Category: PM News

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has recorded about 56,000 candidates for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for Private Candidates, Second Series, as it intensifies the adoption of computer-based testing to curb examination malpractice.

WAEC’s Head of National Office, Suleiman Kum, disclosed this on Saturday during an inspection of the Computer-Based Test (CBT) English Language examination at the council’s Training and Testing Centre on Ijaiye Road, Ogba, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the registered candidates include approximately 272 walk-in candidates who enrolled to remedy individual subjects.

Kum said Lagos State accounted for more than 22,000 candidates, including about 50 walk-in candidates participating in the examination.

He described computer-based testing as an effective means of strengthening examination security, reducing malpractice and improving transparency in the conduct of examinations.

According to him, WAEC introduced CBT in 2024 and has continued to refine the process as part of efforts to protect the credibility of its examinations.

‘We have discovered that Computer-Based Test, popularly known as CBT, is truly the best way to conduct examinations because malpractice is drastically reduced,’ he said.

Kum explained that candidates were thoroughly screened before entering examination halls to prevent them from bringing unauthorised materials into the examination environment.

He said the measures were designed to protect the integrity of the exercise rather than deliberately create difficulties for candidates.

‘We do not set traps for candidates; we want to prevent malpractice by ensuring they enter the examination hall without unauthorised materials,’ he said.

The WAEC official reaffirmed the council’s commitment to adopting innovations that would improve examination administration and maintain public confidence in its assessment processes.

‘WAEC will continue to improve to ensure that it remains the benchmark for examination integrity and innovation in Nigeria,’ Kum said.

He also urged candidates to prepare adequately for their examinations by studying diligently, practising past questions and familiarising themselves with WAEC marking schemes.

Kum particularly advised candidates to study chief examiners’ reports, which provide insights into common mistakes, areas of strength and weakness, and the expected approaches to answering examination questions.

He said using the reports alongside past questions could help candidates understand examination requirements and improve their overall performance.

The 2026 private candidates’ examination forms part of WAEC’s continuing transition towards computer-based testing, a move aimed at modernising examination delivery while strengthening security, transparency and credibility.

Troops of the 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, operating under Operation MESA, have rescued a kidnap victim and neutralised two suspected kidnappers in Kano State.

The troops also recovered ?10 million reportedly paid as ransom within Falgore Forest in Doguwa Local Government Area of the state.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Maj. Babatunde Zubairu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Kano.

According to the statement, the operation followed the abduction of Alhaji Kabiru Aliyu on 11 October at Fanyabo Village in Falgore Forest, Doguwa Local Government Area.

Aliyu was reportedly returning from Yandoka Market in Kaduna State at about midnight when he was abducted.

The statement said the kidnappers subsequently contacted his family in Yan Taburmi, demanding a ransom for his release.

Acting on credible intelligence, troops launched an ambush operation in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and local hunters.

The operation resulted in the neutralisation of two suspected kidnappers and the rescue of the victim, while other members of the gang reportedly escaped into Falgore Forest.

A subsequent search of the area led to the recovery of ?10 million reportedly paid by the victim’s family as ransom.

The statement said the recovered money was returned to Aliyu and his family.

The Commander of the 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Saka Jimoh, commended the troops for their alertness, professionalism and fighting spirit.

Jimoh reaffirmed the brigade’s commitment to sustaining pressure on criminal elements and preventing further security breaches in the area.

He urged members of the public to continue providing security agencies with credible and timely information to support efforts to maintain peace and security in Kano State.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has called on Nigerians to embrace peace, unity and mutual understanding, urging leaders and citizens to work collectively towards building a prosperous nation.

The traditional ruler made the appeal as he celebrated his 52nd birthday on Saturday, October 17, 2026, reaffirming his commitment to preserving Yoruba cultural heritage, promoting national unity and supporting initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerians.

In a statement issued by the Senior Media Officer of the Ooni’s Palace, Sodiq Lawal, on behalf of the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Otunba Moses Olafare, the monarch stressed that ethnic, religious and political differences should not hinder national progress.

Ogunwusi, who is the Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council and Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, said peaceful coexistence, justice, economic prosperity and equal opportunities were essential to the country’s development.

He described his birthday as an opportunity to reflect on purposeful leadership, service to humanity and the preservation of cultural values.

‘Peace and unity remain central to my responsibilities as the Ooni of Ife. I will continue to use my position and influence to strengthen relationships among communities, promote peaceful coexistence and celebrate the cultural diversity that makes Nigeria unique,’ he said.

The monarch maintained that Nigeria’s diversity should serve as a source of strength rather than division, calling for greater cooperation among citizens irrespective of their backgrounds.

He also reiterated his commitment to promoting Yoruba culture and traditions while projecting Ile-Ife’s historical significance as the ancestral home of the Yoruba people.

According to him, cultural preservation and diplomacy remain important tools for strengthening relationships among communities across Nigeria, Africa and the global Yoruba diaspora.

Ogunwusi said his reign had also focused on supporting youth development, entrepreneurship, community development and humanitarian initiatives, adding that traditional institutions had important roles to play in promoting peace and complementing government development efforts.

He further emphasised the need for dialogue and collaboration among traditional rulers, describing such partnerships as essential to addressing community challenges and advancing national interests.

The Ooni also highlighted the importance of strengthening cultural connections with traditional rulers across Africa and members of the Yoruba diaspora to create opportunities for meaningful partnerships for present and future generations.

As he marked the milestone, the monarch urged Nigerian youths to remain hopeful and actively contribute to building a country where justice, economic progress and equal opportunities are accessible to all.

He equally called on leaders across all sectors to place the collective interests of the people above personal considerations.

The monarch reaffirmed his resolve to use his traditional position to promote peaceful coexistence, preserve cultural heritage and encourage partnerships that support Nigeria’s long-term development.

The Ogun State Government has defended the proposed $7 billion Gateway Deep Seaport project against criticism by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Ogun East, Alhaji Abdul-Hameed Omotayo, who described it as ‘another broken promise’.

The government, in a statement issued on Saturday, dismissed the remark as a distortion of facts and an attempt to politicise a major investment initiative expected to boost the state’s maritime, industrial and employment prospects.

The statement, signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, said agreements covering the proposed deep seaport and Blue Marine Special Economic Zone were signed with global port operator DP World in Paris on September 24, 2026.

According to the government, the agreements were signed in the presence of President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Abubakar Dantsoho, and DP World Group Chief Executive Officer, Yuvraj Narayan.

It also cited a statement from the State House, signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, which put the initial investment at more than $7 billion and projected the creation of 50,000 direct jobs.

Akinmade argued that the project should be assessed against the agreements reached, investment commitments and verifiable implementation milestones, rather than dismissed on partisan grounds.

He acknowledged that signing an investment agreement was an important step but noted that financing arrangements, regulatory approvals and construction would be necessary before the project could be completed.

The government said the proposed development could expand industrial activities, strengthen maritime infrastructure, attract businesses and create employment opportunities across Ogun State.

It also criticised Omotayo’s boast that he would defeat Abiodun before noon on election day, describing it as political bravado that did not address substantive development issues.

Akinmade further questioned the PDP’s political standing, citing the exclusion of its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, and his running mate from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s final list for the 2027 Ogun governorship election.

On infrastructure, the government said the Abiodun administration had constructed and rehabilitated more than 243.3 kilometres of roads in Ogun East since 2019, contributing to a statewide total exceeding 1,600 kilometres across the state’s 20 local government areas.

Projects cited included the Ijebu-Ode-Mojoda-Epe Road, Sagamu-Iperu-Ode-Sapaade Road, Ejirin-Idowa-Ibefun-Itokin Road, Tam Balogun Road and Imodi-Imosan Road.

The administration also highlighted the approval of the J4-Gao Road in Ogun Waterside, the reported delivery of more than 150 blocks of classrooms, primary healthcare interventions and the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport at Iperu-Remo.

‘These are tangible development interventions whose details can be examined and verified. The debate should be about facts, project delivery and the future of Ogun East, not unsupported allegations,’ Akinmade said.

The government maintained that the deep seaport and special economic zone could strengthen logistics, trade and private-sector investment, while urging political stakeholders to distinguish between project announcements, signed agreements and actual implementation.

A one-month-old baby girl allegedly sold by her 23-year-old mother for N2 million has been rescued by police operatives in Oyo State.

The baby was sold to one Folawewo in Ido Local Government Area of Ibadan immediately after delivery by the mother.

However, the baby was rescued following report to the police by the grandmother, Oyo Police Command’s spokesperson DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Ibadan.

According to Ayanlade the health facility owner facilitated the sale of the baby girl after her mother delivered there.

The PPRO said that a woman, Mary Amos, reported the incident to the police on Thursday, at about 6.00 p.m.

The complainant, said the police spokesperson, claimed that her 23-year-old daughter gave birth to a baby girl on Sept. 6 at Ebepraise Health Centre, Ido.

‘She further reported that her daughter disappeared with the baby about seven days after delivery and could not provide a satisfactory account of the child’s whereabouts, raising suspicions that the baby might have been sold.

‘Acting on the report, police operatives arrested the baby’s mother for questioning.

‘She confessed during interrogation that the owner of the health facility and one Oludunni lured her into the arrangement and facilitated the sale of the baby to one Folawewo,’ he said.

Ayanlade said investigations later revealed that the baby’s mother received N1 million of the N2 million, while the health facility owner and Oludunni received N500,000 each.

According to him, the one-month-old baby girl has been rescued, and efforts are currently ongoing to arrest the buyer of the baby, Folawemo, and all other persons involved to face justice.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons.

He also urged members of the public to promptly report any suspected cases of child trafficking and related offences.

The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, will host the South-West Zone Bi-annual Review of the Food Systems Transformation Pathways (FSTP) Strategy and Validation of the Draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) from Tuesday, 20 October to Thursday, 22 October 2026.

The three-day engagement will bring together government representatives, policymakers, technical experts and development partners to review implementation progress, identify gaps and validate the draft SOP to strengthen coordination, monitoring and accountability.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Lagos State, Mr Ope George, noted that the engagement aligns with efforts to promote productive, inclusive, resilient and sustainable food systems while addressing food insecurity, malnutrition, poverty and challenges across the food value chain.

As a major centre of consumption, commerce and logistics, Lagos State recognises the importance of effective food systems in driving economic growth, improving livelihoods and ensuring access to safe, nutritious and affordable food.

The meeting will also strengthen regional cooperation and promote practical strategies for improving food production, processing, storage, transportation, distribution and market access.

The Lagos State Government remains committed to evidence-based planning, effective collaboration and sustainable policies that advance food security and inclusive development.

The Federal Government has unveiled a five-point strategy to tackle banditry, terrorism and illicit arms trafficking, restore peace and strengthen community resilience in Sokoto State.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed this on Saturday in Sokoto at a security brainstorming session organised by the Sokoto Advancement Forum (SAF).

The forum collaborated with the Centre for Peace Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, to examine strategies for addressing insecurity.

Ribadu, who was represented by Mr Zakari Usman Mijinyawa, Director of Legal Services in the Office of the NSA, outlined five priorities for tackling the security challenges.

They include intelligence-led operations, inter-agency and cross-border cooperation, community trust and early-warning systems, the restoration of agricultural livelihoods, and the prevention of criminal recruitment.

He said the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, was strengthening military operations, intelligence gathering, border security and law enforcement through coordinated efforts.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that these efforts involve security agencies, state governments and local communities.

Ribadu said the National Crisis Management Doctrine, being advanced by the Office of the NSA, provided a framework for coordinated action by the government and society.

On intelligence-led operations, he called for sustained security deployments around vulnerable settlements, forest corridors and border communities.

He identified State Forest Guards and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Agro-Rangers as important partners in securing vulnerable areas.

The NSA also advocated cross-border intelligence-sharing to deny criminal groups safe havens and strengthen cooperation among the armed forces, intelligence agencies, police and civil defence.

He stressed the importance of early-warning systems linking local governments, traditional rulers and communities in security hotspots, including Sabon Birni, Isa, Tangaza and Goronyo.

Ribadu urged traditional rulers, religious scholars, women and youth groups to build public trust, counter extremist narratives and misinformation, and discourage ethnic hostility.

He emphasised the need for professional policing, impartial law enforcement and respect for human rights.

The NSA identified the protection of farms, rural routes, markets, schools and health facilities as another priority, urging security planners to take agricultural calendars into account.

He said security interventions should also support the safe and voluntary return of displaced families.

Ribadu added that expanding access to education, vocational training and livelihood opportunities was essential to preventing recruitment into criminal groups.

He said any disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programme must comply with the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

He stressed that reintegration must not replace justice or reward violence.

The NSA disclosed that the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons had recovered 5,449 firearms and destroyed 1,419 illicit weapons in recent nationwide operations.

He said the cumulative number of weapons destroyed since 2022 had exceeded 19,000.

Ribadu described Operation Fansan Yamma as a key framework for coordinating security operations across the North-West.

He noted that banditry in Sokoto had evolved beyond cattle rustling and kidnapping into a complex security threat with transnational links, including those associated with Lakurawa.

Earlier, SAF Chairman, Prof. Mohammad Wali, said attacks had occurred in 21 of Sokoto State’s 23 local government areas.

He added that more than 1,100 people were reportedly kidnapped in the state in the 12 months to June 2026.

Wali cited an attack in Tsamaye, Sabon Birni, in August 2026, during which at least 21 people were killed and 37 abducted.

He commended federal and state security interventions, including Operation Fansan Yamma and the state’s Community Guard Corps.

SAF Vice-Chairman, Prof. Riskuwa Shehu, cited data from SBM Intelligence documenting 4,722 abductions in 997 incidents nationwide between July 2024 and June 2025.

The Vice-Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Prof. Bashir Garba, represented by the university librarian, Dr Kudirat Abiola, said research and non-kinetic measures were essential to addressing insecurity.

She added that SAF would submit its recommendations to the government and security agencies for implementation.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to youth empowerment, skills development and innovation, describing investment in young people as critical to Nigeria’s economic growth and future prosperity.

Speaking on Saturday at the foundation-laying ceremony of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Centre for Youth Empowerment and Intercultural Dialogue at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, as part of activities marking the university’s 65th anniversary, Tinubu said the Centre would provide a platform for young Nigerians to acquire relevant skills, develop innovative ideas, establish businesses and collaborate with their counterparts across Africa and beyond.

The President, who was represented by the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, (who is also the All Progressives Congress Gubernatorial Candidate in Lagos) noted that Nigeria’s youthful population presented enormous opportunities for economic growth, technological advancement and global competitiveness. He stressed the need to equip young people not only to seek employment but also to create jobs and develop home-grown solutions to national challenges.

He said, ‘Our young people must be equipped with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to drive innovation, create jobs and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic growth and future prosperity. This is part of our Renewed Hope Agenda for the youth. Our responsibility is to ensure that this great demographic strength becomes an engine of production rather than a source of despair.’

Describing the Centre as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future, Tinubu emphasised the importance of translating training into practical opportunities through partnerships with universities, the private sector, investors and development institutions.

He also urged the university community to ensure that the Centre promotes mutual understanding among young people from diverse ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.

According to him, the Centre would serve as a hub for youth empowerment, skills development, innovation and intercultural dialogue, providing young people with opportunities to develop their potential, transform ideas into enterprises and contribute to national development.

Tinubu urged the university’s management, alumni and other stakeholders to sustain the vision behind the project, expressing optimism that the Centre would become a hub for entrepreneurship, innovation and international cooperation, producing a new generation of skilled, confident and responsible leaders committed to Nigeria’s development.

In her address, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu who was represented by Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King, said the Centre would contribute meaningfully to youth empowerment, engagement and inclusion, which she described as central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda for the country.

She noted that the university’s decision to establish the Centre reflected its commitment to youth development, cultural preservation and intercultural dialogue, providing a platform for young people to engage, learn and collaborate across cultural divides.

The First Lady said the decision to name the International Centre for Youth Empowerment and Intercultural Dialogue after President Tinubu reflected her desire to recognise and complement the President’s efforts in advancing youth empowerment and national development.

In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Rt. Hon. Rafiu Adejare Bello, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for efforts to improve access to university education and empower Nigerian youths, noting that the administration’s interventions had renewed public confidence in public universities.

He said the Centre would provide a platform for young people from Nigeria, Africa and other parts of the world to acquire relevant skills, develop entrepreneurial ideas, collaborate on research and participate in cultural exchanges.

He added that the initiative would help address challenges such as unemployment, limited access to skills development, economic inequality and social exclusion, while fostering mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence across cultural, religious and ethnic divides.

Prof. Bamire said the Centre aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its commitment to equipping young people with relevant skills and opportunities to compete effectively with their global counterparts.

He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to the Centre’s sustainability through strategic partnerships, skills-development programmes, research and innovation, with a focus on producing entrepreneurs, responsible citizens, peacebuilders and future leaders who would contribute to national and global development.

Fountain University, Osogbo, has appointed Dr Raheem Adegbenga Akintunde as the new Head of its Department of Mass Communication.

The appointment was announced by the Mass Communication Students’ Association (MACOSA), which congratulated Akintunde on his emergence as head of the department.

In a congratulatory message, the association expressed optimism about his leadership, noting that it could contribute to strengthening communication education and building a stronger future for the department.

Akintunde holds a PhD in Mass Communication from Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo. He also obtained a master’s degree in Mass Communication from the National Open University of Nigeria and a bachelor’s degree in Radio and Television Broadcasting from Lagos State University.

According to his professional profile, Akintunde has eight years of experience in project management and five years in media production and research. His experience also includes radio and television studio construction and management.

His academic and professional interests include broadcast journalism, development communication, environmental health communication and indigenous media development.

As head of the department, Akintunde will oversee its academic and administrative activities, including the training of students for careers in journalism, broadcasting, public relations and other communication-related fields.

His appointment comes as the department continues to prepare students for the demands of the media and wider communication industry.

Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina State has appealed to anyone offended by his administration’s decisions to forgive him, urging unity among All Progressives Congress (APC) members ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Radda made the appeal on Saturday in Katsina while inaugurating the APC campaign council for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and himself.

‘I have no grudge against anybody in the party, and I welcome everyone who wants to join the party,’ he said.

The governor urged party members to close ranks, mobilise voters and intensify grassroots campaigns to secure victory for APC candidates.

He warned members against relying on the party’s popularity without actively campaigning for votes.

‘The time to get into any seat of power by awuf has gone. Come out and campaign massively for votes,’ he said.

Radda said APC members must work collectively for Tinubu and all party candidates, from polling units and wards to local, state and federal levels.

He described every party member as an ambassador of Tinubu and other APC candidates, urging them to demonstrate commitment to the party’s collective interests.

The governor expressed confidence in the APC’s electoral prospects in Katsina and across the country, urging members to remain focused on victory.

He thanked residents for their support and patience with his administration over the past three and a half years.

Radda said his administration had recorded significant infrastructure development across the state’s 34 local government areas.

He also said the government had consistently paid monthly allowances to APC officials from state to local government and ward levels.

According to him, the payments have helped sustain the party’s organisational structure.

Earlier, APC State Chairman, Dr Bishir Gambo-Saulawa, commended Radda for strengthening the party and supporting the construction of its newly completed state secretariat.

He described the secretariat, where the inauguration took place, as a distinctive facility.

Gambo-Saulawa also said the party’s candidates in the state had been duly certified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He acknowledged former APC state chairman, Sani Ali’s, contributions to the secretariat, noting that Ali initiated the project.

During the inauguration, Radda appointed Gambo-Saulawa as deputy chairman of the campaign council.

Ahmed Dangiwa, an architect, was named Director-General, while Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji was appointed Secretary-General.

Alhaji Sani Aliyu was named the council’s organising secretary.

The Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, also commended Radda for the infrastructure development recorded in the state.

Musawa said Tinubu had directed her to work closely with the governor to promote the development of Katsina State.