National

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has unveiled plans to launch a national job portal by 2026, designed to connect student loan beneficiaries with employment opportunities both within and outside Nigeria.

Speaking at a press briefing, NELFUND Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr stated that the platform will serve as a bridge between graduates and employers, featuring job listings from both the public and private sectors, as well as international recruiters. “Though we cannot guarantee employment, we aim to ease the job search process for our beneficiaries,” Sawyerr said.

He clarified that student loan repayment will commence only after a beneficiary secures a job and completes their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Repayments will be deducted at a flat rate of 10% from monthly salaries. In the event of unemployment, deductions will be suspended, and in the event of death, the loan will be written off entirely.

In response to recent complaints from students who paid tuition before receiving their loans, NELFUND has directed institutions to refund the affected students or return the funds to the agency. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) are currently investigating defaulting institutions.

NELFUND, which manages over 3.2 million student records, expects an additional one million loan applications by the end of 2025. The agency also announced the rollout of a new vocational loan programme, with a pilot phase launching in Enugu. The initiative will finance training, transport, stipends, and tools — all interest-free.

By Uzair Adam

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the renaming of the University of Maiduguri in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away at the age of 82.

The Daily Reality reports that the institution will now be called Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri.While presiding over a special session, President Tinubu delivered an emotional tribute, describing the late leader as a man of discipline, moral strength, and patriotism.

He acknowledged that Buhari was not without flaws but maintained that his legacy of integrity, restraint, and honourable leadership would endure.

Speaking before cabinet ministers and other top government officials, Tinubu praised Buhari’s austere style and his resistance to the temptations of power.

He noted that the former president “stood always ramrod—unmoved by the temptation of power, unseduced by applause, and unafraid of the loneliness that sometimes comes to those who do what is right rather than popular.”

Reflecting on their political partnership, Tinubu recalled how their alliance helped achieve Nigeria’s first peaceful democratic transition of power in 2015.

He described Buhari’s leadership during that period as dignified, adding that he carried the burdens of office with grace and humility.

While recognising that every legacy will face scrutiny, Tinubu emphasized that Buhari’s incorruptibility and patriotic service must serve as a benchmark for future leaders.

“The incorruptible standard he represented will not be forgotten,” he reaffirmed.The Federal Executive Council session concluded with prayers and a moment of silence.

Across the nation, tributes from political figures, civil society groups, and ordinary citizens continued to pour in, honouring Buhari’s life of service.

According to President Tinubu, renaming the university in Borno State is both symbolic and strategic, as the region was central to Buhari’s counter-insurgency and rebuilding efforts during his presidency.

By Muhammad Abubakar

At least 1,111 Nigerians were killed and 276 abducted by gunmen and other non-state actors across the country in June 2025, according to a new report by Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited.

The chilling figures are contained in the company’s monthly security dossier, which tracks violence and criminal activity nationwide. Despite the high numbers, the report notes that June witnessed a “notable de-escalation” in security breaches compared to May, suggesting a slight dip in the frequency or intensity of attacks.

While the report did not provide a full regional breakdown, sources familiar with the data say many of the killings occurred in the North West and North Central zones, where banditry and communal violence remain rampant. Parts of the South East also continue to grapple with targeted killings and kidnappings by separatist-linked armed groups.

The 276 abductions show the persistent threat of kidnapping-for-ransom, which has plagued Nigeria for years, affecting schoolchildren, commuters, and rural dwellers alike.

Security analysts say the figures, though slightly improved from previous months, still reflect a deepening crisis. They have called for more coordinated action by federal and state authorities to strengthen local intelligence, improve response times, and hold perpetrators accountable.

The government has yet to respond to the latest statistics, but critics argue that repeated assurances of improved security have not translated into meaningful safety for the average Nigerian.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

The death of Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari in a London hospital has once again spotlighted the country’s long-standing crisis in healthcare delivery, especially among its elite. 

Buhari, 82, died on Saturday, July 13, after a prolonged illness reportedly linked to leukaemia. Despite leading Africa’s most populous nation and the continent’s largest economy, he died not on Nigerian soil, but under foreign care.

His passing mirrors a now-familiar pattern among Nigeria’s political class: fleeing abroad for treatment, even for routine ailments, only to eventually die in foreign hospitals. Buhari, who frequently sought medical attention in the United Kingdom during his presidency, had once campaigned on the promise of reducing medical tourism. Instead, he became one of its most prominent symbols.

Public reaction has been swift and critical. Muhammad Shakir Balogun, a resident advisor with the Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (NFELTP), condemned the trend in a widely shared Facebook post. Drawing comparisons with African icons like Nelson Mandela and Jerry Rawlings—both of whom received treatment and died in their home countries—Balogun wrote:

“They were not flown to London, Paris, or Amsterdam. They were attended to in their own countries by their own doctors… What of Nigeria, the giant of Africa? Even those who campaigned on the moral pedestal of not going abroad for treatment turned out to be the worst offenders ever.”

He called on current President Bola Tinubu to “break the despicable and shameless tradition” by ensuring at least one world-class hospital exists within Nigeria—“even if it’s a military hospital.”

Yet, President Tinubu himself has also faced criticism for continuing the same tradition. Since assuming office in May 2023, he has reportedly travelled to Paris multiple times for medical checkups, reinforcing the perception that Nigerian leaders lack confidence in the very healthcare system they oversee.

Critics argue that the reliance on foreign healthcare is not just a failure of policy but a profound betrayal of public trust. Nigeria’s public hospitals suffer from underfunding, dilapidated infrastructure, and a mass exodus of medical professionals, many of whom now work in the very countries to which Nigerian leaders turn in times of illness.

With Buhari’s burial scheduled for today in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, attention is turning not just to the legacy of his leadership, but to the urgent need for healthcare reform at home, so that future presidents may live, heal, and if necessary, die on Nigerian soil.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Former Nigerian Vice President and presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration over unpaid wage awards and the detention of labour activist Comrade Andrew Uche Emelieze.

In a statement shared on his social media accounts, Atiku accused President Tinubu of worsening economic hardship through the “hasty and thoughtless” removal of fuel subsidy on his inauguration day, which he said plunged Nigerians into inflation, hunger, and despair.

Atiku said the government promised a ₦35,000 monthly wage award to federal civil servants pending the conclusion of a new minimum wage deal. Ten months later, only six months have been paid, leaving ₦140,000 owed per worker.

He condemned the arrest of Comrade Emelieze, who was detained for attempting to organise a peaceful protest over the unpaid wages, calling it “an affront to democracy.”

“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Emelieze,” Atiku said. “Nigerian workers will not be silenced, intimidated, or forgotten.”

The Federal Government has yet to respond to the statement.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning of impending nationwide mass action, citing the crippling cost-of-living crisis, worsening insecurity, and systematic attacks on workers’ rights across the country.

Rising from its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held over the weekend in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the labour body declared that Nigerian workers can no longer remain passive as the nation’s economy falters and democratic foundations erode.

The NLC stated that the hardship endured by workers and the poor has reached “intolerable levels.”

It noted that immediate and decisive action is imperative to prevent a complete national breakdown, positioning the threatened protests as a necessary response to government inaction on these critical issues.

“Immediate action must be taken to avert a national breakdown,” the Congress asserted following the meeting at the June 12 Cultural Centre.

By Muhammad Abubakar

The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has paid a courtesy visit to Professor S.A.S. Galadanci in Kano, describing the meeting as both inspirational and encouraging.

Ribadu, who was in the city to offer condolences to the Dantata family, took the opportunity to visit Prof. Galadanci, the second Nigerian ever appointed as Adviser on National Security—then known by that title.

In a post shared on his social media handle, Ribadu referred to Prof. Galadanci as a “pacesetter” in the field of national security and a father figure with longstanding ties to his family.

“I was humbled by his confidence in our modest efforts and his profuse prayers for me and our country,” Ribadu wrote.

The visit, he said, provided valuable lessons and motivation as he continues in his current role.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Abuja – Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, on Wednesday joined a distinguished gathering of diplomats, literary enthusiasts, and dignitaries in Abuja for the Nigerian tour of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s latest book, Dreams Count.

The event, which forms part of the global celebration of Adichie’s new release, attracted ambassadors and High Commissioners from various countries. Obi, who had earlier attended the book’s global launch on March 2 at London’s Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall—an event that drew over 3,000 attendees—described Dreams Count as “deeply moving” and lauded Adichie for her continued impact on literature and cultural advocacy.

During the Abuja event, Obi praised the powerful spoken word performances by Nigerian poets, including Dike Chukwumerije, noting the impressive display of literary talent in the country. He commended Adichie for using her platform to uplift fellow Nigerian writers, giving them visibility and a voice on the global stage.

“Chimamanda remains an exemplary model for every Nigerian, old and young,” Obi said, urging continued investment in Nigeria’s creative industries. “The world is watching, and indeed, our dreams count.”

By Muhammad Abubakar

Yellow Danbokkolo, the notorious bandit kingpin long feared across eastern Sokoto and parts of Zamfara State, has died from injuries sustained during a fierce confrontation with Nigerian security forces last week.

His death was confirmed by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Print Media, via a post on his verified social media account. According to Abdulaziz, Danbokkolo succumbed to his wounds on Sunday.

Danbokkolo, widely considered even more dangerous than the infamous Bello Turji, was linked to numerous deadly attacks in the region. He was the mastermind of the gruesome December 2021 arson attack in Shinkafi, Zamfara State, where dozens of travellers were burned alive.

Security sources say the bandit leader’s reign of terror was sustained by a chronic addiction to pentazocine, a powerful opioid, which he reportedly abused in heavy doses.

Residents of the affected communities have expressed relief at the news, hoping it marks a turning point in the fight against rural banditry in Nigeria’s northwest.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

In a significant move to overhaul Nigeria’s educational infrastructure, the Federal Government has inaugurated a high-level committee to develop comprehensive Public-Private Partnership (PPP) guidelines aimed at attracting private sector investment into the sector.

The initiative, led by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa CON, seeks to address persistent infrastructural and capacity deficits, particularly in secondary and tertiary institutions.

Speaking at the committee’s inauguration, Dr. Alausa emphasized the need for innovation and collaboration in education financing. “Government cannot do it alone… We must leverage private funding to modernize and sustain our educational system,” he said, noting that while current funding efforts—such as the 2025 education budget and TETFund interventions—are commendable, they remain inadequate.

The newly inaugurated committee, chaired by the Honourable Minister of State for Education (represented by the Director of Special Duties), includes key directors from the ministry, and representatives from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Ministry of Housing, and other stakeholders.

Its mandate includes formulating PPP benchmarks, reviewing legal frameworks, clarifying stakeholder roles, establishing performance indicators, designing oversight mechanisms, and recommending penalties for non-compliance. The committee has been given three months to submit its report.

“If we do this right, this document can be a model for other ministries,” Dr. Alausa noted.

Other speakers at the event, including ministry officials and stakeholders, expressed strong support for the initiative and its potential to transform Nigeria’s education landscape.