Newsclickng, Lagos (2025)

31/07/2025

The Federal Government on Wednesday announced a 50 per cent increase in scholarship grants for Nigerian students at all tertiary education levels.

Describing the development as a “landmark reform of Nigeria’s national scholarship programme—its most ambitious overhaul in more than a decade,” the government said the move is designed to ease financial pressures on students and families while broadening access to quality education nationwide.

Minister of State for Education, Olatunji Alausa, disclosed the update in a statement shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) account. He said the initiative reflects the administration’s strong commitment to building a more inclusive, educated, and knowledge-based society.

Alausa stated, “Through the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Government has significantly increased scholarship grants across all academic levels, easing the financial burden on students and families, while enhancing access to quality education for all. This initiative is a key pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places education at the heart of Nigeria’s transformation into a $1 trillion economy.”

According to him, the new scholarship structure will see PhD students receive ₦750,000 annually (up from ₦500,000), Master’s students ₦600,000 (from ₦400,000), and undergraduate, HND, and NCE students ₦450,000 (up from ₦300,000).

The revised programme, he noted, prioritises merit, equity, and national development goals, particularly in high-demand areas such as Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences (STEMM), as well as vocational training.

He explained that the revamped scheme covers major programmes including the Nigerian Scholarship Award, with a restructured approach to the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scheme.

31/07/2025

The director-general (DG) of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, has disclosed that the agency generated N2.5 billion through recent drug enforcement actions carried out in markets located in Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba.

Adeyeye made this disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja while appearing before a House of Representatives committee.

In recent weeks, the drug regulatory body carried out operations that led to the shutdown of certain markets in Aba (Abia State), Onitsha (Anambra State), and Lagos over the sale of fake medicines.

“The charges collected were paid directly into a NAFDAC account. The total amount was about N2.5 billion—roughly N2.537 billion,” she said.

She explained that the charges were not intended as punishment but were essential for regulatory enforcement. “The standard fine for violating goods distribution and storage practice (GDSP) is N2 million, but in many cases, we reduced it to N500,000.”

Adeyeye said after covering the expenses related to the operations, the agency retained N207 million from the total amount.

“For the operation in the three markets, Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba, about N996 million was spent,” she stated.

“We had to borrow N159 million from an existing grant because we didn’t have funds. In addition, regulatory expenses amounted to N1.175 billion. So, out of the N2.537 billion, we have only about N207 million left in the account.”

She also noted that NAFDAC is facing funding challenges that make it difficult to sustain key operations. She cited an incident in Kano last year where traders defied the agency’s enforcement team, despite a valid court order.

31/07/2025

The Katsina State High Court 9, led by Justice I. I. Mashi, has sentenced two individuals to death over the murder of former Commissioner for Science and Technology, Rabe Nasir.

Nasir was reportedly murdered on December 8, 2021, by hired assassins at his residence in Fatima Shema Housing Estate, Katsina.

The court found that Shamsu Lawal, a former security guard, and Tasi’u Rabi’u, who served as a cook in Nasir’s household, poisoned him after failing in their attempt to rob him. Medical evidence confirmed the presence of poison in his body.

In addition to the death sentences, the court handed a five-year prison term to another former guard, Sani Sa’adu, for withholding information about the crime.

31/07/2025

The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has stated that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has fulfilled its promise to Nigerians regarding national security.

Bwala made this assertion during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.

He said, “He made promises in electricity, but let me tell you, look at the fundamentals. Number one promise, the security of life and the welfare of the people shall be the responsibility of the government.

“Look at us having a programme like this; before, you know how you would have moved in this country. Let me ask you, by extension, the Nigerian people.

“Recently, we’ve been having a series of problems in Benue. Has it not gone down? We have had in Plateau. Has it not gone down?

30/07/2025

Obi Donates ₦20m To Improve UNICAL Dentistry Programme

30/07/2025

Most of us who are leaders in northern Nigeria, I think, should be open enough to take blame. Nobody has been speaking for the last 20 years. If we don't take serious action, we may not have a region called northern Nigeria

30/07/2025

“Tinubu is more interested in 2027 than solving Nigeria’s problems.”

30/07/2025

"Tell Nigerians How You Spend the Loan"

- Senator Ningi confronts Tinubu, Akpabio over Excess loans..

30/07/2025

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa, has issued a stern warning to Nigerians against providing any form of support to bandits.

Speaking at an interactive session on government-citizen engagement organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) in Kaduna, the CDS said anyone contributing to the country’s insecurity, whether directly or indirectly, is an enemy of the state.

“Anyone who is contributing one way or the other to the downfall of our country is an enemy of the state, and we must face him squarely and defeat him,” he said.

Musa emphasised the military’s commitment to securing the north and the entire country.

“We will never let the north down. We will never let Nigeria down. We are ready for whatever it takes to succeed,” Musa said.

“We’re committed; we will stay awake 24/7 to ensure that the north is free, Nigeria is secure, and any enemy of the state will be pursued relentlessly until total peace and tranquillity are restored.”

The CDS also highlighted the importance of community cooperation in security operations.

30/07/2025

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state has said it will be difficult for any governor in Nigeria to oppose President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Sani spoke at the opening of a two-day interactive session on government-citizen engagement organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) at Arewa House, Kaduna.

“Moreover, no president in Nigeria’s history has supported governors and sub-national governments the way President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently doing,” the governor said.

“As a result, it is unlikely that any governor in Nigeria would go against the president.”

Sani said the federal government is also taking steps in engaging non-state actors in the north.

30/07/2025

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has appealed for calm following protests in Ghana where some demonstrators accused Nigerians of being responsible for criminal activities in the country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, NiDCOM Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa condemned the “blanket” labelling of Nigerians in Ghana as criminals.

“Nigerians are not criminals. They are good ambassadors wherever they find themselves while those bad ones should be fished out to face necessary sanctions,” Dabiri-Erewa was quoted as saying in a statement released by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols at NiDCOM.

She emphasized the longstanding brotherhood between Nigeria and Ghana, urging both nations to uphold peace and regional unity as enshrined in the ECOWAS framework.

A viral video circulating on social media shows some Ghanaians protesting and urging authorities to expel Nigerians, claiming their conduct violates Ghanaian values.

29/07/2025

Former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, has suggested that Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, may return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Obi recently teamed up with other prominent opposition figures under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to form a coalition aimed at unseating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Although Obi has expressed interest in contesting the 2027 election under the coalition, speculation continues to mount that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may also vie for the PDP’s presidential ticket.

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