Author: New Daily Prime

Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, has approved over N542 million for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and other internal exams for public school students. The funds, disclosed by the Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, will cover the registration fees for the Basic Six and Common Entrance Examination (CCE), Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), and UTME for students in public schools across the state. A total of N145.4 million has been allocated for 25,100 pupils sitting for Basic Six and CCE, N215.2 million for 30,500 BECE students, and N181.7 million for 18,734 UTME candidates, amounting to N542.4 million in…

In a significant shift within Nigeria’s downstream oil sector, several oil marketers have begun removing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) logo from their filling stations. This comes as independent dealers move away from franchise agreements with the state-owned oil giant, citing fierce price competition following a recent reduction in refined product prices by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. Sources indicate that many marketers, particularly those based in Lagos, are rebranding their stations in response to a recent price drop by the Dangote refinery, which slashed its ex-depot price for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N950 to N890 per litre,…

The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, on Monday inaugurated the new Chairmen, Commissioners, and members of the Sharia, Zakkat, and Hubusi Commissions in a move aimed at further strengthening the state’s Islamic governance framework. The announcement was made public in a statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi DawakinTofa, on Tuesday. During the inauguration, Governor Yusuf highlighted the influential role of Kano in the Islamic world, noting the state’s numerous renowned scholars, Islamiyya schools, and Islamic study centres. He reaffirmed the importance of these commissions in maintaining the state’s Islamic values and improving the well-being of its people. The governor…

A former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has launched a sharp rebuke against his successor, Governor Uba Sani, accusing him of sycophancy and pandering to President Bola Tinubu for personal gain. El-Rufai’s criticism followed remarks made by Sani during a TVC News interview on Monday, February 3, where the governor expressed surprise at the increasing criticism of Tinubu’s administration from some of the founding members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In his response via a tweet on Tuesday, February 4, El-Rufai alleged that Sani’s unwavering support for President Tinubu was driven by the over N150 billion in federal…

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, on Tuesday, February 4, expressed grave concerns over the unethical practice of transferring ongoing cases without authorisation and the misuse of public office by certain police officers and individuals. These actions, he stated, not only undermine investigations but also erode public trust in the police force. In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, the IGP made it clear that such practices would no longer be tolerated under his leadership. He emphasised that transparency, professionalism, and accountability must be the core values guiding policing in Nigeria. “The IGP has…

Nigeria has announced significant domestic health sector investments following a shift in the United States’ (U.S.) development assistance policy. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved two major initiatives, aimed at bolstering human capital development and sustaining essential healthcare services across the country. The approved plans include a $1 billion initiative to enhance human capital development and N4.8 billion for the Presidential Treatment Programme for HIV patients. The announcement came after the U.S. government imposed an emergency humanitarian waiver, pausing its previous funding for HIV treatment in developing countries, which included support for Nigeria’s HIV initiatives. Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the…

The Nigerian government has expressed its intention to reduce the country’s reliance on external debt financing as part of a broader strategy to explore alternative sources of funding beyond traditional multilateral loans. This shift is expected to support Nigeria’s long-term economic growth and sustainability. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, made this announcement during a meeting with the World Bank Executive Director, Dr. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed. Edun emphasised that the government’s focus remains on fostering a business-friendly environment, one that attracts sustainable investments and drives private sector-led growth. Dr. Ahmed, who is the…

Stakeholders in Ogoniland, Rivers State, including the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) and traditional rulers, have praised President Bola Tinubu for signing the bill that establishes the University of Environment and Technology, Tai, in Ogoni. The signing ceremony took place on Monday at the State House in Abuja, with notable attendees including Senator Mpigi Barinada, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa, and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila. In his remarks after signing the bill, President Tinubu acknowledged the historical challenges faced by the Ogoni people, particularly environmental degradation, and emphasised the…

The leaders of Mexico and Canada each said they had struck agreements to pause tariffs for 30 days, but levies on products from China were still set to take effect just after midnight. Here are the latest developments. President Trump and the leaders of Mexico and Canada struck last-minute deals on Monday to postpone the imposition of hefty tariffs on goods exported to the United States, averting at least temporarily a damaging trade war that would roil North America and the global economy. Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, after speaking twice by telephone with Mr. Trump, said U.S. tariffs on…

Long before Afrobeats became a global phenomenon, Sade Adu had already placed Nigeria on the Grammy map. Born Helen Folasade Adu in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, in 1959, she moved to England at age four, where she pursued a career in fashion and modelling before transitioning to music. In 1983, she formed the band ‘Sade’ and quickly gained recognition. The following year, she and her team released ‘Diamond Life’, an album that became one of the best-selling debuts by a British female artist, solidifying her place in music history. Sade’s Grammy breakthrough came in 1986, when she won Best New…