The National Examinations Council, NECO, has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.

The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.

Mr Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.

The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.

He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.55 per cent.

Mr Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.

He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.

“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.

The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.

” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.

” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.

“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.

” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,” he said.

He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.

Mr Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.
NAN

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has approved the deployment of four new Police Commissioners to oversee Commands in Abia, Lagos, Ebonyi, and Akwa-Ibom State.

The newly appointed Commissioners are CP Danladi Nda (Abia State Command), CP Olanrewaju Ishola Olawale (Lagos State Command), CP Anthonia Adaku Uche-Anya (Ebonyi State Command) and CP Festus Eribo (Akwa-Ibom State Command).

These deployments reflect the IGP’s mission to reposition the Police Force, maximize human resources, and enhance security across the country.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Egbetokun charged the new Commissioners of Police to demonstrate diligence in their duties and develop innovative strategies to address security challenges in their respective areas.

He also encouraged them to support the ongoing police reform plans, which will contribute to the progress of the Nigeria Police Force and the nation’s growth.

This move is reminiscent of previous redeployments, such as the 2023 election duty redeployment of senior police officers, including AIG Abutu Yaro and CP Okon Effiong. The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to ensuring effective policing and maintaining public safety.

On the other hand, the IGP has mandated the immediate transfer of Police Commissioners to different areas.

This tactical decision is designed to improve the Police Force’s performance and guarantee successful law enforcement.

Naija News understands that the transfers will involve the following adjustments: CP Olatunji Disu will lead the Police Force in the Federal Capital Territory, with CP Peter Opara moving to Delta State to become its new head. At the same time, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi will become the leader of the Police Force in Rivers State.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has attributed the ongoing conflict between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery to alleged inconsistencies in government policies and fraudulent actions.

During a media briefing at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Wednesday, Ajaero voiced his dissatisfaction with the ongoing dispute, stating that such conflicts are unwarranted in a deregulated market that should be promoting competition and consumer choice.

The NLC President sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu‘s administration for attempting to influence Dangote’s business operations, specifically its pricing, which he referred to as fraudulent interference.

He highlighted that it is unfair for the government to demand that Dangote’s locally produced petroleum products be sold at the same price as imported products, especially considering that local production eliminates added costs like foreign exchange and landing fees.

Ajaero said, “In a truly deregulated market, there should be no interference in how private sector entities like Dangote operate. Imposing restrictions or dictating prices goes against the principles of a free market.

“For a locally produced product, with no reliance on imported dollars or landing costs, they’re demanding he sells it at the same price as the imported ones. That’s both fraudulent and unacceptable.

“What you’re witnessing is a mix of fraud and policy inconsistency. Nigerians were led to believe that the sector had been deregulated, and in a deregulated market, competition and choice should prevail. So why is there now an attempt to control how much Dangote should sell his product for?

“When the Port Harcourt refinery becomes operational, both NNPC and Dangote should be able to sell freely. But trying to dictate Dangote’s pricing is dishonest.

“This is the time for Nigerians to speak out. We were told that deregulation would put the private sector in charge and limit government interference in business. Now, the government is trying to regulate how private businesses should price their products.

“They expect him to sell at the same price as the imported product, even though it was produced locally without the additional landing costs. That’s outright fraud.”

This standoff between NNPCL and Dangote has ignited public debate, raising concerns over the government’s role in shaping the competitive dynamics of the energy industry.

The chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Saturday governorship election have been strengthened after nine political parties unanimously collapsed into the party in Edo State.

The Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Sam Arase, announced on behalf of the Assembly of Registered Political Parties in Edo State that the parties prefer the APC candidate and are confident of victory.

The parties include the Social Democratic Party of Nigeria (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Democratic Party (ADP), All Peoples Party (APP), Accord (A), Young Progressive Party (YPP), Action Alliance (AA), and National Rescue Movement (NRM).

The parties demand a violence-free election and urge Edo citizens to come out en masse and vote for APC.

The parties mandated their members to work towards the enthronement of the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, as the next governor of Edo State.

Seventeen parties are vying for the Edo State governorship, scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2014, with a winner expected to emerge after voting procedures.

Okpebholo and other governorship candidates in the state would be hoping to succeed the outgoing Governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, who supports the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo.

Former Nigerian international, Taribo West believes that Augustine Eguavoen always fails with the Super Eagles when it matters the most because he lacks “grace.”

Taribo West argued that Eguavoen lacks a certain grace that is essential for achieving success with the Super Eagles despite possessing strong coaching techniques.

Eguavoen, who also serves as the Nigeria Football Federation Technical Director, took charge of the senior men’s national team after the deal with the proposed German coach, Bruno Labbadia, fell through. This marks Eguavoen’s fourth stint in leading the team.

During his previous coaching stints, Eguavoen achieved a third-place finish at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations and led the team to win all three group games at the 2021 AFCON, but were eliminated in the round of 16 by Tunisia with a lone goal.

Despite his efforts, Eguavoen’s tenure has seen some near misses, such as narrowly failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and facing challenges in major tournaments.

Taribo West acknowledged Eguavoen’s tactical prowess in bringing out the best in the players but noted that consistent results have been elusive.

“Anytime Eguavoen leads the team, he brings a certain touch, taking the team back to those glorious days”, Taribo West, who is the founder of the Shelter in The Storm Miracle Ministry, said on Brila FM’s ‘No Holds Barred with Ifeanyi Udeze.

“In major tournaments, where you expect them to cross the line, something always happens. What Eguavoen is lacking is only grace.

“The team will play well, but the results won’t favour them.”

He added, “I don’t see why we go for foreign coaches when we can invest more in our local coaches.”

The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of fuelling internal divisions in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Mohammed claimed that the ruling party had deliberately planted moles within the PDP in Rivers State.

He stated that the APC picked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to serve in its administration because they do not have people who can perform better than PDP members.

The governor stated this when the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) paid him a visit on Wednesday.

He expressed concern over the power struggle between Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and his predecessor, Wike.

According to him, “We have to close ranks. It is something that is baffling some of us but any challenge is not insurmountable; it will be surmounted by the grace of God and we will find a solution to that and that is why there is a problem.

“It is only PDP with the experience of governance that is being challenged. And you will notice that this is a creation of the other side (APC).

“They want us to be in disarray; it (the crisis) is the creation of the APC. They always want to have moles within us; they want to have the knowledge of what is happening within us

“And you can see that even Wike who is in the APC and in the PDP is performing very well. They (APC) don’t have people who can perform like our members and that is why they chose to pick him and give him a state-like structure to run, and to us, it is a commendation.”

However, Mohammed assured that efforts are underway to take decisive action to unify the party, stating, “We cannot compromise the peace and unity of our great party.”

As the 2024 CAF African Footballer of the Year award slowly approaches, debates on who will win the men’s category have surfaced on social media.

With that in mind, we have compiled five reasons why Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman is guaranteed to win the prestigious African Footballer of the Year 2024 award.

Following the impressive form of Victor Osimhen in 2023, the Nigerian international became the fifth Nigerian footballer ever to clinch the award and the first in the 20s era to ever do so.

It is safe to say that Nigeria is returning to being the dominant force in African football as another Nigerian international, Ademola Lookman is perfectly poised to clinch the award making it back-to-back wins for Nigeria.

Questions as to what qualification Ademola Lookman possesses to win such an award have been asked and given his impressive run in the Serie A and also at AFCON 2023, it is safe to say that the winger is definitely not far from winning the award.

Can Ademola Lookman win the African Footballer of the Year 2024?

As things stand, Ademola Lookman is in the best position to be crowned the African Footballer of the Year 2024. The major prerequisites to clinch the award have been ticked by the Nigerian international at both club and national level.

Ademola Lookman’s individual stats

Ademola Lookman’s individual stats as a footballer for Atlanta in the 2023/2024 series A and Europa League season were exceptional and the Nigerian international has also carried the form into the 2024/2025 season at the club.

The winger has been exceptional and is not shy of creating chances and also converting them himself.

One performance that would not be forgotten for days or years to come would be his trailblazing performance at the UEFA 2023/2024 Europa League final fixture Atalanta vs Bayer Leverkusen where he became the first African footballer in the history of any UEFA competition to score a hattrick in the finals.

Ademola Lookman’s Serie A stats (2023/2024)

• Matches Played: 31
• Goals Scored: 11
• Assists: 7
• Shots on Target: 25
• Yellow Cards: 4
• Red Cards: 0

Ademola Lookman’s UEFA Europa League stats (2023/2024)

• Matches Played: 11
• Goals Scored: 5
• Assists: 1
• Shots on Target: 9
• Yellow Cards: 2
• Red Cards: 0

Lookman’s Ballon d’Or 2024 nomination

Ademola Lookman became the only African player to be shortlisted in the final 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or 2024 Men’s Player of the Year award. This is a huge booster for his quest for the African Footballer of the Year 2024, as him being the only player with a nod in the men’s category recognizes his exceptional abilities in the 2023/2024 season. It remains to be seen if he would make the final top 10 shortlist at the award ceremony but Lookman seems to be focused now on working hard in the 2024/2025 season.

Ademola Lookman at AFCON 2023

Ademola Lookman was a game-changer for Nigeria at AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast. It is safe to say he played a huge role in Nigeria’s progression to the finals of the tournament against all odds.

AFCON performance of both the player and his country would also be a huge decider in determining the winner of the African Footballer of the Year and as of the moment, the Atalanta forward ticks the two boxes with ease.

Ademola Lookman delivered an impressive performance during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with the following key stats:

• Goals Scored: 3
• Netted twice in the Round of 16 against Cameroon.
• Scored the decisive goal in the quarter-final clash with Angola.
• Assists: 1
• Matches Played: 4
• Man of the Match Awards: 1 (in the match against Cameroon)
• Big Chances Created: 2
• Chances Created: 7
• Key Passes: 6

Importance in both the national team and at club level

The importance of a player at both national and club level would also play a huge role in selecting the African Footballer of the Year in the Men’s category.

The importance of a player in any team can be determined by the number of appearances such a player makes for his side and how much of a game-changer he is in such a team.

Over time Ademola Lookman has exerted his dominance in both the national and the club level making it almost impossible for both teams to function effectively in his noticeable absence.

Whenever Lookman is on the field of player there is always an extra spring in the gameplay of both Nigeria and Atalanta as he can be found opening spaces and creating chances during an attack.

Ademola Lookman titles won

Recognizing football as a team sport is also important which is why aside from what you have achieved as an individual on the field of play, what your team has achieved also plays a huge role in determining the winner of the Footballer of the Year award.

With Ademola Lookman’s side Atalanta picking up the UEFA Europa League title in the 2023/2024 club football season with him being a major contributor in guaranteeing his side the title in the finals, the scales of the African Footballer of the Year 2024 have officially tipped in his favour.

These five key reasons could tip the scales in favour of Ademola Lookman for the highly coveted African Footballer of the Year awards 2024.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has disclosed that Nigerians living abroad contribute $20 billion annually to the country’s economy, representing 6.1% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This was announced by NIDCOM Chairman/CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, during her presentation at the “Africa Diaspora Day on the Hill” event, part of the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.

Dabiri-Erewa highlighted the remarkable achievements of Nigerians in various sectors globally, commending their role as strategic partners in the country’s growth. She noted that the remittances have played a crucial role in supporting families, boosting local economies, and aiding national development.

The Chairman also emphasized NiDCOM’s efforts to engage the diaspora through the National Diaspora Policy, which seeks to harness the resources, skills, and expertise of Nigerians abroad. This policy aims to create opportunities for increased participation in the nation’s development, including investment in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

She stated, “Nigerians abroad continue to significantly impact both the Nigerian economy and their host countries. Their contributions in areas such as technology, medicine, education, and business have elevated Nigeria’s global profile.”

The “Africa Diaspora Day on the Hill” event provided a platform for discussions on how African diasporas can drive positive change in their home countries. Dabiri-Erewa stressed the importance of stronger ties between the Nigerian government and its diaspora community to ensure continued contributions to Nigeria’s economic growth.

The statement issued by Gabriel Odu of NIDCOM’s Media, Public Relations, and Protocols Unit also highlighted the need for more initiatives to mobilize resources from the diaspora for national development, as well as fostering collaboration between Nigeria and other African countries with large diaspora populations.

There are strong indications that President Bola Tinubu may scrap the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation as part of a major cabinet rejig.

The exercise would also see some portfolios split and others merged into a single entity, while some ministers would be relieved of their duties, a Presidency source told The PUNCH.

Tinubu has been facing increasing pressure from within and outside his party, the All Progressives Congress, to sack underperforming ministers in his cabinet.

Although the President had warned against underperformance about 10 months ago, the cabinet had remained largely intact, save for the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu.

Last November, after a three-day retreat for cabinet members and presidential aides, Tinubu announced that a Central Delivery Coordination Unit headed by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Mrs. Hadiza Bala-Usman, would measure the performance of ministers and other top government officials.

Their performance would determine who would leave or remain, Tinubu stated.

 “If you are performing, nothing to fear. If you miss the objective, we’ll review it. If no performance, you leave us. No one is an island and the buck stops on my desk,” the President told participants.

In early September, Sunday PUNCH stated that a cabinet reshuffle was imminent.

However, sources in the Presidency who confided in our correspondent said the reshuffle would transcend portfolio swaps. Instead, some portfolios and ministries would be split, merged or scrapped.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak on the matter, said the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, whose helmswoman, Dr. Betta Edu, was suspended in January, would be scrapped entirely. Nonetheless, the officials were reluctant to disclose which other ministries would be affected.

“I think it is overdue now. In fact, he (Tinubu) was supposed to announce the changes last week, but he was out of the country; that was why. But he wants to do it while he is around.

“It is not just about reshuffling his cabinet. He is also going to restructure some of the ministries for effectiveness and output because the current structure in some of them is not effective.

“Just to let you know, he may be scrapping the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs because he does not think there is a need for it. There are several agencies that are performing those functions already and they can do it without a ministry. So, he sees no need for it,” the source said.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development was established in August 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. 

Buhari said its formation was part of his strategy to streamline and coordinate humanitarian interventions, disaster response, and social welfare programmes in the country.

Nigeria has been dealing with numerous crises such as internal conflicts, particularly from Boko Haram insurgencies, natural disasters, and a rising number of internally displaced persons.

The ministry was tasked with managing these matters, along with various social investment programmes such as the N-Power scheme, Conditional Cash Transfer and the Homegrown School Feeding Programme, amongst others.

While announcing his new ministers in August 2023, President Tinubu re-scoped the ministry to ‘Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.’

However, the ministry had been mired with various allegations of corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency, with most of these controversies centering on its first minister, Sadiya Farouq, who served from its inception until 2023.

Farouq’s successor, Edu, was also suspended for allegedly diverting ₦585m in ministry funds to a personal bank account.

While announcing her suspension January 7, the Presidency said Tinubu had tasked a panel, headed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to, among other functions, “conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes to conclusively reform the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative.”

On the timing of the reshuffle, another source disclosed that the President planned to finalise it before departing for New York, USA to participate in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

“Soon, I can say it will happen soon. The arrangement is that he is supposed to do it before leaving for the UNGA this week. And I see nothing hindering that for now.

 “It is confirmed. There is a particular portfolio that has to be split into two. Others will be merged, and some will be scrapped. That is what I know,” the source said.

Meanwhile, a third source confirmed that some frantic lobbying had begun as some cabinet members had been contacting their godfathers to prevail on the President in their favour.

 “Yes, that is a typical thing. Some of the ministers will be calling their godfathers to influence the President. It is a normal thing. But the President will still do what is on his mind for the country.”

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Wednesday, beseiged the Kogi State Government Lodge in Abuja in an attempt to arrest former govenor, Yahaya Bello.

The Director of Yahaya Bello’s Media Office, Ohiare Michael, raised the alarm in a statement on Wednesday night, titled, “Despite voluntary visit, EFCC officials surround Kogi Government Lodge, Abuja in an attempt to forcefully arrest former governor Yahaya Bello, fire gunshots.”

Earlier in the day, the ex-governor’s media team and the anti-graft agency  were engaged in a verbal dispute over the controversial visit of the ex-governor to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

A statement on Wednesday by Bello’s media team said the ex-governor finally surrendered himself and visited the EFCC headquarters months after being declared wanted by the anti-graft agency over an alleged N80.2bn fraud.

Michael said Bello went to the EFCC headquarters voluntarily to clear his name but the anti-graft agency refused to attend to him.

But the spokesman for the EFCC, in a statement, insisted that Bello was not in the custody of the anti-graft agency.

In their Wednesday night state, Bello’s media office raised the alarm about attempt by EFCC operatives to arrest Bello at the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja.

Michale said, “It has come to our notice that people suspected to be operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are currently around the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro in an attempt to forcefully arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello. They were shooting sporadically.

“It was reported earlier that the former Governor went to the EFCC office voluntarily earlier today but the commission told him to leave and come at a later date, only to mount a Gestapo-like attack on the Kogi State Government facility in Asokoro.

“We want to place it on record that the EFCC should be held accountable if anything untoward happens to him.

“Tonight’s attack was needless as the former governor made himself available to the EFCC in their office for interrogation. The EFCC had no question to ask Alhaji Yahaya Bello in the morning, but suddenly, they are out to arrest him.

“ This action is condemnable. They have displayed the very reason many Nigerians believe they were fighting political battles instead of the mandate to fight corruption. This action reflects much more than the fight against corruption.”

The PUNCH reports that the EFCC preferred 19 charges against the former Kogi governor alongside his nephew, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering offences amounting to N80,246,470,088.88.

After failed attempts to arrest and arraign him, the EFCC  in April declared the former Kogi governor wanted.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on August 20 ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment.

However, on Wednesday, Michael said the ex-governor honoured the EFCC invitation after consultation with his legal team and political associates. Michael added that Bello had nothing to hide.

Reacting, the anti-graft agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, denied that the former governor was in its custody, adding that Bello remained wanted.

Oyewale said, “Media reports today that a former governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello, is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is incorrect. The commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody. Bello, already declared wanted by the commission for alleged N80.2 billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.”

The EFCC’s statement contradicted the one released by Michael, which claimed that the former governor had voluntarily honoured the anti-graft agency’s invitation.

But Bello’s team, in another statement by its director, said Bello was at the EFCC office alongside his successor, Usman Ododo. Michael alleged that the EFCC did not interrogate him and told him he could leave.

Michael said, “Earlier today, we reported the voluntary visit of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission office to honour the commission’s invitation.

“In the statement, we reiterated the former governor’s great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority and stressed that all the while, he only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights to ensure due process.

“The EFCC did not, however, interrogate him as officials told him he could leave. We don’t know what this means yet. As we write, Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office. He was accompanied there by the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo.

“Recall that the case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. The former governor decided to honour the invitation to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.”