The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released a detailed statistical breakdown of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results.
According to the figures published by the board, a total of 1,955,069 candidates sat for the examination conducted across the country.
Of this number, over 1.5 million candidates scored below 200. Meanwhile, 4,756 candidates scored above 320, while 7,658 candidates scored between 300 and 319.
A group of youths on Monday staged a protest in Abuja, calling for the immediate release of activist and social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).
According to Leading Reporters, Otse was arrested in the Federal Capital Territory following his recent visit to and public criticism of Guaranty Trust Bank.
The protesters, who gathered in large numbers, carried placards with various inscriptions and chanted slogans including, “He’s not a thief, Now VDM has blocked the road, Release VDM.”
The demonstration took place at the junction leading to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the Jabi area of Abuja.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has warned that Nigerians should brace for electricity tariffs that reflect the actual cost of supply, citing the unsustainability of current subsidy levels.
Speaking during a meeting with the chairmen of Nigeria’s power generating companies (Gencos) in Abuja, Adelabu said the economy could no longer support the financial burden of electricity subsidies.
“We have to understand that our economy cannot sustain subsidies indefinitely,” the minister said.
The Federal Government currently owes over N4 trillion to Gencos in unpaid subsidy-related debts.
According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the average actual cost of electricity as of February stood at N116.18 per kilowatt-hour, while consumers were charged N88.2 per kilowatt-hour. The subsidy gap amounted to N27.97 per kilowatt-hour.
Currently, all customers under the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), except the 15 percent categorized as Band A, receive some form of subsidy.
Adelabu’s spokesperson, Bolaji Tunji, said the minister emphasized the need for citizens to pay appropriate rates for electricity consumed, while assuring that the government would continue to provide targeted subsidies for vulnerable groups.
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Sunday night ambushed a commercial vehicle along the Otukpo-Adoka Road in Benue State, killing the driver and abducting all passengers on board.
The attack occurred at about 11 p.m. as the vehicle was travelling from Abuja to Otukpo.
According to eyewitnesses, the assailants opened fire upon sighting the vehicle, fatally hitting the driver, who lost control and veered into nearby bushes. The attackers then abducted all passengers and left the vehicle at the scene.
The body of the driver, identified as a native of Adoka, has been recovered and taken to his hometown.
Military personnel have since arrived at the scene and launched a manhunt for the attackers.
The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has petitioned the National Assembly and the Lagos State House of Assembly over what it described as the continued exploitation of ride-hailing drivers by digital transport companies.
The union made its position known during a protest held on Thursday in commemoration of International Workers’ Day (May Day), which also resulted in a 24-hour suspension of ride-hailing services nationwide.
In a statement, Steven Iwindoye, spokesperson for AUATON Lagos, said the petition underscores the “poor treatment” of app-based transport workers operating under platforms such as Uber, Bolt, inDrive, Lagride, and Rida.
“For too long, we have been subjected to exploitation, insecurity, and a lack of recognition,” the statement read. “We have been paid below the cost price of premium services and forced to endure modern-day slavery in the form of technological manipulation.”
The union’s demands include the imposition of a 5 percent cap on commission rates, pricing autonomy for drivers, and formal recognition as key stakeholders in Nigeria’s transport sector.
Iwindoye warned that failure by the companies to meet these demands would lead to further action, including picketing the offices of the app operators.
“If app companies (App sharks) fail to comply, we shall massively move to new indigenous app companies that are ready and willing to comply with drivers’ demands,” he said.
He also revealed that AUATON is collaborating with other stakeholders to develop a driver-led ride-hailing platform that promotes fairer industry practices.
My dear brother, friend and former boss, I congratulate you warmly on your birthday, May 2.
You have lived a remarkable and impactful life as a husband, father, and accomplished administrator. Today, you stand out not just as a fine politician and respectable community leader but also as an eminent figure in our country.
As a professional with extensive experience in finance and management, you had a rewarding career at ExxonMobil, where our paths first crossed.
Our relationship blossomed at Mobil, where you were my Executive Director. From a professional work environment where we developed a special bond, we have become brothers, confidantes, associates, and trusted allies for over 40 years.
I cherish our enduring friendship and brotherhood, which has enriched my life through your wisdom, forthrightness, and steadfast counsel.
Your love for Nigeria is boundless. As a patriot deeply committed to national development, you have embraced the ideals of progressive politics and played pivotal roles in shaping our nation’s future.
You were the National Vice Chairman of our party, the All Progressives Congress, for the South-West at a critical and defining moment in its evolution. You later served on the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, first as a director and as Chairman.
Thank you for your leadership at NNPC Limited, which led to some achievements the state-owned oil company recorded in the last ten years.
On behalf of a grateful nation, I thank you immensely.
Your wisdom and example as an octogenarian will continue to benefit our country, community, and family.
I pray that Almighty God will continue to grant you good health, happiness, and many more years of fulfilment.
Happy birthday and many happy returns, my dear friend and brother!
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
May 1, 2025
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have requested an additional 90 days from a United States District Court to release investigative documents related to an alleged drug case involving Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
This request was disclosed in a Joint Status Report filed on Thursday with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The case involves allegations linking Tinubu to a drug trafficking network in Chicago during the 1990s. The plaintiff, Aaron Greenspan—an American legal transparency advocate and founder of the platform PlainSite—opposed the extension and proposed a 14-day deadline for the agencies to produce the requested records.
Judge Beryl Howell of the District Court had previously directed the FBI and DEA to provide an update on the search and release of non-exempt documents by May 2, 2025.
Between 2022 and 2023, Greenspan filed 12 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking information related to the Chicago-based drug ring, which allegedly involved four individuals, including Tinubu.
The FBI and DEA had earlier issued “Glomar responses,” declining to confirm or deny the existence of the requested documents. However, the court ruled such responses inappropriate in this case.
In the latest filing dated May 1, 2025, the FBI and DEA cited the need for additional time to complete their searches and process the relevant records.
Chairman of the North-East Governors’ Forum and Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has expressed concern over the resurgence of insurgent attacks across the region, warning that the development could undermine the progress made in the fight against terrorism.
Speaking on Thursday at the opening of the 11th meeting of the Forum in Damaturu, Yobe State, Zulum commended the efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces but urged them to intensify operations to bring the insurgency to a conclusive end.
“The recent re-emergence of attacks by the insurgents is a matter of serious concern capable of undermining the successes already recorded in the theatre of war,” Zulum said.
He also called on the military to revisit and strengthen its operational strategy to adopt a more offensive approach.
In his welcome address, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, emphasized the need for increased collaboration between state governments, the Federal Government, and security agencies to counter the resurgence of insurgency.
Buni also highlighted the importance of youth employment, noting that failure to provide economic opportunities could leave young people vulnerable to recruitment by terrorist groups and involvement in other social vices.
He urged fellow governors in the region to take swift action to consolidate gains made in security, peace, and socio-economic development over recent years.
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritising workers’ welfare, describing Nigeria’s labour force as the engine of the economy and the key to national development.
In a message posted on his official X handle to mark this year’s Workers’ Day, the President commended all categories of workers—young and old, entrepreneurs and employees, in both the private and public sectors—for their contributions to the growth of the country.
“Our administration has, and will continue to, prioritise workers’ welfare,” he said.
He added, “Together, we will make Nigeria great again.”
Despite facing allegations of a N1.2 trillion digital trading fraud affecting over 600,000 Nigerians, the embattled Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) has resumed operations and introduced new withdrawal options in a bid to restore investor confidence.
Two traders on the platform confirmed to reporters that CBEX had quietly restarted operations, enabling new users to register, trade, and withdraw profits, even as investigations by regulatory agencies continue.
According to the sources, an insurance verification process and an external audit of the firm’s financial records are currently ongoing to determine the actual amount lost when the platform collapsed in April.
They added that existing investors, many of whom have been unable to access their funds for several weeks, would be able to withdraw their money starting June 25, 2025, after the audit is expected to be completed by a UK-based insurance firm.
The development follows recent regulatory actions, including the Securities and Exchange Commission’s declaration of the platform as illegal and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s confirmation of an ongoing investigation into the company’s operations.
CBEX, which promised investors a 100 percent return after 30 days of purported AI-powered trading, began operations in 2024. The platform was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission on September 25, 2024, and received approval from the EFCC’s Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering on January 16, 2025.
The platform reportedly collapsed on April 14, 2025, with at least 600,000 Nigerians said to have lost a combined total of N1.2 trillion.
