Latest News
FEATURES
The West African Examinations Council has started investigating the leakage of examination questions in the ongoing 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, Sunday PUNCH reports.
Our correspondents gathered that some officials of the exam body might be connected to the leakage, particularly the circulation of the English Language paper to the public four days before the examination.
It was learnt that the police had also opened a probe into the matter.
The 2025 WASSCE English Language paper was leaked in some parts of the country, forcing WAEC to reprint new sets of questions.
The situation forced many candidates to sit the exam late into the night without electricity. Some of the affected states are Lagos, Ogun, Taraba, and Osun.
Videos and photos circulated on social media showed students sitting the examination as late as 12am and relying on torchlights and lanterns due to power outages.
The exam body, however, apologised for the delay in the conduct of the exam, blaming it on question paper leakage and malpractice.
In a statement on Thursday, WAEC’s Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, said the measures taken to prevent paper leakage “inadvertently impacted the timeliness and seamless conduct of the examination.”
She cited logistical challenges, security concerns, and sociocultural issues as contributing factors.
No fewer than 1,973,253 candidates registered for this year’s WASSCE across 23,554 schools in the country.
This came barely a month after the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board suffered a major glitch during the 2025/2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, which left thousands of candidates stranded and disrupted scheduled sittings nationwide.
How exam papers leaked
Credible sources within the council, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that WAEC had already involved the police and other security agencies to investigate those behind the leak.
One of the sources explained that the council had printed the exam questions, which were being distributed when a concerned Nigerian sent information about the leak.
The source said the council was forced to reprint question papers in response to the tip-off.
The official admitted that the situation took staff by surprise, disrupting scheduled logistics and putting pressure on human resources.
“Everybody was under pressure. Some people worked 48 hours non-stop just to manage the crisis. Some staff in Ikorodu had to travel to printing presses and help pack and code question papers,” the source said.
According to insider revelations, a syndicate of “exam run” operators made millions from leaked papers.
Another source said, “One platform had over 80,000 subscribers. They were charging N1,000 per candidate for answers to the English Language paper. Even if only 50,000 people paid, that’s N50m. We have begun tracing payments made to rogue platforms, especially on WhatsApp and Telegram.”
When asked whether arrests had been made, the source simply stated, “We have met with all necessary agencies and are tracking the information. The process is ongoing.”
Leaked papers
Sunday PUNCH sighted leaked question papers that included English Language, Geography, Physics, and Literature-in-English on social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram.
Some of the platforms included Free WAEC Exam Infos, WAEC, Free WAEC NECO IJMB/JUBEP Students Connect, King of Exams Runs, WAEC GCE NECO Expo, Nigeria School Exams, Exam Tips Solution, and WAEC, NECO and JAMB Expo.
On some of them, users were asked to pay between N1,500 and N5,000, depending on the subject, to “buy” leaked examination papers.
A message on one of the platforms, posted on Saturday, May 24, four days before the exam, read, “For English and Mathematics, N1,500 compulsory. It will be dropping at midnight with full essay and objectives. Start subscribing ‘cause only those in the VIP will be lucky. 09159611255.”
On another platform, the cover page of the English Language Paper Two was posted on Tuesday, May 27, a day before the examination, with the poster urging candidates to pay N1,000 to get the questions.
A school administrator, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, alleged that the questions were leaked by senior officials of the council.
He blamed the incident on the greedy officials, adding that they were only interested in personal gain.
“The question had been out as early as Saturday and Sunday, even before the exam on Wednesday. We had access to the summary, comprehension, essay, and objective questions.
“Some people got the questions through different platforms on social media. The questions were sold for as much as N4,000.
“I will blame the incident on greedy officials of the council who are all out to make money through whatever means possible.”
Parents, candidates fear mass failure
Parents and some candidates expressed fear of mass failure following the late-night conduct of the English Language paper on Wednesday in some centres across the country.
Some parents, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, blamed the exam body for subjecting candidates to inhumane and mentally draining conditions, and called for an immediate re-sit of the examination to prevent mass failure.
The parents, under the aegis of the National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria, condemned the poor conduct of the examination and called on WAEC to cancel the English Language paper and reschedule it.
The National Publicity Secretary of NAPTAN, Ademola Ekundayo, made the call in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday.
The body bemoaned the hardship students went through during the examination, adding that parents were also thrown into turmoil while worrying about the whereabouts of their children.
They called for the outright cancellation of the English Language paper, arguing that no reasonable results could come out of the examination.
Speaking to Sunday PUNCH, the father of one of the candidates at Islahudeen Grammar School, Oke-Oniti, Osogbo, Osun State, Ajayi Ademola, lamented that the development was disturbing for him and his daughter.
He said his daughter could not revise for the next day’s paper after getting home around 11 p.m. on Wednesday.
Ademola said, “It was a disturbing experience for me when Idowu didn’t return home around 6:30–7 p.m. She had the English paper around 2pm, and she was expected to be back home around 6pm. I started reaching out to people in town to find out what was happening, and I was told they were just starting the exam around 7 p.m.
“I was moved to tears as I pitied the students who had been seated since 1:30pm in preparation for an exam that was supposed to start by 2pm. How were they going to perform well in the exam? WAEC is not fair to the students. If you claim the exam question leaked, were the students responsible for that? The body should sanitise itself and stop punishing our children for the inadequacies of its staff. The exam should have been cancelled and rescheduled for another day.”
Another parent, Dele Ajewole, said his daughter sat the examination at a private school in the Ogo-Oluwa area in Osogbo, and was distraught before the papers were distributed to the students around 7:35 p.m. in her school.
He added that many of her colleagues were too tired by the time the examination eventually commenced.
“As a parent, if you are told by your child what they went through, then you already have an idea of what the result would be. If this suggestion can be considered, then I would say students should be allowed to re-sit the paper.
“The likelihood of mass failure is high with the challenges that marred the conduct of the exams. I waited for my daughter to complete her paper around 9:30 p.m. before we left the school premises. Everyone was rushing the paper because it was late,” he said.
Speaking in a similar vein, another parent, Isiaka Akande, who said the paper should be cancelled and a new date fixed, noted that parents and students already had an excuse should mass failure be recorded in the subject.
Also narrating her experience, a mother, Mrs Ngozi Akasike, said she became apprehensive when her daughter, Peace, didn’t return home around 7pm.
“I came back from work at 7 o’clock in the evening, only to find that my daughter, who is currently sitting the WASSCE, had not yet returned home. As a mother, I became apprehensive and was eager to know the reason she hadn’t come back. I remembered I needed to call one of the teachers at school, but his phone was switched off, which heightened my fears,” she said.
Upon arriving at the venue, Akasike said she discovered her daughter was still in the exam hall, writing English Language at exactly 23 minutes past 7.
‘Leaked exam placed serious students at disadvantage’
Speaking to Sunday PUNCH, a candidate, Olamide Adefowope, lamented that the leaked examination questions placed honest students at a serious disadvantage.
She expressed concern that the integrity of the exam process had been compromised, adding that WAEC must take decisive action to restore fairness and accountability.
Adefowope expressed fear of mass failure following the circumstances in which students were forced to sit the examination.
“We would have performed better if we had written it in the afternoon because within that afternoon, our brains were still cool, but that night, our brains were already hot because some people already wanted to go home.
“Nigeria’s education system is getting worse every day. A similar thing happened during the JAMB examination. They are making things hard for us, and it’s not supposed to be like that.
“I was under stress and pressure during the examination. I just managed to answer the questions, I did the little I could and left because it was very late in the night,” she stated.
Another candidate, Fatima Yusuf, who sat the examination in Lagos, called for the immediate cancellation of the English Language paper, describing the situation as unfair and demoralising.
She urged the examination body to prioritise integrity and justice, stressing that failure to act could erode public confidence in WAEC examinations.
Calls for CBT, stronger safeguards
Stakeholders, including the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, have called for the adoption of Computer-Based Testing for the conduct of senior secondary school examinations.
The National President of ANCOPPS, Mallam Musa Ibrahim, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH, argued that the introduction of CBT at the secondary school level would further curtail malpractice and eliminate the influence of “miracle centres” and rogue websites.
He said, “Just like JAMB, if WAEC goes paperless, you throw rogue websites and miracle centres out of business. The attack on WAEC and JAMB is part of a wider resistance to reform. Some people don’t want CBT at the secondary school level because it will destroy their illicit business.”
He advised WAEC to improve the early detection of leaks and continue to act swiftly, as they did during the recent incident.
On his part, the National President of NAPPS, Yomi Otubela, called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
Otubela explained the need for a fact-finding committee to ascertain the actual events surrounding the examination before making any definitive decisions.
He said, “I am not against a re-sit, but a committee that will investigate the exact thing that happened should come first. If the committee finds that all the information circulating on social media is true, then there may actually be a need for a re-sit.”
“From my investigation, what some schools are saying is that students finished at 6 p.m., and I felt if they finished at 6, it might be okay. But we also need to investigate what the scheduled finishing time for the paper was. I guess it wasn’t 6 p.m.”
Speaking to Sunday PUNCH, a senior lecturer in the Department of Educational Management at the University of Lagos, Dr Olusola Thomas, urged the examination body to revisit some of the affected subjects.
“As it stands, we’ve not been able to fully ascertain the extent of the damage. So far, we’ve relied largely on public accounts and preliminary reports, which may not be comprehensive or detailed.
We don’t even have an exact count of the schools that have been compromised. This clearly suggests that the affected subjects need to be revisited,” she said.
According to her, the long hours of waiting before writing exams could have far-reaching consequences on the students’ mental health and potentially lead to widespread failure.
The authorities of Saudi Arabia has revealed that the 2025 Arafah sermon will be translated and broadcast live in Hausa, Yoruba, Fulani, alongside 34 other languages.
This initiative is designed to help pilgrims and listeners around the world engage with the sermon in their native tongues.
Haramain, a Saudi-based online news platform, shared this announcement via X on Saturday, highlighting Nigeria’s local languages, Hausa, Fulani, and Yoruba as part of the translation lineup.
The message stated,” The Hajj Khutbah 1446 will be translated into 34 languages on Thursday, 9 Dhul Hijjah 1446.
“The full list of languages includes Arabic, Urdu, English, French, Indonesian, Persian (Farsi), Hausa, Chinese (Mandarin), Russian, Bengali, Turkish, Malay (Bahasa Melayu), Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Filipino (Tagalog), Amharic (Ethiopia), Bosnian, Hindi, Dutch, Thai, Malayalam, Swahili, Pashto, Tamil, Azerbaijani, Swedish, Uzbek, Albanian, Fulani (Fula), Somali, Rohingya, and Yoruba.”
This multilingual broadcast aims to deliver Islam’s message of tolerance to a global audience in their native languages, enhancing communication between Muslims and non-Muslims worldwide.
PUNCH Online had reported that Saudi Arabia confirmed the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent on May 27, signalling the start of the 12th month in the Islamic calendar.
According to the announcement, June 5 will mark the Day of Arafat, while June 6 will be celebrated as Eid-el-Adha, the most significant festival for Muslims.
Dhul Hijjah is revered as a sacred month marked by increased devotion, reflection, and worship.
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said the power of prayer over the nation has kept the nation saying, “Some say, ‘You’ve been praying and fasting — where is the result?’ I laugh. If we had not prayed, Nigeria would have been in a far worse state. Let’s not stop.
He also declared that RCCG operates under a divine shield — a supernatural covering that has preserved the church from calamities since its inception.
Speaking on Sunday during the monthly Thanksgiving service and special prayer for security and paramilitary personnel at the RCCG national headquarters in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Adeboye
added, “There is a God who rules in the affairs of men. If those praying would pause for just one week, the difference would be terrifying. Keep praying. God controls the hearts of kings.”
Adeboye preaching on the topic “Shadow of the Almighty,” talked about miraculous accounts that point to what he described as the “peculiarity” of RCCG under God’s shadow.
He said, “I never preach church or denomination, but there is something peculiar about the Redeemed Christian Church of God. There is a shield over the RCCG — unseen but undeniably present.”
Adeboye recalled how a building in the United States, which hosts an RCCG house fellowship, was the only one spared in a row of 15 houses during a devastating flood. “House after house was flooded, but house number eight — the only one with a sign that read, ‘House Fellowship of RCCG holds here’ — remained untouched,” he said.
He also cited a fire incident in March at Otedola Bridge, Lagos, where a blaze razed multiple buildings but mysteriously spared an RCCG structure. “The buildings before and after were consumed, yet the RCCG building was left standing. That is not a coincidence — that is divine covering,” Adeboye said as the church’s media team projected the image during his sermon.
He emphasized that although God’s protective presence may not always be visible, it is powerful and ever-present for those who abide in Him. “Your security is only assured in Him. Whether in peace or war, young or old, the Almighty casts a shadow of protection over His own,” he declared.
Earlier in the service, his wife, Pastor Folu Adeboye, led a passionate session of prayer for the peace and progress of Nigeria and those in leadership. “Let’s ask God to show our president mercy and give him peace, so that he may enjoy his time in office,” she prayed.
The Thanksgiving service, which also honored security and paramilitary forces, highlighted RCCG’s ongoing commitment to spiritual intercession for Nigeria’s peace and divine protection for its people.
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, Sunday, lamented that President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope has turned into a nightmare for Nigerians.
Afenifere, in a statement by its Leader and National Publicity Secretary, Oba Oladipo Olaitan and Justice Faloye, said the midterm report of the Tinubu administration has shown that every human development and sociopolitical index has regressed.
It also accused the administration of engaging in “massive propaganda claiming false successes.”
The statement reads: “The Midterm Report shows that every human development and sociopolitical index has regressed since the coming to office of the President Bola Tinubu administration, turning the promise of renewed hope to a nightmare of regressing hopelessness and despair.
“Rather than take full responsibility for the unmitigated sufferings inflicted on Nigerians in the past two years on account of its wrong policy choices and wasteful spending, the Tinubu administration has engaged in massive propaganda claiming false successes and shifting blames to global and historical factors, and showing scant empathy for ordinary Nigerians.
“Basically, due to unforced errors, especially the oversight of the production element of subsidies and floating the Naira, without any preparation to cushion the predictable impact, the Tinubu Economic Reforms has turned out to be Tinubu Economic Deforms.
“A Prebendal and Government for the privileged and connected* : Despite the Tinubu administration’s economic policies causing huge inflation that cut real wages in over half, only 4.1% of the Nigeria population in the civil service had their wages increased by 38%. Reliance on unproven channels for the distribution of pitiable halfhearted food and other palliatives were corruptly split among those connected, while uncontested mega projects were brazenly given to those with well known connections to the President. It is obvious that the Tinubu administration has no intention of delivering the greatest good the greatest number of Nigerians.
“Two years into its tenure, and contrary to its well advertised electoral promise, the Tinubu administration is yet to implement Oronsaye Report to cut cost of governance, instead the costs have ballooned with new cost centers for cronies to milk. The tone of government at all levels is one of profligate ‘jaiye jaiye’ lifestyle, while the masses are being berated about Nigeria’s wasteful past and the imperative of sacrifice to restore fiscal integrity. The government’s first supplementary budget and subsequent budgets were spent on not only preserving but increasing the luxurious lifestyle of those in government – new Presidential jet, Cadillac limousines, N160 million cars for each federal legislator and scandalous increase in unaccounted constituency projects worth billions to each legislator.
“In the quest for absolute power, the Tinubu administration is trading off lives of Nigerians by refusing to devolve power for state police.
“The Tinubu administration is destructuring instead of restructuring the military imposed constitution, towards true federalism. It has shown increasingly centralizing tendencies to further weaken the federalist elements in the constitution by attacking federating units with the takeover of their administrative units, known as local governments. Tinubu is destructuring the pillars of our democracy by neutralizing the legislature and judiciary put in place for balance of power and robust representative governance. It is obvious that the agenda is a one party state totalitarianism.
“In the last two years, we have witnessed a markedly increase in intolerance of protests by dissenting civic groups. Peaceful protesters, students and labour groups are hounded, destabilized and bullied. In recent times, we have seen a gale of opposition politicians decamp to the ruling party to prevent institutional victimization. Even government sponsorship of internal conflicts in opposition parties and sociopolitical groups are in open. Some recent appointments to Independent National Electoral Commission are speculated to be card-carrying members of the ruling party. The emasculation of liberal democratic values are flagrantly displayed, without any shame or restraint.
“It has been a harrowing experience living through the pain and anguish of the last two years, inflicted on the nation by the administration of President Bola Tinubu. This Midterm Report is a duty that Afenifere must fulfil to prevent government propagandists from drowning the voices of millions of hungry and deprived Nigerians.
“Rather than focusing on service delivery, the Tinubu administration is focusing on winning the 2027 election regardless of the voters. No amount of propaganda will erase hunger and poverty in the land. Only selfless and empathetic leadership can serve the people, not Prebendalist and hedonistic lifestyle. If this Midterm Report was an academic exercise, the student will receive an advice to withdraw from the examiner, but we believe there is still room for redemption. We urge the President and his choir of mandate seekers to reflect and for a change just love Nigeria and Nigerians.”
1m Streams For $300 — Tems’ Manager Muyiwa Reveals Why Nigerian Streaming Revenue Is Low (Video)
AFOLABI
Muyiwa Awoniyi, the manager of Grammy-winning artist Tems, has highlighted the stark disparity in streaming revenue between Nigeria and other regions across the globe.
During a recent appearance on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, Awoniyi attributed the low earnings from Nigerian streams to the country’s affordable subscription rates and struggling economy.
He revealed that while “one million streams in Nigeria generate approximately $300,” the same number of streams in Sweden, Spotify’s home country, fetch between “$8,000 and $10,000”.
“Do you know how much a million streams is worth out of Nigeria? It’s $300. I am telling you facts, it is N900 to subscribe to Spotify and Spotify treats things territorially,” he said.
“A lot of people do not know this, by the way. So for me, I always knew that if my IP is anchored to a region where one million streams is $300, I am cooked. I knew this from Nonso’s time because, like I said, the trickle-down effect of the economy is going to hit the citizens regardless.
“I mean, your purchasing power is going to be limited. Do you know the highest territory for streaming Spotify? Sweden is where Spotify is from. Your one million streams is between 8-10 grand.”
Burna Boy had earlier advised his colleagues against relying solely on revenue from Nigerian streams.
He argued that achieving number one on any streaming platform in Nigeria is not a significant accomplishment.
Muyiwa is a well-known music executive and the founder of BSB Management Agency. He has managed talents such as Tems, Omah Lay, and Nonso Amadi.
Media
Two former inmates have shared how the support of the Redeemed Christian Church of God gave them hope and helped them overcome despair while serving time in prison.
Speaking during a conference organised by the RCCG Prison and Hospital Ministry at the House of Favour Parish, Redemption City, Ogun State on Saturday, the ex-inmates, Saheed Adebayo and Bayo Adelakun (not real names), shared emotional stories of how faith and free legal support turned their lives around.
Adebayo, a 49-year-old Master’s degree holder in English Language, spent 14 years at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre over a kidnapping charge.
He told the audience that his troubles began when a personal dispute with a friend spiralled out of control.
“I had an issue with a friend who left his car in my care while he travelled abroad. Unfortunately, the car developed an engine fault due to an oil leak. I tried explaining through emails, but by the time he returned, someone else had wrongly told him I had sold the car.
“One thing led to another, and I asked a group of boys to rough him up; something I deeply regret. They detained and beat him for two days. That led to my arrest and I was charged with kidnapping.
“I regret everything. If I hadn’t walked away from God’s presence, maybe I wouldn’t have ended up in prison,” he said.
Adebayo urged youths to avoid bad company and stay committed to their faith.
Recounting his ordeal, Adelakun said he was arrested in 2020 and spent four years in custody standing trial for murder after a colleague died during a confrontation with him.
“On May 20, 2020, I left home for work and never returned. My colleague provoked me, and in the heat of defending myself, he fell and died,” he recalled.
While awaiting trial, Adelakun said he had a dream where RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, appeared and instructed someone not to handcuff him, saying: “Leave my son alone.”
Encouraged by the dream, he said he clung to hope and faith.
According to him, his breakthrough came when a legal team from the RCCG, led by Pastor Ariyo Popoola, took up his case.
He was discharged and acquitted on May 12, 2025.
Both men are among the 2,181 individuals impacted by the RCCG Prison and Hospital Ministry between May 2024 and April 2025 through spiritual, legal, and material support.
RCCG National Overseer, Pastor Sunday Akande, said the ministry’s mission was to bring hope to the forgotten and abandoned.
“We provide spiritual, emotional, and practical support to people in correctional centres and hospitals,” he said.
Popoola added that the ministry had continued its outreach despite economic challenges, working in remand homes, police stations, street corners, and old people’s homes.
“We’ve distributed food items, clothing, Bibles, and paid GCE fees for inmates. Many inmates enrolled in the National Open University have benefited from our support, and our pro bono legal services have led to the release of many,” he said.
The Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA), Makurdi Diocese, has expressed deep concern over the ongoing deadly attacks by armed herdsmen in Benue State. The association revealed that over 50 lives have been lost and 15 Catholic parishes have been forced to close within the past month.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the Chairman of NCDPA in Makurdi Diocese, Revd. Fr. Joseph Beba, strongly condemned the wave of violence, describing it as a calculated and coordinated effort to wipe out Tiv communities. He accused security forces, particularly the military stationed in the affected areas, of complicity and inaction.
“Among those affected are Catholic priests, and this has led to the closure of 15 parishes in Makurdi Diocese alone,” Fr. Beba said, decrying what he described as the military’s silence and passivity while communities were being attacked.
The priests detailed a series of recent attacks, including the shooting of Revd. Fr. Solomon Atongo, the priest in charge of St. John’s Quasi Parish, Jimba. Fr. Atongo was reportedly shot just 500 meters from a military checkpoint at Tse Orbiam, with no response from the stationed personnel. The community itself was later attacked.
Other communities listed as victims of the violence include Tse Orbiam, Ahume, Jimba, Nagi-Camp, Aondoana, Yelewata, and Abegana — all located within the Makurdi Diocese. According to the priests, these assaults have resulted in numerous deaths, including women, children, and even a pregnant woman.
“These acts are inhumane, barbaric, and a gross violation of the sanctity and dignity of human life,” the priests stated. They further suggested that the attacks may be linked to Bishop Wilfred Anagbe’s recent testimonies in the U.S. and Europe about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
“These attacks are a direct assault on the Bishop of Makurdi Diocese and the Catholic Church he represents. They appear coordinated and retaliatory,” they said, adding that the bishop’s home village of Aondoana was also attacked on May 25, with clergy and nuns fleeing into the bush for safety.
In yet another attack on May 26, terrorists invaded Nagi-Camp, only five kilometers from a Nigerian Army base in Agagbe, and still, there was no military intervention. The following night, Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area was attacked, with an entire family wiped out and Revd. Fr. Jonathan Ukuma narrowly escaping assassination.
The priests lamented the growing sense of abandonment, noting that neither the federal nor state government had visited the victims or shown solidarity, even as communities were displaced and religious leaders attacked.
“We are not sure whose side the military is on. Their behavior raises serious suspicions of complicity,” they said, citing the increasingly unsafe Naka-Makurdi and Taraku-Naka roads as further proof of the deteriorating security situation.
They issued a direct call to Governor Hyacinth Alia, urging him to act decisively against what they called “ethnic cleansing” of the Tiv people. They also demanded that President Bola Tinubu declare full-scale war on the terrorist elements identified by Governor Alia as foreign invaders.
“Failure to act decisively will be seen as indifference or complicity. To be silent is to die twice,” they warned.
The priests also called for immediate government compensation for victims and the return of displaced persons to their ancestral lands, insisting that the government’s constitutional duty is to protect the lives and dignity of its citizens.
Reaffirming their commitment to the gospel, the clergy said they would not be silenced and encouraged Nigerian youths to be prepared to defend their faith, farmlands, and communities within the bounds of the law.
“The right to self-defence is inalienable for all citizens,” they declared.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has stated that his pursuit of a second term in office is ultimately in God's hands.
The governor said this at a civic reception held in his honour by the Oha Isiala Ngwa; People of Isiala Ngwa North and South Local Government Areas at the Okpuala Ngwa Stadium, where he was endorsed by his Oha Ngwa clan as their sole candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election.
Otti, while expressing gratitude for the endorsement, said he would continue to seek divine guidance before making a formal decision regarding 2027.
“Just like 2023 was in the hands of God, 2027 will also be in the hands of God. While I appreciate your endorsement, which I understand to be a recognition of the work done so far, I will continue to consult with God, and in due course, I will make my position known,” he said.
The governor stressed the strategic importance of Aba to his administration’s economic development plan, explaining that investment in the city is aimed at increasing internally generated revenue to fund projects across the state.
“Aba occupies a central place in our development strategy—not just for Abia, but for the South East and South-South. The city’s economic potential is key to our vision for statewide development,” he said.
Speaking on infrastructure, Otti reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive governance and announced that the Mgboko–Ntigha road project is on track for completion by December.
He also addressed concerns regarding the citing of the Abia Airport project in Nsulu, stating that the decision was based on technical feasibility, not politics.
He reiterated that full compensation has been paid to all verified landowners affected by the airport project, while any unresolved cases are due to documentation issues.
He also welcomed new members from various political parties, including former members of the PDP and Accord Party, as well as representatives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, who formally declared their support for the Labour Party.
As part of his commitment to grassroots development, Governor Otti announced plans to upgrade the Sam Ihesiulo Stadium in Okpuala Ngwa to a modern sporting facility and directed the Commissioners for Works and Youth & Sports to begin the process.
Lawmakers including Rep. Ginger Onwusibe, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, and Hon. Collins Iheonunekwu praised the Governor’s leadership and encouraged him to seek a second term, citing achievements in infrastructure and governance.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Bode George has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s administration, claiming that there is effectively no government in place.
The PDP Board of Trustees member made this known in an interview with the Sun Newspaper.
The former military governor of Ondo State cited the current economic indices, stating that there is pain and anger in the country.
He said, “There is no government. I am not afraid to say there is no government. Look at the economic indices, the pain and anger. Now note that before, the southerners headed into western education while the northerners delayed.
"Now, the northern young men are university graduates. They are in every profession now. Education makes people easy to govern, but impossible to be deceived. All the internal insecurity in the North are the young minds reacting because they are asking, where is future.
“You asked them to go to school, they have gone to school, yet return to huts where they left for school. There is no hope, no job and money. They see a few very wealthy ones among them. They are asking where is the largesse of the money?
"That is why they are reacting and fighting. People say Fulani from outside are responsible. The northern GenZs are the ones fighting their leaders.
"I have listened to three intelligent governors from the North who came with the analysis instead of deceiving ourselves, let us look inwards and tell the honest truth, there is no Almajiris again because most of them are now educated.”
Priscilla Ojo Mkambala, the Nigerian actress, who is also the daughter of Nollywood star, Iyabo Ojo, has spoken about her life.
She opened up about her journey to finding love and her marriage to Tanzanian music sensation Juma Jux.
Priscilla made this known in an interview with fashion entrepreneur, Kiki Osinbajo shared on Kiki’s YouTube Channel.
She described her relationship with Juma Jux as pure, effortless, and deeply intentional, highlighting the overwhelming support they received from Nigerians.
“Nigerians are very supportive,” she said. “We just wanted to do something to have fun, and they could see the pureness in what we have.
"Everybody was just so positive — it was so good. It feels good to love right.”
When asked how she knew Juma Jux was the right person for her, Priscilla recalled a conversation with Pastor Ituah Ighodalo.
More...
Nigerian literary icon, Wole Soyinka, has praised former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, for standing his ground and refusing to withdraw for Bola Tinubu during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries in 2022.
Amaechi was among the over 20 members of the APC that battled for the sole presidential ticket of the ruling party prior to the 2023 presidential election.
While many others stepped down and backed Tinubu for the ticket, Amaechi, former Vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, Pastor Tunde Bakare and former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha were some of the aspirants that stood to the end.
Amaechi came second behind the President Tinubu in the election and have allegedly worked in opposition against the government.
The former governor, who is now fully in the opposition, is a key member of the coalition gearing towards unsettling and unseating the government of President Tinubu come 2027.
Amaechi and Bola Tinubu worked hand-in’-hand to remove the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP government led by Goodluck Jonathan back in 2014-15.
Both men dispensed their resources to ensure that Muhammadu Buhari emerged as President and stayed in office for eight years.
Soyinka, who was invited as the Chairman to Amaechi’s 60th birthday celebration in Abuja at the weekend, said he admired the fighting spirit of the former Minister of Transportation.
He said, “The main reason why I had to be here is, first of all is that I admire Rotimi’s fighting spirit, and it’s a very consistent one.
“The most memorable for me, because I watched this event live on TV all the way from Abu Dhabi. I wanted to see the drama of all the primaries going on during the election. I wasn’t really here, but I said, I want to watch this, this contest, and I’m glad I did because it gave me a great, most malicious pleasure, rascally, if you like, pleasure to see the incumbent president[Tinubu] being given a dose of his own medicine.
“Let me explain this, as we knew as he [Tinubu] was the last man standing when he fought to a standstill a former president[Obasanjo]who was maneuvering himself into a position of changing the constitution and becoming obtaining a third term.
“He keeps denying it but he and I know for a fact, and so do others, and towards that goal, he was sort of escalating the powers of the constituent elements of the Federation.
“And by the end, [Tinubu] resisted that effort. All the others had sort of cowed down because their statutory allocation had been stopped contrary to the Constitution.
“One man, he[ Tinubu] was the last man standing. Well, he obtained a dose of his own medicine from Amaechi during the primaries.
“I enjoyed that very much. While everybody was, you know, falling over one another, conceding, conceding, as one individual who got on the podium and he said, ‘No, I’m not conceding. I didn’t come all the way here to [concede].’ Thst one person is Amaechi. And I said this is what democracy is all about.”
Rotimi Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation, has stated that the opposition coalition can remove President Bola Tinubu from power.
Amaechi disclosed that he and a large share of Nigerians are hungry, hence the opposition can remove Tinubu from power.
Speaking during his 60th birthday in Abuja, the former Rivers State governor recalled protesting against ex-military Heads of States, Ibrahim Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Amaechi: “We are all hungry. All of us are. If you are not hungry, I am. So, for us the opposition, if you want us to remove the man in power (Tinubu), we can remove him from this power.
“As students, we organized the Tai Solarin’s protest against Babangida and we organized protest against Buhari – there was no North and South among the students.
“The protest that shut down ABU, University of Nigeria in Nsukka, University of Lagos and other places, the meeting took place in Kano.
“When we finished the meeting at night, everybody was told to go back to their school and mobilize. Once the NASS president addressed a press conference all of us were on the streets.
“You will see a young handsome Northerner and Southerner feel free and eat the same kind of food, but today we have poisoned the minds of our young men. They can’t even liberate themselves, we were able to liberate ourselves.”
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has revealed that he would have pursued some of President Bola Tinubu’s current policies if he were at the helm of Nigeria.
However, he criticised the present administration, alleging that the benefits of these policies are not reaching the public but are instead enriching private individuals.
Speaking in Abuja on Saturday during his 60th birthday celebration, the former Rivers State governor expressed concern over how Nigerian politicians prioritise the distribution of the nation’s resources.
Amaechi stated that Nigerian politicians lack capitalist ideals, which fuels the ongoing struggle over resource allocation.
He said, “In Nigeria, there are no capitalist ideas among the politicians; the quarrel among the elites is about sharing.
“We want to submit to the opposition if it can lead us out of this problem, and for the opposition to lead us out, we must all agree to prioritise the nation’s interest first.
“If I were president, yes, I would pursue some of the policies they are pursuing, but ask what the failure is: the failure is that the gains of those policies are in their private pockets.
“At one point, we were paying between four to five trillion naira as subsidy; where is the money now? If it had been injected into the economy, you would not be hearing complaints.”
Forbes has released its latest list of the world’s wealthiest individuals as of 1 June 2025, with Elon Musk reclaiming the top spot.
Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, X) leads with a net worth of $423 billion.
He is followed by Mark Zuckerberg (Meta) with $224 billion, and Jeff Bezos (Amazon) with $220 billion.
Larry Ellison (Oracle) holds $206 billion, Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway) has $158 billion, and Bernard Arnault (LVMH) stands at $144 billion.
Larry Page and Sergey Brin (Google) have $142 billion and $136 billion respectively.
Steve Ballmer (Microsoft, LA Clippers, investments) is worth $133 billion, just ahead of Amancio Ortega (Inditex/Zara) with $124 billion.
The Tesla and SpaceX chief executive now holds an estimated net worth of $423 billion, following a substantial $36 billion increase in May alone.
According to Forbes, the surge in Musk’s wealth was driven by a 23% rise in Tesla shares, spurred by the announcement of its upcoming robotaxi launch and his departure from a high-profile government advisory role.
Forbes noted that this combination “further cemented Musk’s status as the world’s wealthiest person by far.”
Mark Zuckerberg climbed into second place with a net worth of $224 billion, overtaking Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who now ranks third with $220 billion.
Zuckerberg’s leap came on the back of an 18% rise in Meta’s share price, while Bezos saw a $19 billion gain amid an 11% increase in Amazon’s stock.
The top 10 list reflects a strong month for technology billionaires, as stock markets rebounded from April’s volatility.
The Nasdaq and S&P 500 rose 10% and 6% respectively in May, boosted by robust corporate earnings, easing trade tensions, and a slight recovery in U.S. consumer confidence.
Larry Ellison remains in fourth position with a net worth of $206 billion, followed by Warren Buffett at $158 billion.
However, Forbes stated Buffett was the biggest loser this month, dropping $9 billion after announcing plans to step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Shares of the conglomerate fell 5% in response.
French luxury magnate Bernard Arnault, now in sixth place with $144 billion, also saw his net worth slip by $3 billion as shares in LVMH dipped 2%.
Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin took the seventh and eighth spots, with $142 billion and $136 billion respectively.
Steve Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO, moved up to ninth place with $133 billion, overtaking Spanish retail mogul Amancio Ortega, who rounds out the top ten at $124 billion.
Ballmer’s wealth increased by $15 billion due to a 16% jump in Microsoft’s stock price. In contrast, Ortega’s fortune saw only a modest $600 million rise, as Inditex shares remained largely flat.
Collectively, the top ten richest people in the world are now worth a combined $1.9 trillion, up $140 billion from the beginning of May.