Category Nigeria News

The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the South West Development Commission (SWDC).

He also thanked him for appointing people of impeccable character to run the commission’s affairs for the stipulated time.

The Ooni, who is also the Permanent Chairman, Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), commended the President on the nomination of Charles ‘Diji Akinola as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SWDC, describing it a visionary choice and a historic turning point for the region’ s developmental trajectory.

In a statement by the Director, Media & Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, on Wednesday, the monarch described Akinola as an outstanding technocrat with an impressive pedigree and passionate commitment to regional and national development.

“Ooni Ogunwusi equally commends the President on the excellent choice of Senator Olu Adetunmbi, a development expert, as the chairman and other members of the Board, including a distinguished Ife daughter, Princess Nike Omoworare, Bolaji Ariyo, Joseph Olugbenga, Olumuyiwa Olabimtan, Adewinle Martins, Ibrahim Olaifa, Kabiru Lakwaya, Abdul Adamu a retired general, Arinola Fagbemi, Ukoha Onyekwere, Howell Ihenacho, Olugbenga Olufehinti, Tele Ogunjobi, Funmilayo Tejuosho, Fatai Ibikunle and Lateef Ajijola saying all the appointees are round pegs for the round holes,” the state read.

While lauding the appointment of two illustrious citizens of Osun State: Charles Akindiji Akinola and Mrs. Nike Omoworare, to executive positions within the newly inaugurated commission, the Ooni described Akinola as a seasoned development expert with impressive public service experience as former chief of staff to the governor of Osun State.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Signs South-West, South-South Commission Bills Into Law

He, however, advised the MD to let his extensive experience in public-private partnerships, rural enterprise development, and international development cooperation positions speak for him to lead the Commission in addressing the infrastructural and socio-economic challenges of the South West region.

The Ooni emphasised that the appointments reflect President Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance and the upliftment of the South-West region.

He expressed confidence that the leadership of the SWDC would work diligently to fulfill its mandate of addressing infrastructural deficits, ecological challenges, security gaps and promoting sustainable development in the region.

The monarch further urged them to approach their new responsibilities with integrity, dedication, and a focus on delivering tangible benefits to the people of the South-West.

“Ooni Ogunwusi, the Permanent Chairman, Osun state Council of Obas and chiefs also calls upon all stakeholders, including traditional institutions, state governments, and civil society organisations, to support the SWDC in its mission to transform the South West into a hub of economic prosperity and cultural renaissance assuring the entire South Westerners that Dr Akinola and his team will approach their new responsibilities with integrity, dedication, and a focus on delivering tangible benefits to the people of the South West,” the statement added.

In March 2025, Tinubu assented to the South-West Development Commission Bill and the South-South Development Commission Bill.

The Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado, who made this known in a statement, noted that the legislation reflected Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance, equitable progress, and Nigeria’s emergence as a global powerhouse.

On May 8, the President formally requested the Senate’s confirmation of appointees to lead the South West, North Central, and South South development commissions.

In a correspondence to the Senate, Tinubu nominated a total of 55 individuals across the three commissions.

Brazilian state oil company, Petrobras, is seeking a return to Nigeria’s oil sector with a renewed focus on frontier deepwater exploration as part of efforts to strengthen ties between both countries.

In a statement on Wednesday, Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, announced that the development came during an interministerial review meeting.

The meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, was held to prepare for the second session of the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism (SDM) in June 2025.

Petrobras had previously wound down its Nigerian operations at the Agbami Field, but with renewed economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu, the company is now actively engaging Nigerian authorities as it eyes fresh investment opportunities.

Speaking at the session, Vice President Shettima underscored the strategic importance of Nigeria’s relationship with Brazil, especially as Brazil prepares to host a series of global summits this year.

“The presence of six ministers and the Solicitor-General of the Federation in this review meeting ahead of the second session of the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism shows the importance we have attached to our relationship with Brazil.

“We have not maximally capitalised on the fraternity between us and Brazil, but it is better late than never. The upcoming SDM presents an opportunity to execute sector-specific Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and unlock investment flows,” Shettima said.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Needs $10bn Yearly To Achieve Stable Power Supply – Minister

Highlighting the significance of 2025 as a pivotal year for global diplomacy, Shettima said, “This year is our moment of interface with Brazil. Brazil is hosting so many global events this year – from the BRICS Summit to the G20 Summit and COP30. This convergence of events provides us with a unique opportunity to advance our interests on the global stage.”

The Vice President also commended the ministers for their renewed vigour and patriotic commitment, stating that “there is a sea change in our attitude, disposition, and commitment.”

Petrobras Reengages

Providing further insight into Petrobras’ return, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed ongoing discussions with the company.

“Apart from ethanol, which they are hoping to engage the NNPCL for blending, Petrobras is also being actively engaged, and we expect they will form part of the delegation to Nigeria,” Tuggar said.

“Petrobras is no longer active in Nigeria, but they are very keen on coming back. They said they want frontier acreage in deep waters.”

Tuggar added that Brazil’s own preparations for the 2025 SDM are well underway, with both governmental and private sector entities actively mobilised by Brazil’s Vice President.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is coordinating Nigeria’s interministerial working groups, has compiled 12 draft MOUs awaiting approval by the Ministry of Justice. The draft agreements span key sectors including energy, health, culture, and agriculture.

Sectoral Collaboration Expands

Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, spoke on the shared heritage between both countries.

“We must not only preserve this relationship but deepen it. We’ve finalised MOUs with the Nigerian Film Corporation on audiovisual co-productions, the National Gallery of Arts for joint exhibitions, and the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation ahead of FESTAC at 50 next year,” Musawa stated.

In the agricultural sector, Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, announced that MOUs had been concluded on key research collaborations.

“We have finalised MOUs that focus on research in three areas: soybean value chain development, cassava research and technology transfer, and agro-forestry systems, which promote integrated crop-livestock models and climate adaptation,” Kyari explained.

These efforts, he noted, build upon the Green Imperative Project (GIP) – an earlier agricultural cooperation initiative between Nigeria and Brazil.

On the health front, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, pointed to Brazil as a model for Nigeria’s ambitions in achieving universal health coverage.

“There are important opportunities for us in several areas in our efforts to achieve universal health coverage and primary health care between Nigeria and Brazil. They have done a lot that we can learn from,” said Pate.

“We see potential for collaboration in pharmaceutical research, local drug manufacturing, and workforce training. Brazil’s experience in addressing tropical and sub-tropical diseases makes it an ideal partner for joint research and development.”

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a former convict, Olayinka Oluwaseyi, for attempting to rob a male motorist on the Mile 12 Bridge in the Ketu area of the state.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, the suspect—armed with two knives—was apprehended on Tuesday afternoon by a patrol team from the Ketu division.

“The other suspect involved in the attempted robbery is currently at large. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend him,” the statement added.

Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that Oluwaseyi had only recently regained freedom, having been released from a correction centre three months ago for committing the same crime.

According to the statement, the suspect is currently in police custody and will be arraigned upon conclusion of the investigation.

READ ALSO: Troops Kill Bandit, Recover AK-47 Rifle In Taraba

Commending the vigilance and professionalism of the officers involved, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Olohundare Jimoh, reiterated the Command’s uncompromising stance against all forms of criminality, especially traffic robberies.

He assured residents of the Command’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed off 21 facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, for non-compliance with environmental laws.

Among the affected establishments are major real estate and construction projects, including Ochacho Real Homes Limited in Idu, Cosgrove Shopping Mall Project in Wuse II, Belmont Court in Idu, and several others.

The Director General of NESREA, Professor Innocent Barikor, who led the enforcement operation, stated that the action followed numerous public complaints regarding the adverse environmental impacts caused by the activities of the companies.

READ ALSO: [Insecurity:] Okpebholo Pledges More Demolitions In Crackdown On Crime

Barikor decried the persistent disregard for environmental regulations, specifically pointing to the continuous breach of the National Environmental (Construction Sector) Regulations 2011 and the Environmental Impact Assessment Act.

According to him, the situation is no longer tolerable.

The facilities sealed during the operation include White Avenue Real Estate in Lugbe; CCECC projects located at both the FIRS and Central Business District; Mo Mouna Construction in Katampe; Practis Project; Belmont Court in Idu; Istrom Construction; and MAB Global Estate, also in Idu.

Others are Anarock Global Services Limited, Quali Trends Nigerian Limited, Boked International Limited, Tim Tali Transport Limited, Matilda Rozi Limited, Efedi Homes at Kukwaba District, and T’lon Construction and Facilities Management.

The Senate has launched an investigative hearing into the implementation of the Federal Character Principle in public sector recruitment, with lawmakers expressing readiness to amend the existing law to address persistent imbalances.

The inquiry spearheaded by the Senate Committee on Federal Character, aims to scrutinize how federal ministries, departments, and agencies have complied with constitutional provisions mandating equitable representation of all regions in federal appointments.

Speaking during the opening session, the committee chairman issued a stern warning to Chief Executive Officers and heads of invited agencies, cautioning that failure to appear before the panel would attract punitive measures.

READ ALSO: Senate Confirms Appointment Of Five INEC Commissioners

Lawmakers underscored that the growing discontent over lopsided recruitment patterns must be addressed through legislative reforms. They vowed to tinker with the Federal Character Act to make it more enforceable and reflective of current realities.

The probe led by the Senate Committee on Federal Character, drew representatives from various government agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service to answer questions about their recruitment processes.

Lawmakers unanimously expressed concern over the level of public discontent regarding perceived marginalization, underscoring the need to address the lopsidedness and invoking penalties where necessary.

Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, who represented the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, echoed similar concerns, stressing that lawmakers were under pressure from their constituents.

He noted that many applicants from rural areas are disadvantaged due to lack of internet access and are often unaware when recruitment portals open.

In a pointed comment, Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, emphasized the importance of the principle to national cohesion.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has admitted that errors affected candidates’ performance during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, which was held across different centres in the country.

The Registrar of the board, Ishaq Oloyede, who disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, also broke down in tears while admitting to the error.

“Once again, we apologise and assure you that this incident represents a significant setback…. We remain committed to emerging stronger in our core values of transparency, fairness and equity.

“It is our culture to admit errors because we know that in spite of the best of our efforts, we are human; we are not perfect,” Oloyede said as he wiped tears off his eyes with a white handkerchief.

He also announced that about 379,997 candidates in the just concluded 2025 exercise would retake the examination.

This followed widespread complaints of technical glitches, unusually low scores, and alleged irregularities in the questions and the answers during the exercise.

‘Man Proposes, God Disposes’

However, in a post on its X handle on Wednesday, the examination body established that a technical glitch affected 157 out of the 887 centres.

It said this was responsible for the general low performance of the candidates.

It said, “Man Proposes, God Disposes! It has been established that a technical glitch affected 157 centres out of the 887 centres in the 2025 UTME. This was basically responsible for the general low performance of the candidates scheduled to sit the examination in those centres.

“As such, all the affected candidates will be contacted to reprint their examination slips towards retaking their examinations starting from 16th May, 2025.”

READ ALSO: JAMB Orders Review Of 2025 UTME After Outrage, Complaints

2025 UTME Breakdown

JAMB released a statistical breakdown of the 2025 UTME, which revealed that over 1.5 million of the 1.95 million candidates who took the examination scored below 200.

In a post on its official X on May 5, it highlighted that 1,955,069 candidates sat for the examination, and 1,534,654 candidates—representing 78.5 percent—scored below the 200 mark.

A breakdown of the results showed that only 4,756 candidates (0.24 percent) achieved scores of 320 and above, while 7,658 candidates (0.39 percent) scored between 300 and 319.

Just 12,414 candidates (0.63 percent) scored 300 and above.

For the 250-299 score range, 73,441 candidates (3.76 percent) were recorded, while a larger proportion, 334,560 candidates (17.11%), scored between 200 and 249.

The category with the highest number of candidates was the 160 to 199 range, with 983,187 candidates (50.29 percent).

Further down the scale, 488,197 candidates (24.97 percent) scored between 140 and 159, and 57,419 candidates (2.94 percent) scored between 120 and 139.

A percentage of candidates, 3,820 (0.20 percent), scored between 100 and 119, while 2,031 candidates (0.10 percent) fell below the 100 mark.

In addition to the overall results, JAMB also disclosed that 40,247 underage candidates were allowed to participate in the examination due to their “exceptional abilities.”

However, only 467 of these candidates (1.16 percent) achieved scores that met the defined threshold for “exceptional abilities.”

 In 2024, over 1.94 million candidates registered for the UTME, with 1,904,189 candidates taking the examination across 118 towns and more than 700 centres.

JAMB also said that only 0.4 percent of candidates who took the 2024 examination scored above 300, while 24 percent scored 200 or higher. 

Malpractices, Investigation

JAMB also reported that 97 candidates were involved in examination infractions in the 2025 UTME, while 2,157 others were investigated for “suspected malpractices”.

The board further noted that 71,701 candidates were absent from the examination, and those facing biometric challenges were being investigated.

JAMB also noted that those cleared would be rescheduled for examination at designated centres.

It added that some results, including those of blind candidates and candidates in the JEOG category, are still being processed and will be released once finalised.

JAMB had assured that candidates who faced biometric challenges or were involved in investigations would be given fair treatment, with rescheduling for those cleared.

READ ALSO: 2025 UTME: JAMB Says Over 1.5m Candidates Scored Below 200

2025 UTME Review

On Monday, it ordered an immediate review of the 2025 UTME following a wave of public complaints alleging technical glitches, incomplete questions, and unusually low scores.

In a statement issued by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, the board acknowledged what it described as an “unusual volume of complaints” since the release of the UTME results last Friday.

It said the development had prompted it to fast-track its annual post-examination review process, typically occurring months after the exercise.

“We are particularly concerned about the unusual complaints originating from a few states within the federation. We are currently scrutinising these complaints in detail to identify and rectify any potential technical issues,” JAMB said in the statement.

Benjamin had added that if any faults were found in the system, the examination body would not hesitate to implement “appropriate remedial measures.

“To assist in this process, we have engaged a number of experts, including members from the Computer Professionals Association of Nigeria, chief external examiners, who are heads of tertiary institutions, the Educational Assessment and Research Network in Africa, measurement experts, and vice chancellors from various institutions.”

While speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief last week, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, attributed the mass failure to the efficacy of JAMB’s anti-malpractice technology.

He said the Board’s computer-based testing system “had made cheating nearly impossible” and should be extended to other national examinations such as WAEC and NECO.