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Gunmen Kill Driver, Abduct All Passengers in Benue Road Attack

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

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.

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BREAKING: Federal Colleges of Education in Nigeria to award Bachelor’s degrees

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Government has officially begun the implementation of the Dual Mandate Policy across all Federal Colleges of Education (FCOEs).

This follows the enactment of the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023.

This was confirmed in a statement signed by the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo.

The legislation, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, empowers FCOEs to concurrently award the Nigeria Certificate in Education and Bachelor’s Degrees in Education.

This marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s teacher education reform.

Announcing the commencement of implementation of the policy in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa described it as a bold and progressive step.

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The Dual Mandate Policy represents not just a reform but a revolution in teacher preparation — enabling FCOEs to offer both NCE and Bachelor’s degrees.

“This initiative empowers institutions, broadens access, and enhances the quality of classroom instruction across Nigeria,” he said.

According to the Act, all FCOEs that meet the National Universities Commission standards are now eligible to operate under the Dual Mandate.

This inclusive policy ensures that institutions, regardless of their establishment date, can participate once the stipulated requirements are met.

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FBI
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FBI, DEA Seek 90-Day Extension to Release Tinubu Drug Case Records

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

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.

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Tinubu Government Lacks Clear Strategy to Tackle Banditry, Says Amnesty International

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Amnesty International has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of lacking a clear and effective strategy to tackle the growing wave of violence by armed groups.

The criticism follows the brutal killing of the Chief Imam of Maru Jumma’a Mosque in Zamfara State, Alkali Salihu Suleiman, along with his three children.

The human rights organization said the killing, which occurred after the bandits received N11 million of the N20 million ransom they demanded, shows the Nigerian government’s lack of any effective plan to curb mass atrocities that have plagued the country for years.

Threatening peaceful protesters is unlawful, Amnesty International warns FG

According to the organisation, the horrific killing of the 79-year-old Chief Imam and his children serves as another grim reminder that President Bola Tinubu’s administration lacks an effective strategy to end the reign of terror by armed groups.

“Alkali Salihu Suleiman and his children were abducted in March during the holy month of Ramadan. While in the custody of the bandits, they were subjected to almost daily rounds of torture and other ill-treatment. Apart from beatings, they were also made to go long hours without food or water,” Amnesty International said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).

15 EndSARS Protesters Still Detained In Lagos Prisons 3 Years After – Amnesty International Reveals

The group also criticized the Nigerian government’s silence and inaction over repeated attacks, saying bandits now act with growing impunity across Zamfara and other states.

Almost daily attacks across Zamfara and other states clearly show that President Bola Tinubu and his government have no effective plan for ending years of atrocities by armed groups and gunmen that are increasingly having free reign across many parts of Nigeria,” the group added.

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Tinubu
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‘For 50 years, Nigeria spent money meant for future generations’, Tinubu laments

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

President Bola Tinubu has said that Nigeria spent the past 50 years and more depleting funds meant for future generations.

The president expressed his displeasure when some senators of the Third Republic visited him at the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock, Abuja.

In a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the senators of the Third Republic, which Tinubu served as a Senator representing Lagos West, were at the Villa on Thursday, March 13.

At the meeting, the president said the primary motive of his administration was to protect the interest of future generations.

Tinubu said, “For 50 years, Nigeria was spending money of generations yet unborn and servicing the West coast of our subregion with fuel. It was getting difficult to plan for our children’s future.”

Highlighting some of the efforts made by his administration to address the challenges faced by the nation, the president said Nigeria would have been bankrupt if he did not take over leadership.

“We faced serious headwinds when I took over, very challenging times. Nigeria would have been bankrupt if we had not taken the actions that we took, and we had to prevent the economy’s collapse.

“Today, we are sitting pretty on a good foundation. We have reversed the problem; the Exchange rate is stabilising. Food prices are coming down, especially during Ramadan. We will have light at the end of the tunnel,” Tinubu added.

In his reaction, Emmanuel Nwaka who spoke on behalf of the visiting group commended the president for some of the initiatives implemented by his administration.

Nwaka said, “I appreciate you for what you are giving to students because the student population is the largest demographic in the country. I’ve spoken with many of them, and many have benefited from it.

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BREAKING: Reps ask NCC to block all pornographic sites in Nigeria

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to ensure the blocking of all pornographic sites in the country.

The House wants the Commission to compel all internet service providers to block all such contents with immediate effect.

Dalhatu Tafoki, a lawmaker from Katsina State representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), sponsored the motion.

While presenting the motion, Tafoki emphasised that cyber pornography is a growing global concern and noted that Nigeria has not done enough to tackle the issue.

According to him, Nigeria is a “highly religious country” where major faiths preach against and prohibit nudity and obscenity.

The lawmaker went further to state that several countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East had enacted laws banning pornography.

To drive home his point, the Katsina lawmaker made reference to warnings from psychologists and sociologists about the negative impact of pornography.

According to him, pornography could lead to adultery, prostitution and addiction.

“Renowned psychologists and sociologists around the world have issued stern warnings on the psychological, sociological and mental consequences of viewing pornographic content,” he said.

Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House of Representatives subjected the motion to a voice vote where the lawmakers voted in support of it.

The House directed the NCC to impose penalties on service providers that fail to comply with the directive.

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Headlines

Niger Republic bars Nigerians with ECOWAS passport

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Republic of Niger has begun enforcing restrictions on Nigerians traveling with the ECOWAS passport, barring entry for those without a valid international passport.

This move follows the country’s recent withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States alongside Mali and Burkina Faso.

Despite maintaining an open border with Nigeria, new immigration measures are being implemented at crossings such as Illela (Nigeria) and Konni (Niger). Cross-border traders and commuters now face difficulties as Nigerien authorities refuse to recognize the ECOWAS passport as a valid means of identification.

Alhaji Mansur Abdullah, a trader who frequently travels between the two countries, confirmed the development.

He said, “I believe there is a move to abolish the ECOWAS passport as a means of traveling here; they have started harassing us if we are entering the country.

“Some of our people are being turned back home. We learnt that there is a new passport being issued now to everyone coming to Niger Republic to replace the old ECOWAS passport.

“Some of our people are getting scared of the aftermath of all these issues, which have started to affect our business and trading activities”

According to a source in Taiwan, a state in Niger Republic, border officials have started turning back individuals relying solely on the ECOWAS passport.

“Some of our people have already been sent home. The authorities insist on their own national passport, making it difficult for traders and travelers,” he explained.

Abubakar Isa, a commercial driver on the Illela-Konni route, alleged that security officials in Niger have begun exploiting the situation to extort travelers.

“They demand between 5,000 to 10,000 CFA before allowing those with an ECOWAS passport to pass. If you can’t produce Niger’s new identification document, they take you to their office and pressure you to pay a bribe..

“Once they stop either the vehicle or motorcycle at their border, they take you to their office and make the demand for the passport, which they know we don’t have, they then collect money as bribe before you can be allow to go, “ he added.

A trader in Illela, Alhaji Nuhu Abubakar, confirmed that Niger’s withdrawal from ECOWAS has had no immediate impact on trade or movement across the border.

He said, “We have continued our normal activities as usual, and there is no sign of an impending closure.

“The border remains open on both the Nigerian and Nigerien sides. We’ve heard rumours that the military junta in Niger is considering restricting motorcycle movement between the two countries, but for now, nothing concrete has been decided.”

Although official communication from the Nigerien government is yet to confirm a complete ban on ECOWAS passports, affected travellers fear that the situation could worsen, disrupting trade and movement across the border.

When contacted on Monday, Head of Communication ECOWAS Commission, Joel Ahofodji., said the regional bloc was unaware of Niger Republic’s policy to bar ECOWAS passport holders.

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Canada denies Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff Visa

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian government has expressed dissatisfaction with the Canadian embassy’s decision to deny visas to its military officers.

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu on Thursday berated the Canadian embassy for denying Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and other army chiefs visas.

Speaking in Abuja at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), Mr Ribadu said Canada “can go to hell.”

The NSA was reacting to comments earlier made by the CDS, who narrated how he and other top military officers were supposed to be in Canada for an official assignment on Wednesday, but were denied visas.

Mr Musa said the Canada event is about honouring war veterans. He, however, noted that the denial is a clear reminder that Nigeria must “stand on its own, stand strong as a nation and should no longer be taken for granted”.

“Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada. There’s an event to honour our veterans, those that were injured during battles, and we were meant to be there,” Mr Musa said.

“We were invited with our team. Half has gone and half has been denied. It’s very disappointing,” he added.

Mr Ribadu who could not hide his displeasure after taking the microphone, commended the CDS for speaking about the incident.

“Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell,” the NSA said.

“Even though it’s painful, it’s disrespectful, but we are peaceful and strong and I agree with you that it is time to fix our country.

“Yet, this is another reason we work hard to make Nigeria work,” he added.

Mr Ribadu also praised the CDS for providing “purposeful leadership” in the war against insecurity. He noted that all security agencies are collaborating across many parts of the country.

Mr Ribadu, the first Chairman of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; and a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, was appointed the National Security Adviser by President Bola Tinubu in 2023.

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JUST IN: Nigeria Makes List of world’s Most Corrupt Country in 2024, Gets New Ranking

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Nigeria has been ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world for 2024, according to a new report by Transparency International.

The latest Corruption Perceptions Index places Nigeria in the 36th position, alongside Uganda, Mexico, Madagascar, Iraq, and Cameroon, with a total score of 26 points.

This marks a slight improvement for Nigeria, as the country gained one point compared to its 2023 ranking.

The 2024 index, released on Tuesday, evaluates 180 countries based on public sector corruption and scores them on a scale of 0, meaning highly corrupt, to 100, meaning very clean. Denmark was ranked as the least corrupt country with 90 points, followed by Finland with 88 points and Singapore with 84 points. No African country made it to the top 10 least corrupt nations, as the list was dominated by European countries.

Cape Verde emerged as the least corrupt country in Africa, ranking 35th globally with 62 points. Meanwhile, South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela were ranked as the most corrupt countries in the world.

Speaking on the findings, Francois Valeria, Chair of Transparency International, stated that corruption remains a serious issue worldwide but noted that some countries have made progress. She emphasized that the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index shows that corruption is a dangerous problem in every part of the world, but change for the better is happening in many countries.

Valeria, said, “The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) shows that corruption is a dangerous problem in every part of the world, but change for the better is happening in many countries.

“Research also reveals that corruption is a major threat to climate action. It hinders progress in reducing emissions and adapting to the unavoidable effects of global heating.

“The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories worldwide by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. The results are given on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).”

Since assuming office, President Bola Tinubu has spoken about his commitment to fighting corruption. However, his approach differs from that of the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari which rode to power on the promise of ending the deep-rooted corruption in the country. While past governments attempted direct crackdowns, Tinubu argues that corruption cannot be completely eradicated but should be minimized as much as possible.

“Corruption in all ramifications is bad. There is need to pay enough attention to the causes. Why are the people corrupt? The lack of social amenities, the lack of need in some areas lack of funding for children’s education.

“There are so many anti-corruption mechanisms to checkmate corrupt activities and to help people not to be corrupt,” he said in an interaction with the press late last year.

His government has introduced various policies aimed at closing loopholes that enable corruption, one of which is the removal of fuel subsidy payments.

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tiktok
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Online Safety: TikTok deletes over 2m violating videos in Nigeria

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

TikTok has removed over 2 million videos in Nigeria between July and September 2024.

The social media platform detailed this in its latest Q3 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report.

99.1% of these videos were removed within 24 hours.

In a statement on Tuesday, the company, however, emphasised that the move was a global effort with local impact, aimed at reaffirming the platform’s resolve to online safety.

The statement reads: “With over a billion people around the world, using the platform and millions of pieces of content posted every day, TikTok continues to invest in technologies which improve content understanding and assess potential risks, allowing the platform to remove harmful content before it reaches viewers.

“With a proactive detection rate now at 98.2% globally, TikTok is more efficient than ever at addressing harmful content before users encounter it. Globally, between July and September 2024, the platform removed over 147 million videos globally and of these, 118 million were removed through automation. In Nigeria, 92.1% of all videos were removed before a community member reported it to TikTok.”

“In Nigeria, the policy areas which saw the most videos removed include Sensitive and mature themes, with 99.4% removals happening before any user reports, regulated goods and commercial activities, with 99.1% removals happening before any user reports.

“This includes content such as attempts to defraud or scam members of our community or content that seeks to trade or market things such as firearms or explosive weapons, to name a few examples. Mental and behavioural health, with 99.9% of removals happening before any user reports. This reflects TikTok’s commitment to protecting its users, especially younger audiences, from content that could negatively affect mental health.

“TikTok’s mission to inspire creativity and bring joy is underpinned by a strong commitment to user safety, well-being, and content integrity. The platform prioritises a positive environment where users feel free to create, connect, and be entertained. To uphold these standards, TikTok continuously invests in Trust and Safety professionals who collaborate with advanced technology to enforce its robust Community Guidelines, Terms of Service and Advertising Policies.”

“The Q3 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report highlights TikTok’s leadership in content moderation and safety standards, ensuring a secure and positive platform experience for Nigerian users.

“TikTok remains dedicated to enhancing its safety measures and collaborating with global experts to safeguard its community”

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