Author: Festus Adeloye

President Bola Tinubu has approved N35 billion for the take – off of the student loan scheme. So far, 70, 000 applications have been approved by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Another 50, 000 applications are currently being evaluated and would be approved within 30 days. The figures were exclusively obtained by The Nation from sources in NELFUND. According to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, the funds will be disbursed based on the timetable and calendars of the academic session of each institution. He said: “The funds will be disbursed based on the timetable and calendars…

* Says Efforts Ongoing To Arrest, Prosecute Perpetrators The Vice-Chancellor of Western Delta University (WDU), Prof. Augustine Ikelegbe has assured parents and students of the institution of safety following a robbery incident that occurred on Thursday. Some criminal elements gained entrance into the main hostel where they harassed some students and stole mobile phones and power banks. However, no serious injuries were reported. Describing the incident as unprecedented in the history of the university, the VC said adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that the university is now more safer while efforts are being made to ensure…

Chelsea announced on Saturday they had agreed a deal to sign teenage forward Estevao Willian from Palmeiras for a reported initial fee of £29 million ($37 million). Estevao, who has featured for Brazil at youth level, will join compatriots Andrey Santos, Deivid Washington and Angelo Gabriel at Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2025/26 season. “Chelsea Football Club has agreed a deal to sign teenage forward Estevao Willian from Palmeiras, with the Brazilian to officially join Chelsea next summer,” read a statement on the Blues’ website. “The 17-year-old has already built a strong reputation in South America as one of the…

The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said contrary to media reports, he did not sack his immediate past and pioneer Chief Press Secretary, Kazie Uko and his pioneer Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo. The governor disclosed this in Umuahia Friday night in a chat with newsmen, stating, “We did not sack the former Chief Press Secretary. We only did re-organization. No appointment is permanent.” Also explaining the position of the state Commissioner for Health who he suspended a few weeks ago, Otti said, “Suspension of the Commissioner of Health is on allegation based on suspicion. Already, a committee…

The Lagos State Government has attributed the recent cholera outbreak in the state to an unregistered tiger nut drink. The cholera outbreak has impacted multiple local government areas in Lagos, including Lagos Island, Eti-Osa, and Kosofe, with hospitals reporting the highest number of cases. As of June 21, Lagos had recorded 24 deaths and 35 confirmed cholera cases, with Eti-Osa identified as the epicenter of the outbreak in Nigeria’s commercial capital. In an interview with Punch on Saturday, Kemi Ogunyemi, special adviser to the Lagos state governor on health, mentioned that upon noticing a rise in suspected cholera cases in…

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has permanently forfeited to the Federal Government properties valued at N11,140,000,000.00 (billion) and N1.04 billion linked to the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele. Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke made the order of final forfeiture after hearing a motion filed and argued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its counsel Chineye Okezie. The judge had on June 5, 2024, upheld the anti-graft agency’s motion filed an argued by its counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), for an interim forfeiture of the property. Oyedepo informed the court that Emefiele was suspected…

The Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti has assured that his administration will provide The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) the needed support for the proposed establishment of an Oil refinery in the state. Otti gave the assurance when he received in the audience a delegation of PETAN led by its Chairman Engr. Wole Ogunsanya who was in the state for the possibility of establishing an oil refinery in the state. He assured that the Abia State government team would engage with them to see how they can partner as a joint venture to realize the project. “I…

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved N21 billion for electricity distribution companies (DisCos) on Friday to procure meters for customers. This funding, sourced from the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF), aims to address the significant metering gap in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). According to NERC data, only 44.67% of the 13.4 million registered customers had electricity meters as of April 2024. The MAF, part of the Multi-Year Tariff Order, determines the tariffs customers pay. NERC’s Chairman, Engr. Sanusi Garba, and Commissioner for Legal, Dale Akpeneye, attributed the low metering rate to DisCos’ inability to secure financing from lenders.…

Popular Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has filed a lawsuit against fellow Nigerian artist, Dammy Krane, whose real name is Oyindamola Johnson Emmanuel, over alleged defamatory posts. Dammy Krane had accused Davido, labelling him a murderer, the allegations which have rapidly spread across the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) and been syndicated by numerous blogs. According to the post he had made on X, “Never get married because your Gail caught you cheating you wan gbe-iya-wo (carry suffer look) congratulations owe b owe.” Davido, through his lawyer Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, said Dammy Krane was…

Scores of bandits troubling the north-western region and parts of Niger state have been feared killed in another coordinated attack by the military in Giwa LGA of Kaduna state. Kaduna State Overseeing Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan disclosed this in a statement on Friday, June 21. He said: “The coordinated ground and air strikes by troops of Operation Whirl Punch successfully neutralized several bandits including some of their leaders at an identified meeting point near Bula community within Yadi Forest in Giwa LGA. “According to operational feedback to the Kaduna State Government, the strike was based…