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The National Examinations Council, NECO, has alerted the public to the activities of fraudsters operating fake online recruitment portals for the engagement of examination supervisors.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, the Council said the fraudulent platforms are requesting applicants to submit details of their academic credentials and make payments before being considered for recruitment.

NECO clarified that it does not demand any payment from teachers seeking to serve as supervisors during the forthcoming 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal.

The Council also explained that, in line with recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on the Improvement of Quality of Examination in Nigeria, it has migrated from the traditional analogue method of recruiting supervisors and assistant supervisors to a fully electronic process.

According to the statement, qualified pensionable teachers on Grade Level 12 and above, who are at least 30 years old and interested in serving as supervisors for the 2026 SSCE Internal examination, are required to apply directly through the official NECO recruitment portal.

NECO emphasized that the recruitment process is fully automated and does not require the involvement of any third party.

The Council noted that the new digital recruitment system is designed to curb fraud, strengthen examination supervision, reduce examination malpractice, and promote fairness, transparency, and credibility in the selection process.

NECO further disclosed that more than 22,000 supervisors will be recruited for the 2026 SSCE Internal examination, which is scheduled to commence on June 15, 2026.

The examination body then urged members of the public to disregard unofficial recruitment portals and avoid making payments to individuals or groups claiming to facilitate the recruitment process.

NECO warns against fake supervisor recruitment portals

Spanish Segunda Division club Real Zaragoza have announced the signing of Nigerian midfielder Peter Ademo.

Ademo , who joined Real Zaragoza from Moldovan club Sheriff Tiraspol signed a four-year contract.

The 23-year-old started his professional career in Lithuania in 2022 with Dainava.

The powerful midfielder impressed in his second season with Dainava, scoring one goal and providing two assists in 19 appearances.

Ademo later earned a move to Moldovan giants Sheriff Tiraspol in 2023.

He struggled for regular playing time in his first two seasons at the club , and was later sent out on loan to Romanian outfit Dinamo Bucharest.

Ademo returned to Sheriff Tiraspol at the start of last season, contributing four goals and three assists in 40 appearances.

Transfer: Nigerian midfielder seals move to Spanish club Real Zaragoza

In commemoration of the 2026 World Environment Day, the Ogun State government has distributed 3,500 clean cooking stoves to women in the state.

The government also announced the development and utilization of Refuse Derived Fuel, RDF, as a sustainable waste-to-energy solution.

According to the government, the stoves reduce indoor air pollution, cut greenhouse gas emissions and offer safer, healthier, and more sustainable cooking to improve the well being of women and children.

DAILY POST reports that the clean cooking stoves were provided through a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Ogun State Government.

Speaking at this year’s celebration themed, ‘Inspired By Nature. For Climate. For Our Future’, held in  Abeokuta on Tuesday, Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director, Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, said globally, climate change remains a serious concern, arguing that traditional cooking methods cause indoor air pollution, health risks, deforestation and climate change.

Abiola-Awe who was represented by Mrs Dolapo John-Akhigbe, a principal officer in the ministry, added that the Federal Executive Council approved the National Clean Cooking Policy on March 25, 2024, and launched it at the 17th National Council on Environment, with the aim to give all Nigerian households and institutions access to clean cooking energy by 2030.

In her welcome address, the First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, described the initiative as a practical demonstration of climate resilience, public health improvement and women’s empowerment.

Mrs Abiodun noted that millions of Nigerians still depend on firewood, charcoal and other traditional biomass fuels for cooking, stressing that while they serve many families, they also come with significant consequences.

The First Lady also applauded the state government for embracing the RDF, stressing that as the state continues to industrialize, innovations as such will help achieve effective waste management and cleaner energy generation while supporting sustainable economic growth.

“Instead of allowing large volumes of combustible waste to accumulate in dumpsites where they contribute to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, such waste can be processed into alternative fuel for industrial and energy applications,” she stated.

In his keynote address, the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Ola Oresanya, argued that despite the progress made, challenges such as climate change, urbanization, industrial pollution, deforestation and ecosystem degradation still require stronger collaboration, innovation and sustained commitment.

Oresanya noted that the ministry is advancing initiatives to strengthen climate governance, expand environmental data systems, improve monitoring technologies, promote sustainable industrial practices, and deepen public-private partnerships.

He maintained that environmental sustainability cannot be achieved by government alone, and called for collaboration and collective responsibility.

“A major component of our climate strategy is the promotion of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) as a sustainable waste-to-energy solution. RDF converts combustible municipal solid waste into alternative fuel for domestic and industrial use, thereby reducing landfill pressure, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels,” Oresanya added.

He, however, assured that the ministry would continue to equip young people with knowledge and skills in environmental stewardship, waste reduction, biodiversity conservation, and climate action, to ensure sustainability for future generations.

Also speaking, the Head of Service, Mr. Olanrewaju Saka, asserted that the year’s theme is a call for all to learn from nature and adopt sustainable practices that will secure a better future for generations yet unborn.

He charged staff of the Ogun State Ministry of Environment and its agencies to remain dedicated, innovative, and proactive in the discharge of their duties, stating that environmental future of the state depends significantly on their commitment, professionalism, and integrity.

The head of service also urged the beneficiaries of the clean cooking stoves to make effective use of the appliances and become advocates of cleaner and healthier cooking practices within their communities.

World Environment Day: Ogun distributes 3,500 stoves to residents to combat climate change

Nigeria’s top cement producer, Dangote Cement Plc, is seeking shareholder approval to pursue an overseas listing of its shares and facilitate a potential offer for sale by its majority shareholder as part of plans to broaden access to international capital markets and deepen investor participation.

The proposals, which will be considered at the company’s 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM), form part of a broad set of resolutions aimed at enhancing the company’s corporate structure, governance framework, and strategic growth ambitions.

Under the proposed resolutions, shareholders will be asked to authorise the board of directors to explore one or more capital market transactions, including a secondary listing of Dangote Cement’s issued shares on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) or another recognised international securities exchange.

The company said the proposed international listing would be subject to obtaining all necessary regulatory approvals and prevailing market conditions.

The board would retain the discretion to determine the timing, structure and terms of any transaction.

In addition to the proposed overseas listing, shareholders will also vote on a resolution that could pave the way for an offer for sale of the company’s shares by the majority shareholder in both international and Nigerian capital markets.

The transaction could be undertaken in connection with a foreign listing or executed as a standalone share sale, depending on market conditions and strategic considerations.

Industry analysts believe the move could strengthen Dangote Cement’s international profile, expand its shareholder base and improve access to foreign capital, while potentially enhancing liquidity in the company’s stock.

As part of the resolutions, shareholders will be asked to grant the board authority to appoint professional advisers, execute relevant agreements, secure regulatory approvals and undertake all necessary actions required to implement the proposed transactions.

The company is also seeking shareholder ratification of actions already taken by management and the board in preparation for the proposed initiatives.

Beyond the capital market proposals, Dangote Cement is seeking a general mandate to continue recurrent transactions and business arrangements with related parties and associated companies in the ordinary course of business.

The mandate, if approved, will remain effective until the next AGM and is intended to ensure operational flexibility while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations.

The board is also requesting shareholder approval for the remuneration of the company’s non-executive directors.

In a separate special resolution, shareholders will consider amendments to the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.

The proposed changes include revisions to provisions governing share transfer registration and the removal of certain qualifying clauses in the company’s constitutional documents.

Specifically, the company is proposing an amendment to Article 5 to provide that the registration of share transfers may be suspended for periods determined by the directors, provided such suspension does not exceed 30 days in any calendar year.

The proposed amendments are designed to align the company’s governance framework with evolving corporate and regulatory requirements while improving administrative efficiency.

The resolutions come as Dangote Cement continues to consolidate its position as Africa’s leading cement manufacturer, with operations spanning several African countries and a strategic focus on sustaining growth, enhancing shareholder value and strengthening its presence in regional and global capital markets.

If approved, the overseas listing initiative would represent one of the most significant international capital market moves by a Nigerian-listed industrial company in recent years, potentially positioning Dangote Cement for greater visibility among global institutional investors.

Dangote Cement Seeks Approval For Overseas Listing, Share Sale Plan is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Emma Raducanu launched her grass season in style after ousting Anna Blinkova 6-0 6-3 in exactly an hour of play to comfortably progress into the Queen’s round-of-16.

Over the weekend, world No. 105 Blinkova won two qualifying matches to secure a main-draw spot.

Though the Russian had already gotten some feel for the grass at Queen’s, it was Raducanu who completely dominated the start of the match and claimed an early break for a 3-0 lead.

With the home star ahead early, rain started to fall and the match was suspended.

After the covers were removed and the players returned to the court, the 2021 US Open champion completed a bagel.

Raducanu, currently ranked No. 42 in the world, lost just six points during the first set. It is also worth noting that the former world No. 10 fired 12 winners en route to securing the opener.

By beating Blinkova, Raducanu secured her first win since Indian Wells and ended a three-match losing streak.

Raducanu Shines In Grass-Season Opener is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Kano State Police Command says it has arrested 345 suspected thugs and drug dealers during a series of operations aimed at tackling crime and illicit drug activities across the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the Bompai Police Headquarters in Kano.

According to him, the arrests were made during a statewide operation conducted between June 5 and June 7 across all 44 local government areas of the state.

Bakori explained that the intelligence-led exercise targeted identified criminal hideouts, black spots and drug distribution centres as part of efforts to dismantle criminal networks and curb the spread of illicit substances.

He said 187 of the suspects were arrested during the three-day clearance operation, while the remaining suspects were apprehended through previous raids and ongoing investigations.

The police commissioner noted that all suspects are currently undergoing interrogation and would be prosecuted where sufficient evidence is established.

During the operation, security operatives also recovered 270 dangerous weapons, including knives, cutlasses and clubs.

Large quantities of illicit drugs and substances were also seized, including Cannabis Sativa, Exol tablets and a locally brewed intoxicating mixture commonly known as “Suck and Die.”

Bakori attributed the success of the operation to the activities of Operation Kukan Kura and the recently established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), which he said have enhanced tactical response capabilities and visibility policing across the state.

“No form of criminality will be tolerated in Kano State. All suspects in custody will be subjected to due process, and we will continue to intensify operations until criminal activities become untenable,” he said.

The police commissioner commended the Kano State Government for its continued support and urged residents to assist security agencies with credible information.

He assured members of the public that all information provided to the police would be treated with strict confidentiality.

Bakori also warned criminal elements to stay away from the state, stressing that the command remains committed to protecting lives and property while strengthening community-based policing initiatives.

Police Nab 345 Thugs, Drug Kingpins In Kano is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s administration over what he described as excessive borrowing and poor fiscal accountability.

Obi said Nigeria’s total public debt has risen to about N200tn, which he attributed to what he called “imprudent governance” under the current administration.

He said the debt level represents an increase of over N100tn in three years, contrasting it with the approximately N49 trillion accumulated during the eight-year administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The former Labour Party(LP), presidential flagbearer in the 2023 election stated this in a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, saying the situation reflected a lack of accountability and transparency in the management of borrowed funds.

“President Bola Tinubu’s administration has engaged in remarkably imprudent borrowing, escalating Nigeria’s total debt to approximately N200 trillion. This represents an increase of over N100 trillion within a mere three years, a stark contrast to the roughly N49 trillion accumulated during President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure, which would have projected to around N80 trillion.

“As millions of Nigerians grapple with the shock of this unsustainable debt accumulation, the situation is exacerbated by the government’s reckless approach to borrowing and a profound absence of accountability and transparency in the utilisation of these funds,” he said.

Citing figures from the Budget Office, Obi said the government borrowed N11.89 trillion in the first three quarters of 2025 (January to September), exceeding its planned borrowing target of N10.34 trillion by about N1.54 trillion.

He said such an overrun should ordinarily attract scrutiny and explanation from relevant authorities.

“Under a responsible and accountable government, such an overshoot would necessitate rigorous scrutiny and explanation from relevant governmental bodies. Regrettably, this is not the reality under the current administration,” he said.

Obi further claimed that only N3.10 trillion of the borrowed funds was allocated to capital expenditure during the January–September 2025 period, representing 17.66 per cent of the N17.58 trillion earmarked for capital projects, leaving a funding gap of about N14.48 trillion.
He questioned how the remaining funds were utilised.

“The most disturbing aspect of the financial management fiasco under Bola Tinubu is that there is no explanation or information regarding how the balance was utilised or deployed.

“The question that Nigerians are rightly asking and deserve an answer to is what happened to the balance? Was it deployed for recurrent expenditure/consumption, for the entertainment of guests to Aso Rock or transferred to the Renewed Hope Agenda 2027 Election Campaign Fund?

“Nigerians deserve an answer on how our economy and resources are most unpatriotically managed,” he said.

Nigeria has faced mounting debt pressures since the Tinubu administration’s major reforms began in mid-2023, including the removal of long-standing fuel subsidies and unification of the foreign exchange market.

These moves aimed to correct fiscal distortions but triggered immediate inflation spikes, naira volatility, and higher living costs, while increasing the local-currency burden of debt servicing.

Tinubu had disclosed in May 2026 that Nigeria plans to spend about $11.6bn on debt servicing in 2026.

Obi Faults Tinubu Over Rising Debt, Missing Borrowed Funds is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The 2027 Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress,  NDC, Peter Obi, has uncovered stark impropriety in Bola Tinubu’s three-year reign and asks for an explanation. 

Obi, who took a holistic look at the borrowing habit of the APC-controlled federal government from the Muhammadu Buhari era, wrote in his X handle on Tuesday that;

“President Bola Tinubu’s administration has engaged in remarkably imprudent borrowing, escalating Nigeria’s total debt to approximately N200 trillion. “This represents an increase of over N100 trillion within a mere three years, a stark contrast to the roughly N49 trillion accumulated during President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure, which would have projected to around N80 trillion. 

“As millions of Nigerians grapple with the shock of this unsustainable debt accumulation, the situation is exacerbated by the government’s reckless approach to borrowing and a profound absence of accountability and transparency in the utilisation of these funds.

“For instance, data from the Federation’s Budget Office reveals that the Bola Tinubu government borrowed N11.89 trillion in the first three quarters of 2025 (January to September), exceeding the planned borrowing target of N10.34 trillion by approximately N1.54 trillion. 

“Under a responsible and accountable government, such an overshoot would necessitate rigorous scrutiny and explanation from relevant governmental bodies. Regrettably, this is not the reality under the current administration.

“Compounding this issue, only N3.10 trillion of the borrowed funds was allocated to capital expenditure during the same January-September 2025 period. This constitutes a mere 17.66% of the N17.58 trillion earmarked for capital projects, leaving a deficit of roughly N14.48 trillion, or 82.34% of planned capital expenditure unfunded.

“The most disturbing aspect of the financial management fiasco under Bola Tinubu is that there is no explanation or information regarding how the balance was utilised or deployed. 

“The question that Nigerians are rightly asking and deserve an answer to is what happened to the balance? Was it deployed for recurrent expenditure/ consumption, for the entertainment of guests to Aso Rock or transferred to the Renewed Hope Agenda 2027 Election Campaign Fund? Nigerians deserve an answer on how our economy and resources are most unpatriotically managed! A New and Productive Nigeria is Possible, and Nigeria will be OK!”

Ibrahim Umar 

POMR Spokesman .

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has disclosed that Senator Ede Dafinone, who represents Delta Central Senatorial District, and former Delta State Secretary to the State Government, Patrick Ukah, were among passengers onboard the Warri–Itakpe train that derailed on Monday and killed four in Delta State.

At least 24 others were injured in the accident.

The corporation disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday while providing details of the accident near Agbor, Delta State.

According to the NRC, four coaches capsized and one coach derailed while the train was en route on the Warri–Itakpe corridor.

The deceased were identified as two adult females, one adult male and an infant.

The corporation said a total of 442 passengers were onboard the train alongside 40 crew members, security personnel and service providers, bringing the total number of occupants to 482.

It stated that emergency responders, including officials of the Delta State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other local authorities, were deployed to the scene immediately after the incident.

Rescue and evacuation operations were completed by 6:30 p.m., according to the statement.

The Warri–Itakpe rail corridor is one of Nigeria’s major standard-gauge rail lines and connects communities across Delta, Edo and Kogi states.

The NRC said the injured were taken to hospitals in Agbor for treatment, while one staff member sustained a traumatic limb injury and is currently in stable condition.

The NRC condoled with families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

It added that the full passenger manifest had been recovered and that efforts were ongoing to identify all those affected by the accident.

The NRC further disclosed that a full investigation had commenced to determine the cause of the derailment.

Delta Senator, Ex-SSG Among 442 Passengers On Train That Killed Four is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, has declared that Nigeria’s transmission network is not the major bottleneck in the power sector.

He declared that the national grid can currently wheel 8,700 megawatts (MW), far above the country’s highest-ever power generation of 5,801.84MW.

Speaking at the ongoing four-day Parliamentary/Stakeholders’ Engagement Summit on Power Sector Reforms in Nigeria in Lagos, Abdulaziz said available data showed that transmission infrastructure has the capacity to handle significantly more electricity than is currently being generated and supplied to the grid.

According to him, while Nigeria’s installed generation capacity stands at 13,625MW, the highest power ever generated and delivered to the national grid was 5,801.84MW, recorded on March 4, 2025.

He said: “On the same day, the country also achieved a record daily energy delivery of 128,370.75 megawatt-hours (MWh).

“The implication is clear: the national grid can currently transmit significantly more power than has ever been generated and supplied to it.

“TCN has consistently wheeled all available generation, demonstrating that the transmission network is ready to support higher levels of electricity delivery,” he said.

Abdulaziz described TCN’s achievements in recent years, noting that the company had expanded Nigeria’s bulk power wheeling capacity from about 7,000MW to 8,700MW through strategic investments backed by the Federal Government and development partners.

He disclosed that between January 2024 and November 2025, TCN commissioned 82 transformers nationwide, adding approximately 8,500 MVA of transformation capacity to the national grid.

The TCN boss also revealed that the company had secured more than $1.4bn in development financing from international partners, including the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the French Development Agency (AFD), to support transmission expansion and modernisation projects nationwide.

He added that the company was advancing the deployment of a nationwide Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to improve real-time grid monitoring, fault management, dispatch efficiency and future smart-grid operations.

Despite the progress, Abdulaziz identified vandalism of transmission infrastructure, encroachment on transmission rights-of-way, inadequate funding, foreign exchange constraints, weak market liquidity and land acquisition challenges as major obstacles facing the electricity sector.

He stated that unlocking Nigeria’s electricity potential would require coordinated investments across the entire value chain, including generation, gas supply, transmission and distribution.

While affirming TCN’s support for the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, Abdulaziz called on the National Assembly to strengthen legal protections for critical electricity infrastructure, ensure adequate funding for priority transmission projects and support policies that would improve the financial sustainability of the electricity market.

He maintained that a reliable electricity supply could only be achieved through a sector-wide approach involving government, regulators, investors, security agencies and communities.

Transmission No Longer Nigeria’s Power Problem -TCN is first published on The Whistler Newspaper