The Nasarawa State Police Commissioner, Shetima Jauro-Mohammed, has ordered an investigation into the death of five children in the Agyaragu community of Obi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
CP Jauro-Mohammed gave the directive in a statement issued on Monday in Lafia by the police spokesman, SP Ramhan Nansel.
SP Nansel said that the lifeless bodies of the children were found inside an abandoned, unserviceable vehicle parked at the residence of one Mr Abu Agyeme.
The commissioner has ordered a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
”He expressed deep sorrow over the loss and extended the command’s heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
”He also cautioned parents, guardians, and vehicle owners to be vigilant and ensure that children do not gain access to parked or abandoned vehicles without supervision,” he said.
On Sunday, at about 5:30pm, he said a resident of the area reported to the police that the children were discovered unresponsive inside a disused vehicle parked in a compound.
He said that Mr Ozimna Ogbor, who reported the matter, said the children, were aged between six and 10 years.
“Upon arrival, the officers found the victims locked inside the abandoned vehicle.
“They were promptly evacuated to Aro Hospital, Agyaragu, where a medical Doctor regrettably confirmed all of them dead due to suspected suffocation.
“This heartbreaking incident is a painful reminder of a similar tragedy that occurred in August 2019,” Nansel added.
“Due to severe heat burns on the deceased bodies, the remains were released to their parents based on a request for burial,” he said.
Gov. Sule appeals for modern diagnostic equipment at FULAFIA Teaching Jospita
By Igba Kuza, Lafia
Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, has called on the Federal Government to install modern diagnostic equipment at the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital, in order to upgrade the facility to international standard.
Governor Sule made the appeal after signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), for the final handing over of the Dalhatu Araff Special Hospital DASH, to the Federal Government, at the Federal Ministry of Health yesterday.
He said, even as the state government hands over the facility to the Federal Government, he finds it necessary to make further requests especially in the areas of CT Scan and MRI which are presently lacking at the hospital.
He alarted on the need to further upgrade the facility with modern diagnostic equipment since over 80 per cent of referrals from the hospital are in the areas of CT Scan and MRI.
Gov. Sule resolved that his administration would further collaborate with the FULafia teaching hospital in the area of research, particularly with a view to establishing a vaccines production centre in the state.
While appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for not only accepting to takeover the hospital but also agreeing to appoint Dr. Ikrama Hassan as the substantive Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the teaching hospital, described the MoU signing and the final handing over of the facility as a great milestone.
Earlier, in an opening remarks, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammad Ali Pate, said the taking over of the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital is part of the initiative of President to revitalise the health system, improve infrastructure, equipment, training of medical staff, as well as enhance capabilities of hospitals, in collaboration with state and local governments.
The Minister said the Federal Government is working with state governments to further strengthen the capability of specialised hospitals.
The Minister pointed out that the mandate of the new hospital is to deliver specialised service to the people, not basic healthcare services, but training of our doctors, nurses, and other professionals, as well as the conduct of research to generate new knowledge.
Cross Rivers Dep. Gov. Odey visits survivors of Obudu Ranch Resort accident
By Mike Abang, Calabar
On the heels of the tragic accident that occurred on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Ikwette community near the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obanliku Local Government Area, which claimed six lives and left seven others injured, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, has visited the survivors of the accident.
The Deputy Governor arrived at the Sacred Heart Catholic Hospital in Obudu on Sunday afternoon, where the injured victims are currently receiving medical attention.
During the visit, he expressed profound grief over the incident and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families on behalf of the state government.
“This is a painful loss for all of us,” he said. “We pray that God comforts the families of the deceased and grants them the strength to bear this irreparable loss.”
Rt. Hon. Odey also assured the injured victims of the state government’s full support toward their recovery. While encouraging them, he wished them a speedy recovery. “May you heal quickly and find strength in this difficult time,” he prayed.
He further reassured the bereaved families that the government would stand firmly by them, emphasizing that the administration is committed to ensuring the best possible care for those who sustained injuries.
He also commended the swift response of the emergency service unit at the Ranch Resort, including the Nigerian Army personnel, for their prompt action in providing assistance at the scene of the accident.
The Deputy Governor, accompanied by clergymen and government officials, was guided through the wards by medical personnel during the visit to the health facility.
According to eyewitness accounts, the accident involved a commercial vehicle conveying tourists from the ranch. The vehicle reportedly suffered brake failure and lost control while approaching a sharp bend at the Ikwette community, located at the base of the Obudu Ranch Resort hill.
UBEC pledges nationwide rollout of smart education technology
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has announced plans for a comprehensive deployment of technology to transform basic education delivery across Nigeria.
UBEC’s Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during a media briefing ahead of the 2025 International Conference on Smart Education and Digital Literacy (ICSE 2025), jointly organized by the Commission and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The three-day conference, scheduled for May 6–9 in Abuja, has its theme as ‘Empowering African Smart Education Through Emerging Technologies.’
According to Garba, the event is aimed at repositioning Nigeria to align with some other African nations in integrating technology into education.
“For example, Rwanda has been using technology in basic education system for many years. They have reached a level of using AI in their classrooms. For us in Nigeria, we have already started by doing the smart schools, which already many of you are aware of.
“We have about 36 plus one in each of all the states that we have in the country. These smart schools are very high technology advanced with content studio teachers that are already skilled in terms of technology, teaching and learning in classroom,” she said.
Garba emphasized the need to equip basic schools with the infrastructure necessary for a smart education system.
“From the data, it shows that less than 50% of public primary schools in Nigeria have digital technology in their schools.
“So for that, in UBEC, it is very important what we are doing, which is trying to shift from the hardware-invested infrastructure to make our schools in basic education, to make it smart technology-enabled, to deploy technology in providing access to basic education across all parts of Nigeria. Whether a child is in the rural area, semi-urban or urban area, there’s a technology appropriate to be applied to that context that will enable the child to read and write. In addition to what the child can get, for us, very key activity is the teacher,” Garba added.
KOICA Country Director, Kim Eunsub, emphasized South Korea’s support for Nigeria’s smart education journey through the KOICA Smart School Initiative in collaboration with UBEC.
He noted that the initiative had already facilitated the construction of state-of-the-art smart schools, the training of teachers and administrators, and the sharing of learning resources.
While describing the upcoming conference as a platform to deepen collaboration and build on the progress of the initiative, Kim revealed plans for a second phase of the project to begin in 2026.
Earlier, Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) of UBEC, Rasaq Akinyemi Olajuwon, explained that the conference seeks to expand equitable access to quality basic education through inclusive, technology-driven initiatives; improve teaching and learning by promoting digital pedagogy; and foster innovative curriculum design and 21st-century skills development, among others.
“We are delighted to have 26 distinguished dignitaries, 144 teachers from across Nigeria, and 30 delegates from various African countries joining us,” he said.
FG upgrades 38 technical colleges, plans digital exams
The Federal Government has upgraded 38 federal and state technical colleges as part of efforts to equip Nigerian youths with internationally competitive skills.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during the 2025 Quarterly Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement on the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) held in Abuja yesterday.
According to Alausa, the initiative aims to shift Nigeria’s education system toward a skill-based, knowledge-driven economy.
He revealed that the government had introduced a dual-training model in the technical colleges, with students spending 80 per cent of their time in practical training and 20 per cent in the classroom.
“Artisans will be paid to mentor trainees, establishing a new value chain in the education sector.
“Our goal is to train 5 million young Nigerians with globally relevant skills within four years,” Alausa stated.
He said, “NESRI addresses issues of access, quality, inclusivity, research, and professional development in education.”
Highlighting the challenges, Alausa noted that Nigeria currently had 15 million out-of-school children and over 45 million classified as learning poor.
He said adolescent girls, particularly the 6 million aged 12–19 currently out-of-school, remained a key focus of the reforms.
Alausa announced that the National Examinations Council, and the West African Examinations Council would begin conducting computer-based tests (CBT) from November 2025, with full digitization of all national examinations, including JAMB, by 2027.
He said the move was to tackle examination fraud and enhance integrity.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, emphasised the importance of TVET in addressing Nigeria’s skills gap and reducing reliance on foreign workers.
“We have seen companies hiring 60 per cent of their workforce from abroad. That must change,” she said.
Sen. Muntari Dandutse, Chair of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, pledged legislative support for the reforms, calling education “the heart of national transformation.”(NAN)
NELFUND seeks south-south, south-east participation in students loan application
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has called on the South-South and South-East regions to increase their participation in the student loan scheme.
The Fund stated this during its stakeholders’ engagement session and technical workshop on system automation and the loan application process in Abuja yesterday.
The Fund cited a noticeable disparity in applications compared to other parts of the country.
The three-day event, which began on Monday with universities, will continue with polytechnics, monotechnics, and institutes tomorrow. The final day, on the 7th, will feature colleges of education, agriculture, health, and nursing.
In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintundr Sawyerr, said the gathering is a critical milestone in the collective journey it has embarked upon to deliver a fully digitized, transparent, and student-centric financial aid system for Nigerian higher education.”
Responding to reports that NELFUND was paying students who have already graduated, he clarified that the Fund is handling government and taxpayers’ money, and no disbursement would be rushed.
“We have to adhere to our processes. If a person has already paid their fees in their final year, and we’ve paid their tuition, it is the obligation of that individual to go to school. I know my fees are now being paid by an officer.
“But to complain that you’ve already graduated and you’ve left, the fact of the matter is people applied in their final year. You have to go through a process that allows us to make sure that they are the ones who are actually applying and who actually need it. Again, let me just point out this thing about delays.”
According to him, the meeting is intended to influence how the platform evolves and how we address practical challenges faced by institutions and students alike.
Ifeoluwa Ehindero, Chairman of the House Committee on Students Loan, Scholarships, and Higher Education Financing, said for the system to be truly effective, there is need to modernise and streamline how we manage, track, and deliver these funds to deserving students.
According to him, by automating and optimising the NELFUND system, it aims to create a more transparent, efficient, and responsive process for loan applications, approvals, and disbursements.
“This is essential for the success of the initiative and will go a long way in ensuring that our students benefit in a timely and accountable manner.
“As members of the House of Representatives Committee on Student Loans, we have been working tirelessly to ensure that the legislative framework supports and facilitates these reforms. However, legislative efforts alone are not enough.
“We need your expertise, your feedback, and your active participation to make sure that we have a system that works for everyone from the students applying for loans to the institutions managing the funds.
“This workshop is not just a platform for training but also an opportunity for collaboration. As you interact with the NELFUND system, your insights into how we can improve its functionality will be invaluable in helping us refine and enhance it to meet the needs of our institutions and students.”
Executive Director of Operations at NELFUND, Mr. Iyal Mustapha, earlier disclosed in his presentation that over 576,058 students have registered, with a total application value of ₦170,437,179,836.
He also urged institutions in the South East and South South to improve sensitisation efforts for timely loan applications.
The representative of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Lawal Mohammed Faruk, said NELFUND is one of the best policies of the Federal Government.
“Our dream is to see NELFUND one day onboard all the students in the country, whether public or private,” he said.
FG demands legal backing for Business Development Service Providers
The Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, has called for the establishment of a legal framework to back the operations of Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) across Nigeria.
Enoh said this at the induction ceremony of the newly certified BDSPs organised by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) on Monday in Abuja.
According to the minister, the absence of a binding law is a major gap that must be urgently addressed to ensure service accountability and sustainability.
“There has to be a law that supports and backs BDSPs because of the importance of the job they are expected to do,” the minister said.
He said that while many systems exist within Nigeria’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises
MSME support structure, the main challenge remained functionality and regulation.
“Our problem is not the absence of systems, it is the failure of those systems to work.
“Regulation is weak, and we tend to create new structures instead of strengthening existing ones,” he added.
The minister stressed that certified BDSPs must not only meet performance standards but be monitored regularly, with the possibility of license withdrawal if expectations were not met.
“Licenses must not be permanent. They must be performance-based,” he said.
Enoh also commended SMEDAN’s effort in standardising MSME support services across the country.
He called on stakeholders including development partners and financial institutions to engage certified BDSPs.
In his remarks, SMEDAN Director-General, Mr Charles Odii, reiterated the agency’s focus on deepening support for small businesses across the country.
Odii said this would be done by ensuring only qualified and credible professionals provide development services.
He urged the newly inducted BDSPs to take their role seriously.
The National Steering Committee on BDSPs disclosed that about 331 service providers were inducted following rigorous training and assessment.
The event marked a significant step in the government’s efforts to strengthen enterprise support structures and boost economic inclusion across the country.
Benue launches solar-powered electric vehicles to reduce transportation cost
The Benue Government on Monday launched solar-powered electric vehicles that are eco-friendly with zero per cent emissions to reduce the cost of transportation in the state.
The founder, Esse Mobility Technical Partners Mr Okey Esse, said that the initiative was one of a kind, as the vehicles were the first solar taxis in Africa.
Esse said that the feat was possible because of the foundation Gov. Hyacinth Alia laid to transform Benue and make it a competitive state in Nigeria.
The founder said that the cars were powered by the sun, which charges the battery and can carry people around Makurdi town, which is the pilot city for the scheme.
“Each of these cars has a lot of security gadgets infused in them, so when a passenger travels with the car, everything is being monitored.
“We have also gone a step further such that these cars are user-friendly. We ensured that all the technologies have no consequences for the drivers and the environment.
“From now to December, the target is to roll out 500 of these units. We will spread to other cities like Otukpo, Vandeikya and other local government areas.
“Our goal is to establish assembling factories in the state that would create more jobs for the people. Each car would generate direct jobs and other additional jobs in the charging centre and also in the administrative and operational areas.
“With these cars, people can move to different destinations even when it is raining, and by this we are looking at between now and December to create 8,500 jobs minimum for the state,” he said.
He thanked the state government for allowing them to pilot this initiative in Benue.
The Managing Director (M-D), Benue Investment and Property (BIPC), Mr Raymond Asemakaha, said the electric vehicles were a commitment to reducing carbon footprints and promoting eco-friendly transportation, as electric vehicles were the future of mobility.
Asemakaha further said the cars were a representation of a significant step towards reducing the reliance on fossil fuels.
The M-D stated that it was also a move to decrease air pollution and mitigate the impacts of climate change and is thrilled to see that this innovation is being adopted in the Benue community.
“The dedication of the Benue Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has made this possible, and we are proud to be among the pioneers to embrace the technology.
“This will reduce the rate of unemployment and increase the state GDP. This is all thanks to our co-manager Esse Mobility for unlocking the world to electric vehicles.
“Let’s continue to prioritise sustainability, innovation and environmental stewardship to create a cleaner, greener future,” he said.
In an opening remark, the Department Head of Business Development and Strategy, Mrs Theresa Abeda, said the electric vehicles would transform the metropolitan landscape of the state.
World Bank urges FG to protect poor against rising inflation
World Bank has advised the federal government to implement reforms that protect the country’s poorest against rising inflation.
The bank also advised the government to boost the livelihoods of all Nigerians through more productive work, which it said was key to reversing high poverty levels.
The World Bank stated this in its latest April 2025 “Poverty and Equity Brief for Nigeria,” which was obtained yesterday.
The bank had, earlier last month, in its Africa’s Pulse report, declared that more Nigerians would become poor over the next five years, citing Nigeria’s structural economic weaknesses, dependence on oil revenues, and national fragility as key barriers to meaningful poverty reduction.
To alleviate the inflationary effects of recent reforms on the poor, the government launched temporary cash transfers to reach 15 million households.
However, roll-out has been slow, the bank said.
Upon assumption of office on May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu’s administration implemented bold economic reforms such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira.
The reforms spiked inflation rates.
Nigeria’s annual inflation rose slightly to 24.23 percent in March 2025, from 23.18 percent in the prior month, which was the softest since June 2023.
Food inflation, the largest component of the inflation basket, remained elevated but eased to 21.79 percent from 23.51 percent in the prior month.
The core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural products and energy, quickened to 24.43 percent, from 23.01 percent in the previous month. Monthly, consumer prices rose by 3.90 percent in March, accelerating from 2.04 percent in February.
The World Bank said, “Multiple shocks in a context of high economic insecurity have deepened and broadened poverty. Since 2018/19, an additional 42 million people have fallen into poverty, so more than half of all Nigerians (54 percent) are estimated to live in poverty in 2024, based on World Bank projections.
“Although recent macroeconomic reforms have begun to stabilise the economy, inflation remains high, dampening consumer demand and continuing to undermine the purchasing power of Nigerians. Labour incomes have not kept up with inflation, pushing many Nigerians, particularly in urban areas, into poverty.”
It said strengthening the social protection system with a focus on building resilience and enabling human capital investments could be funded through recent fiscal savings from the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) reform.
This, the World Bank said, would be key to help mitigate the impact of future shocks, and allow households to make necessary investments into human capital to avoid inter-generational transmission of poverty.
“These short-term interventions need to be complemented by economic diversification that grows the non-oil sector and creates private sector jobs, together with investments into public services, especially in health, education, and infrastructure. Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of public investments is especially important in the context of limited fiscal space,” added.
Based on the most recent official household survey data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 30.9 percent of Nigerians lived below the international extreme poverty line of $2.15 per person per day (2017 PPP) in 2018/19 before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the report.
“Nigeria remains spatially unequal. The poverty rate in northern geopolitical zones was 46.5 per cent in 2018/19, compared with 13.5 per cent for southern,” the report added.
Over 1.5m candidates score less than 200 in 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination
Out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), over 1.5 million of them scored less than 200 in the exam.
The statistical analysis of 2025 UTME result released by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) yesterday, indicated that only 420,415 candidates scored above 200 in the 2025 edition of the UTME.
The data showed that 75% of candidates scored below 200 in the exam, with less than 1% scoring above 300.”
In the statement accompanying the data, JAMB said “40,247 underage candidates were permitted to demonstrate their exceptional abilities. However, only 467 of these candidates (1.16%) achieved scores that meet the threshold for exceptional ability as defined for the UTME, with their performance in the subsequent three stages still pending.
“Of the total number registered, 97 candidates were involved in examination infractions, while 2,157 others are currently undergoing investigations for suspected malpractices.
“Additionally, 71,701 candidates were absent. Those facing biometric challenges are also under investigation, and those who are cleared will be rescheduled for examination at designated centres.
“Furthermore, few of the results, including those of blind candidates and others in the JEOG candidates group, are still being processed.
“A press conference to announce the individual results of candidates and to facilitate result checking will be held later this week.”
Many killed as bandits ambush quasi-security personnel in Bauchi
By George Coben, Bauchi
A combined team of professional hunters from Duguri and Gwana Districts, while on a routine patrol along Duguri, Mansur, and Dajin Madam forest bordering Bauchi and Plateau states, on Sunday encountered an ambush by bandits, and the ensuing confrontation resulted in numerous casualties on both sides, including members of the vigilante group and the bandits themselves.
Spokesperson of the the Bauchi State Police Command, CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, while confirming this in a statement issued and made available to journalists, said on receipt of information about the incident around 09:40 hours on Sunday, from Alkaleri Police Division, a team was dispatched to the scene where bodies of the casualties were recovered.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased included both quasi-security operatives and civilians from Sabuwar Sara village, who were mercilessly shot by the bandits while attempting to flee from the attack.
According to the statement, the command has mandated a specialized team to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible for the heinous act and individuals found to be connected to it.
Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Mr Sani-Omolori Aliyu has assured the public that full scale investigation is on going to bring the perpetrators to justice, and extended his condolences to the families affected by the incident.
CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, who visited the scene in Alkaleri, engaged stakeholders, urged everybody to be calm, vigilant, and support the police in their investigation.