Author: New Daily Prime

Dr Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, has approved a one-year moratorium on new applications for polytechnics and monotechnics, with immediate effect. However, health institutions have been exempted from this ban due to challenges with low enrolment rates. The announcement was made in a statement by Prof. Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), on Thursday, February 13, in Kaduna. The moratorium will pause any new applications for the establishment of polytechnics and monotechnics for 12 months, allowing for a review of the existing institutions. For institutions currently under assessment, they will need to…

The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, has called for a policy requiring the recruitment of first-class graduates into the intelligence agency to bolster national security. Ajayi made the appeal while delivering the 2025 Distinguished Personality Lecture at the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State. In his lecture titled “The Roles of the DSS in Security, Peacekeeping, and National Integration,” Ajayi emphasised the need for a paradigm shift in recruitment to ensure that only the brightest minds are enlisted in security agencies. Represented by the DSS Deputy Director,…

US Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, defended President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine by initiating peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, asserting that such actions were “certainly not a betrayal” of Ukraine. Hegseth made his comments on Thursday ahead of a NATO defence ministers’ meeting. He explained that Trump’s initiative to engage in direct discussions with Putin was not a betrayal but rather a necessary step towards peace. “There is no betrayal there. There is a recognition that the whole world and the United States is invested and interested in peace,” Hegseth stated. “That…

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has refuted claims that its Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, is under investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). In a statement issued on Thursday, the NBTE described the report as “orchestrated by some staff of the NBTE who were being investigated for unwholesome practices and corruption.” The statement further clarified the accreditation process, explaining that cash advances were traditionally provided to staff for physical accreditation. The NBTE emphasised that all financial activities related to this process were thoroughly audited. NBTE also denied any wrongdoing or violations of…

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed recent reports claiming that 3,907 firearms are missing from its armouries, clarifying that these claims are misleading. In a statement on Thursday, Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, explained that the allegations stem from a 2019 audit report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which found that 3,907 arms were “unaccounted for,” not “missing,” as reported. Adejobi further explained that discrepancies during audits may occur due to weapons being assigned to officers for operational purposes. He also acknowledged that some firearms were lost during attacks on police formations, particularly during…

Sada Soli, a member of the House of Representatives representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency, criticised President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills, claiming they did not undergo the proper drafting process. In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Soli argued that the bills were poorly drafted, as they were not created by professional drafters. Soli explained that the bills were mistakenly referred to as “Acts,” highlighting that they were poorly written and had not been properly scrutinized before being introduced. He suggested that the President was poorly advised, as the bills did not follow the necessary procedures. However, Soli…

The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has allocated $5 million from its Central Emergency Fund (CERF) to support flood preparedness efforts in Nigeria. The announcement was made in a statement issued on Wednesday by the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall. The funding aims to help mitigate the impact of anticipated floods, particularly in northern states, where flooding is often linked to food insecurity and disease outbreaks. The UN emphasized the importance of proactive measures in responding to these risks, highlighting that taking action before crises strike can save lives, protect livelihoods, and reduce the overall…

Renowned leadership coach and former presidential candidate of the defunct Alliance for New Nigeria, Fela Durotoye, has shared an inspiring story of how he resisted immense pressure to engage in a fraudulent government deal worth N5bn. Speaking at the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria’s biannual conference in Abuja on Tuesday, February 12, Durotoye recounted the experience as a crucial test of his integrity. According to Durotoye, he was approached by a government official claiming to be a pastor, who offered him a lucrative training contract. The programme involved training individuals across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas within eight weeks. Initially, Durotoye…

The Managing Director and CEO of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), Mr. Mark Okoye, has reaffirmed the commission’s dedication to driving economic growth and infrastructure development in the South East region. In his inaugural address, Okoye expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to serve, commended the 10th National Assembly for passing the South East Development Commission Bill, and praised the Senate Committee on Regional Commissions for their role in confirming the board. READ ALSO: South-East Senators declare position on Tax Reform Bills The SEDC is now set to tackle infrastructure challenges, focusing on rebuilding critical infrastructure…

Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate-past Governor of Kaduna State, has raised alarm over an alleged plan by the government to arrest, detain, and torture him, similar to the ordeal of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. The former governor, a prominent figure in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), claimed that the government intends to detain him in a dungeon within the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. El-Rufai linked this alleged plot to his consistent criticisms of the government, which he said had prompted a sustained campaign of intimidation against him.…