NECA expresses concern over new refinery deal The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has been urged to stop committing the resources of the state to the rehabilitation of the comatose nation’s refineries. The advice by the industry’s experts was triggered by last week’s announcement by the NNPCL, informing Nigerians about its new Memorandum of […]
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The Taraba State Commissioner for Secondary, Technical and Vocational Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin, has charged principals, invigilators and supervisors across the state to ensure a malpractice-free conduct of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Dr. Godwin gave the charge on the weekend during the WAEC 2026 sensitization meeting organised for principals, invigilators and supervisors from Lau, Karim Lamido, Jalingo and Ardo-Kola Local Government Councils. The meeting was held on Saturday at the Government Technical and Training School, Jalingo.
Speaking, the commissioner stressed the importance of professionalism, discipline and integrity in the administration of the examination. She noted that the Taraba State Government, under Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas, remains committed to promoting quality education and restoring public confidence in the examination system.
She warned examination officials and school administrators against all forms of examination malpractice and urged them to strictly comply with WAEC rules and guidelines.
“Taraba State must continue to stand out in academic excellence through hard work and credibility. We must collectively ensure zero malpractice during the conduct of WAEC examinations,” she stated.
On his part, the WAEC Branch Controller in the state commended Governor Agbu Kefas for his continued support for the education sector.
According to him, Governor Kefas is the first governor in the state to clear all 2026 WAEC-related fees, a move he said had eased the burden on parents and boosted students’ participation in external examinations.
The branch controller also praised the governor for donating a utility van to the WAEC office and for providing other forms of support aimed at improving the operations of the examination body in the state.
The sensitization meeting was observed to have attracted principals, invigilators and supervisors from secondary schools across Lau, Karim Lamido, Jalingo and Ardo-Kola Local Government Councils.
Former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, is seeking a return to the National Assembly ahead of the 2027 general elections after regaining his civil and political rights following conviction on bribery charges.
Lawan, who previously represented Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency in Kano State, has successfully scaled the screening process of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and emerged as the preferred candidate of party stakeholders from Bagwai and Shanono Local Government Areas.
His renewed political ambition comes after a legal battle that lasted more than a decade over his involvement in the 2012 fuel subsidy bribery scandal.
Lawan had chaired the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the multi-billion-naira fuel subsidy regime at the time. He was accused of demanding a $3 million bribe from billionaire businessman Femi Otedola to remove Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the list of firms indicted by the committee over alleged fuel subsidy fraud.
The former lawmaker was later convicted in the bribery case and served a prison sentence before receiving presidential pardon and clemency in October 2025 after completing his five-year jail term in 2024.
Point-of-Sale (POS) transactions are projected to surge to N8.96 trillion by the end of May 2026, rebounding from a dip in April, as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) continues its aggressive push toward a cashless economy. According to payment system data, POS transactions stood at N7.70 trillion in March 2026 before declining by 1.82 […]
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A part-time student of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, has been shot dead in his vehicle near the main entrance of the institution’s Ugbowo campus.
It was gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday under circumstances that have yet to be fully clarified.
A video circulating online showed the aftermath of the attack.
Reports claimed the victim had just concluded his semester examinations before the shooting, although this has not been officially confirmed.
Reacting to the development, the management of the University of Benin distanced members of the institution from the incident, suggesting that the killing may be connected to suspected cult-related activities outside the university environment.
The university expressed sadness over the incident and appealed to students and staff to remain calm and security conscious while continuing their academic activities peacefully.
The institution also assured the university community of its commitment to maintaining safety within the campus environment.
As of the time of filing this report, the Edo State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the killing.
A new China-Nigeria partnership aimed at accelerating electric vehicle production is drawing attention as Nigeria intensifies efforts to expand local manufacturing capacity and clean transportation infrastructure.
Launch Design Shanghai and Hybrid Motors Nigeria have signed a strategic cooperation agreement focused on electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly operations in Lagos and Abuja.
The partnership is expected to support technology transfer, local workforce training, and the gradual development of Nigeria’s electric vehicle supply chain.
The agreement marks a major milestone for Nigeria’s homegrown electric vehicle brand, “Acely,” combining local assembly with advanced automotive engineering expertise.
Under the agreement, the two firms will establish electric vehicle manufacturing facilities in Lagos and Abuja to accelerate the production of Acely, Hybrid Motors Nigeria’s indigenous vehicle brand designed specifically for Nigerian roads and consumers.
The signing ceremony, held in Shanghai, brought together key stakeholders from both companies, who described the collaboration as a transformative step for Nigeria’s automotive sector through innovation, local manufacturing, and sustainable mobility solutions.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Launch Design, Mr. Wang Xun, and Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Motors Nigeria, Mr. Jubril Arogundade, highlighted the significance of the partnership and their shared vision for the future of automotive manufacturing in Africa.
Arogundade said the Acely brand represents the convergence of local market knowledge and world-class automotive engineering.
“This partnership is more than a business agreement; it is a commitment to building Nigeria’s automotive future,” he said.
“With Acely, we are proving that world-class vehicles can be conceived, designed, and assembled right here in Nigeria, by Nigerians, for Nigerians. Our collaboration with Launch Design brings world-class engineering expertise directly into our operations, ensuring that Acely meets the highest international standards while remaining authentically Nigerian.”
Wang Xun said Launch Design was proud to partner with Hybrid Motors Nigeria in what he described as a transformative venture.
“Our turnkey engineering capabilities, combined with Mr. Arogundade’s leadership and Hybrid Motors’ deep understanding of the Nigerian market, create a powerful formula for success. Together, we are not just building vehicles, we are building an industry,” he said.
Launch Design Shanghai is expected to provide comprehensive engineering solutions covering vehicle architecture, manufacturing process engineering, design optimization, and quality assurance systems.
The partnership will establish manufacturing operations across two locations with a projected combined annual production capacity of 70,000 units at full maturity.
The Lagos facility, located along the Lekki-Epe axis, will serve as the primary production and assembly hub with an annual capacity of 50,000 units.
Positioned close to the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the plant is expected to support exports across Southern Nigeria and West African markets including Ghana, Benin, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire.
The Abuja facility, situated within the Free Zone Business Area of Centenary Economic City, will operate as a secondary manufacturing and technology centre with a projected annual capacity of 20,000 units.
The plant is expected to serve Northern Nigeria and the wider Sahel region while benefiting from tax incentives and access to northern trade corridors.
The companies said the dual-facility strategy would help reduce logistics costs, improve operational efficiency and create employment opportunities across multiple regions of the country.
The partnership aligns with Nigeria’s National Automotive Industry Development Plan and the country’s broader transition toward cleaner and more sustainable transportation systems.
Arogundade described the Shanghai signing ceremony as a defining moment for both companies and Nigeria’s automotive industry.
“With facilities in Lagos and Abuja serving distinct but complementary markets across Nigeria and the wider region, we are laying the foundation for a new era of mobility — one that is locally rooted, globally competitive, and sustainably driven,” he said.
Hybrid Motors, Launch Design Seal Deal For EV Plants In Nigeria is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has announced the commencement of a crackdown on fake pastors and prophets performing miracles in the state.
He disclosed that those arrested have been detained and that they were confessing.
Soludo challenged pastors and prophets claiming to be genuine to visit Amaku Hospital to perform miracles.
The governor made the disclosure while speaking at St. Patrick’s Cathedral during the All Knights Day of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, on Sunday.
He accused these false gospel ministers of deceiving vulnerable people in the state through their preaching of the “salvation without the cross.”
The governor charged church leadership in the state to harp on the fact that hard work pays.
Soludo said: “The state has commenced an ongoing crackdown on fake pastors who exploit the vulnerable by preaching gospel of ‘salvation without the cross.’
“As I speak now, several of them are already in custody and confessing.
“A new Anambra is in the offing, which must be clean and clear of such deception.
“We’ve arrested fake pastors and bishops. Whoever wants to perform miracle should come to Amaku Hospital.”
Ibrahim Shekarau, former governor of Kano, has been named as the consensus candidate for the Kano central senatorial seat.
This development comes after Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, successfully mediated a resolution to the dispute over the district senatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
A 50-year-old victim of an airstrike on Guradnayi village near Kusasu community in Galadima-Kogo District of Shiroro LGA, Niger State, Victor Solomon, said he lost three of his children in the incident.
At least 13 civilians, mostly children, were reportedly killed in the aerial assault on Guradnayi, one of the terrorised villages in the LGA
Residents said the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday as aerial forces pursued bandits riding on motorcycles through the village.
However, the Defence Headquarters denied reports that civilians were killed in the airstrikes.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, in a statement on Sunday, said the operation was conducted following intelligence reports indicating the convergence of armed bandits in Shiroro LGA on May 9, 2026.
Onoja said the strikes targeted terrorist enclaves and achieved their objectives, neutralising about 70 armed bandits in Kusasu alone.
Victims recount incident
Solomon said he was asleep around 5 am on Sunday when the airstrike occurred, leaving him with severe facial injuries.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Victor Solomon, who expressed doubts about surviving the incident, said he lost three of his children.
“I don’t know if I can survive this. I sustained severe injuries to my face. I am in pain. We need help from the government,” he said in a low voice.
Also speaking on the telephone, Gideon Bamaiyi said bandits had earlier passed through their usual route in the area before the airstrike occurred
He said 13 people, including seven children who were taking shelter in his elder brother’s house, were killed in the airstrike.
He added that six others were receiving treatment at a private hospital in Zumba, Shiroro LGA.
As of 6 pm on Sunday, Bamaiyi said five of the victims, including a little girl, were still unconscious in their hospital beds.
He said the hospital had demanded N400,000 for surgery on one of the female victims, and appealed for assistance for the affected families.
“Bandits had earlier passed through their usual route, and we had all fled. So, after they passed, some people returned home. The airstrike occurred around 5 am when people were still sleeping.
“In my elder brother’s house, 13 people lost their lives, including children, because one of the bombs landed on the house. Nobody survived.
“My elder brother had already left the house when the incident happened; otherwise, he would have been a victim too.
“Currently, we have six people, including three women, a little girl, a little boy and a man, critically injured. In fact, five of them are still unconscious,” he said.
Auta Awododo, a resident of Kusasu, told Premium Times that one of those killed was his cousin’s son.
He said terrorists may have been killed in the airstrikes, but innocent civilians also lost their lives.
“The military first dropped a bomb near the river in Kusasu. The second bomb was dropped in Guradnayi,” another resident, who did not want to be named, said.
“Even though terrorists were killed in the assault, the operation did not deter them from their mission,” a security source told Premium Times.
“As I speak to you now, they (terrorists) are operating in Kabula near Kuchi. There is no confirmed report of abduction or killings yet, but they have rustled many cattle from several communities in Munya,” the source, a member of a local vigilante group, added.
A senior government official, who preferred anonymity because he was not authorised to speak, confirmed the airstrike but did not provide details of the civilian casualties.
He also confirmed the movement of bandits in the area, which led to the airstrike.
Many residents have been killed in accidental airstrikes across communities in Shiroro. In 2022, a Nigerian Air Force fighter jet killed six minors in Kurebe village, according to a Premium Times investigation.
Five months later, another military airstrike killed eight civilians in the same village.
Military denies civilian deaths, says 70 bandits killed
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, denied civilian casualties in the airstrikes.
Onoja said the Nigerian Army UAV Command subsequently carried out multiple air interdiction strikes across suspected bandit hideouts in Katerma, Bokko, Kusasu and Kuduru villages.
He disclosed that about 70 bandits were killed in Kusasu alone, while surviving fighters were seen evacuating the bodies of their colleagues for burial.
Onoja said local intelligence sources confirmed that the aerial bombardments were “precise on target” in Kusasu, Katerma and Bokko villages.
The statement said, “In line with the AFN mandate to conduct operations to rout out all forms of insecurity in the country, on 9 May 2026, intelligence reports indicated the convergence of armed bandits at Lukupe Village in Shiroro LGA.
“Subsequently, on the 10 May 2026 between the hours of 1159pm to 6am, the Nigerian Army UAV Command acting on intelligence conducted multiple air strikes on different bandits locations including Katerma, Bokko, Kusasu and Kuduru Villages all in Shiroro LGA of Niger State.
“Further reports from local sources confirmed that the aerial interdiction was precise on target at Kusasu, Katerma and Bokko. See video footage. It was gathered that about 70 bandits were hit and killed in Kusasu.”
He added that over 200 armed bandits on motorcycles were sighted moving towards Zango, while another group from Bokko was reportedly advancing in the same direction, allegedly to regroup for possible attacks on Sarkin Pawa, Kuchi or government security facilities.
According to him, another group was also seen converging at Kopa, east of Mongoro, indicating a possible threat to security formations in the area.
“The military took necessary steps to neutralise all these threats in a timely manner,” the statement said.
Onoja maintained that the strikes were based on credible and actionable intelligence confirming the presence of terrorists at the targeted locations.
He added that residents of affected communities had relocated to Sarkin Pawa before the operation commenced.
The DHQ said post-strike intelligence indicated that movements recorded after the operation were those of fleeing criminals rather than civilians.
However, Onoja said relevant formations had been directed to verify allegations of civilian casualties, if any, urging the media and public to avoid spreading unverified reports capable of undermining military operations and troop morale.
The Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Mr Maurice Magaji, also said: “Before the military operation began, we warned civilians to evacuate, which they did. The only people left were the terrorists and their informants, and the informants are also terrorists. Anybody who was there must have been an informed
“You know how these terrorists operate. Their strategy is to divide themselves and attack communities. We ensured that they were targeted.
“We are still monitoring the situation. The people have been very helpful,” Magaji said.
Daily Trust