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The Kano State government has allegedly directed each of the 44 local government areas in the state to contribute N15,227,272.72, totalling N670m to the Kano Emirate Council.
The amount is for the repairs and purchase of vehicles for the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi.
The directive, contained in a memo from the Ministry of Local Government, with reference number MLG/INSP/LGD/166T/6, dated March 25, 2025, was addressed to all the local government chairmen.
A palace official, who spoke to The PUNCH on conditiion of anonymity for lack of authorisation, confirmed the authenticity of the memo.
“The company has already been contacted, and plans are in motion to bring in the vehicles and begin the restoration of the vintage ones,” the source disclosed.
According to the memo signed by the Director of Local Government Inspection, Abubakar S. Dabo, on behalf of the Commissioner for Local Government, the approved amount would be deducted from the State/Local Government Joint Account to repair two vehicles and supply four new vehicles to the Emirate Council.
The letter, with the caption, “Conveyance of Approval for the Release of Funds,” sighted by The PUNCH read: “I am directed to convey government’s approval for the release of the aggregate sum of N670,000,000.00 at the rate of N15,227,272.72 per LGA from the State/Local Government Joint Account to repair 2 No. vehicles and supply 4 No. vehicles to the Kano Emirate Council through Sottom Snergy Resources Ltd as per below:
“Complete refurbishing of engine, body and interior of 1993 Fleetwood Cadillac limousine at N25 million and complete refurbishing and rebuilding of both engine, interior and complete body for Daimler D5 420 1998 at N25m.”
The new vehicles to be purchased are one Toyota Hilux pickup 2024 model at N98 million, one Toyota Hiace Bus at N98 million, one Toyota Land Cruiser VXR full option 2024 model at N268 million and one Prado 2024 model at N156m.”
The letter, which was also copied to the Auditor General, Local Government Audit, Kano State and all Zonal Inspectors, Ministry for Local Government, Kano State, directed them to ensure that all due procedures were strictly adhered to.
Reacting, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Alhassan Yaryasa, slammed the government for approving the money.
He said, “How can the state government approve this huge amount of money while the residents of the state capital and some other major towns in the state are grappling with water scarcity?
“This is a complete misplacement of priority. How can you spend this money on repairs and purchase of new vehicles for the Emir while other sectors need government attention, especially education and health sectors that have suffered neglect?”
Yaryasa, who was the former coordinator of Tinubu Campaign Organisation for Kano South, called on Governor Abba Yusuf to reconsider the decision and channel the funds to areas where they would be needed most.
“Emir Sanusi does not need new posh cars. Where are the ones he has been using since returning? This is a wasteful expenditure and Kano masses will not forgive them,” he said.
In a dramatic courtroom decision, four men-Nafi’u Isah, Haruna Ya’u, Nadabo Mohammed, and Sa’adu Musa-were each slammed with 40 years and six months behind bars for a vicious armed robbery and attempted murder spree that rocked Kunkurawa Village in Kano.
Justice Usman Na’abba of the Kano High Court declared the men guilty on all four counts: criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, attempted murder, and causing grievous harm—delivering a stinging sentence after the prosecution left no doubt of their guilt.
The convicts, who carried out the 1 a.m. attack on May 1, 2022, reportedly stormed the home of Haruna Shehu wielding guns, cutlasses, and sticks.
They beat Shehu and his family, leaving his son badly injured, before carting away ₦650,000 in cash.
For their crimes, the court handed down 20 years each for armed robbery, 10 years for attempted murder, five years for grievous hurt, and six months for conspiracy—with all sentences to run concurrently.
However, failure to repay the stolen ₦650,000 will earn them an extra five years in prison.
Despite denying the charges, the convicts were nailed by damning testimony from six prosecution witnesses and solid evidence.
The court’s verdict sends a strong warning to criminal gangs terrorising communities in Kano and beyond.
CBN's alarming cost explosion: Personnel expenses skyrocket in questionable financial report
AFOLABI
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revealed a disturbing surge in personnel costs, with expenses ballooning by a staggering 104% compared to 2023, according to the bank's recently released audited financial report.
In a concerning development for Nigerian taxpayers, the bank burned through an astronomical N595.9 billion on personnel expenses—more than double the N291 billion spent the previous year. At the group level, this personnel cost explosion was even more pronounced, jumping from N295.4 billion to a massive N608.5 billion.
The financial report exposes an equally troubling increase in total operating costs, which soared by 78% to reach N1.2 trillion, up from N673.4 trillion in 2023. Personnel costs alone devoured nearly half (49.7%) of the bank's entire operating budget, raising serious questions about fiscal responsibility and management priorities.
Despite claims of a "bullish performance," the CBN's deepening relationship with the International Monetary Fund raises red flags about Nigeria's growing financial dependence on external institutions. The bank's debt to the IMF has doubled to a concerning N5.07 trillion, while IMF's allocation of special drawing rights ballooned to N8.07 trillion.
More worrying still is the 37% increase in deposits, climbing from N38.23 trillion to N52.4 trillion—a jump that financial experts warn could severely crowd out private sector activity and stifle economic growth.
The CBN's attempts to paint a rosy picture by highlighting "improvements" in external reserves and cost efficiency ring hollow against the backdrop of these runaway expenses. While the bank touts its "strategic financial management," the numbers tell a different story—one of unchecked spending and questionable priorities during a period of economic hardship for ordinary Nigerians.
Even as the bank celebrates its exit from last year's N1.27 trillion loss to a surplus of N165.7 trillion, taxpayers are left wondering: at what cost? With personnel expenses more than doubling and operating costs spiraling upward, the CBN's financial management appears anything but "strategic" or "efficient."
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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that Nigeria currently has the highest number of malnourished children in Africa and ranks second globally.
Nemat Hajeebhoy, Chief of Nutrition at UNICEF, shared this information on Monday during a media briefing on the 2025 lean season multisectoral response plan targeting Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. The briefing was organized by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
According to Hajeebhoy, an estimated 600,000 children in Nigeria are suffering from acute malnutrition, with about half at risk of progressing to severe acute malnutrition—a condition that makes children nine to eleven times more likely to die.
Also speaking at the event, Serigne Loum, Head of Programme at the World Food Programme (WFP), stated that Nigeria has the highest number of food-insecure people on the African continent.
Their remarks came as OCHA launched an appeal for $300 million in humanitarian funding to respond to the growing food and nutrition crisis in Nigeria’s northeast.
Trond Jensen, Head of OCHA’s Office in Nigeria, said that of the total amount required, $160 million is urgently needed to address issues including food insecurity, nutrition, water and sanitation, health, protection, and logistics during the lean season.
“This is the absolute bare minimum that we need,” Jensen said. “It’s a paradox that while cases of severe acute malnutrition have doubled this year, our ability to respond has been halved due to the freeze in U.S. funding and cuts from other donors.”
As a result of the funding shortfall, OCHA has scaled back its humanitarian target to two million people—half the number supported last year. Jensen called on state governments and international partners to step in and help fill the funding gap.
This appeal comes just weeks after OCHA announced it would begin gradually reducing its presence in Nigeria due to financial constraints.
Dangote thanks President Tinubu for the revolutionary change in the Oil and Gas sector to save Nigeria
Admin
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assembling a capable leadership team at the NNPC, highlighting the appointments of Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari as Group Chief Executive Officer and Mr Ahmadu Musa Kida as Non-Executive Chairman.
Dangote said he visited the President to commend him for putting together such a formidable and professionally competent team, that is eminently qualified to take NNPCL to a greater height.
According to Dangote, the new management team brings a wealth of technical expertise, and all have managerial experiences that are essential for revitalising Nigeria’s most strategic public enterprise.
The new team, according to Dangote, under the leadership of Bashir Bayo Ojulari and Ahmadu Musa Kida, reflects the President’s strategic intent to drive reform and innovation across the energy sector,” Dangote said. “We are confident that this team will address systemic challenges, align with the President's vision of a $1 trillion economy, and reposition NNPC Limited for operational excellence and long-term sustainability.”
Reacting to questions from the select media over the weekend on his statement that he is still fighting for the survival of his $20bn refinery, and that he is determined to fight the cabals in the oil sector to a standstill. Dangote said his statement was not in any way connected to the new leadership of the NNPC, noting that the new leadership in the NNPCL, has been so far supportive in terms of meeting the company’s needs.
He revealed that the cabals he was referring to are some major oil marketers and traders who were bent on frustrating the efforts on President Tinubu in revamping the nation’s economy.
He noted that the recent activities and structural reforms introduced by NNPC Limited serve as strong indicators of the organisation’s renewed focus on transparency, efficiency, and accountability. “The calibre of individuals at the helm, and their deliberate, reform-driven agenda, demonstrate a commitment to fostering a culture of performance and professionalism,” he added.
With optimism, Dangote expressed confidence that the new leadership of NNPC Limited will propel the country’s energy industry to new heights and reaffirmed his group's commitment to supporting the collective vision of a prosperous, energy-secure Nigeria.
A prominent group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Conference of Professionals in the PDP (CP-PDP), has declared that there is no retreat on the move to expel the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from the party over alleged anti-party activities.
In a statement on Monday, CP-PDP dismissed media reports claiming that PDP governors had struck a deal with Wike regarding the party’s leadership and internal decisions.
Lagos Woman Exposes New AI: ₦450,000 Into ₦872,316 Per Hour
The group, through its Protem National Coordinator, Barr. Obinna Nwachukwu, said it had “carefully and professionally investigated” the reports and found them to be “incorrect and misleading.”
“These reports are being peddled by desperate anti-PDP elements who are alarmed by the growing loss of influence by Chief Wike in the PDP as the decisive May 27, 2025 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting approaches,” the statement said.
According to the CP-PDP, these elements are attempting to “mislead the media and sow confusion within the party” out of fear that Wike could be expelled for openly working against the PDP.
The group cited the FCT minister’s public alignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), his declarations of support for APC victories in upcoming elections, and his repeated public criticism of the PDP.,
“Their apprehension is further fueled by the uncertainty surrounding Wike’s future in the APC, where his acceptance is not guaranteed,” the group noted.
Reaffirming its position, the CP-PDP said: “There is no going back on Chief Wike’s expulsion. PDP governors, leaders, stakeholders, and the majority of party members — and even most Nigerians — are united in rejecting his continued sabotage of the PDP.”Nigerian political art prints
Asserting its commitment to internal discipline and democratic stability, the group insisted that Wike’s expulsion and disciplinary action against other pro-APC elements must top the agenda at the NEC meeting.
It said: “We stand with our PDP state governors in their efforts to stabilize and rebuild the party.
“Wike should leave the PDP alone. He should go and fully join the failed APC and face the looming political irrelevance that awaits it — a party whose hold on Nigeria will end by May 29, 2027.”
“No One Is Above The Law”: SERAP, HEDA, 54 CSOs Demand Akpabio’s Resignation After Court Upholds Electoral Fraud Conviction
AFOLABI
A coalition of 56 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), has jointly called for the resignation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Naija News reports that this demand comes in the wake of the Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the conviction of Professor Peter Ogban, over allegations of manipulating election results in Akpabio’s favour.
The appellate court sitting in Calabar on Wednesday reaffirmed Ogban’s three-year jail sentence, initially imposed after he was found guilty of altering the outcome of the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial poll to benefit Akpabio, who at the time contested under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reacting to the ruling, the CSOs issued a strongly worded joint statement on Monday, saying, “This ruling raises serious concerns about the legitimacy of Senator Akpabio’s mandate.”
They continued: “It is deeply troubling that the election which brought him to the Senate has now been judicially confirmed to have been manipulated. In any democratic society, such a development demands immediate accountability and responsible leadership.”
Although Senator Akpabio has consistently denied any personal wrongdoing, the coalition argued that the conviction of the electoral official responsible for declaring his victory raises serious questions about the authenticity of his tenure.
The CSOs urged the Senate President to resign to safeguard public trust and to demonstrate a commitment to democratic values.
“This is not just about one individual. It is about restoring public trust in our electoral process. Allowing the Senate President to remain in office under such serious ethical questions undermines democratic values and sends a dangerous signal ahead of the 2027 general elections,” the statement read.
They emphasised that the judiciary has taken a bold step by delivering justice, and it is now incumbent upon political actors to act accordingly.
Additionally, the coalition questioned Akpabio’s qualification to have contested the 2023 elections or to preside over the Senate, considering the antecedents of the 2019 contest.
“Having been a confirmed beneficiary of electoral fraud in the 2019 election to the 9th Senate, which he did not even complete due to his later appointment as Minister of Niger Delta, did Senator Akpabio have the legal or moral standing to contest for a seat in the 10th National Assembly, let alone serve as its President?” they asked.
The groups commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly former Akwa Ibom REC, Mike Igini, for leading efforts that resulted in the prosecution and conviction of Ogban.
They also called on key democratic institutions — including INEC, the judiciary, and the National Assembly — to use this judgment as a turning point to reinforce safeguards against electoral fraud.
In a final plea, the coalition urged the APC to uphold its democratic principles by launching a rerun or a revalidation process for the Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial seat.
“The judiciary has done its part. It is now up to the political leadership to rise to the occasion and show Nigerians and the world that no one is above the law, not even the Senate President,” the CSOs concluded.
Lil Kesh, the Nigerian rapper, has opened up about the challenges of achieving fame as a teenager.
In a recent interview on the Esther Show, the artiste revealed that his early success denied him crucial life experiences and opportunities for personal development.
The 30-year-old songwriter admitted that rising to stardom at 19 was “overwhelming”.
Kesh said while his career took off quickly, he missed out on the chance to “grow and learn intelligently” before being thrust into the spotlight.
“I blew at a very tender age. I was 19 when I got signed. I just turned 20 when I had ‘Shoki’. So, battling the limelight,” he said.
“I feel like that is not really talked about too much. But shout out to people like Justin Bieber that was vulnerable and was able to tell his story.
“My own too is similar to that. It is just coming to limelight an early age. I was also deprived of a lot of things. A lot of life experiences I could have learnt before I was put into the position.
“A lot of fun I could have had. It was overwhelming blowing up at that time. And also trying to maintain the brand over the years.
“I wished I had learnt so much before I was given what I had. Growth and intelligence overall.”
Born Keshinro Ololade, Kesh began his musical career in 2012, rapping among his colleagues in Bariga.
The former YBNL signee rose to fame after releasing the hit single ‘Shoki’ in 2014
Actress and filmmaker Eniola Ajao has shared her journey of becoming a mother at the age of 20, highlighting the challenges she faced due to societal expectations and stigma surrounding young adult pregnancy.
In an interview on the Talk To B podcast, Ajao recounted her experiences, revealing the fear and isolation she felt during that time.
According to Ajao, getting pregnant out of wedlock was heavily stigmatised in her community, leading to feelings of shame and fear of being labelled a “baby mama.”
She was worried about the possibility of never getting married and being ostracised by society.
Ajao kept her pregnancy private, confiding only in close family and friends, due to the societal norms and expectations surrounding early motherhood.
Ajao emphasised that while early motherhood wasn’t inherently shameful, the societal norms in her community made it difficult for her to navigate
She noted that her community valued education and career development, expecting young women to finish school and establish their careers before starting a family.
She said, “You know things are not what they used to be before now. Ladies at my age, then, their parents were always skeptical about not being exposed to so many things that were going on during that time,” she said.
“Having to get pregnant at 20 was a bit dramatic; you just feel like the whole world is coming against you. You probably want to kill yourself or die at some point, and you would probably not be able to get married again.
“So you want to hide it from your parents and the public. At that time, it was considered a thing of shame. Not that it was a thing of shame for me, but it was considered to be early.
“A lot of people got married at 17, but where I come from, they want you to finish your school, graduate, and do a couple of things. I was already in Yabatech when it happened.
“Thinking that probably you may not get married, somebody calling you a baby mama, and you do not want to get stigmatised. Just close friends and family members knew about it”.
Afrobeat singer Seun Kuti has shared his harrowing experience in the United States when a stray bullet pierced through the window of his hotel room.
He shared the terrifying encounter on his Instagram page, posting a video of the damaged window and bullet hole.
Seun, who expressed shock, questioned the perception of safety in America.
In the video, Seun Kuti said that he was in his hotel room, relaxing, when the bullet suddenly came through the window.
“I read somewhere that these are the civilised people. Tell me you are in America without telling me you are in America. I am in my hotel room just chilling and boom this happened”, he said.
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the statistical breakdown of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, showing that over 1.5 million of the 1,955,069 candidates scored below 200.
Only 420,415 candidates scored above 200, while less than 1% managed scores above 300, according to data released on Monday.
JAMB also noted that 40,247 underage candidates sat for the exam to demonstrate exceptional ability, but only 467 (1.16%) met the defined threshold, with further assessments pending.
The exam began on Thursday, April 24.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to check UTME results:
Step 1: Visit the JAMB Result Portal
Go to the official JAMB result-checking portal.
Step 2: Enter Your Details
Input the phone number used during registration or your registration number.
Step 3: Click on “Check My Results”
Your JAMB result will be displayed instantly. You can screenshot or print it for future reference.
How to Check UTME Results via SMS
Step 1: Send a Message to 55019
Using the phone number linked to your JAMB registration, send UTMERESULT to 55019. Make sure you have at least ₦50 airtime.
Step 2: Receive Your JAMB Score
JAMB will send your result as an SMS in a few minutes. If you don’t get a response, try again later.
After you receive your result, you’ll need to log into the JAMB portal to print your result.
Common Issues When Checking UTME Results
- “Result Not Available” Message
Your result may still be processing. Try again later. - “Result Withheld” Message
Your result has been withheld by JAMB. - Incorrect Phone Number
Only the phone number used during JAMB registration can receive results via SMS. - Network Issues
If you experience delays, check your internet connection or SMS balance before trying again.
What to Do After You Check JAMB Results
After seeing your results, here’s what you should do next:
Compare your score with the cut-off marks for your chosen university/polytechnic.
If you meet the required score, prepare for post-UTME screening or admission processes.
If your score is lower than expected, consider options like a change of institution or course.
Also, consider admission pathways like Miva Open University, where you do not require JAMB UTME to gain admission.
How to Print Your UTME Result Slip
Some schools require an official JAMB result slip for admission processing. Here’s how to get it:
Visit the JAMB e-facility portal.
Log in with your email and password.
Select “Print Result Slip”, make the required payment, and download your slip.
How to Check JAMB Admission Status
After checking your results, you should also monitor your admission status:
Go to JAMB CAPS.
Click on “Check Admission Status” and follow the instructions.
Accept or reject the offer once your school grants you admission.
All 133 Catholic cardinals eligible to vote for a new pope have arrived in Rome, the Vatican confirmed on Monday, ahead of the conclave beginning this week.
They will enter into seclusion in the Sistine Chapel at 4:30 pm (1430 GMT) on Wednesday, voting in secret until one of them secures the required two-thirds majority to become the next head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Summoned following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, the group — representing 70 countries across five continents — is the largest and most diverse conclave in the Church’s history.
At stake is the direction of the Catholic Church, a 2,000-year-old institution with huge global influence but which is battling to adapt to the modern world and recover its reputation after the scandal of widespread child sex abuse by priests.
The 133 so-called “Princes of the Church” who will vote — all those aged under 80, minus two who are absent for health reasons — will gather on Wednesday afternoon under the frescoed splendour of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican.
Voting once that day and four times a day thereafter until a pope is chosen, they will stay at the nearby Santa Marta guesthouse but are forbidden from contacting the outside world until they have made their choice.
They will inform the waiting world of their progress by burning their ballots and sending up smoke — black if no candidate has reached the two-thirds majority of votes, or white if they have a winner.
On Monday morning, technicians installed red curtains on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, where the new pontiff will make his first appearance.
At issue is whether the new pontiff will follow the popular Argentine pontiff’s progressive line or whether the Holy See will pivot towards a more conservative traditionalist leader.
Francis, an energetic reformer from Buenos Aires, ran the Church for 12 years and appointed 80 percent of the current cardinal electors.
But experts caution they may not choose someone in his model, with many warning there could be surprises.
Vatican affairs specialist Marco Politi told AFP that, given the unknowns, the conclave could be “the most spectacular in 50 years”.
‘Calm The Waters’
Cardinals met on Monday morning for the latest in a series of preparatory meetings, so-called general congregations, and will gather again in the afternoon.
All cardinals are invited to these, not just those eligible to vote in the conclave, taking the opportunity to discuss the issues that will face Francis’s successor.
“Nobody campaigns, for crying out loud. That would be extraordinarily stupid and indiscreet, and improper and counterproductive,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York.
“But you just want to get to know folks, and it works well,” he said on his own podcast.
Among the pilgrims and sightseers who gathered in the square on Monday, opinions varied widely about who could or should take over.
“Maybe more of Pope Francis than Pope Benedict,” said German visitor Aurelius Lie, 36.
“As long as he’s not too conservative (and) influenced by modern political leaders — (Giorgia) Meloni, (Donald) Trump,” he said, referring to the Italian prime minister and the US president.
“Maybe the Church will be thinking: ‘We need a tough pope now to deal with these people.’ But their terms will end in a couple of years.”
But Canadian priest Justin Pulikunnel did not hide his frustration at the direction Francis tried to take the Church, saying he personally sought a return to a more traditional leadership.
“Well, I hope and I pray that the new pope will kind of be a source of unity in the Church and kind of calm the waters down after almost a dozen years of destabilisation and ambiguity,” he said on Sunday.
‘Changing World’
The conclave begins on Wednesday afternoon and could continue for days, weeks or even months — although both Francis and Benedict XVI — who was pope from 2005 until his resignation in 2013 — were elected within two days.
Italy’s Pietro Parolin, who was secretary of state under Francis, is one of the favourites, as is Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Among the so-called “papabili” are also Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines and Hungarian conservative Peter Erdo.
But many more names have been discussed, and just like when Francis — then an Argentinian known as Jorge Bergoglio — was picked in 2013, a surprise candidate could emerge.
Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako of Iraq told reporters before Monday’s meetings that he wanted “a pastor, a father who preserves the unity of the Church and the integrity of the faith but who also knows the challenges of today”.
“The world is always changing. Every day there is news. The pope must read the signs of the times to have the right answer and not be closeted in his palace.”
The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation is set to host a two-day interactive session scheduled for May 20th and 21st, 2025, in Kaduna.
The organizers said the event aims to evaluate the progress made on electoral promises by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, deepen government-citizen engagement, and promote transparency ahead of the 2027 elections across the country.
In a statement released in Kaduna on Monday, the Foundation’s Director-General, Abubakar Umar, said the event is designed to bridge the gap between policy implementation and public perception, dispel misinformation, and address misconceptions about the administration’s initiatives.
He added that the session will feature high-level presentations and interactive sessions with key Federal Government representatives, focusing on critical sectors such as national security, agriculture and food security, infrastructure and social services, and governance and economy.
“This landmark event builds on the Foundation’s successful engagement on 17th October 2022, where frontline presidential candidates, including then-candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, presented their manifestos and made commitments towards the development of Northern Nigeria,” Umar said.
He noted that the event will examine the progress made in various sectors by President Bola Tinubu’s administration including, “assessing efforts to enhance safety and stability across the nation, evaluating initiatives to boost agricultural productivity and ensure food sufficiency, reviewing advancements in physical infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other essential services as well as examining policies aimed at fostering economic growth,transparency, and effective governance.”
The Foundation believes that such interactions are vital for sustaining trust between the government and its citizens, fostering unity, and promoting informed public discourse.
“We believe that such interactions are vital for sustaining trust between the government and its citizens, fostering unity, and promoting informed public discourse,” Umar added.
He continued that the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation remains committed to advancing the legacy of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, by promoting good governance, socio-economic development, and unity in Northern Nigeria and beyond.
“This event underscores our dedication to creating platforms that empower citizens to actively participate in the democratic process and hold leaders accountable,” Umar said.
He added that the two-day interactive session promises to be a significant event in Nigeria’s democratic calendar, providing a platform for citizens to engage with government representatives and hold them accountable for their actions.
“As the country continues to navigate its development challenges, such events are crucial in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance,” Umar added.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has released a comprehensive statistical breakdown of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, results.
The breakdown offers a full picture of the performances by Nigerian candidates in the examination conducted across the country.
According to JAMB, out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, over 1.5 million of them scored less than 200 in the exam.
It, however, announced that 4756 candidates scored above 320, 7658 candidates scored between 300 and 319.
In the statement accompanying the data, the Board said that 40,247 underage candidates were permitted to demonstrate their exceptional abilities.
JAMB further stated that only 467 of these candidates (1.16%) achieved scores that meet the threshold for exceptional ability as defined for the UTME, with their performance in the subsequent three stages still pending.