Author: user user

The Police Public Relations Officer for the Benue State Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, has stated that the Chief Medical Director of Multicare Hospital, Makurdi, Dr Jonah Ogbaji, was arrested by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad attached to the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja.

Aondongu was reacting to the alleged abduction of the medical doctor, which had gone viral on social media across the state.

However, the PPRO said in a terse statement issued on Thursday that the medical doctor was arrested by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad attached to the Force Intelligence Department, Abuja, in connection with an undisclosed investigation.

Social media platforms in the state had been awash with reports of the suspected abduction of the medical doctor around 9pm on Wednesday while he was attending to patients at his hospital along Ankpa Road, Makurdi.

Aondongu, in the statement, described the alleged abduction as ‘false’.

According to the PPRO, ‘The Command has received enquiries regarding reports of the alleged abduction of a medical doctor and owner of a hospital in Makurdi.

‘Upon verification, the report is false. The doctor was not abducted. He was arrested yesterday at his hospital by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS) attached to the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja, in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Aondongu said the specific circumstances surrounding the investigation were yet to be known to the Command.

The command, however, advised the people of the state to disregard reports of the medical doctor’s alleged abduction or kidnapping.

The arrested medical doctor was a two-term ex-officio member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), North Central.

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday joined world leaders at the United Nations Headquarters in New York for the opening of the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

VP Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and leading Nigeria’s delegation to the global gathering, earlier attended a welcome breakfast hosted by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres for Heads of Delegation and their spouses.

The Vice President arrived at the General Assembly Hall in the company of Governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers.

Also in the Nigerian delegation were the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd); Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, and other senior government officials.

The General Debate, holding from September 22 to 28 under the theme, ‘Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all,’ opened with remarks by UN Secretary-General Guterres and addresses by world leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and United States President Donald Trump.

VP Shettima is scheduled to deliver Nigeria’s national statement before the General Assembly on Thursday, September 24, setting out the country’s position on major global issues and President Tinubu’s priorities for reforming international institutions, sustainable development, peace and security, climate action, and a more equitable global economic order.

On his way from the United Nations Headquarters, Senator Shettima, accompanied by governors, ministers, presidential aides and other members of the Nigerian delegation, made a brief stop at Nigeria House in New York.

Earlier in his New York engagements, VP Shettima represented President Tinubu at the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, AMSG, where he called for a new continental push to end Africa’s dependence on the export of raw minerals and build processing, manufacturing and value-addition industries around the continent’s critical resources.

Senator Shettima said Africa’s mineral wealth must translate into jobs, industrial growth and improved living standards for Africans, urging countries on the continent to strengthen cooperation rather than compete through concessions that diminish the value of their resources.

The Vice President will also participate in other high-level and bilateral engagements during the UNGA week as Nigeria advances its national interests and strengthens cooperation with international partners.

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has explained why it took 63 days to release the results of the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal.

Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, said the results were released 63 days after the examination ended because the council had to complete the processes of marking, verification and quality assurance.

Wushishi explained this on Thursday at a news conference held at the council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State, where he announced the release of the 2026 SSCE Internal results.

He said the 2026 examination cycle was one of the most challenging for the council, adding that it tested its systems, processes and readiness.

The examination was conducted from June 15 to September 4, 2026, across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as six foreign countries – Benin Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Niger Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Saudi Arabia.

According to Wushishi, a total of 1,378,048 candidates registered for the examination, comprising 682,352 males and 695,696 females.

He said 1,371,992 candidates eventually sat for the examination, comprising 678,903 males and 693,089 females.

Wushishi disclosed that 1,162,118 candidates, representing 84.70 per cent of those who sat for the examination, obtained five credits and above, irrespective of English Language and Mathematics.

He, however, said 804,948 candidates, representing 58.67 per cent, obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

The NECO boss also addressed examination malpractice, saying the council recorded 1,406 cases in 2026.

He said the figure represented a 64.74 per cent decrease from the 3,878 cases recorded in 2025.

Wushishi attributed the reduction to the council’s efforts to strengthen examination security and quality assurance.

He said the council remained committed to ensuring that certificates issued to candidates reflected their true academic performance and were not obtained through impersonation, manipulation or other forms of examination malpractice.

Wushishi also disclosed that 1,334 candidates with special needs participated in the examination.

He said the figure included 640 candidates with hearing impairment, 149 with visual impairment, 84 with albinism, 94 with autism, 136 with low vision and 231 candidates with adermatoglyphia.

The NECO registrar formally declared the 2026 SSCE Internal results released to the public and urged candidates to continue their academic pursuits with renewed hope and determination.

He expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, for their support for the council.

He also commended security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), as well as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other institutions for their support during the examination.

Wushishi said candidates could access their results through the NECO website using their examination registration numbers.

He assured stakeholders that the council would continue to uphold the integrity and credibility of its examinations.

The Federal Government has cut the interest charged on late payment of taxes, reducing the applicable spread on naira-denominated tax liabilities from five percentage points to one percentage point above the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR).

The new regime, which takes effect from October 1, 2026, is expected to lower the financing cost associated with delayed tax payments for businesses and individuals, while ensuring that the cost remains linked to prevailing market conditions.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, announced the change through the Nigeria Tax Administration (Interest on Late Payment of Tax) Order, 2026, issued under Section 65 of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025.

Under the new order, interest on tax payable in naira will be charged at the MPR plus one percentage point, subject to a floor of the yield on 364-day Treasury Bills.

For foreign currency tax liabilities, interest will be charged at the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus six percentage points. If SOFR is discontinued, its officially designated successor rate will apply.

The change gives businesses greater certainty in calculating the cost of outstanding tax liabilities, with the applicable rate to be reviewed monthly rather than being fixed indefinitely.

The rate for each calendar month will be determined on the last business day of the preceding month and published by the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) by the third business day of the month.

Interest will be calculated on a simple-interest basis and accrue daily from the tax due date until payment.

The new framework applies uniformly to self-assessment, the NRS, and State and FCT Internal Revenue Services.

For businesses, the reduction in the spread means that the additional interest burden on overdue naira tax obligations will now move more closely with monetary policy and government funding conditions.

Oyedele said the policy was designed to strike a balance between reducing uncertainty for taxpayers and discouraging the use of unpaid tax as a source of cheap financing.

‘Tax that is due belongs to the public. When it is paid late, Government may have to borrow to fill the gap, and the cost falls on everyone,’ he said.

The minister added that tying the cost of late payment to market rates would ensure that delaying tax payments does not become cheaper than borrowing from the market.

Beyond the reduction in the interest spread, the government said the monthly publication of rates would improve transparency and enable taxpayers to determine their potential liabilities in advance.

‘Every taxpayer, whether dealing with the Nigeria Revenue Service or a State revenue service, will know the rate in advance, see it published every month, and be charged in the same way,’ Oyedele said.

The order also provides transitional arrangements for outstanding tax liabilities.

The new rates will apply to interest arising from October 1, 2026, including interest on taxes that became due before that date. However, interest that arose before October 1 will remain governed by the rules applicable at the time, where specifically provided.

The order supersedes the 2017 notice on interest on unpaid taxes and other earlier notices on the subject.

The government stressed that the reduction in the interest rate does not affect the statutory 10 per cent penalty for late payment under Section 65 of the Act.

Tax authorities also retain the power under Section 66 to waive penalties or interest where good cause is established.

The Federal Government urged taxpayers with outstanding liabilities to settle them promptly or engage the relevant tax authority, while businesses and other taxpayers were advised to monitor the NRS website for the applicable monthly rates.

Nigeria must move beyond consuming scientific knowledge produced elsewhere and take its place as an equal partner in the global research enterprise, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, has said.

Adebowale, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Juwon Arotiba, spoke at the 4th Nigerian Society for Pharmacological Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics (NISPET) Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting at the University of Ibadan.

Speaking on the theme ‘Pharmacology Beyond Boundaries: Innovation and Translational Science for Sustainable Health,’ he urged Nigerian pharmacologists to participate more actively in global research consortia, contribute to international scientific databases and strengthen partnerships with researchers across Africa and beyond.

‘No single institution, no single nation, and no single discipline can hope to address these challenges in isolation,’ he said.

Adebowale said emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, non-communicable diseases, and challenges of drug affordability and access required closer collaboration among researchers, universities, industry, regulators and healthcare institutions.

He identified the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical application as a major obstacle to drug development, urging researchers to strengthen expertise in regulatory science, health economics and implementation science.

The Vice-Chancellor said the University of Ibadan was investing in research infrastructure, interdisciplinary collaboration and postgraduate training while strengthening partnerships with industry and regulatory agencies to translate research findings into health products and policies.

He stressed that sustainable healthcare required more than discovering new therapies, noting that medicines must also be accessible, affordable, safe and appropriately used.

Adebowale charged young researchers to build networks and pursue collaborations capable of producing solutions to Nigeria’s health challenges.

Also speaking, the President of NISPET, Prof. Omoniyi Yemitan, called for urgent strengthening of Africa’s capacity in drug discovery, development and regulation to close the continent’s drug-development gap.

Yemitan said Africa bears a disproportionate disease burden but remains underrepresented in global drug-development pipelines, stressing the need to bridge the gap between laboratory research, clinical application and community impact.

He said research must ultimately translate into better patient care, affordable medicines and sustainable health systems. He identified antimicrobial resistance, emerging infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases and health inequalities as challenges requiring stronger scientific capacity.

Yemitan urged African researchers to deepen global collaborations while investing in local research, training and regulatory capacity.

The Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Prof. Temidayo Ogundiran, called for stronger collaboration among researchers, clinicians, industry and policymakers to translate pharmacological research into practical healthcare solutions.

He stressed that pharmacology links basic science, clinical medicine, drug discovery and public health, urging participants to forge collaborations and develop innovative approaches to improving healthcare in Nigeria and beyond.

The Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Prof. Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, represented by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Bukola Adesina, also called for greater focus on safe, effective and affordable therapies.

Otegbayo identified rising healthcare costs and limited access to innovative medicines as challenges requiring increased research investment and collaboration. He urged participants to keep patients at the centre of innovation and build partnerships that bridge scientific discovery and improved health outcomes.

The Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ibadan, Prof. Oluwatosin Adaramoye, said the conference was designed to equip participants with practical tools, fresh perspectives and actionable knowledge for addressing emerging challenges in their fields.

He urged participants to engage actively in discussions, challenge conventional approaches and apply lessons from the conference to improve research and professional practice.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will secure ‘maximum victory’ from the South-South region and other parts of the country in the 2027 presidential election, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said.

Akpabio, who described Tinubu as a friend of the South-South zone, made the statement on Wednesday during activities marking the 39th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State in Uyo.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a friend of the South-South zone, and he will get maximum victory from the region and other parts of the country,’ the Senate President said.

The former Akwa Ibom governor also called on the people of the state to sustain their support for its development, saying the anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on the state’s progress and future.

Akpabio said Akwa Ibom had recorded significant growth since its creation in 1987, attributing the progress to the resilience and contributions of its people.

‘Our greatest resource has always been our people,’ he said.

He also reflected on his tenure as governor, saying the infrastructure, institutions and human-capital investments made during his administration provided a foundation for subsequent governments to build upon.

‘The years of Uncommon Transformation demonstrated what is possible when vision is matched by courage, when public resources are deployed for the public good, and when leadership refuses to accept yesterday’s limitations as the boundaries of tomorrow’s possibilities,’ he said.

Akpabio urged the people to look beyond the anniversary celebrations and focus on creating greater opportunities for young people, enterprise and innovation.

‘The task before us is not merely to celebrate how far we have travelled, but to imagine how much farther we can go,’ he said.

‘Akwa Ibom is rising. And together, we shall continue to build a future worthy of the dreams of our founding fathers.’

Akwa Ibom was created on September 23, 1987, by the military administration of former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has assured residents that the long-awaited Apo-Karshi and Bwari-Kubwa roads will be completed and opened by December this year.

Wike gave the assurance in Abuja on Thursday while addressing journalists after inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects across satellite towns in the FCT.

He recalled that the Apo-Karshi road contract was originally awarded in 2010 but stalled under the previous administration, prompting the current administration to revoke and re-award it.

‘I am so happy that we have been able to conquer the Apo-Karshi road. You know the importance of that road. That road was awarded in 2010. To the glory of God, today we were there and we can see that by November they would have handed over that very important road,’ he said.

The Minister, who was also in Bwari, where excited residents turned out in large numbers, said the contractor handling the Bwari-Kubwa road, SCC, has promised to hand over the project by the end of the year, despite delays caused by heavy rainfall.

He commended the Federal Government for expanding development beyond the city centre to satellite towns, noting that more than 10 projects would be commissioned in the FCT before the next elections.

‘Just like I said yesterday, the Tinubu administration has redefined infrastructure delivery as far as FCT is concerned, not just within the city but also within the satellite towns,’ Wike said.

Responding to questions on the political outlook for the FCT ahead of the 2027 general elections, Wike expressed confidence in the ruling party’s prospects, citing the administration’s infrastructure record as evidence of good governance.

‘If good governance is a barometer to measure whether a government has succeeded or not, then we have nothing to fear. We want a government that listens to us, cares for us, and solves our problems. Now the Tinubu administration has come; it is not only listening to you, but it is also not only caring for you; it is solving your problems.

‘So why will the people who said this is what they want now change their mind to try people we do not know what will happen? Nobody does that.

‘I can beat my chest, close my eyes and sleep with my two eyes closed that Bola Ahmed Tinubu will emerge and other candidates such as Philip Aduda and John Gabaya will win this election. I have no fear at all,’ he said.

Asked about criticism from the incumbent FCT senator, who said she will not be intimidated, Wike said his comments were not intimidation but a call for accountability.

‘How many times has she gone to satellite towns to discuss with them, even traditional rulers? How many times has she spoken on the floor of the Senate to say these are the problems the FCT is facing? How many times has she come up with bills to tell her colleagues to support her so that certain problems facing Abuja will be taken care of?

‘It is not about intimidation. Nobody is intimidating her, rather she has intimidated herself by not performing. It is the non-performance that is causing her intimidation,’ he said.

On the recent demolition exercise in parts of Abuja, the minister said affected occupants were illegal occupants and had been given more than six months’ notice.

He said government could not continue to delay enforcement after repeated notice periods.

Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, on Thursday said no country, including Nigeria, can meaningfully realise its full potential when a significant proportion of its population is unable to contribute fully to governance, diplomacy, economic development and public leadership.

The Senate Leader noted that women’s participation in public governance and leadership should be viewed as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s human capital and institutional strength, rather than an act of favour.

Bamidele spoke at the presentation of the book, ‘The Female Diplomat: Navigating Power, Ambition and Identity’, held at Nigeria House, New York, United States, according to his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs.

The event was attended by prominent dignitaries and diplomats, including the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms Amina Mohammed; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim; Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Kayode Are; and the President/CEO of Montefiore Einstein.

Bamidele, who chaired the book presentation, said Nigeria’s democracy could only be strengthened when citizens were adequately represented in institutions established to serve them.

The Leader told the session that the administration of President Bola Tinubu, through the Renewed Hope Agenda, had recognised that the country’s development must draw on the abilities and contributions of all its citizens, including women and young people.

According to him, the President has consistently affirmed that women and young people must not be relegated to the background in the political, economic and national life of the country, but should be given front seats.

Bamidele stressed, however, that having women occupy positions in public institutions was not enough, arguing that they must have genuine opportunities to participate in decision-making, exercise responsibility and contribute to public policy.

Senator Bamidele explained, ‘Gender inclusion is not an act of favour. It is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s human capital and institutional strength.

*No nation can realise its full potential if a significant proportion of its population is unable to contribute fully to governance, diplomacy, economic development and public leadership.’

Bamidele added that Nigeria’s foreign relations would be enriched when the country was represented by capable professionals whose knowledge, judgment and experience reflected the breadth of its national talent.

He pointed out that the National Assembly had a vital role to play through legislation, representation and oversight, particularly by helping to create an environment where competence was recognised, and opportunities were broadened.

Bamidele said the responsibility extended beyond government to political institutions, the diplomatic service, private sector, academic institutions and civil society.

‘Progress will require deliberate policies, supportive institutions and a collective willingness to recognise talent wherever it is found,’ he further stated.

Nigeria and the United States have signed a framework agreement to deepen cooperation and attract American investment into Nigeria’s mining sector, with emphasis on critical minerals, local processing and value addition.

The agreement, signed in New York on Wednesday by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and the US Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, is expected to provide a platform for business-to-business transactions and investments in Nigeria’s estimated $700 billion mineral resources.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Minister, Kehinde Bamigbetan, said the framework would strengthen cooperation between both countries on geological data and exploration, mineral development and processing, infrastructure and technical capacity.

Welcoming Landau and the US delegation to the signing ceremony at Nigeria’s Mission House in New York, Alake described the agreement as a framework capable of shaping the future of Nigeria’s mining industry.

He said, ‘Some agreements manage the present, and some agreements shape the future. The framework we sign today belongs to the second kind.’

According to him, Nigeria and the US had, through the agreement, affirmed a shared commitment to ensuring that critical mineral supply chains were secure, resilient and built on responsible investment.

Alake said Nigeria’s ambition was not to remain a supplier of raw materials while other countries captured the greater value from its mineral resources.

‘Our goal is to turn potential into lasting value at home through stronger local processing, new skills, quality jobs, and new opportunities for Nigerian businesses,’ he said.

The minister said the framework would enable both countries to collaborate on geological data, exploration, mineral development and processing, infrastructure development and technical capacity.

He added that effective implementation of the agreement would support the economic diversification objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and accelerate industrial growth.

Alake, however, said the signing was only the beginning of the process, stressing that both countries must now translate the agreement into concrete investments and projects.

‘Now comes the harder and more important work: moving from agreement to implementation. A signature is a promise, results are the proof. In the months ahead, we will identify viable projects, mobilise investments and build the commercial partnerships that deliver measurable benefits to our nations,’ he said.

Responding, Landau said the United States regarded Nigeria as a key partner, describing the country as Africa’s fastest-growing economy, its most populous nation and a regional power.

He said the agreement would create opportunities for greater prosperity in both countries, adding that the United States was willing to support Nigeria’s economic growth.

‘The signal we are sending is that the United States and Nigeria are partners,’ Landau said.

He added that the administrations of US President Donald Trump and President Tinubu had achieved several milestones in bilateral relations over the past one and a half years.

‘Under President Trump and President Tinubu’s leadership, the United States and Nigeria have done many things together in the last one and a half years that we’ve never done before. I think we will like to keep building on that momentum,’ he said.

Members of the US delegation included the Deputy Assistant Secretary for West African Affairs, Rich Michaels; the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southern Africa, Foreign Assistance and Critical Minerals, Chris Kulukundis; the Senior Policy Adviser to the Deputy Secretary, Wyatt Toehlkeke; and Jitu Sardar.

The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Engr Yusuf Yabo; the Director-General, Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, Engr Simon Nkom; the Executive Secretary, Solid Minerals Development Fund, Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi; and the Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Solid Minerals Company, Martin Imonitie, witnessed the signing ceremony.

Former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has said he bears no resentment towards former colleagues, friends and associates following their silence over his current travails.

El-Rufai, in a statement titled ‘My Relationships and the Aftermath,’ said the silence of some people he had supported or maintained close relationships with over the years had generated concerns among those around him.

He, however, said he would not judge anyone for choosing to distance themselves or remain silent in the face of his present circumstances.

According to him, his decision to stand by people and causes he believed in had always been guided by his Islamic faith, Arewa upbringing, personal values and conscience.

‘Over the years, I have stood by people and for causes I believed in, sometimes in difficult circumstances and at considerable personal cost,’ he said.

The former governor said his actions were never driven by expectations of praise, gratitude or reciprocity, but by his conviction that he was doing what was right.

He added that those he had supported in the past were also entitled to make their own choices when circumstances changed.

El-Rufai said while some of them might choose to speak in his support, others could remain silent or distance themselves from relationships they previously shared.

‘Their reasons are their own, and I do not wish to judge them merely because their response differs from what others or even I might have expected,’ he said.

Reflecting on the experience, the former governor said difficult circumstances often revealed the nature of relationships, noting that the events of the past few months might lead him to reconsider some of his associations.

‘Adversity has a way of illuminating relationships,’ he said.

He added that the experience could make him ‘quietly and without regret’ reassess certain relationships and consider the expectations placed on people who look up to him.

El-Rufai, however, stressed that such reassessment should not be construed as condemnation or reproach.

He maintained that he had no regrets about standing by people or causes whenever he believed it was the right thing to do.

‘I bear no resentment towards anyone who chooses not to do the same for me,’ he said.

The former governor said he would rather remain faithful to the principles that had guided his conduct than allow the actions of others to alter those principles.

On what he described as perceived injustice, ingratitude or injury against him, El-Rufai said he was not seeking revenge or retribution.

‘Ultimate accountability belongs to Almighty Allah, and I leave that judgment to Him, in this world and in the Hereafter,’ he said.

He added that everyone would eventually have to live with the choices they made, while posterity would form its own judgment.

‘My only concern is to remain at peace with my conscience and, above all, with Almighty Allah,’ he said.

El-Rufai has reportedly spent 220 days in detention.