Abdulsalam dismissed the former Kano State governor’s assessment.

‘I think Ganduje is just blabbing,’ Abdulsalam said in an interview with The Punch.

He claimed Ganduje had lost political relevance in Kano and was being sidelined within the ruling APC.

Abdulsalam expressed confidence that the NDC would defeat the APC in Kano because of Kwankwaso’s political influence in the state.

‘We are confident of clearing all the state Assembly seats. We are also confident of winning the senatorial, House of Representatives and governorship elections as well,’ he said.

He described Kwankwaso as a formidable political force, noting that Ganduje previously served as his deputy governor.

The NDC spokesman also pointed to Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential election as evidence of his nationwide popularity.

He predicted that Nigeria’s economic difficulties would attract more northern voters to Obi in 2027.

National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, also questioned Ganduje’s credibility and defended the records of Obi and Kwankwaso.

Tanko claimed Obi left ?75 billion in Anambra State’s coffers at the end of his tenure as governor.

He also cited infrastructure projects and overseas scholarship programmes implemented by Kwankwaso’s administration in Kano.

According to him, the educational programmes produced pilots, nurses and engineers for the state.

Tanko maintained that Ganduje had no basis to question the achievements of the two former governors.

‘His statement and attempt to discredit the duo are dead on arrival,’ he said.