Author: CSNews

Idris to North Central: Let TETFund Turn Your Classrooms Into Economic Engines

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The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said the Federal Government’s investment in tertiary education through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund will help unlock the North Central region’s vast agricultural, mineral and energy potential, speaking at the 2026 TETFund North Central Zonal Town Hall Meeting in Lokoja, Kogi State. Idris said universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the zone must be tied directly to its development needs, producing scientists, engineers, agricultural experts, technicians and entrepreneurs capable of unlocking the region’s opportunities. He pointed to the 2026 TETFund intervention as proof of that commitment, with roughly N2.53 billion allocated to each public university, N1.87 billion to each polytechnic and N2.06 billion to each college of education. He described the figures as more than budget lines, representing laboratories that can be equipped, lecture halls that can be built and research that can be supported, while pressing institutions to focus not only on churning out graduates but on research, innovation and job creation. He also highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, technical education and digital skills programmes as tools widening opportunity for young Nigerians, calling education both an economic and a national security investment. Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo said tertiary institutions must move beyond producing graduates to becoming centres of practical solutions, calling for research that tackles real problems in agriculture, mining, healthcare, manufacturing and renewable energy rather than staying confined to theory. Idris urged TETFund to keep its intervention funds transparent and closely monitored and called on stakeholders to ensure the town hall’s recommendations translate into measurable action. The meeting drew the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, represented by Prof Babatunde Bernard, former Kogi Governor Captain Idris Wada, and TETFund Board of Trustees Chairman Rt Hon Aminu Bello Masari, among other dignitaries. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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Fake Canadian Visas, Real Millions Lost: Trio Docked in Ibadan Travel Scam

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The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned Emmanuel Serah Motunrayo, Awotunde Olugbenga and Idowu Olugbemi Sunday before the Oyo State High Court over an alleged Canadian visa scam that swindled victims of tens of millions of naira. Motunrayo and Olugbenga face a forty-seven-count charge covering forgery, uttering false documents and obtaining money by false pretense, tied to N23,404,600 taken from their victims. Prosecutors allege the pair posed as Abuja based travel and immigration agents, promising to secure Canadian visas and flight arrangements, then collected N12,368,100 from one victim, Oluwatobi Adeoluwa Iyanda, and N11,036,500 from another, Oyewale Tunji Bello, before reneging on the deal. Investigators say the duo went as far as forging a Canadian visa in Iyanda’s name and uttering a second forged visa in Bello’s name to keep the scheme convincing. Both defendants pleaded not guilty, prompting prosecuting counsel Mohammed Abideen to ask for a trial date and their remand, while defense counsel Jimoh Wasiu told the court bail applications had already been filed. Justice Adetujoye adjourned the matter to August 26, 2026, for the bail hearing and ordered both men held at Agodi Correctional Centre in the meantime. In a related case, the same EFCC directorate had earlier arraigned Idowu Olugbemi Sunday before the same court on August 17 for defrauding victim Okanlawon Tunji Ajao of N6,650,000 under a similar promise of securing Canadian visas for him and his family. The cases add to a growing list of visa scam prosecutions out of Ibadan, as fraudsters continue to exploit Nigerians’ desperation to travel abroad. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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Thirty Years On, Sanwo Olu Honours 506 Local Government Foot Soldiers

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Lagos State Government has honoured 506 officers of the Unified Local Government Service for their years of dedication at the 2026 Long Service Merit Award Ceremony, pledging continued investment in workforce development across the grassroots civil service. Speaking at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu, represented by Deputy Governor Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, praised the awardees for their perseverance and professionalism, describing their service as part of Lagos State’s institutional history. He said the Unified Local Government Service remains the point where most residents interact directly with government, spanning the state’s 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas. The Governor called for a stronger, more professionally equipped public service to match Lagos’ fast growing population and rising demand for services, urging younger officers to draw lessons from the careers of those honoured. He said the government would deepen investment in training and a planned e library to keep public servants equipped for citizens increasingly demanding faster, digitally capable government. Head of Service Bode Agoro commended the state for sustaining the award and urged officers to keep upskilling in response to changing policies and technology, while also reminding them to prioritise their health and make use of the Ilera Eko health policy that government co funds monthly. Permanent Secretary Toyin Ogunlana, in her welcome address, described the ceremony as a chance to celebrate officers who had served the state for over three decades with diligence and resilience. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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N540bn Bet on Better Healthcare: FEC Greenlights National Hospital Overhaul, New Cancer Centre

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The Federal Executive Council has approved infrastructure projects worth roughly N540 billion to transform the National Hospital, Abuja into a quaternary healthcare institution and to build a new national cancer treatment centre. Health Minister Ali Pate announced the breakdown, which includes N18.74 million to refit the hospital’s administrative block, N64.92 billion for modular clinics and a theatre complex, and N103 billion for a new hospital wing expected to be completed within 24 months. A further N69 billion has been earmarked for a Neuroscience Institute covering neurosurgery, radiology and rehabilitation, while the largest chunk, N302.3 billion, will fund a new National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment facility over 36 months. Pate said the National Hospital, established about 25 years ago, had fallen short of its original vision due to years of underinvestment, and framed the new projects as part of President Tinubu’s directive to strengthen healthcare infrastructure nationwide. He clarified that funding for the projects comes through National Assembly appropriations already reflected in the 2025 and 2026 budgets rather than direct allocation from the ministry. Pate described quality healthcare as requiring sustained investment, saying the administration’s goal is visible transformation at both the National Hospital and the new cancer centre. The approval marks one of the biggest single healthcare infrastructure commitments announced by the Federal Government this year. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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N990m Forex Deal Gone Wrong Lands Brookfield Boss in Court

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 has arraigned Olatunji Oluwaseun Adebola, Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Group Holdings and known by the alias Whitelion, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama over an alleged N990 million fraud. Adebola, alongside his company Brookfield Mining Limited, faces a four-count charge covering conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and dishonest misappropriation of funds. The case followed a petition filed through BB Dan Habu and Co Solicitors, alleging that the defendants collected the funds from a client under the guise of facilitating a foreign exchange transaction worth $750,000. Adebola pleaded not guilty when the charges were read. Prosecuting counsel Oluwakemi Yemi Makinde asked the court for a trial date and his remand, while defence counsel informed the court of a pending bail application. Ruling on the application, Justice Ngozi ordered Adebola to produce two sureties, one a civil servant on Grade Level 15 and the other a civil servant who owns landed property in Abuja. The matter was adjourned to September 15, 2026 for further proceedings. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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Uniform Off, Gratitude Never Fades: CDS Takes Welfare Message to Northeast Veterans

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The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has reaffirmed the Defence Headquarters’ commitment to the welfare and dignity of Nigeria’s veterans during an interactive session with retired personnel from the Northeast Zone in Yola, Adamawa State, the second in a series of planned zonal consultations. Addressing concerns over salary increments, Oluyede assured veterans the exercise is fully inclusive, explaining that implementation is ongoing and that adjustments to serving personnel’s pay carry a consequential increase to veterans’ pensions under existing policy. He outlined ongoing welfare initiatives, including a partnership with the Bank of Industry to give serving and retired personnel and their families access to low interest business loans, alongside the construction of a Defence Hospital that will reserve a share of its capacity for veterans. He said both initiatives carry the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Commander in Chief. Veterans used the session to raise other welfare concerns, which the CDS addressed directly, promising continued attention going forward. The engagement drew veteran leaders including RANAO President Major General HA Salihu (rtd), Major General LP Ngubane (rtd) and Air Vice Marshal NE Nzokala (rtd), with the RANAO President thanking the CDS and urging fellow veterans to support the leadership’s welfare efforts. Closing the session, Oluyede paid tribute to the veterans’ sacrifices, saying the nation’s gratitude for those who served will never fade. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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Your Data, Your State: NDPC Pushes Governors to Lock Down Personal Information

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The Nigeria Data Protection Commission and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum have joined forces to strengthen data governance at the state level, responding to the massive daily exchange of personal data driven by Nigeria’s expanding digital economy. The collaboration centers on a two-day workshop in Abuja focused on the NDPC Act General Implementation Directive of 2025 for state governments, given that states remain the primary custodians of sensitive biometric and personal data captured through civil service records, resident registration agencies and local health programmers. National Commissioner of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, alongside Kano State Deputy Governor Murtala Sule Garo and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Nadungu Gagare, stressed that data compliance must now become a built-in institutional capacity rather than an afterthought, extending modern protection standards beyond federal agencies into state level governance. The workshop has brought together delegates from ministries, departments and agencies across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, working alongside data privacy experts to share experiences and identify practical fixes for better data management. The push is aimed at protecting citizens’ personal information, closing regional gaps in enforcement and building public trust in Nigeria’s fast growing digital economy. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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US Praises NDLEA Over Drug War Wins, Signals More Support Ahead

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The International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau has commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for its recent operational successes, pledging continued support for the fight against drug trafficking in Nigeria. At a meeting held at NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, INL Nigeria Country Director Derek Tolliver congratulated the agency’s leadership, describing its recent achievements as phenomenal. He said the United States government remains committed to deepening the existing partnership and advancing joint programmes with the NDLEA. NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa, highlighted the impact of vehicles and modern forensic equipment donated by the US, particularly in aiding investigations into illicit drug production across the country. Marwa appealed for further American support, especially in logistics, operational equipment and training, as the agency intensifies its campaign against drug trafficking and illicit drug production nationwide. The exchange underscores the growing role of US backing in Nigeria’s anti-narcotics efforts, as the NDLEA leans on international partnerships to sustain the momentum of its recent operations. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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Fixing the Skills Gap: Alausa Launches Overhaul of Nigeria’s Technical Education Board

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Nigeria’s technical and vocational education system is buckling under outdated curricula and thin funding, with more than 55 per cent of assessed programmes described as no longer fit for purpose even as 93 per cent of the workforce operates in informal employment and roughly 12 per cent of young people sit outside education, jobs or training altogether. Against that backdrop, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has begun repositioning the Monotechnic and Technical Education Board, known as MBTE, to strengthen its ability to supervise and coordinate polytechnics, monotechnics and other technical institutions across the country. A KPMG led assessment is currently underway to pinpoint institutional gaps and design a functional organisational structure and operational framework for the agency, part of a broader push to turn MBTE into what Alausa calls a fit for purpose body capable of driving practical skills, industry relevance, employability and productivity. Alausa said polytechnic education sits at the heart of the wider TVET ecosystem, pointing to an ongoing curriculum review backed by one billion naira from TETFund that has already produced 27 new National Occupational Standards and revised four existing ones, taking the total to 31. The standards are meant to map out a clearer skills pathway running from artisan level training through National Certificate, OND and HND programmes. KPMG Partner and Head of Tax, Regulatory and People Services, Adewale Ajayi, noted that despite the system’s structural troubles, Nigeria still performs strongly on graduate employability, ranking second only to Singapore among the markets assessed. The reform effort signals growing pressure on Abuja to align technical education with the realities of an economy where formal jobs remain scarce and youth unemployment continues to weigh on national development. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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IGP Tells Vanguard at 40: Police and Press Must Be Partners, Not Just Source and Reporter

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Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, attended the public presentation of the Vanguard Chronology at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, an event marking the newspaper’s 40th anniversary under the theme Fighting Insecurity in Nigeria, The Need for Media Collaboration. The event drew dignitaries from politics, business, diplomacy, security and media. As guest speaker, the IGP praised Vanguard Media Limited’s enduring legacy, singling out founder and publisher Sam Amuka as a benchmark figure in Nigerian journalism. Disu argued that national security is not the exclusive business of law enforcement but a shared responsibility, insisting the relationship between police and press must grow beyond the traditional source and reporter dynamic into a genuine strategic partnership. He warned against the dangers of misinformation and disinformation in security reporting, calling for credible journalism, media literacy and swift official communication to counter false narratives. The IGP also pressed for accountability and transparency in handling cases of personnel misconduct, noting that a partnership cannot survive if one side demands cooperation while resisting scrutiny. Describing public trust as one of the Force’s most valuable assets, Disu urged media stakeholders to deepen collaboration with the police, framing a secure Nigeria as a victory shared by all. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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