Category: PM News

By Osayi Aghahowa

Palm oil consumers and traders across Benin City have described recent price reductions as “a fragile relief”, warning unstable supplies, transportation expenses, and persistent inflationary pressures could trigger another increase.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) survey at Oba, New Benin, and Uselu markets showed litre prices recently declined from between N1,500 and N1,600 to approximately N1,200 and N1,300 across several trading outlets.

In spite of the reduction, residents and traders maintained that palm oil remained expensive for numerous households, especially low-income earners, emphasising current price changes were insufficient to significantly ease worsening economic hardship.

Respondents attributed the temporary price movement to increased supplies arriving from producing communities across the South-South and South-East, alongside improved fuel availability that slightly reduced transportation expenses on several distribution routes nationwide.

At New Benin Market, Joy Fulani, a trader, said that patronage improved slightly after reductions.

“Earlier, we sold a litre for N1,500 to N1,600. Now, it is between N1,200 and N1,300,” she explained.

Mr Ike Osinachi, a wholesaler, attributed reductions mainly to temporary supply increases, warning instability persisted.

“When supply improves, prices reduce, but once supply drops, everything increases again. There is still no stability,” he said.

Mr Peter Asen, a transporter, said that fluctuating petrol and diesel costs remained major contributors to rising food prices nationwide.

“Every additional transport expense eventually reflects directly in final market prices,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, residents and market leaders have urged authorities to improve rural infrastructure, strengthen local palm production, and stabilise transportation expenses to sustain the declining prices.

They argued that broader economic reforms are necessary if households are to experience relief against living costs.

(NAN)

Nigerian media personality and former Big Brother Naija star, Tega Dominic has reacted to the allegations of having an affair with Frank Edoho.

The allegations, made by Frank’s estranged wife, Sandra, came amid the ongoing controversy between the duo. Sandra claimed that the BBNaija star was romantically involved with her ex-husband, adding that they even met in their home.

Tega however, on her X handle spoke on the allegations, dismissing the claims. She stated that she was only friends with Frank, adding that she has nothing to hide about their friendship.

“I honestly did not want to speak on this because I have spent a long time trying to stay away from unnecessary drama, but at this point, my silence is no longer helping. I have absolutely no sexual or emotional relationship with Frank Edoho. Frank is a great guy and a very good friend of mine. We started talking around mid-last year after he sent birthday wishes to my mum. Like many people in the industry, we already knew each other through social media and mutual familiarity. He is also my kinsman. There was never anything inappropriate between us. The first and only time I hung out with Frank was with my manager, Paul Ukonu, present,” she said.

Tega also revealed that she will not let the allegations slide, adding that she plans to take legal action against Sandra. She urged her to back up her claims with evidence.

“I have worked too hard to build myself and my brand step by step to allow false accusations stain my name like this. I owe it to my family, friends, supporters, and the reputable brands I work with to protect my reputation. I believe it is important for evidence to be provided because I will not let this slide. My name cannot be dragged carelessly into false narratives. This has honestly been very upsetting for me, but moving forward, my lawyers will handle the matter appropriately,” she added.

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

Kano state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has urged corps of the Kano State Neighbourhood Watch Corps to remain partners in progress with security agencies across the state and discharge their duties within the confines of established laws, rules and regulations.

This is just as the Kano Forum of Retired Security Personnel and Senior Civil Servants commended CP Bakori for his uncommon style of crime-fighting in the state, pledging their unalloyed support to make Kano safe and crime-free society.

The Neighbourhood Watch Corps is a recognized vigilante outfit inaugurated by Kano State Government to aide security agencies in the fight against crime and criminality, particularly, at the grassroot levels.

Part of their responsibilities is to provide credible information to the police and sister security agencies on the activities and movements of criminals and criminal elements across the state.

The Commandant-General of the Neighbourhood Watch Corps, Lt. Col. Aminu Yusuf Abdulkareem (Rtd.), led his Management Team on a courtesy visit to the office of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.

CP Bakori further expressed appreciation for the visit and described the Neighbourhood Watch Corps as partners in progress and vital to grassroots policing.

He commended their contributions to crime prevention and maintenance of law and order.

The Kano Police boss, however, reminded members of the Corps to operate strictly within the confines of the law, promptly hand over all arrested suspects to the police for investigation and prosecution, and avoid any violation of human rights in the discharge of their duties.

In his remarks, the Commandant General of the Kano State Neighbourhood Watch Corps, Lt. Col. Abdulkareem (Retd.), stated that the visit aimed to strengthen synergy between the Kano State Police Command and the Neighbourhood Watch Corps.

He noted that the Corps was established to complement the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies in maintaining peace, security, and public order across the State.

CP Bakori also received the Kano Forum of Retired Security Personnel and Senior Civil Servants.

The visitors include retired military, police, DSS, paramilitary, and senior civil servants, led by Lt. Col. Yusuf Maitama Aminu (Retd.).

Lt. Col. Aminu (Retd.) explained that the purpose of the visit was to strengthen collaboration with the Command and contribute to the maintenance of peace and the protection of lives and property in Kano State.

He noted that the Association, comprising retired personnel from the Armed Forces, Police, DSS, paramilitary agencies, and senior civil servants, remains concerned about security challenges in neighboring states and is committed to supporting proactive measures to sustain Kano’s relative peace.

He affirmed the Association’s readiness to support the Police through intelligence sharing, community engagement, and strategic advice drawn from the collective experience of its members.

In his response, CP Bakori expressed delight at the visit and commended the initiative.

He described the members as seasoned officers and administrators whose experience aligns with the Nigeria Police Force’s mandate to protect lives and property.

He assured the delegation of the Command’s readiness to leverage their expertise and stressed the importance of synergy, collaboration, and intelligence sharing in addressing emerging security challenges.

Mr. Bakori reiterated the commitment of Kano state Police Command to sustaining collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, including community structures, retired professionals, and civil society, in ensuring the protection of lives and property across the state.

He said the Command will continue to operate within the framework of intelligence-led and community-based policing as directed by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

The burden of systemic hypertension is rising sharply globally, with increase being seen among young Nigerian adults under 40, physicians have warned.

The experts gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ibadan, in commemoration of World Hypertension Day on Snnday.

World Hypertension Day is commemorated annually on May 17, with the 2026 theme as “Controlling Hypertension Together”.

Dr Temilade Adeyanju, a Consultant Cardiologist at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, alerted that the burden of systemic hypertension was rising sharply globally.

Adeyanju says the rise which is not different especially among young Nigerian adults under 40, is driven mainly by unhealthy lifestyles and poor health-seeking behaviour.

She also explained that global bodies defined hypertension differently.

According to her, the Nigerian Cardiac Society, European Society of Cardiology, and World Health Organisation set it at blood pressure above 140/90mmHg.

“The American Heart Association and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classify blood pressure above 130/80mmHg as hypertension,” she said.

She added that the average ambulatory readings over 130/80mmHg in 24 hours also confirmed the condition.

She advised people to keep their blood pressure below 120/80mmHg.

“The condition often develops silently with no noticeable symptoms, causing deadly complications.

“Most times affected individuals are unaware they are hypertensive, thus present with complications which leads to preventable morbidity and mortality,” she said.

According to her, hypertension is “a silent killer”, while one in every three to four Nigerian adults is hypertensive.

Adeyanju added that about eight out of 10 undiagnosed hypertensives were seen at hospital emergency already with complications.

She emphasised that for those under the age of 40 years, unhealthy lifestyles and risky behaviours were the main risk drivers, especially with a positive family history.

Other factors that doubled the risk, she said, included dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, uncontrolled blood pressure and chronic inflammatory conditions.

“Ignorance, lack of awareness, and inertia to act remain major barriers.

“Hypertension is preventable and manageable, even when due to secondary causes. Prevention remains the cheapest cost of management.

“Out-of-pocket healthcare costs and poor adherence also hinder good blood pressure control.

“Uncontrolled hypertension leads to stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and chronic kidney disease.

“It can also cause subarachnoid haemorrhage, sexual dysfunction, and blindness,” she said.

The cardiologist urged stronger public education on early detection, routine checks, and regular screening.

“Create awareness and join efforts together to reduce the menace of the silent killer in families, society and the world,” she said.

She stressed that joint efforts by all stakeholders could prevent and control the condition.

She further remarked that consistent advocacy was needed to address risk factors and ensure cost-effective treatment that improves adherence.

“Regular follow-ups and good health-seeking behaviour are equally important,” she added.

She called on the Nigerian government to not relent on efforts to implement policies that deliver good strategies across all levels of healthcare.

“More funding for local data collection, research, and collaboration with the Nigeria Hypertension Society, WHO, Nigeria Cardiac Society, NGOs, and individuals is needed.

“For Nigerians, know your numbers, do your blood pressure checks routinely, it saves you from the silent killer,” she said.

Also, a Public Health Physician at UCH, Dr Ifeoluwa Odedina, warned that a significant number of adults in the city were living with hypertension without knowing it.

Odedina urged Nigerians to make blood pressure checks a routine habit.

He cited a 2025 study by Ibitoye et al., conducted in Ibadan, which found that about 10.2 per cent of adults had undiagnosed hypertension.

Speaking on the effectiveness of screening at the primary health care level, Odedina said the process was simple and practical.

“Screening for hypertension at the primary level is very effective.

“It requires only simple tools like a manual blood pressure machine, and most nurses or community health extension workers can be trained on how to use one,” he said.

However, he noted that uptake remained low because the condition often showed no symptoms in its early stages.

“It is failing because people have low motivation to get themselves checked as hypertension usually does not have any symptoms until it becomes complicated,” he said.

On lifestyle factors, the physician identified high salt intake, stress, and alcohol consumption as major contributors to raised blood pressure in his patient population.

According to him, high salt intake has been found to contribute to raised blood pressure especially in black people.

He explained that living a stressful lifestyle and drinking alcohol were also important factors that made people more vulnerable to developing hypertension.

Odedina also highlighted the impact of health insurance on blood pressure control.

According to him, enrolling in a health insurance scheme makes it easier for patients to access care and stay consistent with treatment.

“Being under health insurance helps people to afford their antihypertensive medications and the tests they need to do for proper monitoring and management, so it is of great advantage,” he said.

For Nigerians looking to assess their risk, he gave a clear call to action.

“Every adult should ensure that they get their blood pressure checked at least twice a year.

“If you do not have hypertension or don’t know, ensure that you get your blood pressure measured.

“Make a note in your calendar to recheck every six months (maybe at the beginning and middle of the year for easy remembrance),” he said.

For those already diagnosed, he stressed adherence to treatment and follow-up to avoid life-threatening complications.

“If you have hypertension already, ensure you keep up your regular clinic visits and take your medications to prevent complications like stroke and sudden death.

“It is also important for everyone to eat less salt, exercise, cut smoking and alcohol drinking as much as possible and avoid living a stressful lifestyle,” Odedina said.

(NAN)

Professor Kunle Macaulay, a Nigerian theologian and Christian leader, has raised concern over what he describes as a widening moral and spiritual decline in Nigeria, despite the country’s strong religious identity and widespread profession of faith in God.

Drawing from reports attributed to the Bible Research Institute, he noted that over 80 percent of Nigerians profess belief in God and regularly attend worship in either churches or mosques. However, he expressed concern that many of these religious practices, according to the report, do not translate into consistent obedience to the moral injunctions of the Bible or the Quran.

“It is unfortunate that religion has very little influence in the lives of the majority of Nigerians,” the report stated, adding that religious leaders across Christian and Muslim traditions have not been effective in shaping the moral direction of their followers.

Nigeria, often described as a nation richly blessed with natural resources, was also portrayed as one whose moral and spiritual foundation has weakened over time. The commentary argues that the country’s “inner and spiritual strength” has not matched its material endowments, resulting in growing ethical concerns within society.

Reflecting on the vision of Nigeria’s founding fathers, the report recalled their aspiration for a nation that is “just, peaceful, and humane,” built on humility before God. It, however, lamented that over six decades after independence, the nation is still grappling with what it describes as moral and ethical decline marked by abuse of power, hypocrisy, and spiritual inconsistency.

The statement further noted that while Nigerians remain hardworking and family-oriented, they are burdened by challenges such as insecurity, economic instability, overcrowding, traffic congestion, and political dysfunction. It also accused both political and religious leaders of failing to provide adequate direction for the nation.

“It is true that Nigeria is blessed by God with natural wealth, but the inner and spiritual strength of Nigerians has failed the nation,” the report noted.

Citing concerns around governance and democracy, it argued that political power, though theoretically belonging to the people, is in practice concentrated in the hands of a few, resulting in oppression and disenfranchisement. It also raised concerns about perceived religious imbalance in the application of secularism in the country.

The commentary linked Nigeria’s moral challenges to rising social ills, including murder, kidnapping for ransom, banditry, illegitimate births, increasing cases of single parenthood, and unsupervised children. It stressed that these developments reflect what it described as a departure from spiritual and ethical standards.Quoting Hosea 4:12, it stated: “There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery” using the passage to underscore what it called widespal decay.

The report also criticised both political and religious leadership, alleging that many leaders fail to practice what they preach. It further stated that religious leadership in particular has not provided a unified moral voice, with many clerics focusing instead on denominational or institutional interests.

Speaking on political matters, it asserted that God has not chosen any individual as President of Nigeria and rejected claims of divine endorsement of political candidates, including ahead of the 2027 elections, describing such claims as misleading spiritual manipulation.

It added that while divine authority governs creation, human beings are expected to apply wisdom and responsibility in leadership and governance. It also cautioned against political actors seeking legitimacy primarily through religious platforms rather than through demonstrable governance capacity.

The statement called on Nigerians to demand honesty and accountability from political, business, and religious leaders, warning against outward displays of religiosity without genuine moral substance. It concluded that Nigeria is currently overwhelmed by division, insecurity, and uncertainty.

The theologian further urged patriotic Nigerians and faith leaders to speak boldly against what he described as societal and governmental transgressions, calling for a renewed ethical awakening in national life.

About 45 pupils were reported abducted during the Friday attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The schools attacked were Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L. A. Primary School.

The abductors allegedly fled into a nearby forest reserve bordering Oriire communities and the Old Oyo National Park axis with their victims.

A teacher at Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Elizabeth Olagoke, told PUNCH that the kidnappers spoke Yoruba, Hausa, and Pidgin English.

“The terrorists came around 8am. We had all started the morning session. They came on six motorcycles, and there were two passengers on each bike.

“I heard them saying, ‘E ya wole’ (come in). They started shooting sporadically, and there was pandemonium. The terrorists were speaking Yoruba, Hausa, and Pidgin English.

“They were all masked and dressed in camouflage, and they were young men. They came from the Esinele area. They operated for about seven minutes.

“They entered my classroom first and seized me and a two-year-old girl I was carrying. I pleaded with them, and one of them said they should let me go.

“I started running, and some of them even chased after me. I had about 20 children in my kindergarten class. The schoolchildren are from three communities: Yawota, Esinele, and Alausa. The abducted schoolchildren are: eight from Yawota, 20 from Esinele, and five from Alausa. They also kidnapped a teacher. In all, they abducted about 48 persons.

“The terrorists stole my husband’s motorcycle, which he had parked at my school. They also killed a motorcyclist and snatched his bike. The total number of motorcycles stolen in Yawota is three. They took away the schoolchildren on motorcycles. It was a terrifying situation. I am yet to recover from the shock,” the teacher narrated.

The traditional ruler of the community, the Eleshi Ele of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, said 45 pupils were abducted.

Oba Abioye noted that efforts were ongoing to rescue them.

A former lawmaker representing Oriire Constituency, Bamigboye Abidoye, who visited the community, said 36 pupils were abducted from Baptist Nursery and Primary School alone.

“About five teachers were also abducted from the secondary school,” he added.

Three suspects are said to have been arrested in connection with the incident.

A senior security operative involved in the investigation explained that the suspects were caught on Friday in Esiele and were transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

“Investigation is ongoing, and the public is assured that the schoolchildren and the principal will be rescued unhurt,” he added.

A parent of one of the abducted school children, Ajarah Ayanwale, said the terrorists deceived residents into believing they were security operatives deployed to protect the communities.

She noted that while her seven-year-old son in Primary 1 was abducted, her four-year-old child escaped.

“We saw the kidnappers in army uniforms in the morning. We thought they were in the community to protect us. Some of us were even saying, ‘Thank God, we now have security presence in our community,'” she said, while fighting back tears.

According to Ayanwale, panic erupted moments later when gunshots rang out across the communities.

“We started hearing gunshots a few minutes later. We started running helter-skelter, and we were concerned about the safety of our children,” she said.

Ayanwale noted that the terrorists abducted children from Yawota, Esiele, Alausa, and nearby Ohunya village.

“It was when we returned home expecting our children that we realised they had been kidnapped. We were told they took away our children in a car and on motorcycles. The government should please help us rescue our children,” she pleaded.

Another mother, Shukurat Pius, said her five-year-old son, Stephen, was among the abducted pupils.

She recalled that residents initially noticed suspicious movements of motorcycles before gunshots erupted around the school.

“Some of the schoolchildren escaped through the windows, but the little ones who could not run were seized,” she said.

According to her, the gunmen forced some children onto motorcycles while others were marched into the forest on foot.

“They were put on motorcycles, and the rest of the children were marched into the forest on foot. I want my child alive. The government should help bring our children back,” she said.

For Nafisat Agunle, the pain has been unbearable since her eight-year-old son in Primary 2 disappeared during the attack.

“We were at home when we started hearing gunshots around 8am to 9am. Later, we heard gunmen had attacked the primary school,” she said.

Agunle explained that she rushed to the school and later returned home in desperate search of her child but could not find him anywhere.

Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele on Sunday condemned in absolute terms the abduction of 87 students and teachers in Borno and Oyo States within 24 hours despite $30 million globally raised in 2014 to secure public and private schools across Nigeria.

Bamidele, also Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, added that the recent abduction accentuated the need to expedite the establishment of state police currently under consideration at the National Assembly.

He made the remarks in a statement by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs on Sunday; calling for concerted and strategic measures to make schools safe nationwide and tame the rising number of out-of-school children crisis.

Suspected gunmen had abducted 45 students and teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School and L.A Primary School in Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday.

Similarly, within the same period, Boko Haram terrorists attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, Borno State, an invasion that culminated in the abduction of 42 students.

In his statements on Sunday, Bamidele condemned the abduction, describing it as an attack on the future of Nigeria, thereby promising to speed up the creation of state police in order to complement the country’s current national security architecture.

According to him, the 10th National Assembly is currently at the phase of concluding the process of amending the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the establishment of state police. Indeed, the process will soon be completed at the National Assembly.

Bamidele, however, explained that after the National Assembly had concluded its part, the proposal would be transmitted “to the State Houses of Assembly for consideration and scrutiny, which would require a two-thirds approval before the state police could come on stream.”

He, specifically, appealed to the sub-national governments and legislatures to see the state police proposal as an issue of strategic national importance that should not be subjected to partisan politics or ethno-religious consideration.

Before the state police became effective, the leader of the senate challenged both federal and state governments to embrace and implement the safe school initiative as a stop-gap measure to address the number of out-of-school children, currently standing at 18.3 million across the federation.

He said the incessant abduction of students and teachers “is a tragic national concern that negates our national development indices. We cannot and must not allow it to continue. At the National Assembly, we will rise against this trend and put an end to it through the instrumentality of legislation.

“As soon as the National Assembly resumes plenaries on June 2, we will perfect all outstanding legislative initiatives that have been introduced to decisively address security challenges in the federation.

“One of such initiatives is the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution that seeks to establish state police, which is now at an advanced stage. Another is the amendment of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 aimed at strengthening the system of consequence in the country’s justice sector and discouraging heinous crimes nationwide.”

Nigeria’s security challenges escalated over the weekend after terrorists abducted 42 schoolchildren in Borno State.

This comes after Nigerian and United States forces announced the killing of Islamic State commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki in a joint operation near the Lake Chad region.

The abduction came hours after the military revealed details of the counter-terrorism mission that eliminated al-Minuki, described by US authorities as the global second-in-command of the Islamic State and a key ISWAP commander in the Lake Chad Basin and wider Sahel.

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, confirmed that Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters stormed Primary and Junior Government Day Secondary School (GDSS), Mussa, in Askira-Uba Local Government Area during early Friday lessons. Some children were also taken from nearby homes.

School records indicate that four secondary school students, including two boys and two girls, were kidnapped, alongside 28 primary school pupils. An additional 10 children were abducted from residential homes, bringing the total number of victims to 42.

Ndume condemned the attack as “barbaric, traumatic and heartbreaking,” calling on troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, and other security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the children. He also noted a resurgence of attacks across southern Borno, citing recent assaults in Bambatsu and Ngadarma, Chibok, where several residents, including the elderly, were killed.

The latest abduction has reopened painful memories of past mass kidnappings by Boko Haram, notably the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of educational institutions in remote communities along forest corridors and border areas linking Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.

Meanwhile, the military described the operation against al-Minuki as one of the most significant counter-terrorism successes in the North-East in recent years. The operation began at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday and concluded around 4 a.m., combining coordinated air and ground assaults on insurgent strongholds in Metele, Borno State.

Lawal stated that the exact number of abducted persons had yet to be confirmed, stressing that figures being circulated in the media were inaccurate.

“Until we do proper verification, we cannot put a figure to those abducted. For now, figures circulating in the media cannot be taken as correct,” Lawal said.

The State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday and made available to journalists in Ibadan.

Oyelade said the delegation visited Yawota and Esiele in Oriire South, where armed men attacked several schools and abducted students and staff members.

The commissioner said the team also met with families of the victims and assured them of the government’s commitment to securing the safe release of those abducted.

According to the statement, the deputy governor said during the visit that the state government under Governor Seyi Makinde responded swiftly after the incident, adding that security agencies engaged the suspected kidnappers in the bush, leading to the neutralisation of about three of them.

“We have pacified the residents and given assurances that those abducted will be rescued and brought back,” Lawal told journalists after visiting victims at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and Bowen University Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso.

According to the deputy governor, the attackers struck Esiele and Yawota around Ahorodada, abducting pupils and staff from LA Basic School, Ahoro Esiele, Community High School and a private primary school.

Lawal said the state immediately deployed logistical and operational support to assist security agencies in responding to the attack and ensuring that injured victims received treatment.

He, however, noted that the incident indicated that bandits were operating close to communities, especially around the fringes of forest reserves.

He said the government would continue strengthening security architecture in vulnerable areas, including Saki West, Saki East, Irepo, Iseyin, Ibarapa, Igbeti and Oriire.

He, however, directed the chairmen of Oriire and Surulere Local Government Areas to submit comprehensive reports by Monday morning.

Lawal further disclosed that security personnel, including the Garrison Commander, police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as local hunters, were still combing the bush in pursuit of the attackers.

The deputy governor warned that the Oyo State Government would not tolerate banditry, reiterating that, “Oyo State is not giving an inch for banditry and criminality. The government is doing everything required to ensure adequate security so that citizens can live in peace.”

Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) has announced that auditions for Season 11 have officially begun.

According to the organisers, registration will run from May 16 to May 20 for people who want to take part in the audition process.

Applicants must register online, fill in their personal details, and choose their preferred audition date, time, and location.

This year’s auditions will be physical, and they will take place between May 22 and May 24 in Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu.

The organisers said the audition is free, but only people who are 21 years and above with a valid form of identification can apply.

They also warned that the registration portal may close early once the required number of applicants is reached.

They added that submitting an application means participants agree that their audition videos can be used by the organisers at any time and on any platform. They also warned that applying more than once could lead to disqualification.

This announcement comes after the end of Season 10, which aired in 2025.

The season had 29 housemates competing for a 150 million prize. Imisi Ayanwale won the show after getting the highest percentage of votes.

Past winners of BBNaija include Mercy Eke, Laycon, Whitemoney, Phyna, Ilebaye, and others. Fans are now looking forward to Season 11 and expecting possible new changes to the show.