Category Nigeria News

The African bloc of the National Committees of the International Press Institute (IPI) has agreed to host the first meeting in Nigeria.

Mohammed Idris, the minister of information and national orientation, confirmed this at a meeting in Vienna, Austria over the weekend.

He had a conversation with Raheem Adedoyin, a member of the IPI Executive Board representing Nigeria and Africa, and Marton Gergely, the chairman of the IPI Executive Board, Scott Griffen.

The African bloc’s inaugural meeting will be held in Nigeria. We should lead as we always do, Idris said.

A regional network within the International Press Institute named the IPI African Bloc was established to address the needs of Africa’s distinct media and press freedom issues.

Prior to this, the Board had approved the creation of regional blocs of national committees to serve specific regional needs within the global IPI community.

READ ALSO: Federal Varsity Kontagora’s Prof. Haruna Is First VC of Federal Varsity.

The minister noted that Nigeria was able to host the 2018 IPI World Congress and General Assembly in Abuja, noting that the nation was “ready for another world-class hosting.”

Although there is no set release date for the event, Griffen disclosed that Adedoyin and the IPI Nigeria National Committee will work together to finalize the arrangements.

Gergely, the chairman of the IPI Executive Board, described Nigeria as “a leading light in democratic governance with a free press.”

The Nigeria National Committee’s “robust press freedom engagements” across the continent were praised by IPI Executive Director, Griffen.

The Minister brought up the IPI Nigeria National Committee’s long-standing request to the organization to support the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos during the meeting.

He explained to the IPI leadership that the Institute founded the NIJ in 1971 while Alhaji Lateef Jakande served on the institute’s board of directors, and that Aremo Olusegun Osoba, a former governor and IPI leader, is currently chairing its Governing Board.

Another fuel-filled tanker overturned on Saturday morning in Takalafiya, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, a few days after a fatal tanker explosion that killed 45 people in Essa community.

A tanker traveling from Lagos to Kano lost control and flipped during the incident, which took place around 8 a.m.

A potential fire outbreak was avoided by the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) Fire Service and NSCDC staff’s swift response.

According to eyewitnesses, NUPENG members from the Lapai Chapter of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) also showed up at the scene to assist with rescue efforts and ensure safety compliance.

To prevent wastage and lessen environmental risks, some of the spilled fuel was carefully recovered and stored in containers. No injuries were reported, and traffic flow resumed shortly after the scene was cleared.

Niger State Tanker Explosion Death Toll Hits 45

The national emergency management agency (NEMA) notes that Lapai’s swift containment contrasts starkly with the October 21 explosion at the Essa community along the Bida–Badeggi–Agaie Road in Katcha Local Government Area, which resulted in the deaths of 45 people and the severe burns of 63 others.

Hussaini Isah, NEMA’s head of operations in Minna, claimed that residents rushed to scoop fuel from a crashed tanker on a dangerous stretch of highway. 12 men, 27 women, and 6 children were among the victims.

Governor Umaru Bago has since approved providing all victims with free and comprehensive medical care, while Mohammed Idris, the minister of information, has expressed the condolences to the people of Niger State.

Despite challenging terrain and weak communication networks, emergency personnel from NEMA, NSEMA, NSCDC, FRSC, Police, DSS, and local volunteers were dispatched to the Essa scene.

Professor Farouk Haruna has been appointed as the Federal University of Education, Kontagora in Nigeria,’s first substantive vice Chancellor.

Following the fifth meeting of the Council in Kontagora, Professor Francis Faduyile, the pro-Chancellor and Governing Council chairman, made the announcement.

Faduyile informed journalists that Professor Haruna was chosen after a rigorous selection process that involved six candidates shortlisted.

He claimed that the new vice Chancellor, who previously held the positions of acting vice Chancellor, provost, and chairman of the committee of provosts, brings a wealth of experience.

He anticipates that the new Vice Chancellor’s inauguration will take place on November 4, 2025.

Also read: Prof. Mohammed Othman’s appointment as FUDMA Vice Chancellor

The Pro-Chancellor assured Kontagora’s staff, students, and parents that the campus is still safe for both learning and living on the security front.

“I’ve visited Kontagora a lot,” I said. People live and work there without fear because it is peaceful. According to Faduyile, the university environment is conducive and safe for students.

He referred to the university as one of the nation’s fastest-growing teacher education centers, which offers a sizable number of Ph. holders of degrees and cutting-edge facilities of education.

The school, which was formerly a College of Education, was upgraded to a Federal University of Education in 2021 and began accepting students in March 2025.

The Federal University of Education, Kontagora now has its first substantive leadership position to help the school achieve academic excellence with this appointment.

In the meantime, Niger State Governor Umaru Bago praised Haruna for taking the vacancy of the Federal University of Education Kontagora (FUEK) as the substantive Vice-Chancellor (VC) for the next few months.

The governor described the newly appointed Professor Haruna as a seasoned scholar in a message sent through his chief press secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, adding that his appointment is appropriate and deserving.

He claimed Haruna possesses the qualities of an innovative and transformative leader.

The newly appointed VC will take the institution to a remarkable height, the governor predicted.

Governor Bago praised the appointment of the new vice chancellor and pledged to support his success.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s (PDP) Kebbi State Chapter) has distanced itself from Kabiru Turaki’s nomination as the party’s candidate for the northernmost seat.

READ MORE: PDP Northern Stakeholders Support Turaki As Consensus Candidate for the National Chair

Shortly after a Saturday emergency meeting in Birnin Kebbi, the state chapter made the announcement.

The chapter reaffirmed its commitment to the North-West’s position in a communiqué read by its Publicity Secretary, Sani Dododo.

It stated that the PDP governors’ decision to support Turaki had not been supported by the state chapter and was therefore rejected.

“Kabiru Tanimu has never spoken to the party’s Kebbi State chapter about his contest plans. He has not participated in any of the party’s activities in the state, according to Dododo.

Kabiru Tanimu visited Kebbi to ask for support or consult any party elder or stakeholder at no time, he continued.

Right to nominate

The state chairman added that the Kebbi PDP was unanimous in its support of the party’s position that each state should have the authority to deliberate and choose a qualified candidate to represent the area in accordance with the party’s zoning laws.

Therefore, the Kebbi State chapter expressly rejects the former Minister of Special Duties’ choice as the party’s preferred candidate.

The former Minister of Special Duties had endorsed him as the party’s preferred nominee for the chairmanship position at its upcoming national elective convention, which is set to take place in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Umar Fintiri, the governor of Adamawa State, stated to journalists following a closed-door meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday that the decision did not prevent any interested candidates from running for the position.

Following the meeting, the governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Zamfara, and Plateau States, former senators Abba Moro, Umar Damagum, the PDP national chairman, and other party leaders from the North, all came together to reach a consensus candidate resolution.

READ ALSO: The court decides a PDP convention case on October 31.

A fully-loaded truck fell off the Oshodi Bridge in Lagos State, seriously injuring one person.

Read more about LASTMA’s arrest of six suspected “One-Chance” robbers, recovery of 77 stolen phones, and others under the bridge.

Prior to the incident, the truck’s brake system was said to have failed.

In a statement confirming the incident on Saturday, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority claimed its agent responded quickly by rescuing the injured man.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) once more demonstrated its unwavering commitment to public safety, emergency response, and traffic orderliness in an example of operational precision and institutional alertness. Today, its operatives rescued a severely injured male victim from a horrific accident involving a fully loaded vehicle.

The six-tyre truck, with the AKD 135 YK registration number, allegedly sank into the terminal ditch after leaving the Oshodi-Oke inward mile 2 and jumped off the Oshodi Bridge.

The ill-fated truck, which was reportedly loaded with tonner printing materials, lost control as it descended the bridge, skidded off the carriageway, and slammed into the terminal below, reportedly causing a critical mechanical failure.

The statement from the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, partially read, “The unfortunate incident, which could have culminated in catastrophic casualties, was quickly mitigated by the prompt, professional, and coordinated intervention of LASTMA personnel who arrived at the scene within minutes to rescue victims, manage traffic, and prevent escalation.”

The officers immediately began the rescue and managed to free the victim who had suffered horrifying injuries upon arrival, according to the organization.

The injured man was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for urgent care, while the truck’s driver was arrested and handed over to security personnel from Makinde Police Station, Oshodi, for further investigation into the cause of the brake malfunction and other contributing factors.

LASTMA employees immediately cordoned off the accident scene, diverted vehicular movement, and supervised the wreckage clearance, restoring traffic normalcy in remarkably short time to prevent secondary collisions and ensure the safety of road users.