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Activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has said the last administration of Muhammadu Buhari and the current government of President Bola Tinubu enabled Fulani terrorists to overtake Nigeria.

Farotimi stated this on Wednesday in an interview on State Affairs, a podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo.

He was reacting to the worsening security situation bedeviling the country.

The author of ‘Imperatives of the Nigerian Revolution’ said, “It is Buhari, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Tinubu’s government that enabled Fulani terrorists to overtake Nigeria.

“The Nigerian state is so useless that at one time, an Assistant Commissioner of Police was murdered by a Fulani terrorist.

“The terrorist removed the uniform of the murdered senior police officer, wore it and sat on the table with the government at a peace negotiation.

“It is the impunity that has extended to the Fulanis that has made it impossible to deal decisively with the madness that has overtaken us.”

Buhari, Tinubu govt enabled Fulani terrorists to overtake Nigeria – Farotimi

The Federal Government has begun paying outstanding 2025 allowances to Nigerian students on the now-terminated Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme.

The BEA scholarship is a government-run scheme that places qualified Nigerian students into partner countries under bilateral agreements that covers tuition, accommodation and stipends are usually provided by host countries while Nigeria provides take‑off grants, supplementation and return passage.

The programme was the subject of major disputes and controversies, including non‑payment of supplementary stipends, alleged abandonment and suspension by the Nigerian government.

A statement by the Federal Ministry of Education’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, on Wednesday, disclosed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released the funds to Nigerian Missions in partner countries for immediate disbursement.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the payment covers half of all outstanding 2025 obligations to BEA scholars. He added that efforts are ongoing to secure the balance for beneficiaries.

“The funds have already reached the respective embassy accounts, and the affected embassies are expected to commence immediate payment to eligible scholars. Beneficiaries are therefore advised to monitor their accounts as payments are expected to begin reflecting accordingly,” Alausa said.

Alausa said the government had about N4bn in outstanding obligations to the students under the BEA scholarship programme after initially disbursing N4bn to beneficiaries.

He described the disbursement as part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to student welfare under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“This development reflects the unwavering commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to the welfare, academic progress and well-being of Nigerian students abroad,” the Minister said, and also commended the scholars for their patience.

“The Federal Government remains resolute in ensuring that no Nigerian student pursuing academic excellence under government scholarship schemes is left unsupported,” he said.

The ministry said it will continue to meet all legitimate obligations to government-sponsored students and sustain policies that promote access to quality education and human capital development.

The statement noted that the BEA payment follows the government’s wider push on education funding, including tuition-free TVET training, digital skills programmes, and support for out-of-school children.

FG Begins Payment Of Outstanding BEA Scholar Allowances is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to governance reform, institutional strengthening…

The post Tinubu pledges governance reform, institutional strengthening to boost service delivery appeared first on Tribune Online.

Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski has conveyed his eagerness to compete against the Super Eagles once more, prior to the announcement of Poland’s squad for the friendly match against the African team.

As reported by Polish media outlets, including Gol24, Poland’s manager, Jan Urban, is anticipated to reveal his squad for the forthcoming friendlies against Ukraine and Nigeria on Tuesday, May 26, just two days ahead of the commencement of the national team’s training camp.

Despite Poland’s inability to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Robert Lewandowski has no intentions of retiring from international football and has assured the coaching staff of his attendance at the May training camp.

The 37-year-old led Poland in their 1-0 loss to the Super Eagles during a pre-World Cup friendly at Tarczyński Arena Wrocław in March 2018, where former Chelsea winger Victor Moses netted the decisive penalty shortly after the hour mark.

“Regarding the June training camp, I will certainly be present,” Lewandowski stated in an interview with Eleven Sports.

“Given the circumstances surrounding Jacek Magiera, this training camp may differ slightly, as a tribute to the coach. It was crucial for me to express my desire to be there, to participate in these matches, and to bid farewell to him.”

Lewandowski has represented Poland in six major tournaments, which include four European Championships (2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024), where he scored six goals, and two FIFA World Cups (2018 and 2022), in which he scored twice.

Current Super Eagles players Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Francis Uzoho, and Moses Simon all participated in Nigeria’s victory over Poland eight years ago.

Nigeria vs Poland: ‘I’ll certainly be there’ – Lewandowski confirms availability to face Super Eagles

The Lagos State Government has recovered more than ₦450 million for consumers through interventions carried out by the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA)…

The post Lagos govt recovers over N450m for consumers through LASCOPA interventions appeared first on Tribune Online.

Sunshine Stars U-19 head coach, Adenike Ayeni, has commended his players’ determination in the victory over Niger Tornadoes.

The Akure-based side stunned Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, side Niger Tornadoes 2-1 in a Round of 64 clash in Ilorin.

The victory sent Sunshine Stars into the next round of the competition at the expense of the NPFL club. 

Ayeni, however, promised to make amends on the lapses identified in the game ahead of the next round of the competition.

“I thank God that we defeated the NPFL side, but the victory was not without some mistakes, which we will address when we return to base,” Ayeni was quoted by Karenkossnews.

“We are going back home to work on some areas where we felt we did not perform well.”

Sunshine Stars U-19 will learn their next opponent after the conclusion of remaining fixtures on Wednesday.

President Federation Cup: Sunshine Stars U-19 celebrate stunning win over Tornadoes

Senator Shehu Buba Umar has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Bauchi State scheduled for tomorrow, May 21, 2026, citing alleged irregularities and violations of electoral laws and party guidelines.

The senator, who represents Bauchi South Senatorial District in the 10th Senate, announced his withdrawal in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Sabo Muhammad.

According to the statement, the decision followed what the senator described as widespread breaches of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, the APC Constitution 2022 (as amended), and the party’s electoral guidelines.

Shehu Buba alleged that the APC in Bauchi State had been engulfed in leadership crises involving key state executive positions, including the offices of the State Secretary and Organising Secretary, a development he said negatively affected the conduct of the ward, local government and state congresses.

The senator stated that despite several efforts by him and other stakeholders to resolve the issues within the party, no meaningful progress was achieved.

He maintained that his participation in the governorship race was guided by the APC’s principles of internal democracy and the rule of law as enshrined in the party’s constitution.

The statement quoted Article 7(ix) and (x) of the APC Constitution, which emphasises the promotion of internal democracy and observance of the rule of law.

Shehu Buba also referenced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s call for fairness and a level playing field for all aspirants ahead of the party primaries.

However, he alleged that the conduct of the primaries for the House of Representatives and Senate seats fell short of democratic standards.

The senator accused party officials of allegedly operating from undisclosed hotels in Bauchi State and releasing what he described as predetermined results without conducting actual elections at designated venues.

According to him, no electoral officials were seen at polling locations during the ongoing primaries, while aspirants were allegedly not informed about election venues, collation centres or the distribution of election materials.

He further claimed that only “prearranged winners” appeared to have prior knowledge of the process.

The senator said his decision to withdraw was reached after consultations with supporters, political associates, family members and stakeholders.

He urged his supporters and party loyalists to remain calm and steadfast despite the situation, while expressing appreciation to President Tinubu for his leadership of the party and the country.

Shehu Buba also pledged continued support for the president ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

Senator Shehu Buba withdraws from APC Bauchi governorship primary

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has dismantled a methamphetamine laboratory in Ogun state.

A statement on Wednesday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the operation led to the seizure of over 2.4 tonnes of methamphetamine and chemical materials valued at more than $362 million, equivalent to over N480 billion in the international market.

He said the industrial-scale laboratory was hidden inside a remote forest in Ijebu east LGA Ogun state and was allegedly operated jointly by a Nigerian drug cartel and Mexican methamphetamine experts.

“Through a clinical, simultaneous operation executed by the elite operatives of our Special Operations Unit (SOU), we have successfully dismantled a sophisticated, transnational methamphetamine production syndicate run jointly by a Nigerian drug cartel and their Mexican counterparts,” the statement reads.

“This network did not just traffic drugs; they were actively manufacturing industrial-scale quantities of highly lethal illicit substances right on our soil, threatening the national security and public health of Nigeria.”

Babafemi said NDLEA operatives launched simultaneous raids in Ogun and Lagos states on May 16 after months of intelligence gathering.

“The primary target was a remote farm located at Abidagba forest, in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State. This farm was being used as a massive, highly dangerous clandestine methamphetamine laboratory by the Anochili Innocent Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO),” he said.

Babafemi added that another tactical team simultaneously stormed a residence in the Lakowe area of Lekki, Lagos, where the alleged mastermind, identified as Anochili Innocent, was arrested.

“At the farm in the Ijebu forest, our operatives overran the clandestine laboratory in Ogun State, securing the perimeter and catching the syndicates completely off-guard,” the statement reads.

“Among those arrested are three Mexican nationals brought into the country specifically to cook this deadly substance, alongside four Nigerian collaborators.”

The spokesperson identified the arrested Mexicans as Martinez Felix Nemecto, Jesus López Valles, and Torrero Juan Carlos.

The Nigerian suspects arrested at the forest laboratory were identified as Nwankwo Sunday Christian, Igwe Abuchi Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor,

Marwa said investigators later arrested another suspect, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, at a property linked to the alleged cartel leader in Lekki, while operatives also raided the residence of another syndicate member, Emeka Nwobum, which allegedly served as the cartel’s stash house.

He said the total number of suspects in custody had risen to 10, including the alleged kingpin, the three Mexican nationals and six Nigerian collaborators.

Providing details of the seizure, Babafemi said NDLEA recovered 2,419.48 kilograms of chemical materials, including finished and liquid methamphetamine, toxic precursor chemicals and industrial solvents.

“The operation yielded a massive 2,419.48 kilograms (over 2.4 tons) of chemical materials, including highly toxic, volatile, and crystallized methamphetamine worth Three Hundred and Sixty-Two Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand Dollars ($362,922,000.00) in the international market,” he said.

“This translates to over Four Hundred and Eighty Billion Naira (N480,000,000,000.00). Imagine this humongous amount in the control of criminal elements!”

The agency also recovered a Toyota Tacoma vehicle allegedly used for operations at the forest laboratory and a Toyota Highlander seized from the residence of the alleged cartel leader.

Bauchi Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed concern over what it described as objectionable policy pronouncements by the Federal Government, which, if allowed to stand, will hinder the development of the country’s education sector. Addressing journalists on Wednesday after its meeting held at the Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Bauchi Campus, […]

The post ASUU expresses concerns over FG’s ‘objectionable policy pronouncements’ appeared first on Tribune Online.

Lagos State have inaugurated N10bn Lagos State Access to Finance for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), to expand access to finance for small businesses.

The Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, disclosed this on Wednesday during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

According to her, the initiative provides up to N10 million non-collateralised loans to cooperative-based MSMEs at a single-digit interest rate of nine per cent per annum through its LASMECO programme.

She added that the state had already released five billion naira as matched funding for the programme.

“LASMECO is not just a financing programme; it is a strategic economic empowerment platform designed to deepen financial inclusion and support enterprise growth.

“The programme has already been adopted nationally as a working model for MSME financing reform at the 16th National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment,” she said.

Ambrose-Medebem also said the state emerged as the top-performing state in Nigeria in the 2026 Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Ease of Doing Business rankings, as it intensifies investment promotion and MSME financing initiatives.

She said the ranking reinforced Lagos’ position as Nigeria’s preferred investment destination and Africa’s emerging business gateway.

She said the state’s strong performance was driven by improvements in infrastructure, digital service delivery, land administration, investor support systems and regulatory efficiency.

“Lagos has continued to demonstrate that a competitive and enabling business environment is achievable through deliberate reforms, institutional coordination and strategic investment.

“Our vision remains to transform Lagos from the commercial capital of Nigeria to the business gateway of Africa,” she said.

Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos had also intensified efforts to attract local and foreign investment through the “Invest in Lagos” initiative.

She said the `Invest in Lagos 3.0 summit’ scheduled for June 8 to June 9 would host over 600 delegates, including investors, policymakers, heads of international finance institutions and industry leaders.

“The summit is designed to close multi-million-dollar deals and position Lagos as the leading subnational gateway for capital flows, trade integration and infrastructure development in Africa,” she said.

The commissioner said the ministry had also unveiled the Lagos State Industrial Policy 2025–2030 to reposition the state as the manufacturing hub of Africa.

She said the policy focused on industrial estate upgrades, innovation support, infrastructure expansion and stronger public-private sector collaboration.

Ambrose-Medebem added that the ministry renovated industrial estates in Matori I, Matori II and Sabo, Ikorodu, to improve productivity and operational efficiency.

On export development, she said the Lagos State Export Readiness Programme (LASERP), organised in partnership with Afreximbank and ImpactHer, trained 253 MSMEs on export procedures and global trade standards.

She said 20 outstanding participants, designated as Lagos Trade Champions, were sponsored to participate in the 2025 Intra-Africa Trade Fair in Algiers.

“They sold out their products at the fair and secured export relationships that have continued under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework,” she said.

The commissioner said the ministry had also strengthened cooperative reforms through digitalisation, with over 3,000 cooperative societies on boarded the Cooperative Management Information System platform.

“The initiative is improving transparency, monitoring and data-driven policymaking in the cooperative sector.

She disclosed that the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency recovered more than N450 million on behalf of consumers during the reporting period.

She said the agency received 4,412 complaints, out of which 3,687 cases were resolved through mediation and enforcement.

Ambrose-Medebem said the government remained committed to sustaining economic reforms, strengthening investor confidence and expanding opportunities for businesses across the state.

“The direction is clear, the resolve is strong and the commitment is steady.

“Together with the people of Lagos, we will continue the journey from the commercial capital of Nigeria to the business gateway of Africa,” she said.

Lagos Unveils N10bn Loan To Cooperative-Based MSMEs is first published on The Whistler Newspaper