Author: Faith Babatunde

The Federal Government has approved a combined N1.02tn for major road construction and healthcare infrastructure projects across Nigeria. The approvals, announced after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, include N74.51bn for the rehabilitation of a 15-kilometre section of the East-West Road between Port Harcourt and Onne Port Junction in Rivers State. The council also approved N159.83bn for the reconstruction of the Ado-Ekiti-Iyin-Aramoko-Itawure-Osun State border road, alongside other road projects in Ogun and Ekiti states. Several highway concessions and trailer park projects were also approved under public-private partnership arrangements. In the health sector, the government approved N302.30bn for the construction…

The Oyo State Government has launched preparations for the 2026 Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Survey to generate updated data on HIV trends among key populations. The training, organised for stakeholders and field teams in Ibadan, is expected to provide information that will help government identify emerging HIV trends, service gaps and areas requiring increased intervention. Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Gbola Adetunji, said the survey would examine issues including HIV knowledge, risk behaviours, access to prevention and treatment services, awareness of HIV status and treatment uptake among groups such as female sex…

The United Nations Children’s Fund has called on the Federal and Borno State governments to intensify efforts to secure the release of 78 schoolchildren abducted in Askira/Uba Local Government Area. The children were taken in two separate attacks. On May 16, suspected Boko Haram terrorists abducted 42 pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School, while another attack on Government Day Secondary School in Lassa on June 29 led to the abduction of 36 students and one teacher. UNICEF Nigeria Deputy Representative, Dr Rownak Khan, said the organisation remained deeply concerned about the continued abduction of children, stressing that schools…

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Umuahia Nigeria Stake, has carried out a major environmental cleanup at the Abia State Hospital Management Board compound in Umuahia following concerns over overgrown bushes and the presence of reptiles. The exercise was organised in partnership with Hallowed Outreach Worldwide Foundation, the Abia State Environmental Sanitation Agency and the Federal Road Safety Corps. Church officials said the intervention was prompted by the poor condition of the hospital premises, which posed risks to patients, workers and visitors. Stake President James Ogbuisi said the church chose the facility as part of its commitment to…

The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, has recorded its highest-ever single-day revenue collection after generating N28.10bn within 24 hours on August 18, 2026. The latest figure surpassed the previous record of N20.1bn achieved in September 2025. The command also recently recorded a monthly revenue milestone of N323bn in July, highlighting a continued increase in collection and operational efficiency. The Customs Area Controller, Emmanuel Oshoba, said the achievement went beyond revenue figures, stressing that funds generated by the service contribute to government spending on infrastructure, security, education, healthcare and other public services. Oshoba attributed the milestone to improved compliance, digital…

The Solid Minerals Development Fund has announced live information sessions for individuals and organisations seeking funding under its EMERGE grant programme. The initiative is designed to support early-stage projects in Nigeria’s mining sector, particularly exploration, critical minerals development, processing and geoscience research. The sessions will provide prospective applicants with information on eligibility requirements, funding opportunities and the application process. The first session, focused on Exploration and Critical Minerals, is scheduled for August 20, while a second session on Research and Development will hold on August 21. According to the Fund, the interactive sessions will allow applicants to engage directly with…

Bitget Wallet has launched a global affiliate programme designed to create new earning opportunities for creators, community managers and influencers involved in cryptocurrency trading and payments. The company said the programme offers affiliates up to 60 per cent commission on trading activity while also providing rewards linked to new card users and recurring rebates on card transactions. The structure covers activities ranging from spot swaps to perpetual contracts. Bitget Wallet Chief Operating Officer Alvin Kan said the programme was designed to reflect the growing use of cryptocurrency beyond trading, particularly in everyday payments and financial transactions. The company said its…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has clarified its policy on underage candidates seeking admission into Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions. JAMB said candidates who are below 16 years can still sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination but will be classified as underage candidates. For the 2026 admission exercise, applicants must be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, to avoid the underage classification. However, sitting for UTME does not automatically make an underage candidate eligible for admission. JAMB explained that underage applicants must meet the requirements for exceptional admission. According to the board, an underage…

The Kaduna State Police Command has ordered a full investigation into officers allegedly captured extorting motorists and cyclists during a stop-and-search operation in the Millennium City area. The command said Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, directed that the officers seen in the viral video be identified and invited for questioning. Any personnel found guilty of misconduct will face disciplinary and possible legal action. Police spokesman DSP Mansir Hassan explained that routine roadblocks and stop-and-search operations had been curtailed except where there is credible intelligence involving criminals, weapons or other prohibited items. However, he said the location featured in the video…

The Federal Government says reforms involving the removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market generated N15.8tn in additional resources for the Federation between June 2023 and December 2025. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the funds did not appear as a separate line item in the Federation Account because the gains were reflected through higher revenue collections. According to Oyedele, the removal of subsidies and exchange rate reforms increased the naira value of revenues collected from sources such as Customs duties and petroleum taxes. He explained that the foreign…