Category: PM News

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that three Lagos State-owned universities could face another round of industrial action if the state government fails to implement the 2025 agreement reached between the Federal Government and ASUU.

The warning was issued on Thursday during a press conference held at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH).

The universities affected are Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), and LASUSTECH.

ASUU said it is ready to support any action taken by its branches in the three institutions if the Lagos State Government continues to delay the implementation of the agreement, six months after it was signed.

Speaking at the briefing, ASUU Lagos Zone Coordinator, Adesola Nassir, said lecturers in the affected universities are becoming frustrated and uncertain about the government’s commitment to their welfare.

He questioned how the government expects universities to achieve high standards and global recognition when lecturers’ welfare issues remain unresolved.

Nassir also said it was disappointing that Lagos State, often called the ‘Centre of Excellence,’ had not implemented the agreement while some other states had already begun doing so.

According to him, the delay is affecting staff morale and could lead to declining academic standards, poor staff motivation, and disruption of academic activities.

The union also raised concerns over unresolved issues in LASU and LASUED, including the dismissal of some union officials and the alleged victimisation of the ASUU chairperson at LASUED.

ASUU said the Lagos State Government should be held responsible if the universities eventually embark on strike action.

The union called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently intervene, conclude discussions with ASUU branches in the affected institutions, and implement the 2025 agreement to prevent a crisis in the state’s university system.

The pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has commended President Bola Tinubu for in its words, ‘re-engineering Nigeria to a nation that everyone would be proud of’

The group said this on Thursday while reiterating its call for a restructured Nigeria to reflect the true federalism status.

Afenifere made this known in a communique issued after its meeting at the residence of its leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti on Thursday in Akure.

The group noted that some of the steps the Tinubu’s administration had taken were geared towards re-focussing the country on the path of progress.

‘We believe that restructuring will greatly assist and hasten the realisation of noble objective hence our consistent advocacy for it.

‘Thus, while we took note of the steps being taken by Mr President on restructuring, we are urging him to do more,’ the group said.

Afenifere also commended the gallantry of soldiers and commiserated with families of those who have lost their lives in the process of defending the nation.

It urged the government to further strengthen the nation’s security network with more equipment, morale boosting, enhancement of kinetic and non-kinetic security measures, among others.

‘Government and security agencies, including the military, should look inward as insecurity continues to fester because there are internal collaborators.

‘Such searchlight should also be beamed on local communities as there are collaborators among them as well.

‘By the same token, sponsors of illegal mining should also be profiled as there seems to be allegations that people are being forced out of their lands only for mining to be taken place in the area almost immediately after the people were displaced by bandits,’ it stated.

Afenifere also congratulated the Federal Government for sending the State Police Bill to the National Assembly and the readiness of the lawmakers for prompt attention towards the bill.

It, however, frowned at some clauses in the bill that wanted to make state police an appendage of the federal police.

Similarly, Afenifere condemned allegation of harassment by the new recruits of the Nigerian Army Osogbo depot on students of Osun State University, calling for thorough investigation and punishment for those culpable.

The group urged the security agents to expedite action in rescuing the abducted school pupils and teachers at the Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Operatives of Kwara Police Command have arrested three suspected members of notorious Eiye Confraternity cult gang over alleged involvement in the abduction and subsequent murder of Sodiq Durodola Olaniyi a 29-year-old student of Kwara State Polytechnic.

SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the spokesperson for Kwara Command in a statement on Thursday said the suspects identified as Adeoye Babatunde Alimi (23), alias ‘Solar’; Bernard Kayode (25), alias ‘KK’; and Owoyemi Bashiru (27), alias ‘GDP, were arrested after a thorough and painstaking investigation by operatives of the state’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).

The Police spokesperson said acting on credible intelligence and sustained investigation, VCRU operatives on Monday, 29th June 2026, conducted coordinated tactical operations on identified cult hideouts within Ilorin metropolis, leading to the arrest of the three suspects.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are members of a violent cult group allegedly responsible for the abduction of Olaniyi, an indigene of Oyo State who had been missing since 4th June 2026.

‘During interrogation, the suspects confessed to their respective roles in the crime and disclosed that the victim was executed by members of the cult group after his abduction,’ Ejire-Adeyemi said.

The Kwara Police Command spokesperson added Investigation further revealed that the criminal gang comprises 12 members, with nine other suspects currently at large.

She said tactical efforts have been intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang, dismantling of the criminal network and recover the corpse of the victim.

‘The suspects presently in custody are also assisting investigators with useful information regarding other violent crimes allegedly perpetrated by the group within Ilorin metropolis. Investigation is ongoing, and all persons found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the law upon the conclusion of investigations,’ the spokesperson concluded.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said that candidates with disabilities are not given special cut-off marks for admission into tertiary institutions.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on inclusive higher education in Abuja, the Chairman of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, said candidates with disabilities take the same Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as other candidates.

According to him, they answer the same questions and are assessed using the same admission standards as every other applicant.

‘We do not lower standards for these candidates. They sit for the same UTME, answer the same questions and are assessed by the same standards as every other candidate,’ he said.

Okebukola revealed that JEOG has supported 4,216 candidates with disabilities over the past 10 years. He added that about 53 per cent of them gain admission each year into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

The event marked the 10th anniversary of JEOG, a group created by JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, to promote equal access to higher education for persons with disabilities.

Okebukola also said Artificial Intelligence (AI) will help make higher education more inclusive by improving learning opportunities for persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups.

He further unveiled a guide designed to help parents, lecturers and tertiary institutions support underage students admitted into universities.

He disclosed that the first group of underage students admitted under the initiative consists of 96 students below the age of 16.

A commemorative book titled A Peep into the Future of Higher Education in Nigeria was also presented at the event. The book examines the future of tertiary education in the country.

The bail application filed by former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai in the ongoing criminal proceedings instituted against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) before the High Court of Kaduna State on medical grounds was dismissed on Thursday.

The bail application, the third to be filed before Justice D. H. Khobo by El-Rufai was dismissed after the medical report presented by the former governor was disowned by the purported issuer, National Hospital Abuja.

The medical report, annexed to the application as Exhibit ‘A’ and purportedly issued by the National Hospital, Abuja, claimed that the former Governor had been diagnosed with an advanced metastatic prostate cancer requiring a specialised treatment said to be unavailable anywhere in Nigeria.

However, the ICPC presented documentary evidence from the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Abuja, Professor Muhammad Raji Mahmud, disclaiming the medical report.

According to the document from the National Hospital issued by the Chief Medical Director, a comprehensive search of the hospital’s electronic medical records and patient indexes revealed no hospital number, patient file, billing record, consultation history, or any evidence that the defendant had ever been treated at the facility.

The hospital further confirmed that the report was issued without the knowledge or authorisation of its management.

Relying on this evidence, the Court held that the credibility and reliability of the medical report had been fundamentally undermined, and that a document formally disowned by the very institution on whose letterhead it was issued could not serve as the foundation for the exceptional relief sought by the applicant.

With the collapse of that evidentiary foundation, the Court found no reliable and institutionally validated material facts to justify the exercise of judicial discretion in favour of bail for El-Rufai on health grounds.

In refusing the application, the Court also ordered that the Commission shall continue to provide El-Rufai unrestricted access to his personal medical physicians and shall ensure that he is escorted to any specialized diagnostic or clinical facility of his choice within Nigeria as required, throughout the pendency of the trial.

The Commission notes that this order is consistent with its existing practice and reaffirms its commitment to full compliance.

The ICPC said it welcomed the Court’s ruling as a reaffirmation of the principle that applications for bail on medical grounds must be supported by credible and verifiable evidence and determined strictly in accordance with the law.

The Commission added that it remains committed to conducting all investigations and prosecutions with professionalism, fairness and respect for the rule of law, while ensuring that every person brought before the courts is accorded all rights guaranteed under the Constitution and other applicable laws.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Ogun 2027 governorship election, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has called on party members to close ranks, embrace new entrants and intensify grassroots mobilization ahead of the poll.

Speaking at the Ogun West APC Stakeholders’ Consultative Meeting held on Wednesday at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion, Empire Ground, Ilaro, the senator said the party’s electoral success would depend on unity, inclusiveness and the active participation of every member.

The meeting, attended by party leaders and stakeholders from Imeko-Afon, Ipokia, Ado-Odo/Ota, Yewa North and Yewa South local government areas, was aimed at strengthening party cohesion and consolidating APC’s structure across Ogun West.

Addressing party faithful, Yayi urged leaders to ensure that no member is sidelined, particularly those recently defected from other political parties, stressing that every committed member should be given an opportunity to contribute to the party’s growth.

‘The strength of our party lies in our unity, not in our differences. As our party continues to grow, we must open our doors and hearts to those who have chosen to join us. Every genuine member who embraces the ideals of the APC deserves equal respect and an opportunity to contribute,’ he said.

Yayi added that the party must put aside personal interests, avoid internal divisions and work collectively to deliver good governance and achieve victory in 2027 through what he described as ‘Operation Deliver Your Polling Unit.’

The consultative meeting drew several prominent APC leaders, including the Ogun West APC Apex Leader, Chief Muftau Ajibola; the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Mrs. Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Minister of State for Health and Social Services, Dr. Kunle Isiaq Salako; former Deputy Governor, Alhaja Salmot Badru; former governorship candidate, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade; former Speakers of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Suraj Adekunbi and Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, among other party stalwarts.

The stakeholders’ meeting forms part of Senator Adeola’s ongoing consultations with APC leaders and members across Ogun West as the party steps up preparations for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the N10bn fundamental rights suit filed by Nollywood actor Emeka Ike against the Independent National Electoral Commission and Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Justice S.O. Ibrahim adjourned the matter until July 22 for further mention after INEC failed to appear in court.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026, centres on allegations that Ike’s voter registration details were unlawfully disclosed on Olayinka’s official X handle.

When the case came up, counsel to the plaintiff, L.T. Adeh, informed the court that the first respondent had served its response to the suit.

Adeh also said hearing notices had been served on both respondents, but noted that INEC was absent.

He asked the court for an adjournment to allow the electoral body to appear.

Counsel to the first respondent, Akpama Ekwe, did not oppose the application, but told the court he was ready to proceed with the matter.

Adeh further told the court that he would file his response to the first respondent’s counter-affidavit between Thursday and Friday.

Justice Ibrahim said he would grant a short adjournment in the interest of fair hearing and to allow INEC participate in the proceedings.

Ekwe, however, urged the court to fix the matter for hearing, arguing that INEC could not be compelled to appear.

The judge maintained that the adjournment was necessary to give the second respondent an opportunity to appear.

He subsequently adjourned the case until July 22 and ordered that INEC be served with the hearing notice and all processes filed in the suit before the next date.

The case followed the publication of screenshots showing the transfer of Ike’s voter registration from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory.

Ike alleged that the information was published by Olayinka without his consent after being accessed from a restricted INEC administrative portal.

The actor is demanding N10bn in damages for alleged breach of his right to privacy.

He is also asking the court to order the removal of the social media post and compel a public apology.

INEC had earlier maintained that the incident was not the result of a cyberattack on its database, but a case of misuse of authorised internal access credentials.

Speaking after the hearing, Ekwe dismissed the plaintiff’s evidence as inadmissible and insisted that his client had not breached any law.

He said INEC had already issued a statement that there was no breach of its servers.

‘There is no case against my client,’ Ekwe said.

‘What my client published, apart from being in the public domain, does not contain any personal information. The only thing that document contained is the name of Emeka Ike and the transfer number. The second document contained his passport photograph and his name.

‘So you will agree with me that there was no personal data that was published as is alleged. So there is actually no case against my client.’

But Adeh insisted that INEC had no defence in the matter, suggesting that the commission’s absence from court showed it was avoiding the case.

He said the matter could set an important precedent on the protection of voters’ data in Nigeria.

According to him, if Ike’s details could be accessed, other voters’ records may also be vulnerable.

‘It is very possible that whoever accessed this thing must have also been able to access other records. So it is not just Emeka Ike,’ Adeh said.

‘But we want to use Emeka Ike’s issue and also ensure that this kind of thing is put in check. I think this is going to be a very interesting case, and we hope that the court will do justice.’

The case will now continue on July 22, when the court expects INEC to appear and respond to the allegations.

President Bola Tinubu has outlined what he describes as significant achievements recorded by his administration in the health sector, maintaining that ongoing reforms are reshaping healthcare delivery and extending essential services to millions of Nigerians.

In a message posted on his X account on Wednesday, the President said his government had made the health sector a major priority since taking office, with efforts focused on improving access to quality care, expanding health insurance, strengthening medical personnel and modernising health facilities.

He stressed that healthcare should not be determined by a person’s location or financial status.

‘Every Nigerian deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of where they live or what they earn.

‘Since assuming office, our administration, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has embarked on one of the most ambitious and comprehensive transformations of our health sector in decades.

‘We are revitalising Primary Healthcare Centres, expanding health insurance, protecting millions of children through immunisation, strengthening our health workforce, upgrading specialist hospitals, improving maternal and child health, and positioning Nigeria to become a hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and healthcare investment.’

Tinubu said the reforms were already producing measurable results, pointing to improvements in health insurance coverage, primary healthcare services, vaccination campaigns and healthcare infrastructure.

‘The progress is becoming evident: six million more Nigerians added to health insurance; 4,161 Primary Healthcare Centres under revitalisation, with 3,158 already completed; 14,283 PHCs, representing more than half of all PHCs in Nigeria, are now functional.

‘More than 102 million children vaccinated against Measles-Rubella, and 17.1 million girls protected against cervical cancer through the HPV vaccine.

‘Seventy-eight thousand and fifty-four frontline health workers trained, and 20,000 health professionals recruited into our Federal Tertiary Hospitals.

‘Five hundred and three health infrastructure projects delivered nationwide, alongside the development of three world-class cancer centres.’

According to the President, the reforms are designed not only to address current healthcare challenges but also to establish a sustainable system capable of meeting the needs of future generations.

‘These reforms are about saving lives today while building a stronger, more resilient health system for generations to come.

‘The Nigeria Health Sector Impact Report below highlights some of the major milestones recorded so far under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.

‘I encourage you to read it. A healthier Nigeria is central to our Renewed Hope Agenda.

‘We are building a healthier, stronger and more prosperous nation, one reform, one community and one life at a time.

‘Our work continues. The best days of Nigerian healthcare are still ahead of us,’ the President said.

Troops of Joint Task Force (JTF) South-East, Operation UDO KA, have arrested a suspected armourer and logistics courier linked to attacks on oil installations and security personnel in Imo.

The Nigerian Army disclosed this in a statement on its verified Facebook and X Handles on Thursday. It said the operation was conducted by troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade following credible intelligence.

The army said troops carried out a search-and-raid operation along the Akpe Aggah-Egbema Forest axis in the early hours of July 1, leading to the arrest of the suspect at Obiakpu Forest.

According to the post, preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect served as principal armourer for a criminal group responsible for attacks on oil installations and troops deployed to the Ohaji-Egbema area.

It said the operation led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, one M4A1 carbine, one M16A2 rifle, six magazines, five pump-action guns, a locally fabricated pistol and a large quantity of assorted ammunition.

The army said the recovery had significantly disrupted the operational capability and logistics network of the criminal group.

It added that the suspect remained in custody and would undergo further investigation to facilitate follow-on operations, aimed at apprehending other members and collaborators of the network.

The army reaffirmed commitment to sustaining aggressive operations against criminal elements threatening national security and economic assets. It urged the public to provide timely and credible information through established security channels.

The Lagos State Government has dismissed widespread reports suggesting the state recorded the highest number of new HIV infections in Nigeria in 2025, describing the interpretation of the data as misleading and capable of fueling unnecessary fear, stigma and discrimination.

Speaking at a press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, clarified that the figure of 10,430 widely reported in the media referred to newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases and not new HIV infections acquired during the year.

According to her, the distinction is critical from a public health perspective, stressing that newly diagnosed cases include individuals who may have contracted the virus years earlier but were only recently tested, as well as patients referred from other states or those who travelled to Lagos to access healthcare services.

‘The figure that has been widely circulated does not literally mean Lagos recorded 10,430 new HIV infections in 2025. It represents newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases, which is a completely different epidemiological indicator from new infections,’ she explained.

Animashaun said Lagos had initiated discussions with relevant stakeholders to better understand the methodology and assumptions behind the published figures in order to ensure accurate interpretation and responsible public communication.

She warned that confusing the two indicators could discourage people from accessing HIV testing services while reinforcing stigma against people living with HIV.

‘Lagos remains firmly committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of every resident. There is absolutely no cause for panic,’ she said.

The LSACA boss attributed the state’s high number of diagnosed cases to its status as Nigeria’s most populous state, commercial capital and one of the country’s largest healthcare referral centres, where patients from across the country seek testing and treatment.

She noted that Lagos operates one of Nigeria’s strongest HIV surveillance systems, resulting in higher case detection due to expanded access to healthcare rather than an uncontrolled spread of the virus.

Providing an update on the state’s HIV programme, Animashaun disclosed that 504,800 people were tested for HIV in 2025, with 11,940 positive cases identified, representing a positivity rate of 2.4 per cent.

She added that during the first quarter of 2026, the state conducted 179,229 HIV tests, identifying 3,390 positive cases, while the positivity rate declined further to 1.9 per cent, a trend she described as evidence of improving epidemic control despite increased testing.

‘The declining positivity rate, even as testing expands, is a significant epidemiological indicator showing that our interventions are working,’ she said.

Animashaun further revealed that 147,904 people were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Lagos as of 2025, with an impressive 97 per cent achieving viral suppression, a development she described as a major public health milestone.

She also highlighted progress in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, noting that the Early Infant Diagnosis positivity rate had dropped from 5.1 per cent in 2020 to 1.5 per cent in 2025, reflecting sustained improvements in maternal and child healthcare services.

According to her, the state has already commenced implementing a comprehensive HIV Response Acceleration Plan covering July to September 2026, aimed at expanding HIV testing, improving treatment linkage and retention, strengthening community prevention programmes, enhancing data quality and ensuring long-term sustainability across all 20 Local Government Areas and 57 Local Council Development Areas.

The plan also includes wider deployment of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), including oral medication and long-acting injectable PrEP administered every two months.

In a landmark move aimed at strengthening healthcare sustainability, Animashaun announced that Lagos had become the first sub-national government in Nigeria to independently procure antiretroviral medicines for people living with HIV.

She disclosed that the first consignment of the state-funded ARVs is expected to arrive before the end of August 2026, describing the initiative as a bold step towards reducing dependence on international donors while guaranteeing uninterrupted access to life-saving treatment.

‘This is not just about meeting today’s treatment needs. It is about securing the future of HIV care in Lagos through a resilient, sustainable and state-owned response,’ she said.

The state, she added, is also exploring opportunities for local production of HIV commodities by leveraging international best practices, including lessons from Kenya, while working with global partners such as UNAIDS to strengthen supply chain resilience and reduce long-term treatment costs.

Animashaun reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to evidence-based healthcare, urging residents to know their HIV status, utilise available prevention and treatment services, rely on verified public health information and reject all forms of stigma and discrimination.

‘HIV remains preventable and manageable. With early diagnosis and sustained treatment, people living with HIV can live long, healthy and productive lives,’ she said.

She maintained that the strength of Lagos’ HIV response should be measured not by the number of people tested but by the effectiveness of the systems in place to prevent infections, provide treatment and improve health outcomes.

‘Lagos is not defined by the number of people it tests. Lagos is defined by the strength of its response,’ Animashaun said.