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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately direct

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, says the scheme is deepening entrepreneurship through targeted reforms and funding partnerships.

Nafiu said this on Sunday in Abuja while outlining efforts to reposition the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.

He said although unemployment was not a major concern at the scheme’s inception in 1973, its founders anticipated future challenges and embedded skills acquisition in its framework.

According to him, SAED has now become central to NYSC operations as the country grapples with rising youth unemployment and economic pressures.

“Today, we are more deliberate; we encourage corps members to leave service not just with certificates, but with practical skills for self-reliance,” he told NAN.

Nafiu said that the programme was witnessing increased participation, with more corps members embracing vocational and entrepreneurial training during service.

He, however, identified access to finance as the major gap between training and actual enterprise development among corps members.

“The issue is not training; funding is what we are now trying to address so that they can translate these skills into businesses,” he said.

Nafiu said NYSC had partnered with the Bank of Industry to provide financial support, including grants and concessional loans to corps members.

He said the bank gave the scheme a grant of N2 billion annually with eligible corps members able to access up to N5 million in loans at about nine per cent interest rate, which was a better deal than the 20 per cent of commercial banks.

“We are even engaging to see if that interest rate can be reduced further.

“Financial literacy has also been integrated into the orientation course to equip corps members with basic business and money management skills,”he said.

Nafiu linked the sustainability of the programme to the proposed NYSC Trust Fund, which was expected to provide dedicated funding for operations and youth empowerment and serve as an additional source of financing for the scheme.

“With the Trust Fund, we will be able to invest more in SAED and even provide direct grants to corps members from our own resources at zero to three per cent interest rates,” he said.

He added that the fund would also help address infrastructure gaps, including orientation camps and state secretariats across the country.

Nafiu said the scheme was also strengthening its enterprise base through NYSC Ventures to support training and generate supplementary income.

He said the ventures included farms, bakeries and water production facilities used to train corps members, particularly in agro-allied value chains.

“These ventures are part of our strategy to support skill acquisition practically while also generating some revenue, even though we are not a profit-making agency,” he said.

According to him, all proceeds from the ventures are remitted to the Treasury Single Account in line with government regulations.

He expressed optimism that improved funding would enable the scheme to scale up its ventures and expand opportunities for corps members.

“We are aiming for the skies; with more resources, we can do much more in terms of job creation and youth empowerment,” he said.

Nafiu reaffirmed that NYSC would continue to evolve its programmes to align with economic realities and equip Nigerian youths for productive engagement.

He said the scheme remained committed to reducing unemployment and supporting national development through entrepreneurship, innovation and strategic partnerships.

NYSC Expands Skills Acquisition Scheme, Eyes Trust Fund is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The University of Benin (UNIBEN) says it has achieved full accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for all its academic programmes for the first time in many years.

Public Relations Officer of UNIBEN, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, announced this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Benin.

She noted that the development, which marked a significant milestone for the institution, followed a comprehensive accreditation exercise by the NUC in October 2025 and November. 2025.

She said the exercise cut across the university’s faculties, schools and centres, with the results conveyed in a letter dated April 7, to the Vice-Chancellor (VC)

Reacting to the outcome, the VC, Mr Edoba Omoregie, described the achievement as a product of sustained hard work and institutional commitment to academic excellence.

“This feat reflects the dedication of our management and staff to upholding high educational standards and promoting academic distinction,” he said.

Omoregie commended the university’s Senate, faculties, departments and relevant committees for their diligence in ensuring compliance with accreditation requirements.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, in line with his five-point agenda.

The full accreditation status, which is valid for five years until 2030, positions UNIBEN among institutions with strong compliance with national academic standards.

UNIBEN Gets Full NUC Accreditation is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Operatives of the Kwara State Police Command have arrested two suspected members of a criminal syndicate involved in kidnapping and armed robbery after intercepting a vehicle with a large cache of firearms cleverly hidden inside bags of garri.

The suspects, identified as Emmanuel Jerry and Umar Abdulmumeen, were nabbed on April 10, 2026, along the Ajase-Ipo Road while attempting to enter Kwara State from Kogi State in a multicoloured Toyota Previa (described as grape, ash, and yellow). A third suspect, simply named Abdullahi, is still at large and being hunted by security forces.

According to the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, who addressed journalists in Ilorin on Friday, the operation was part of “Operation Harmony.” Intelligence led officers to trail the vehicle, resulting in the arrest of the occupants.

Weapons Recovered

A thorough search of the vehicle revealed 98 firearms concealed inside garri bags in an apparent bid to deceive security checkpoints:

•  20 pieces of large assault rifles (including magazines and ammunition)

•  78 pieces of AK-47 rifles.

The sophisticated concealment method involved hiding the weapons among everyday food items (garri) to evade detection on the highway.

Investigation Details

Preliminary investigations indicate that suspect Umar Abdulmumeen received the sum of ₦1,300,000 from the fleeing suspect, Abdullahi, specifically to procure the arms. The gang is believed to be part of a larger network involved in kidnapping, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms.

CP Adekimi praised the unity and professionalism of the security operatives, stating that efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining members of the syndicate and fully dismantle the group.

“The success of this operation demonstrates our commitment to securing Kwara State and the region. We will not rest until all criminal elements threatening the peace of our people are brought to justice,” the Commissioner said.

The arrested suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

This latest breakthrough adds to ongoing efforts by the Kwara Police Command to tackle banditry, kidnapping, and arms trafficking in the North-Central state.

 

Former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has raised alarm over what he described as a fresh plot to implicate him in criminal activities, alleging a coordinated effort to damage his reputation and keep him in prolonged detention.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai warned of “malicious orchestrations” against him, pointing to recent developments which he said indicate a troubling pattern.

The former governor recalled an incident on February 12, 2026, when he was allegedly targeted for arrest upon arrival at the Abuja Airport from Cairo, describing it as an early sign of the challenges ahead.

He further disclosed that he honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, after which he was detained and later transferred to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on February 18.

The latest concern, however, stems from a report published on April 18 by The Nation, titled “El-Rufai’s trial: Gunmen invade principal witness home.”

The report detailed claims by one Mohammed Umar Karage, a witness in an ongoing case at the Kaduna State High Court, that armed men had invaded his residence.

While acknowledging the civic duty of citizens to report crimes, El-Rufai’s camp accused the newspaper of going further to publish what it described as “false imputations” and insinuations linking the incident to the former governor.

The report quoted the witness as suggesting the attack might be connected to his role in the trial and could be an attempt to silence him, drawing comparisons with the controversial disappearance of Kaduna-based activist, Abubakar Idris Dadiyata.

El-Rufai’s camp rejected the claims, arguing that the publication was deliberately crafted to smear his image, undermine his pending bail application, and implicate him in serious offences.

“Any objective reader would recognise the clear intent behind these statements: to tarnish his reputation and justify his continued detention,” the statement said.

Maintaining his innocence, El-Rufai described himself as a law-abiding citizen with no connection to the alleged incident and revealed that his legal team has been instructed to initiate defamation proceedings against the newspaper.

The statement also alleged that since 2023, the former governor has been subjected to a sustained campaign of “innuendos and vilification,” despite what it described as his record of public service and contributions to national development.

It warned against the misuse of legal processes, stressing that the rule of law must not be turned into a tool of oppression.

“El-Rufai should be accorded full due process guaranteed by law to every citizen, and the persistent disregard for his rights must cease immediately,” the statement added.

Ogun State Waste Management Authority, OGWAMA has announced a partnership agreement with the Nigeria Police, Ogun State Command on proper waste management in the Gateway State.

Special Adviser to the Governor and Managing Director of OGWAMA, Farouk Akintunde made the announcement after he led his management team to a strategic meeting with the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni in his office at Eleweran, Abeokuta.

Akintunde said the partnership is in the area of enforcement of environmental and waste management laws which forbids residents from dumping refuse indiscriminately in public places such as roadsides and medians.

While thanking the Commissioner and his team for their previous cooperation, he said the new partnership will go a long way in solidifying the long standing relationship between OGWAMA and the Nigeria Police.

Akintunde maintained that the new friendship will assist the authority at enforcing proper waste management practices which will lead to a cleaner, safer and healthier environment in the Gateway State.

Responding, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, affirmed the command’s partnership with OGWAMA on its enforcement activities throughout the state, saying his men will enforce the Ogun State Environmental and Waste Management Laws and warned residents who are in the habit of preventing OGWAMA officials from performing their lawful duties to have a rethink as his men will not tolerate their unlawful behavior.

Ojajuni, however, counselled the management of OGWAMA to embark on massive advocacy, sensitisation and partners with non-governmental organization, schools, clubs and establish special waste marshals to educate the residents on proper waste management.

OGWAMA partners police on waste management

In a major intervention aimed at guaranteeing a steady power supply to the people of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos, the council has

…It’s Desperate Attempt To Gag Journalists, Media – Amnesty International

…Tinubu More Interested In Controlling Narratives Than Credible Elections—Atiku

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), demanding the immediate withdrawal of its controversial directive to broadcasters or face legal action.

SERAP also called on President Bola Tinubu to instruct the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, alongside the NBC, to retract the “Formal Notice” issued on April 17, 2026.

The directive, which targets broadcast stations and presenters, warns of sanctions over what the NBC described as violations of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, particularly in political, news, and current affairs programming. The commission cited concerns over the expression of “personal opinions,” alleged intimidation of guests, and failure by presenters to maintain neutrality, classifying such infractions as “Class B breaches.”

However, SERAP, in a letter dated April 18, 2026 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, described the notice as unlawful, vague, and repressive. The organisation argued that the directive amounts to a “dangerous attempt” to introduce prior censorship and suppress legitimate journalism.

According to SERAP, Section 1.10.3 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code—relied upon by the NBC—imposes a blanket restriction on broadcasters by prohibiting presenters from expressing opinions. The group maintained that such a provision is inconsistent with constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and fails to meet internationally recognised legal standards of necessity, legality, and proportionality.

“The blanket prohibition imposed by Section 1.10.3 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which prohibits presenters from expressing opinions. This amounts to prior restraint that impermissibly excludes commentary, analysis, and value judgments—the core of journalism and democratic discourse,” the letter stated.

SERAP emphasised that value judgments and opinions, unlike statements of fact, cannot be proven true or false in the same manner and therefore deserve a higher level of protection under both domestic and international law. It added that the ability of journalists to analyse, critique, and interpret events is fundamental to a functioning democracy.

The organisation warned that the NBC’s reliance on what it described as “multiple vague provisions” to penalise a wide range of presenter conduct creates uncertainty and opens the door to arbitrary enforcement.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 48 hours of the receipt and/or publication of this letter,” SERAP said.

“If we have not heard from your government and the NBC by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel compliance with our request in the public interest.”

SERAP further urged the Federal Government to ensure that the NBC and the Ministry of Information refrain from imposing any form of prior censorship on journalists and media organisations. It also called for urgent amendments to sections of the broadcasting code cited by the commission to ensure alignment with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

Backing SERAP’s stance, Amnesty International issued a strongly worded condemnation of the NBC directive, describing it as an “outrageous and desperate attempt” to gag journalists and the media.

The organisation said the notice imposes “unduly restrictive and invasive controls” on political broadcasts and current affairs programmes, warning that it could pressure journalists and media organisations into self-censorship.

“The commission has no power or right to tell journalists how to do their job,” Amnesty International stated, adding that Nigeria’s vibrant broadcast media play a critical role in enabling citizens to freely seek, debate, receive, and impart information.

It stressed that media independence is central to democratic governance and warned that any attempt to undermine it would erode citizens’ right to information as guaranteed under international frameworks such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Amnesty further accused Nigerian authorities of using regulatory institutions like the NBC in a sustained effort to silence dissenting voices and shrink the civic space.

“The Nigerian authorities must to stop using the NBC in an unrelenting quest to silence journalists and the media organisations that are crucial to ensuring independent and diverse media space that fulfill people’s right to information,” the organization said.

“The latest threat issued by NBC is authoritarian and unconstitutional.

“Broadcasters must continue doing their job fiercely and independently without fear.”

Adding a political dimension to the growing backlash, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the directive as “creeping censorship” and warned of its implications for Nigeria’s democratic process.

Atiku said the NBC’s advisory represents a troubling pattern of attempts to muzzle the media, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general elections. He noted that Nigeria’s media industry has earned global recognition for its resilience and professionalism, making the timing and tone of the directive particularly concerning.

“Our media industry has grown into a formidable institution, respected globally for its resilience and professionalism. It is therefore alarming that, each time elections approach, the NBC resorts to heavy-handed directives that do more to silence dissent than to uphold ethical journalism,” he said.

The former vice president cautioned against the selective enforcement of ethical standards, stressing that such principles should remain constant and not be “weaponised” during political campaigns.

“The timing and tone of these regulations expose a deeper agenda. It signals a government more interested in controlling narratives than permitting a free, fair, and transparent electoral process,” Atiku added.

SERAP Gives NBC 48 Hours To Withdraw Controversial Directive is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, has announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Shekarau disclosed this on Sunday while addressing supporters at his residence in Kano, stating that the decision followed extensive consultations with members of his political group.

He said the move was informed by internal challenges within the PDP and the need to align with a platform he believes offers better political prospects. He also ruled out joining the African Democratic Congress, which he described as lacking cohesion.

The former governor urged his loyalists to begin the process of formally exiting the PDP at their respective ward levels and proceed to register with the APC in line with party guidelines.

He added that he would soon announce a date to lead his supporters to his Giginyu ward in Nassarawa Local Government Area for his official registration into the APC.

Shekarau’s defection comes weeks after the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, visited Kano to engage him on joining the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Shekarau Defects From PDP To APC is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A former Group Managing Director of the New Nigeria Development Company NDDC, Mohammed Hayatudeen, has noted that a free and independent press is indispensable in a democracy like Nigeria.

Hayatudeen hailed as remarkable, the resilience and professionalism in Nigeria’s evolving media landscape.

In a statement signed by his media office on Sunday, Hayatudeen, who was guest of honour at the Independent Newspapers’ 25 year celebration, hailed the growth of media in Nigeria.

He outlined three critical pillars necessary for national greatness: the supremacy of strong institutions over strong men, the prioritisation of production over consumption and the building of trust as the foundation of governance and societal progress.

He stressed that strong institutions are essential for sustaining progress beyond personalities, while a productive economy driven by innovation and human capital development remains key to long-term prosperity.

Equally, he noted that trust, earned through consistency, accountability and fairness, is indispensable for functional governance, thriving markets and national cohesion.

Hayatudeen further underscored the central role of the media in building and sustaining this trust, describing journalism as the lifeblood of democracy and an indispensable mechanism for accountability.

He said, ”A free and Independent press serves as society’s early warning system. it shines light when there is darkness, asks questions where silence would be easier and speaks truth where power may prefer convenience.”

He concluded by affirming that Nigeria’s challenge is not a lack of potential but the need to consistently align its human and institutional resources toward a shared national purpose.

By strengthening institutions, deepening productivity and sustaining trust, he said, the country can unlock its full potential and make excellence the norm rather than the exception.

Free, independent press serves as society’s early warning system – Ex-NNPC boss, Hayatudeen