Category: Nigerian Tribune

One of the very few honest men appointed by the late President Mohammadu Buhari is Professor Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede. He became the Chief Executive Officer of JAMB in 2016. His appointment was renewed for another five years in 2021. A decade of innovation, transparency and accountability. Oloyede rebranded the Federal Government agency to the envy of all.

Few months after his appointment he remitted billions of naira to government coffer, a feat seen as direct indictment on his predecessors. Yes! A total of 50 million naira was recorded as revenue by others before him. In those dark eras, snakes were alleged to swallow millions of naira while scratch cards were being recycled.

Not only did Oloyede generate revenue; he reduced the cost of UTME fees for candidates. He also did not stand on the neck of government for allocation. He introduced innovations that help to reduce examination malpractices to the barest minimum.

A good leader who owns up to errors. It happened in the 2025 JAMB/UTME when glitch caused unanticipated error. Oloyede wept as he spoke on the issue. Adjustments were later made to correct the error. Professor Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede is leaving JAMB better than he met it. He is ‘Probitas doctrina’- better by far.

Interestingly, that’s the motto of the University of Ilorin where he served as a two-term Vice Chancellor.

As we are thanking Oloyede for a job well done, we want to charge the new Registrar, Professor Segun Aina to raise the bar of achievements.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Delta Central Senatorial District on Sunday closed ranks ahead of the 2027 general elections, with party leaders, stakeholders and members unanimously endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Senator Ede Dafinone, and all other candidates of the party while calling for unity and intensified grassroots mobilisation.

The endorsement came during the Delta Central APC Stakeholders’ Strategic Meeting held at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre, Effurun.

Moving the motion for the endorsement, which was seconded by Hon Halims Agoda, the party’s founding leader, Chief O’tega Emerhor, commended President Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori for their policies and programmes, which are impacting Nigerians and Deltans positively.

The motion was subsequently put to a voice vote by the Delta State APC Chairman, Chief Solomon Arenyeka, and was unanimously adopted.

Addressing the people, Arenyeka said the stakeholders’ meetings across the three senatorial districts were conceived after the State Working Committee reviewed party activities during its June 11 meeting and resolved that each senatorial district should convene meetings to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

He described the Delta Central meeting as evidence that the strategy was yielding positive results, adding that the calibre of personalities present reflected unprecedented unity within the party and demonstrated that Delta Central had set the pace for the remaining senatorial districts.

He commended Governor Oborevwori for what he described as tireless efforts in building and sustaining unity within the APC across Delta State, saying the governor had invested considerable time travelling across local government areas, reconciling aggrieved members, and strengthening party structures.

Pointing out that the success recorded by the APC was largely attributable to the governor’s leadership, he welcomed those who defected from other political parties to the party.

He assured them of equal opportunities and full integration into the APC and announced that the Delta North stakeholders’ meeting would hold on August 7 in Asaba, while the date for the Delta South meeting would be announced later.

Earlier, Chairman of the APC in the Delta Central Senatorial District, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, said the governor’s emergence as the party’s governorship candidate reflected the confidence the APC had in his leadership, inclusive governance and performance in office.

Akpeki said the successful conduct of the party’s congresses and primaries had strengthened internal democracy and positioned the APC for future electoral success and attributed the peaceful outcome of the exercises to Oborevwori’s leadership.

‘The primaries have come and gone. Winners have emerged, and some may naturally feel disappointed. However, the time for internal competition is over. The election ahead is bigger than any individual’s ambition. Let us forgive one another, heal every misunderstanding, and work together for the success of our party,’ he said.

He further urged members to market the achievements of the Oborevwori administration in infrastructure, education, healthcare, economic empowerment, peace and security while also promoting President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda across communities in Delta State.

Akpeki expressed confidence that a united, disciplined, and focused APC would secure victory in the 2027 general elections.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Chief Festus Keyamo, congratulated all candidates who emerged victorious in the party’s primaries and commended those who were unsuccessful for remaining loyal to the APC.

‘The APC is not a miracle centre where people simply go to obtain tickets. Our candidates emerged through the party’s democratic processes, and we must all respect those outcomes,’ Keyamo said.

He stressed that politics is driven by organisation, planning and constant engagement with the electorate, adding that the economic reforms of President Tinubu’s administration were beginning to produce positive results through increased government revenue and greater investments in infrastructure, job creation and poverty reduction.

Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central, thanked party leaders and stakeholders for supporting his emergence and others as candidates of the APC and pledged to facilitate greater employment and empowerment opportunities for Urhobo youths when re-elected.

Leaders from the three federal constituencies in Delta Central also assured the party of victory in the forthcoming elections. Chief Solomon Ighrakpata (Okpe/Sapele/Udu Federal Constituency), Senator Ighoyota Amori (Ethiope Federal Constituency), and Olorogun John Oguma (Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency) declared that the APC remained united across the federal constituencies and pledged to work collectively to deliver all the party’s candidates at the polls.

Speaking on behalf of women in the district, Executive Director of Business Development at NEXIM Bank, Hon. Stella Okotete, assured party leaders that Delta Central would deliver at least one million votes for the APC in the 2027 general elections. She called for greater inclusion, support and empowerment of women and youths, describing them as critical to the party’s electoral success.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Delta State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Isaiah Esiovwa, said council chairmen across Delta Central were fully committed to mobilising grassroots support to ensure victory for all APC candidates.

On behalf of the local government party chairmen, the APC Chairman in Okpe Local Government Area pledged sustained mobilisation, reconciliation of aggrieved members and strengthened party unity to guarantee overwhelming victory for the party in the 2027 general elections.

A new study suggests that people who consume the highest amounts of artificial sweeteners may experience a significantly faster decline in memory and thinking skills, particularly adults under 60 and people with diabetes.

The findings, published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, indicate that high intake of artificial sweeteners is associated with cognitive decline equivalent to about 1.6 additional years of brain ageing.

Researchers followed 12,772 adults in Brazil for approximately eight years, examining their intake of seven common sweeteners found in diet drinks, sugar-free desserts, flavoured water, and tabletop sweeteners.

These included aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, and tagatose. Six of the seven sweeteners were linked to faster cognitive decline, while tagatose was the only one not associated with worsening brain function.

Participants completed detailed dietary questionnaires and underwent repeated cognitive assessments measuring memory, verbal fluency, working memory, and processing speed.

After adjusting for factors such as age, sex, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease, the researchers found that participants with the highest intake of artificial sweeteners experienced a 62% faster decline in overall cognitive function than those with the lowest intake.

The difference was comparable to about 1.6 additional years of brain ageing. Even those with moderate sweetener intake experienced a 35% faster cognitive decline, equivalent to roughly 1.3 extra years of brain ageing, compared with participants who consumed the least.

The association was particularly strong among adults younger than 60, who experienced faster declines in overall cognition and verbal fluency. A stronger link was also observed among people with diabetes, who are more likely to rely on sugar substitutes to reduce their sugar intake.

When the researchers examined the sweeteners individually, aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K, erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol were all associated with faster cognitive decline, particularly memory loss. Tagatose was the only sweetener that showed no significant association.

The researchers stressed that the study does not prove artificial sweeteners cause memory loss or accelerate brain ageing. Because it was observational, other factors, including overall diet, lifestyle, and underlying health conditions, may have contributed to the findings.

Even so, the results raise fresh questions about the long-term effects of sugar substitutes, which are widely marketed as healthier alternatives to sugar.

The researchers said more studies are needed to determine whether artificial sweeteners themselves contribute to cognitive decline or whether the observed link is driven by other health and lifestyle factors. Until then, they suggest moderation may be the most sensible approach to consuming sugar substitutes.

The Oyo State Government has commenced a fresh enforcement exercise against non-compliant billboard operators, sealing more than 18 billboard structures operating without the required approvals across the state.

The enforcement, carried out by the Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA), is aimed at restoring order in the outdoor advertising sector, improving public safety and ensuring strict compliance with the state’s signage regulations.

According to a statement issued by the agency, the affected billboard structures were identified during compliance verification and inspection exercises conducted across the state.

The agency said the action followed several demand notices, stakeholder engagements and repeated opportunities given to operators to regularise their operations before enforcement commenced.

It listed the infractions to include non-payment of assessed billboard and advertisement fees, operation without valid permits, display of advertisements on unregistered structures, continued use of structures previously marked for compliance, erection of billboards without approval, failure to meet structural and environmental standards and the placement of billboards in unauthorised locations.

OYSAA clarified that only billboard owners and practitioners found to have violated the regulations were affected by the exercise.

It stressed that operators with valid permits, approvals and verified evidence of payment were not impacted.

The agency said the enforcement involved inspection and verification of approval and payment records, sealing of non-compliant structures, removal or deactivation of unauthorised advertisements, documentation of affected structures, issuance of final compliance directives and commencement of processes to recover outstanding statutory fees and enforcement costs.

Speaking on the exercise, the agency said the action underscored the determination of the state government to sanitise the outdoor advertising industry.

‘The enforcement reflects the determination of the Oyo State Government to promote discipline, fairness and professionalism within the outdoor advertising sector,’ the agency stated.

It added, ‘The affected operators had been given sufficient notice and opportunities to comply before enforcement began.’

Reiterating the objectives of the exercise, OYSAA said, ‘Our objective is to protect law-abiding practitioners, improve road safety and ensure that all operators meet the same regulatory obligations.’

The agency further warned that the ongoing exercise was only the first phase of a wider compliance campaign.

‘This enforcement exercise marks the beginning of a wider compliance campaign across billboard corridors and other strategic locations in the state. Operators who fail to regularise their structures risk further administrative or legal action,’ it said.

OYSAA also urged billboard owners, businesses, religious and political organisations, as well as corporate institutions, to verify the status of their advertising structures, renew expired permits, settle outstanding assessments and obtain the necessary approvals before erecting or displaying new advertisements.

The long-running rift within the Okoye family has taken another dramatic turn, with singer Paul Okoye, popularly known as Rudeboy, declaring that he may never forgive his twin brother, Peter Okoye.

Speaking during an interview, Rudeboy expressed deep disappointment over the events that have unfolded between them, insisting that the wounds caused by the family dispute run too deep for him to simply move on.

The singer said he was particularly hurt by the actions of his twin brother, whom he accused of allowing family disagreements to escalate beyond reconciliation.

According to Rudeboy, trust has been completely broken, making forgiveness an extremely difficult decision despite repeated calls for peace from fans and well-wishers.

‘I don’t think I can forgive my twin brother. What happened is something I never expected from my own blood,’ he said.

He maintained that the issue was no longer about music or the P-Square brand but about betrayal within the family, adding that some actions leave permanent scars.

Rudeboy also suggested that the crisis had reached a point where rebuilding the relationship would require far more than public apologies or reconciliation efforts.

‘The problem is not music. It’s deeper than that. It’s about family, trust and betrayal,’ he stated.

The singer stressed that he had remained silent on several occasions in the past to protect the family’s image but felt compelled to speak because of the recurring controversies surrounding their relationship.

He added that while many people continue to hope for another P-Square reunion, such expectations fail to acknowledge the emotional damage caused by the prolonged family conflict.

Rudeboy noted that he has chosen to focus on his personal life, children and music career rather than dwell on unresolved disputes, saying peace of mind now takes priority over everything else.

The latest remarks have reignited conversations among fans, many of whom had hoped the famous twins would permanently put their differences behind them after previously reuniting following years of separation.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Tinubu administration over what he described as ‘unprecedented domestic borrowing’ despite a significant windfall from high international crude oil prices.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the government’s economic management as ‘contradictory, opaque, and bereft of fiscal discipline.’

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) noted that the Federal Government has already raised about ?5 trillion from the domestic bond market in the first half of 2026 – almost 80 per cent of the total amount borrowed during the same period in 2025.

‘Such aggressive borrowing would only be understandable if government revenues had collapsed. The exact opposite is the case,’ Atiku said.

He pointed out that while the 2026 Appropriation Act benchmarked crude oil at $64.84 per barrel, Brent crude has averaged around $92 per barrel between March 1 and July 14.

Nigerian crude typically trades at a premium above Brent.

‘This naturally raises two unavoidable questions,’ Atiku said.

‘First, why is a government enjoying such an extraordinary oil windfall borrowing at almost twice last year’s pace as though the nation were in financial distress? Second, where is the money?’

According to him, the $27.15 difference between the benchmark and market price, at an average production of 1.5 million barrels per day, translates to an estimated $42.7 million in additional revenue daily.

‘Over the 135-day period, that amounts to approximately $5.76 billion, or about ?7.98 trillion.

‘Nigerians deserve a full accounting of this windfall. Where has the money gone? Why is there no transparent disclosure of the proceeds from excess crude sales? Why is government borrowing heavily when oil revenues are significantly above budget projections?’ he asked.

Atiku recalled that previous administrations maintained clear mechanisms for warehousing excess crude earnings through the Sovereign Wealth Fund and other fiscal buffers.

‘Today, Nigerians have been left completely in the dark. A government that cannot explain what it has done with an estimated ?7.98 trillion in additional oil receipts has no moral authority to continue plunging the country deeper into debt,’ he stated.

He further lamented that despite the oil windfall and fuel subsidy removal, millions of Nigerians face worsening hardship.

Citing recent UN findings, he said about 80 per cent of Nigerians cannot afford a decent meal daily, while infrastructure continues to deteriorate despite promises that subsidy savings would go to roads, healthcare, education and other sectors.

‘It is increasingly evident that this administration lacks the competence, discipline, and transparency required to manage the nation’s resources. Rather than allowing Nigerians to benefit from favourable global oil prices, it has chosen the path of endless borrowing, mounting debt, and deepening poverty.’

Atiku pledged that an ADC administration under his leadership would account transparently for every kobo earned above the budget oil benchmark under a rules-based fiscal framework.

He added that the administration would deploy excess revenues to reduce debt, strengthen fiscal buffers, and invest in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and job-creating sectors.

Atiku said an ADC administration would restore transparency by publishing regular reports on excess crude earnings and subjecting public finances to the highest standards of accountability.

He added that it would cut the cost of governance and ensure borrowing is only for productive investments, ‘not to finance consumption or conceal fiscal irresponsibility.’

‘Nigerians deserve answers. They deserve accountability. Above all, they deserve a government that manages national wealth in the public interest, not one that presides over unprecedented opacity while asking future generations to repay debts incurred in the midst of plenty,’ he said.

THE story of Miss Mary Habila, the nurse found dead in the country home of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, will not simply fade away. The reasons are clear. Several parts of the narrative offered by those who should know do not add up, and the more details that emerge, the more questions arise. Public interest stems not only from the involvement of a prominent political figure but, more importantly, from the irreversible loss of a human life. Mary was a promising young Nigerian professional. Her family expected her to grow into a mother and a nurse who could save lives and contribute meaningfully to medical practice. Those dreams ended on 27 June when she was discovered dead in Umahi’s country home.

Reports indicate that the Divisional Police Officer of Ohaozara Division received a distress call about a medical emergency involving the 26-year-old nurse. Doctors at the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu, confirmed that she was brought in dead on 27 June. Yet the death only became public on 11 July, when it was first reported in the media.

For me, the surname Habila carried a personal weight of grief. I had to check Mary’s state of origin to know if she had any link with my good friend from Bauchi State, Hon. Iliya Habila, a graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Maiduguri, with whom I became instant friends at the NYSC Orientation Camp in 1994. Well, Mary was from Kaduna, but that did not diminish the grief. Her Habila surname brought back the denial I’ve been living with since December last year, when the news of the demise of my friend of 31 years, Iliya, hit me like a thunderbolt. We became instant friends at the Argungu Orientation Camp in Kebbi State, where we ran the camp’s OBS together with Yinka Oyebode and others. Iliya was a good man-amiable, hardworking, a devoted family man whose love for Catholicism never wavered. He died two weeks after his brother, a Reverend Father. Hearing of another Habila linked to sudden death felt like an added burden on a family that is already struggling to cope with unexplainable tragedies.

Mary’s death remains a painful one, especially looking at the circumstances and the untidy narratives we are being treated to in the aftermath. Whatever picture has been painted by eyewitnesses and officials, the situation remains confounding. The death occurred on 27 June and was made public only on 11 July. That’s a time lag of two weeks. Equally curious is the reliance on affidavits by key figures: Mary’s father, Tanko Habila Wisdom, and her friend and colleague, Anita Baaki, a physiotherapist who was also on the entourage of the minister, and the person who was said to have seen her last, the night before her demise. Both Tanko and Baaki released affidavits weeks after Mary’s death. Baaki worked with the minister alongside Mary. Recall that Miss Habila had been on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works from the David Umahi University of Medical Sciences and had travelled with Baaki, the minister and other staff to Umahi’s country home on 24 June.

According to Baaki’s affidavit, she last saw Mary on the night before her death. When Mary could not be found the following day, the door of her chalet was forced open. She was found lying unconscious and was taken immediately to hospital, where she was confirmed dead on arrival. One curious thing I also found in the narrative is the emphasis being placed on the location of the guest chalet in which Mary and her colleagues were housed. Baaki’s affidavit made it look as if it was a different house. But that’s not true. The way top politicians build their houses in the South-East is to surround the main house with chalets, where guests and workers are housed. It is the same compound, enclosed within the same fence. She can submit that Mary did not die inside Umahi’s bedroom; that can be accepted, but it would be wrong to create an impression that she was housed in a different location entirely. Mary’s father, in his affidavit dated 13 July 2026, stated that he was not interested in investigating the cause of his daughter’s death and requested that the body be released for burial. He further indicated that he would not be available for any police invitation, asserting that the affidavit reflected ‘the sincere wishes of my family and me’.

Affidavits are legal instruments, yet their contents cannot prevent ordinary citizens from raising legitimate questions. Mr Habila’s request should be set aside. While he is the father of the deceased, the law does not grant him the power to determine the course of investigation into her death. Nigerian law takes precedence over family preference where suspicions exist that require clarification. In Mary’s case, too many elements fail to add up.

The recourse to affidavits itself raises questions. The father’s statement might be excused as the reaction of a grieving parent. Baaki’s affidavit is more problematic. The delay in public disclosure is also troubling. Why did the Ebonyi State Police not announce the death promptly so that events could follow a normal, transparent sequence? Baaki should first have given her account to the media, ideally at a press briefing convened by the police. Other members of the Umahi household with relevant knowledge could have been interviewed. Only afterwards might affidavits have been filed as part of the formal procedure. Attempting to manage the matter through partial legal steps has only fuelled public suspicion.

Transparency must not only be applied; it must be seen to be applied by both the Umahi family and the police. A medical emergency should have been declared as soon as Mary could not be reached. Before the door was forced open, medical staff attached to the minister ought to have been present. Where is the account of how the door was broken? I suspect that the minister also goes about with a press crew, whose camera was used to record the process leading to the breaking of the door and her evacuation. In what position was she found-behind the door, in the bathroom, or elsewhere? One report claimed she had left the tap running because she intended to bathe. If so, why was she found behind the door? Where were the other medical personnel attached to the minister, and what are their accounts? Are we to believe that only a nurse and a physiotherapist form the medical team around a minister? A single-page affidavit and a brief interview by the minister in Abuja are insufficient to answer these hanging questions. Minister Umahi has said he is mourning because the young woman was like a daughter to him. Well, we cannot contest that position, but he has a duty to answer the questions the law requires of him. If his aides mishandled the matter, investigations should establish that fact. If there is nothing irregular, the public deserves to know. The nearly two-week gap before the story reached the media has itself cast a shadow. Who decided not to inform the public, and for what purpose?

Should the police argue that early media involvement would have jeopardised investigations, that argument is unconvincing. An incident involving the loss of life has occurred. The proper course is to state that fact and confirm that details are being investigated. The minister and members of his household would then be expected to cooperate fully.

Let me share with the police what would look like international best practice in this type of situation, which we experienced on a delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) summit in Geneva, Switzerland, in October 2007. I was on that delegation led by the then Senate President, David Mark, and some other members of the National Assembly. A member of our media team, Phil Sende of the Africa Independent Television (AIT), died suddenly a day before our departure. Early that morning, she was on the telephone with Sam Akpe in Nigeria when she began coughing heavily. Sam had to advise her to drink water, and he cut the call. Moments after, he made 20 return calls, and none was picked up. So, he had to reach the Media Adviser to Senator Mark, Kola Ologbondiyan, to alert us to go and check on Sende. Meanwhile, those of us in the same hotel were already tired of waiting for her to come out, and we had asked the front desk to help call the room. No one picked up either. Kola’s call came at the same time Paul Mumeh, media aide to Senator Mark, and a staff member of the hotel were heading to the room to see what was afoot. Behold, they knocked and knocked without answer, and when the official opened the door with the security key, Sende was found almost falling off the bed, practically lifeless. Her hand was stretched, apparently reaching out for the water bottle on the stool near her bed; cardiac arrest had struck! A medical emergency was triggered around the hotel; all the life-saving equipment deployed to save Sende couldn’t perform the magic; we lost her. Immediately, the plain-clothed men, whom we usually saw milling around the hotel premises, started identifying themselves as either policemen or intelligence officers, and all of us on the delegation had to face questioning.

The Swiss authorities conducted the necessary procedures, including an autopsy, with speed and clarity. The cause of death was established, and speculation was unnecessary. Painful as it was, the young woman who had left Nigeria full of life returned with us in a body bag. Yet her family, colleagues at the National Assembly, her employers at AIT and members of the Abuja NUJ celebrated her life of service without any lingering doubt. That level of transparency is what the police, the Umahi family and the Nigerian system owe in the case of Miss Mary Habila.

The Federal Government has granted a provisional licence to High-Flyers University, Ikere-Ekiti, to commence operations as a private university in Ekiti State.

The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, presented the licence to the institution’s Proprietor, Dr Busayo Ajayi, in Abuja on Friday.

The certificate, dated June 29, 2026, was jointly signed by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the NUC Executive Secretary.

The approval followed the institution’s fulfilment of the commission’s requirements for establishing a conventional private university.

According to the NUC, the university will commence academic activities with three faculties comprising 11 departments and 15 undergraduate programmes.

The Faculty of Allied Health Sciences will offer Nursing Science, Public Health, Physiotherapy and Medical Laboratory Science.

Under the Faculty of Science and Computing, the institution will run programmes in Computer Science, Cyber Security, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Physics with Electronics, Science Laboratory Technology and Microbiology.

The Faculty of Social and Management Sciences will offer Accounting, Business Administration, Criminology and Security Studies, as well as International Relations.

Reacting to the approval, Ajayi commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating an enabling environment for the establishment of private universities to strengthen Nigeria’s education sector.

He pledged to assemble world-class scholars to build a university that would produce globally competitive graduates and contribute to improving Nigeria’s standing in global university rankings.

Ajayi said the institution was committed to delivering quality education, research and innovation that would support national development.

Sample 1: ‘Apparently referring to recent newspaper publication that he was being haunted by the EFCC over an alleged involvement in over N8 billion scam and that he was one of the outgoing governors… He boasted that in the last four years, his government had undergone various developmental projects aimed at improving the living standard of the people of the state in line with the 13-point agenda of his administration’ (I’ll Go Mad If I See N8 billion – Akala, The Daily Sun, May 19, 2011).

I draw readers’ attention to the word haunted which occurs in the clause, ‘he was being haunted by the EFCC’. Clearly, the word haunted is used in confusion with hunt, two superficially similar but hardly semantically related words. To hunt a person or animal is to pursue it with the aim of hurting or killing the person or animal. Illustrations: (1) Armed with guns and cutlasses, the team went hunting antelopes. (2) The cow went wild and two Fulani men were paid to hunt it down. (3) Many people have claimed that the EFCC was created to hunt down the former president’s political enemies. (4) The kid was busy in the garden hunting butterflies. (5) It should have been clear to everybody that the US would hunt down its most wanted enemy. (6) The scientist did not rest until he had hunted out the specie of his dream.

On the other hand, the verb haunt basically has to do with a ghost appearing in or troubling a place. There is also the metaphorical extension of the word: (1) Haunted by her past, Janet would often become moody so that her husband would wonder whether he had hurt her in any way. (2) Successive occupiers of the building have one story or the other to tell about it being haunted by the ghost of the late landlord. (3) The conscience has been described as a ‘policeman’ that hunts and haunts every man who has done something evil which is not known to his neighbour. (4) That dreadful experience haunted me for years until I sought spiritual deliverance. (5) The Doctor was haunted by a major error he had committed in the course of the surgical operation.

From those illustrative sentences, it should be clear that the word required in the context is not haunted but hunted: ‘he was hunted by the EFCC’

Next, we consider the word undergone which occurs in the context, ‘his government had undergone various development projects’. The form undergone is the past participle of the verb undergo, a word that is definitely not appropriate in the context. If a person or thing undergoes an experience, he has that experience. Can we say with intelligence, as the reporter has said, that ‘his government had undergone various developmental projects’? If we said this, we would suggest quite inanely that the government itself had had an experience called ‘developmental projects’.

The only way we can help the writer to make sense is to replace the word undergone with undertaken. Yes, when you undertake (yes, undertaken is the past participle of undertake) a task or project, you engage in it. To have a real grasp of the usage of each of the words (undertake and undergo), we illustrate their respective usage. First, undergo: (1) Our country has undergone remarkable changes in the last ten years of democratic experience. (2) All the patients are required to undergo specific tests before they can see the Doctor. (3) Having undergone surgical operations twice, the woman is not expected to have her next baby without surgery. (4) Workers who have not undergone further training since they joined the company are not entitled to promotion beyond the last step of their present positions. (5) Anyone who has undergone spiritual transformation would know what it means to have a special experience of God. (6) All the operations of the company have undergone different degrees of change since the beginning of this year.

Now undertake: (1) (1) Five new projects are being undertaken by the new administration. (2) The contractor said he was not ready to undertake any job for which no advance payment was made. (3) Before undertaking the mission, the terrorist gang, we are told, had trained for years somewhere in the US. (4) The Governor said he was not willing to undertake new projects because of shortage of funds. (5) Let’s not undertake that job if we are not sure of completing it. (6) Having undertaken the production of three plays, the director seems reluctant to undertake the production of a fourth one.

At any rate, the clause should read, ‘his government had undertaken various developmental projects’.

SAMPLE II

‘It was gathered that the number of corps members in the worship centre increased to 50 when some of their colleagues living elsewhere rushed to the NCCF secretariat to seek refuge from the crisis that erupted in some parts of the town, unknown to them that they were potential victims of the dastard act of the irate youths. The Family House of the NCCF, a fellowship centre and a lodge for the Christian corps members, was one of the seven worship centres touched by the youth…’ (Presidential Poll: 5 Corps Members Escape Death, The Daily Sun, April 20, 2011).

First, we examine the status of the word dastard which occurs in the context, ‘victims of the dastard act’. Let us point out immediately that the word dastard is not an English word. Or rather, it is a truncated English word. The word whose identity we are sure of is dastardly. We may be able to guess what has happened to this word and the process that led to it.

Having encountered the word dastardly, and having no engagement with it beyond sighting it in a ‘light’ reading material, the reporter must have mistaken it for an adverb – what with its final -ly. It is true that most English adverbs end in -ly, but it is not all words that have a final ly that are adverbs. To be sure, the word dastardly is not an adverb but an adjective, notwithstanding its obvious -ly ending.

What we guess the reporter has done is to clip the final -ly of the word as a way of reducing it to its adjectival form – dastard, a non-existent word in English. It should not be difficult to imagine that the reporter would have used the form dastardly as an adverb if the opportunity had offered itself in the course of writing his report.

A similar error is committed by some people when they employ the word orderly, mistaking its final -ly for evidence of adverb. Since this has received adequate attention last week, we would not discuss it further. As we have pointed out, the word dastardly is an adjective and its usage is illustrated as follows: (1) The man raped a six-year-old girl, and the NGO has sworn that he will pay for the dastardly act. (2) Those who were involved in the dastardly act of burning the houses of their political enemies will not go unpunished. (3) The dastardly murder was committed when the victim had no reason to suspect that any evil was planned against him. (4) Nothing can excuse that dastardly revenge, not even the fact that the woman has hurt him so much. (5) The law does not seem to make sufficient provision for such dastardly misdeeds.

At any rate, the word dastardly should replace dastard in the context under examination: ‘victims of the dastardly act’.

Finally, I urge readers to note the word touched which occurs in the context, ‘one of the seven worship centres touched by the youth’. Readers are to note that this word is used in the context of arson. Is the word touched the appropriate one in the context? Certainly not.

It is obvious that this word – touch – is used in confusion with torch. When houses, cars, etc are burnt deliberately, we say they are torched. The word touch is about physical contact, torch is about burning.

At any rate, the word torched should replace touched in the context under examination.

The organisers of Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) Season 11 have unveiled housemates who will compete for the record-breaking ?160 million grand prize.

Hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, the live launch show introduced contestants from different parts of Nigeria, each bringing unique personalities, careers and strategies into Biggie’s house.

Below is the full list of housemates announced so far:

Tram

A 24-year-old streamer from Lagos, Tram says he is entering the competition with one goal: winning the grand prize. He insists he has no interest in romance or distractions.

Martins

Martins, 30, is a visual storyteller and model from Kogi State. He says he is leaving the runway for Biggie’s house and believes his ability to read people will work in his favour.

Abi

Abi is a chef and model from Osun State. She describes herself as lively, confident and ready to bring humour and positive energy into the house.

Chimsom Chuka

The 27-year-old pharmacist from Anambra State says he handles pressure well and plans to remain authentic while enjoying every moment in the house.

Keivo

A 27-year-old web developer from Benue State, Keivo enjoys gaming, painting and drawing. He says he is open to finding love but is not thinking about marriage.

Mercedes

Mercedes, 26, is a massage therapist and concierge business owner from Delta State. She says she is bringing confidence, ambition and ‘boss energy’ into the competition.

Kamsy

The 24-year-old event planner and gift curator says she is bringing style, ambition, humour and just enough drama to keep viewers entertained.

Sultex

Sultex, 24, is a dancer and choreographer from Lagos. He enjoys gaming, football and table tennis, dislikes dishonesty and admits being a people pleaser.

Aikou

Aikou, 25, is a freelance teacher and web developer based in Abuja. A book lover, he says he is calm, outspoken and open to finding love again.

Flora

Flora is a makeup entrepreneur who describes herself as fashionable, honest and full of spice. She says her relationship status is complicated.

Bells

Bells, 22, says she is disciplined, independent and a lover of good food. She also revealed she is still in love with her high school sweetheart.

Temi Nkem

The 21-year-old says she has a clear game plan and intends to play by her own rules throughout the competition.

Gerald

Gerald, 23, is a Lagos-based on-air personality who describes himself as talented, outspoken and ready to embrace every experience in Biggie’s house.

Oyin

Oyin, 22, is a sales entrepreneur and model determined to prove that first impressions can be misleading. She has her eyes firmly on the prize.

Sheba

A gym enthusiast and proud mother, Sheba says she is bringing warmth, confidence and an open heart into the house, while remaining open to finding love.

Araga

The fashion model describes himself as the ‘last loverboy standing in Nigeria.’ He says he is in the house for the money, the vibes and possibly love.

Ricky

Ricky, 33, is a writer from Port Harcourt who says he enjoys literature as much as he enjoys the thrill of love, even though he does not fully believe in it.

Nomy

The 26-year-old fashion designer from Anambra State says she is ready to turn her star quality into unforgettable moments in Biggie’s house.

Barry

Barry, 26, is a civil engineer and designer based in Abuja. Competitive and stylish, he says he is open to love but has zero tolerance for disrespect.

Neche

Neche, 25, says she is bringing brains, beauty and confidence into Biggie’s house and is ready to make her presence felt.

Yusuf

Yusuf, 25, is an actor from Kogi State who describes himself as a confident self-starter. He says viewers should expect honesty, unpredictability, energy and emotions from him. A lover of romance, he is also open to finding love in the house.

Goddessa

Goddessa is a 30-year-old musician from Abia State. She describes herself as bold, spontaneous and uninterested in liars or romance, saying she is ready to command attention wherever she goes.

Bluethophia

Bluethophia, 22, is a photographer, model and student from Adamawa State. She says she is bringing quiet confidence, Northern pride and sharp instincts into the competition.

Cassi

Cassi, 27, is an entrepreneur and actor from Abia State. He has talents ranging from drawing and painting to chiropractic therapy. He admits that his tendency to be overly organised could become a challenge during the show.

The organisers are expected to unveil more housemates as the BBNaija Season 11 launch continues. Viewers can follow the reality show live on DStv Channel 198 and GOtv Channel 49.