Category: PM News

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that Nigeria may face a problem bigger than the current Boko Haram insurgency by 2050 if the challenge of current high number of out of school children was not tackled.

Obasanjo made the prediction in his remarks at the inauguration of the Bakhita ICT Centre at the Catholic Secretariat in Sokoto State on Tuesday.

He noted that by 2050, Nigeria’s population is projected to reach 400 million.

‘If we fail to prepare for these challenges, the Boko Haram of today will be child’s play.

‘Already, 24 million children who should be in school are out of school. That alone could become a recruiting ground for future insurgencies.

‘We must not give up on educating every Nigerian child. If everyone is educated, you will have better servants, better leaders, and a better society,’ Obasanjo cautioned.

The former Nigerian President emphasised the importance of education and knowledge as tools for national development.

‘No matter our religion, tribe, culture or language, we cannot develop our full potential without education.

‘In today’s world, we need not only general knowledge about our society but also practical skills to empower individuals, families, communities, and the nation,’ he added.

Obasanjo, however, affirmed that although Nigeria is a diverse and complex nation, it is not a difficult country to govern.

He stressed that Nigeria’s strength lies in its unity in diversity.

‘There are many good things in Nigeria. These are shown in our unity in diversity, and Nigeria is what it is today because of its diversity.

‘If diversity is managed with good governance and inclusiveness, then we will be respected and counted among the leading nations in the world,’ he said.

The former president added that honesty and sincerity on the part of leaders remained crucial in managing the country.

‘Nigeria is not a difficult country to rule if leaders are honest with themselves, with God, and with the people.

‘I am one of the greatest beneficiaries of Nigeria’s diversity. Since 1979, I have sought counsel and blessings from elders across the North, South, East and West to manage our unity in diversity,’ Obasanjo said.

Obasanjo commended Gov. Ahmed Aliyu for his efforts in managing Sokoto State and praised the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, for his commitment to unity.

He also lauded Bishop Matthew Kukah for establishing the ICT centre, while acknowledging Aare Afe Babalola for supporting the initiative.

In his remarks, Sultan Abubakar appreciated Obasanjo for gracing the occasion and urged Nigerians to emulate his dedication to promoting unity.

He emphasised the urgent need for Nigerians to unite in addressing security challenges and fostering development.

Representing Aliyu, Alhaji Aminu Dikko, the Chief of Staff to the Sokoto State Government, expressed appreciation to Obasanjo and the Catholic Diocese for the initiative.

He assured that the state government would remain committed to promoting technology education to expand opportunities for future generations.

Earlier, Kukah explained that the centre was open to all citizens without discrimination and was designed to empower the people with digital skills.

Courses at the centre include: Computer literacy, office productivity, coding, computer engineering, software development, data science, and digital analysis, among others.

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has warned that the ongoing industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) could damage job creation, investment flows, and national economic stability if not quickly nipped in the bud.

NECA’s Director-General, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, made this known in a statement issued to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.

He expressed concern about the potential economic impact of the union’s ongoing strike.

Oyerinde stated that while trade unions had the right to protest and strike, such rights must be exercised responsibly, within legal boundaries, and without harming enterprises or workers’ long-term interests.

‘Disputes should be resolved through statutory institutions like the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN),’ he said.

According to him, coercing unwilling parties or disrupting lawful business operations contradicts international labour conventions and poses serious risks to enterprise survival and national security.

He stressed that disruptive actions that threatened national interest were unacceptable in modern labour relations, and NECA would not remain silent as Nigeria’s labour framework faced erosion.

Oyerinde reaffirmed NECA’s commitment to upholding global labour standards and promoting decent work but warned that such standards did not legitimise sabotage, coercion, or economic harm by unions.

He said Nigeria’s fragile economic recovery should not be endangered by reckless industrial actions that risked scaring off investors and ultimately harming the very workers unions claimed to protect.

Oyerinde urged the Minister of Labour and Employment, along with other relevant authorities, to act swiftly to end the strike.

Recall that the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) had in an earlier statement said industrial action by PENGASSAN resulted in reduction in power generation by more than 1,100MW on Sept 28.

NISO’s Management in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, available generation in the National Grid fell sharply from over 4,300MW in the early hours of Sept. 28, to about 3,200MW at the lowest point.

‘NISO wishes to notify the public of recent major generation shortfalls on the National Grid, caused by industrial actions of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) within the gas supply chain.

‘These disruptions triggered widespread gas shortages, reducing available generation from over 4,300 MW in the early hours Sept. 28th to about 3,200 MW at the lowest point”it said.

NISO said that the development heightened pressure on the grid, prompting emergency measures to stabilise supply and avert a nationwide blackout.

‘To mitigate the crisis, the system operator said that it ramped up generation from major hydropower stations, injecting over 400MW to cushion the shortfall from gas-fired plants.

The agency said that it also implemented real-time load adjustments, frequency support measures, and selective load shedding to preserve operational security.

NISO said it promptly deployed contingency measures to preserve the stability, security, and reliability of the National Grid. Key interventions which include

‘Hydropower Optimisation: Strategic ramp-ups from major hydro stations, contributing over 400 MW of additional output to cushion the shortfall from gas-fired plants.

‘Generation Dispatch and Load Balancing: Real-time load adjustments to match available generation with system demand, while preventing a system frequency collapse.

‘Voltage and Frequency Support: Continuous deployment of reactive power compensation and reserve monitoring to safeguard system integrity.

‘Demand-Side Management: Selective load shedding, applied as a last resort, to avert a system-wide collapse and ensure fair power distribution,’it said.

According to NISO, these timely actions enabled the it and National Control Centre (NCC) to minimise the impact of the labour-induced gas shortages, sustain operational security, and maintain supply to critical loads, thereby averting a nationwide blackout.

The system operator however reaffirmed its commitment to proactive grid management, operational excellence, and the application of best-in-class practices to guarantee a secure and reliable electricity supply for the nation’.

PENGASSAN attributed its latest action to Dangote Refinery’s alleged unilateral action in sacking over 800 staff members for joining the Association.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of PENGASSAN held an emergency meeting of all its branches on Saturday, and resolved that members should withdraw all services effective 00:01 on Monday..

The federal government has waded into the face-off between the Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN .

A meeting chaired by the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, underscored two recent developments, including the purported suspension of the Naira-for-Crude oil arrangement by the Dangote Refinery, and the concerns raised by PENGASSAN regarding the refinery

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has condemned alleged rape, assault, and forced administration of unknown substances on Nigerian girls held in deportation camps in New Delhi, India.

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said this in a statement issued on her behalf on Tuesday by the Director Media, Public Relations and Protocols of the Commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun,

The NIDCOM boss in the statement said disturbing accounts and videos shared by some of the victims showed that the Nigerian girls were subjected to inhumane treatment and grave violations of their dignity and fundamental human rights.

‘The alleged acts of sexual violence, physical abuse, and intimidation are both heartbreaking and unacceptable,’ Dabiri-Erewa said in the statement while condemning the reported abuses in the strongest possible terms.

She added that Nigerian citizens, wherever they are in the world, must not be treated as less than human, nor should their vulnerability be exploited under the guise of immigration procedures.

‘We are further alarmed by claims that corrupt practices involving middlemen and certain groups are worsening the plight of our citizens through exploitation and extortion. If verified, such actions not only endanger lives but also undermine justice and due process.

‘NiDCOM reassures the victims and their families that these disturbing reports will not be ignored. We are already engaging with the Nigerian High Commission in India, relevant Indian authorities, and international human rights organizations to ascertain the veracity of these claims and ensure that immediate and urgent steps are taken to protect the victims, provide them with medical and psychological support, and bring perpetrators to justice.

‘We call on the Government of India to urgently investigate these allegations, close down any channels of exploitation, and ensure the safety and dignity of Nigerians within its borders.

‘Our hearts go out to the young women and men enduring such traumatic experiences. We stand in solidarity with them and affirm that Nigeria will never abandon its citizens in their time of need.

‘NiDCOM will continue to follow up on this matter until justice is served, and the dignity of every Nigerian is safeguarded,’ the Commission said in the statement

Colleagues of late ARISE News correspondent, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, have broken their silence, accusing a hospital of negligence that cost the 29-year-old her life after she narrowly escaped a robbery attack.

During Tuesday’s edition of The Morning Show, anchors Ojy Okpe and Dr Reuben Abati recounted how Maduagwu’s life could have been saved but was instead cut short by a system they described as ‘callous and unethical.’

Okpe, narrating the tragic sequence, said the journalist had jumped from her Abuja apartment when she realised 14 armed robbers had stormed the building. Though badly injured from the fall, she survived and was rushed to the Maitama District General Hospital.

‘She did not die on the spot,’ Okpe stressed. ‘She was taken to the hospital, but she was rejected. This really is a tragic incident. Sommie’s life could have been saved, but the hospital refused to treat her.’

Reports said Maduagwu and an aged security guard, who was also injured, were both turned away because hospital staff allegedly demanded identification before treatment. They later died.

Abati condemned the hospital’s actions, calling it a betrayal of medical ethics and a violation of the law.

‘Anybody who is a victim of an accident should be treated immediately,’ he said. ‘But those who were taken to the hospital were refused treatment because staff were looking for identification. It is the duty of doctors and nurses to save lives. Lives could have been saved.’

The anchors described the incident as a national disgrace, adding that it reflects the risks journalists face in Nigeria.

‘This job that we do is very dangerous,’ Abati said. ‘It is unfortunate that a young woman has fallen.’

Maduagwu’s final post on X from August – ‘I pray from the depth of my heart that Nigeria never happens to me or anyone I care about’ – has since resurfaced online, sparking an outpour of grief and anger.

The FCT Police Command confirmed that investigations are ongoing into the robbery and circumstances of her death.

Maduagwu, a lawyer and former beauty queen, joined ARISE in 2024 and was celebrated for her advocacy for out-of-school children and her fight against gender-based violence.

The Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), on Monday, September 29, 2025, sealed the business premises of two Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) in Sokoto.

The SCUML is a unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that supervises Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) to ensure compliance with anti-money laundering, counter-financing of terrorism, and related regulations.

The companies, Iman Multi Structures Ltd and Daraja Motors, were sealed by the EFCC unit for non-compliance with the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and the EFCC AML/CFT/CPF Regulations, 2024.

Both entities had previously been sanctioned and fined for regulatory breaches; Iman Multi Structures Ltd on June 18, 2025, and Daraja Motors on August 13, 2025. However, they failed to comply with the payment directives issued by the government.

An investigation conducted by SCUML’s Zonal Coordinator, Ahmadu Bello, revealed that the deadline for payment expired more than a month ago, with no remedial action taken by the affected organisations.

Accordingly, their premises have been sealed and will remain so until full compliance with all applicable regulations is achieved.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has officially closed its application portal for the 2024/2025 academic year as of Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

According to the Fund, this marks the end of the second full cycle of the loan scheme.

The closure will allow NELFUND to finish processing pending applications and continue payments to approved students.

In a statement signed by Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the Director of Strategic Communications,

NELFUND announced that the portal will reopen in the second week of October 2025 for the 2025/2026 academic session.

The new application window will remain open until January 2026.

The Fund directed schools to update their students’ records on the Student Verification System (SVS) so that eligible students can apply.

Schools that are yet to begin a new session within the given period were advised to notify NELFUND for special consideration.

NELFUND warned that any 2024/2025 applications left unverified by institutions after October 8, 2025, will be cancelled. Affected students will need to reapply for the 2025/2026 academic year.

The Fund added that some applications remain unpaid because certain schools have not completed the required verification.

NELFUND said it is working with such institutions but stressed that schools which fail to comply will have their names published.

On upkeep allowances, the Fund clarified that payments for the 2024/2025 session will continue until November 2025.

However, all students must reapply for the 2025/2026 session to remain eligible.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disowned former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, over his claim that former President Goodluck Jonathan would emerge as the party’s presidential candidate in 2027.

The party leadership stated that Gana lacked the authority to speak on behalf of the PDP regarding its presidential ticket, insisting that the party has competent governors and other qualified members who could contest the election.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, clarified:

‘Professor Jerry Gana doesn’t speak for the PDP.

People are free to express opinions, but the party has eminently qualified Nigerians, particularly at the governors’ level, who have demonstrated capacity and performance.

When the time comes, our convention will decide.’

Ologunagba stressed that Jonathan remains a member of the party but has not declared any intention to contest.

On the purported state congress held in Calabar, Cross River State, over the weekend, Ologunagba dismissed it as unauthorised.

He explained that the National Working Committee (NWC) had not constituted any electoral panel to conduct such an exercise.

‘There was no state congress in Cross River for the PDP. What happened, if anything at all, could best be described as a carnival gathering, not a congress.

For emphasis, the congress in Cross River has been postponed, along with those of Plateau and Kebbi States,’ he said.

Ologunagba added that disciplinary measures would be taken against those behind the exercise, warning that the party would maintain internal order and due process

Big Brother Naija season 10 housemate, Jason Jae, has been crowned as the Head of House for the final week of the show.

The housemate was crowned on Monday evening, after winning the final HoH challenge.

Jason Jae also chose to spend the HoH lounge with Sultana.

Although the privilege of being immune to eviction as the head of house no longer applies in the final week of the reality TV show, Jason Jae made history as the first and last HoH of this season.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, struck out two separate suits filed by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to seek court protection against the plan by EFCC to probe him.

Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the two cases following a notice of discontinuance of the suits sighted in the court record and after no lawyer appeared for parties at the resumed hearing.

The former Senate president had filed the suits following the EFCC’s decision in 2019 to probe his earnings between 2003 and 2011 when he was governor of Kwara.

The anti-graft commission was reported to have seized some of his houses in the Ikoyi area of Lagos then.

However, Saraki, on May 10, 2019, filed the two separate suits, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/507/2019 and FHC/ABJ/CS/508/2019, before retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo to challenge the action of the EFCC.

The ex-Senate president named the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and State Security Service (SSS) are 1st to 3rd defendants.

Others are EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as 4th to 6th respondents respectively.

Justice Taiwo, who was the presiding judge then, had ruled on an ex-parte application filed along with the substantive suits.

The judge ordered the EFCC and the other five respondents to the suits to stay action on their investigations.

He directed the parties to maintain the status quo by suspending the probe, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed by the applicant.

The order was granted after Saraki’s lawyer moved the application on May 14, 2019.

But the EFCC later applied that the judge should recuse himself and the matter be transferred to another court.

Justice Taiwo sent back the case file to the chief judge and the matter was reassigned to Justice Anwuli Chikere (rtd.) for adjudication.

When the matter came up on July 14, 2021 before Justice Chikere, EFCC Counsel, Chile Okoronkwo, complained that Taiwo’s order had hindered the agency ‘from performing its duty for about two years.’

The lawyer, who stated that Saraki continued to hinge on the order of the court any time he was invited, urged the court to vacate the order.

But the suits were reassigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo following the retirement of Chikere.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Ekwo had, on Jan. 25, 2023, struck out the two suits for lack of diligent prosecution.

After the suits were struck out, the ex-Senate president, through his lawyer, approached the court for a relisting of the cases to the cause list of the court.

And on Oct. 28, 2024, Justice Ekwo granted Saraki’s prayer to amend the suits against the respondents.

The judge granted the application after it was moved by Saraki’s counsel, Tunde Afe-Babalola, SAN, and was not opposed by the defence lawyers.

The cases were recently reassigned to Justice Umar.