The Oyo State government has assured that medalists at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival, otherwise dubbed Gateways Games 2024 in Ogun State, will be adequately rewarded for their performances.

This clarification comes in response to allegations from various quarters suggesting that the state government’s instant cash rewards for medalists fell short of the actual rewards peomised medalists at the festival.

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mrs Wasilat Adegoke, in a statement released on Wednesday, emphasised that the instant cash rewards were designed to motivate athletes who have won medals during the festival.

“The instant cash reward also aims to challenge those who are yet to compete in their respective sporting events,” she stated.

Adegoke further explained that the immediate rewards differ from the more substantial recognitions that Governor Seyi Makinde will officially announce for medalists, athletes, and officials at the conclusion of these biennial sporting events.

“This is how we operate. We are the pacesetter state. We are different, unique, and strategic.

“Our governor has previously rewarded athletes in earlier editions of the NSF. In addition to the festival, he also acknowledged Oyo athletes at the last Commonwealth Games.”

The instant cash rewards include N20,000 for gold medalists, N10,000 for silver medalists, and N5,000 for bronze medalists, primarily intended to motivate, encourage, and challenge athletes during the events. “This is our approach.”

Furthermore, Adegoke confirmed that all registered athletes in Abeokuta have received their allowances, with many excelling on the medals table.

“Our governor will continue to support and motivate athletes in the state. I can assure you that our athletes will be hosted, celebrated, and rewarded generously by the governor.

“People should review our records; we have done this before, and we will strive to do even better,” she added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oyo State finished fourth at the NSF 2022 in Edo State, securing 50 gold medals, 51 silver, and 62 bronze.

Medalists were received by the governor, with gold medalists awarded N1 million, silver medalists receiving N500,000, bronze medalists collecting N350,000, while non-medalists were given N250,000 each.

Former and incumbent vice presidents, Atiku Abubakar and Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday, met in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.

Atiku made this known in a post on his Facebook page while sharing still photos of him and Shettima exchanging pleasantries.

He wrote, “I just arrived at the Taraba International Investment Summit in Jalingo. -AA”.

Aside from Atiku and Shettima, some governors and other dignitaries are expected to grace the Taraba International Investment Summit currently taking place in the state.

Designed to highlight Taraba State’s rich resources, the summit aims to attract both local and international investors by showcasing opportunities in the agriculture, energy, and mining sectors.

Earlier, the incumbent vice president, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the event, inaugurated the rehabilitated and expanded Danbaba Suntai Airport in Jalingo.

[DailyPost]

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says it has successfully airlifted 32,549 pilgrims, representing 79.1% of the total intending pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj exercise.

A statement by NAHCON’s Assistant Director Information and Publication, Fatima Sanda Usara, said the achievement was made through 79 flights operated since the commencement of the airlift operations on May 9, 2025.

Daily Trust reports that 42,000 Nigerians are expected to participate in the annual pilgrimage from the government quota.

Usara added that many states including Adamawa and Plateau, had concluded their airlift operations, while those with only one flighteach will complete their operations on Wednesday.

 “Jigawa State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are also expected to complete their pilgrim airlift today. Kwara State, with 137 pilgrims remaining, will conclude by joining a Kano Max Air flight this afternoon.”

Meanwhile, Benue pilgrims will join intending pilgrims from the South-South section to undertake a combined and only flight from the region on May 23rd, marking the last phase of the airlift for the area.

“Importantly, no flight cancellations have been recorded since the airlift began. However,  deliberate minor delays were arranged to allow for the proper clean-up and decongestion of hotels in Madinah especially with the surge in arrivals.

“Such cleanup procedures are standard operational routines following vacation of rooms during the Hajj season. This goes unnoticed during initial airlift periods but cause misinterpretations at peak periods when a higher number of pilgrims are on the ground, requiring immediate turnover.

“NAHCON thanks the Nigerian intending pilgrims and entire communities for their goodwill, patience and prayers, and reaffirm the Commission’s resolve to ensure a smooth Hajj for every pilgrim.”

[DailyTrust]

Nigerians are renowned for seeking better career opportunities abroad, and celebrities are no exception, often transitioning to new paths for improved prospects.

Below is a list of Nigerian celebrities who have publicly announced their enlistment in the US military, showcasing their career shifts from entertainment to military service.

1. Princess Chineke: The former beauty queen and actress relocated to the United States for better opportunities and joined the US Army in 2024. Known for roles in films like To Love a Sister, Stormy Hearts, and Masters at War, Chineke expressed her patriotism and gratitude toward her adopted country.

On Instagram, she wrote: “I’m an American soldier, I’m a member of a team, we are the Army and proud of our name. I answered the call of service to my country, to serve the people of the United States of America. This I will defend, so help me God. God bless America.”

2. Mayowa Dosu: The actress and producer recently joined the US Army, marking a significant career change. With a filmography including Fears (2005), Mamami, Mojere, Compromise, Pawon Strippers, Lastlaugh, and Valentino, Dosu announced her enlistment on Instagram, stating: “I am an American Soldier, I am warrior and a member of a team, I serve the people of the United States and live the army values…..! Oops!! what a journey. Who miss me ?? Sorry I was busy being an American soldier.”

3. Grace-Charis Bassey: Grace-Charis Bassey, previously known as Belinda Effah, is the latest Nigerian celebrity to enlist in the US Navy, a move that also earned her US citizenship. A prominent Nollywood actress who debuted in the 2005 TV series Shallow Waters and won the ‘Most Promising Act of the Year’ at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards, she shared her milestone on Instagram.

She posted: “Last week, I graduated from U.S. Navy boot camp as a Sailor and took the oath as a citizen of the United States. Nigeria raised me. America challenged me. I stand today stronger and more determined than ever.” Bassey dedicated this achievement to her late father, Naval Commander Asido Bassey Effah.

[TheNation]

American actress and singer Jennifer Lopez is facing a $300,000 lawsuit for allegedly sharing copyrighted photographs from the 2025 Golden Globe Awards on her social media accounts without permission, Billboard reported on Tuesday.

On January 5, Lopez made a striking appearance on the red carpet in a flowing white gown paired with a white faux fur coat.

She later posted five photos from the event, captioned “GG Weekend Glamour.” The images quickly spread online, reshared by fans and media outlets alike.

However, photographer Edwin Blanco and his agency, Backgrid, have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit, claiming Lopez posted two of their photos without proper authorisation. They are seeking $150,000 per image, totaling $300,000 in damages.

According to the lawsuit, Blanco and Backgrid argued that Lopez used the images to promote her fashion affiliations and brand partnerships by tagging her clothing and jewelry designers.

“Ms Lopez’s unauthorised use of the Images is commercial in nature, intended for the purpose of self-promotion,” the lawsuit reads.

“For example, Ms Lopez used the Images to spotlight the designer of her clothing and jewellery, leveraging the publicity from the event to promote her fashion affiliations and brand partnerships.”

The suit also claims that her representatives had previously agreed to licensing terms, but Lopez has yet to finalise the agreement.

This is not Lopez’s first legal dispute over image rights. She faced similar lawsuits in 2019 and 2020 for posting professional photos without the photographer’s permission.

[Punch]

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has raised alarm over the presence of informants and collaborators aiding insurgents from within the Nigerian armed forces, political class, and local communities.

“We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian armed forces, within the politicians, and within the communities. What we shall do is to strengthen our intelligence and to deal with them ruthlessly,” Zulum stated during an appearance on News Central’s Breakfast Central on Wednesday.

His revelation adds a new layer to Nigeria’s counter-insurgency conversation, emphasising the need for internal cleansing and enhanced intelligence operations to defeat terrorism.

The governor, who has consistently championed both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to tackling insecurity, reiterated that military force alone will not bring an end to the insurgency in the North-East.

He said, “Insurgency will never be ended by kinetic measures alone. We must ensure that the non-kinetic measures are also properly put in place.

“What I mean by non-kinetic measures is social, political, and economic dimensions of the crisis. Our ongoing non-kinetic measures have yielded positive results with the support of the Nigerian military.”

Zulum revealed that while not all surrendered insurgents may be fully reformed, more than 99% have abandoned terrorism and are reintegrating into society.

“I cannot completely say that 100% of those people who have surrendered are doing the right thing, but I want to assure you that over 99% are doing well and are not participating in the ongoing terrorism,” he said.

The governor also lamented that the Nigerian Army does not have the necessary equipment to fight insurgency.

“The army doesn’t have the necessary equipment on ground to fight the insurgents and I want to also inform you that, right now, the insurgents are using technology to fight the soldiers on ground.

“A few days ago, I had a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff, and he said he was looking for 32 drones to end the insurgency and he’s right.

“Each drone is costing about $5.5 million, so why can’t we pull resources together to buy these drones and prioritize insecurity?

“Another issue we shall look into is that of procurement of military equipment, both hardware and software. Let’s deal directly, government to government, so that we can get value for money, otherwise most of the contractors won’t buy the equipment if you give them money.”

While expressing doubts about the effectiveness of state police, the governor advocated for the deployment of forest guards and stressed the importance of listening to professional military advice at the federal level.

“I don’t think the state police can do better than the forest guard.

“The forest guard shall be provided immediately. The president of Nigeria needs to listen to those who can differentiate their left from their right.”

“We should not politicise insecurity. The president needs to listen to the people that can tell him the right thing. The president should listen to the army.”

[Vanguard]

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it will allow a resit for candidates who initially missed the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Ishaq Oloyede, registrar of JAMB, met with chief external examiners, civil society organisations, and tertiary institution stakeholders on Wednesday in Abuja.

During the 2025 UTME in April, candidates had complained of being unable to sit for the exam due to being posted to far-flung centres.

The results from JAMB’s 2025 UTME were released on May 9 after the exam ended on May 5.

A breakdown showed that more than 78 per cent of candidates scored less than 200 points out of the 400 maximum points obtainable.

This spurred protests that questioned the overall integrity of the examination process.

JAMB undertook an early review and uncovered a major “technical error”.

Oloyede said the results of 379,997 candidates across 157 centres in its Lagos and south-east zones were affected.

JAMB conducted a resit examination, starting from May 16 and extending beyond May 19.

At JAMB’s office in Abuja, Oloyede said about 95 per cent of those marked for the resit UTME in Lagos and the south-east participated.

To accommodate the estimated 5.6 per cent of candidates who missed it, he said JAMB is organising a special mop-up exercise.

Oloyede also said all candidates who missed the examination initially would be allowed to retake it, regardless of their reason for absence.

“Normally, we hold one mop-up nationwide for those with one issue or another. This time, we are creating a new mop-up. Even those who missed the earlier exam due to absence we will extend this opportunity to them,” the registrar said.

During his May 14 conference, Oloyede attributed the 2025 UTME technical error to faulty server updates that led to the failure to upload candidate responses during the first three days of the examination.

Oloyede said the problem, which was caused by one of its technical service providers, went undetected before the results were released.

On May 15, the house of representatives resolved to probe the examination body over the technical error.

On April 19, the south-east caucus in the house of representatives demanded the resignation of the JAMB registrar.

The lawmakers also called for the cancellation of the 2025 UTME for a fresh examination to be conducted.

[TheCable]

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) is deeply concerned and worried about the continued decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to maintain the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 27.5 percent since November 2024, despite a global wave of interest rate reductions aimed at revitalizing economic productivity and combating stagflation.

We are perturbed that when most progressive economies are charting a course toward industrial recovery and macroeconomic stability, Nigeria’s monetary stance tends to lead us in a different direction. Over the last quarter, countries such as members of the Euro Area, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Australia, China, India, Thailand and Egypt, have implemented interest rate cuts to bolster economic growth and support productive sectors. Yet, our rigidity continues to create unintended consequences that may deepen the parlous performance of the productive sector.

A nation cannot industrialize on the back of prohibitively expensive credit. With the benchmark interest rate held at 27.5 percent, Nigeria has become the 6th most expensive country to source credit as local manufacturers grapple with an average lending rate of over 37 percent. This policy posture is not only inflationary, but is suffocating the capacity of the manufacturing sector. Compounded by other limiting factors, our members—small, medium and even large-scale—are finding it increasingly difficult to stay afloat, expand production lines, or even meet basic operational costs.

When credit is priced highly, production declines and the nation "imports poverty". Our concerns go beyond the debilitating impact on our numbers business. The "Nigeria First Policy", which seeks to strengthen local industry and reduce import dependence, may be under severe threat. At the heart of its successful implementation lies access to affordable financing to boost capacity utilization. Unfortunately, the current interest rate regime constrains finance costs for our members, surging by over 44 percent from ₦1.43 trillion in 2023 to ₦2.06 trillion in 2024 and rising. This represents a sharp increase that has directly depressed productivity and led to underutilization of industrial capacity.

The high cost of credit has not only diminished the flow of investments into the manufacturing sector but has also dulled the return on existing investments, with Small and Medium Industries hit the hardest. Confidence in the industrial outlook has waned, as evident in the dip in the Manufacturers CEO’s Confidence Index from 50.7 points to 48.3 points. This mirrors the growing anxiety of our manufacturers. 

A nation that woos foreign portfolio investors at the expense of its real sector may unwittingly be aspiring to build prosperity on the back of volatility. We are disturbed by the implicit prioritization of short-term foreign capital inflows over the long-term health of domestic industries. While maintaining a high interest rate of 27.5 percent may temporarily attract speculative foreign portfolio investors, it is doing so at the expense of Nigeria’s manufacturing base, which is now choked by unsustainable borrowing costs.

What is evident now is the widening profitability of the banking sector, buoyed by elevated interest margins, while manufacturers contend with shrinking margins, rising debts and declining productivity. This is an economic paradox that must be urgently addressed. The current monetary policy trajectory risks turning banks into vaults of idle wealth, while the real economy—where jobs are created and value is added—faces suffocation. A society that rewards intermediaries over producers invites long-term decline.

Access to affordable credit is the oxygen that sustains industrial growth and no economy has ever grown by starving its manufacturers of oxygen. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria is ever committed to collaborating with the Government and all stakeholders to achieve macroeconomic stability. We therefore earnestly beseech the CBN to urgently reconsider its monetary stance. 

Moreover, recent disinflationary trends provide justification for the CBN to cut rates. Real interest rates have improved, already giving financial investors higher inflation-adjusted returns. Therefore, maintaining a high nominal interest rate under current inflation conditions is neither necessary nor justifiable, and will only prolong the pain for manufacturers and consumers alike.*

In light of the above, MAN calls on the CBN to:

➢ Cut the benchmark interest rate significantly to reflect current realities and ease the credit burden on manufacturers.

➢ Deploy moral suasion and policy incentives for commercial banks to facilitate single-digit, concessionary interest rates to the manufacturing sector.

➢ Facilitate the approval of the ₦1 trillion earmarked for 

manufacturers under the Stabilization Plan to support industries struggling under current financial pressures.

➢ Facilitate significant increase in the capital base of the Bank of Industry (BOI) to scale up its capacity to meet the sector’s growing credit demands.

➢ Settle the outstanding $2.4 billion Forex Forward Contracts to restore manufacturers’ confidence and end the unprecedented decapitation of the financial viability of the affected industries. This will also improve access to non-locally available raw materials.

➢ Facilitate a policy direction to peg the customs duty exchange rate for importing industrial inputs, especially raw materials and machinery, to prevent further inflationary pass-through effect.

Industrial confidence is a fragile currency and once broken, it takes time to rebuild. Nigeria cannot afford to lose its manufacturing momentum at a time when the world is repositioning for the next wave of industrial transformation. The commendable reform measures of this administration may not be helped by the persistent high cost and constrained access to funds. The current monetary policy is not only undermining manufacturers' confidence but also jeopardizing national economic resilience.

We urge the Central Bank to act decisively and in synergy with the fiscal authority to ensure that Nigeria’s manufacturing sector does not sink deeper into stagnation. The time to act is now.

Segun Ajayi-Kadir mni

Director General

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria

Last Thursday, May 15, 2025, a news report has it that a bill to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting compulsory for Nigerians of voting age has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. The proposed legislation was sponsored by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, and Daniel Ago. Leading the debate during plenary, Ago said the bill aimed to encourage citizens’ participation in the electoral process, noting that voter apathy during elections would be addressed if the bill scales legislative scrutiny. The proposed legislation stipulates penalties for eligible voters who fail to vote without valid justification, including a fine of N100,000, a six-month jail term, or both.

According to PBS News of November 3, 2014, 22 nations around the world make voting mandatory for their citizens, often starting at age 18. They are Australia, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, Congo DRC, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Greece, Honduras, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Nauru, Singapore, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Thailand and Paraguay.  In Australia, failure to vote can result in a $20 fine. I quite understand the motive behind the bill, which is to shore up voters’ turnout and cut enormous waste being incurred at every poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission. This economic loss is found in unused ballot papers printed with billions of naira.

Nonetheless, making voting compulsory in Nigeria currently and even in future is a no-brainer. Indeed, it is a joke taken too far and a needless distraction! It is against the fundamental rights of citizens. Do the sponsors of the bill think that this is a panacea or an antidote to voter apathy? Did they do their research well enough to know that this piece of legislation, which to me is dead on arrival, is a priority for Nigerians? Granted that there is abysmal voter turnout in Nigeria, the drivers of that ugly phenomenon are not known to include optional voting.

I watched a video over the weekend about Indian elections and learnt that the Asian country has over 980 million registered voters as of 2024. Out of this number, 646 million voters voted in the May 2024 general elections. By the way, India has over 1 million Polling Booths, over 2,500 registered political parties and a population of 1.438 billion (2023 estimate). How come India recorded about 70 per cent voter turnout in its last general elections, and Nigeria, with 19 registered political parties, 93,469,008 million registered voters and 176,846 polling units, recorded a mere 27 per cent in the 2023 general elections? Meanwhile, elections in India are not compulsory.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, there has been a steady decline in voter turnout since 1999. The commission said there was 57.54 per cent of voter turnout in 2007 (remember, this was adjudged as the worst election in this Fourth Republic), 53.68 per cent in 2011, 43.65 per cent in 2015, 34.75 per cent in 2019, and 26.72 per cent in 2023. There are multiple reasons for voter apathy. These include lack of good governance; labourious voters’ registration and Permanent Voters Card collection process; late commencement of voting due to INEC’s logistical challenges; restriction of movement on election day; limited voting hours (six hours i.e., from 8:30 am-2:30 pm); a lack of trust in the election management bodies that votes will count and not rigged in favour of preferred candidates as well as electoral violence. Others include inadequate voters’ mobilisation by stakeholders, such as the political parties, candidates, INEC, civil society organisations and the media; perceived miscarriage of justice by the judiciary especially in election matters; a lack of multiple voting techniques, such as early voting, voting by proxy, out-of-country voting, diaspora voting, and voting by prisoners.

As I said in my column on December 4, 2024, there are several things Nigeria needs to do if it wants to improve voters’ turnout in subsequent elections. These are as follows: INEC needs to hold all general elections on one day. Having polls over two Saturdays is wasteful and illogical. In the August 2022 Kenyan elections, polls were conducted for six political offices in one day! Also, locking down the country or state during elections is counterproductive. Many people whose polling units are not near their residences are automatically disenfranchised.

Furthermore, there is a need to increase voting hours. In Egypt and the US, where I have been privileged to observe elections, polls are held for 12 to 13 hours. In Nigeria, voting hours are just six. In addition, the late arrival of INEC officials for duties has led many potential voters to leave in frustration without exercising their franchise. There should be provision for early voting so that millions of registered voters who are going to be on election duties, such as poll officials, security agents, accredited journalists, and observers, can vote ahead of the main election day. Recall that ahead of the November 5, 2024, elections in the US, 85 million registered voters had cast their ballots days and weeks before that day.

Another thing Nigeria should do is amend our laws to allow for out-of-country and diaspora voting. In the last general elections in Kenya, Kenyans living in 12 other countries were allowed to vote for the presidential candidate of their choice without having to travel home. Also in Kenya, prisoners are allowed to vote. This is not the situation yet in Nigeria. Allowing independent candidates to contest for political offices also has the potential to increase voters’ participation. Peaceful campaigns devoid of arson, killing, maiming, and fake news can instill confidence in voters to participate in elections. Pre-election violence has the power to scare away voters on election day.

How candidates emerge victorious in Nigeria’s election is too simple. For legislative positions, it is first-past-the-post. For executive positions, you need 25 per cent of valid votes cast in two-thirds of the country, state, or wards, depending on whether it is a presidential, governorship, or local government chairmanship poll. In other climes that have adopted the French model, a contestant needs to score 50+1 votes, which is an absolute majority, to be declared the winner. In countries like Ghana and most Francophone countries, voter mobilisation is taken seriously by political parties and candidates, unlike in our clime where this onerous responsibility has been abdicated to INEC, National Orientation Agency, and CSOs.

Of course, as earlier said, there is a need for improved governance with palpable dividends of democracy to the people. All these measures, if taken, will lead to a significant improvement in voters’ turnout.

Rather than making voting compulsory, what should be made mandatory is good governance!  Imagine if public education and health services are made free; if there is no self-aggrandisement by the political class and there is low-level corruption; high-level of infrastructural development, security and welfare of citizens. Voters will not need to be coerced to perform their civic responsibility.