By Muhammed Ogwu Danjuma, Lafia Tragedy struck Agyaragu community in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on Sunday as five children were confirmed dead after suffocating inside an abandoned vehicle. The children, aged between 6 and 10 years, were said to have entered the unserviceable vehicle parked in a residential compound, where they later died from lack of air circulation. Confirming the incident, the Publicity Secretary of the Migili Youth Association, Mr. Samuel Akala, said the community was thrown into deep grief when the lifeless bodies of the children were discovered around 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. According to Akala,…
Author: National Update
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has cautioned the Presidency against dismissing the honest economic critique offered by Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), describing the official response as petty, misleading, and out of touch with the harsh realities millions of Nigerians currently endure. HURIWA said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration appears to be living in denial over the deepening poverty ravaging the country, warning that politicising legitimate economic concerns is a dangerous path. “The truth is painful, but it must be acknowledged,” HURIWA stated. “Nigerians today are choking, starving, and dying from poverty-induced…
Nigeria’s Economic Management Team (EMT) has mapped out a bold path for accelerated and inclusive growth, as Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, declared that the country’s reform momentum is yielding concrete results. At a high-level EMT strategy session in Abuja, Edun highlighted early signs of macroeconomic stability, including stronger fiscal revenues, a narrowing budget deficit, and the recent international credit rating upgrade — a move he described as “a vote of confidence in Nigeria’s economic reforms.” “The data is encouraging. Our foreign reserves have risen to $23 billion, the exchange rate premium has dropped…
In a bold and transformative move that could redefine Nigeria’s economic future, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a sweeping ban on the importation of foreign goods that can be produced locally—signaling the beginning of a historic shift from dependency to self-reliance. Announced after Monday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the directive is the cornerstone of a new policy dubbed the Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy. At its heart lies one message: Nigeria will no longer outsource its growth. “This is not just a procurement policy—it’s an economic revolution,” declared Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation. “We are…
The Federal Ministry of Finance has strongly denied allegations that it awarded contracts amounting to N13 billion without due process, describing the claims as “false, malicious, and designed to distract from critical economic reforms.” The rebuttal followed an online publication not in the National Update, which alleged that the Ministry, under the leadership of Minister Wale Edun and Permanent Secretary Lydia Shehu Jafiya, approved multiple high-value contracts between February and June 2024 in violation of procurement laws. In an official statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry stated that all contracts within the specified timeframe—including those linked to the high-profile Presidential…
President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio has allegedly withdrawn from the presidential panel set up to investigate sexual harassment allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The development was revealed on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme hosted by Seun Okinbaloye. The panel, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, was constituted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to probe the claims brought forward by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in the Senate. While no official reason has been given for Akpabio’s withdrawal, the move has sparked public speculation. Many observers saw the panel as an opportunity for transparency, as well…
The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy has announced the launch of the Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF)—a groundbreaking initiative to provide financial support to creatives, entrepreneurs, and organizations across Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries. The CEDF is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at driving job creation, economic diversification, and elevating Nigeria’s global cultural presence. Speaking at the official launch, the Honourable Minister, Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, described the fund as a strategic investment in unlocking the vast potential of the creative sector. “This is not just a financial intervention,” the Minister…
The Nigerian Presidency has pushed back against recent comments by African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, over the country’s economic trajectory and GDP performance since independence. Speaking at an event hosted by investment firm Chapel Hill Denham in Lagos, Adesina lamented Nigeria’s economic stagnation, comparing it unfavorably with Asian countries like South Korea. He claimed Nigeria’s GDP per capita stood at $1,847 in 1960, but has declined to $824 today, suggesting that citizens were economically better off at independence. In a swift rebuttal, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Strategy and Communication, Bayo Onanuga, challenged the accuracy of Adesina’s…
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the release of results for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), revealing a significant dip in performance among candidates. According to official statistics, out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the exam, over 1.5 million scored below 200. Only 420,415 candidates scored above the 200 mark, while less than 1% crossed the 300 score threshold. JAMB further disclosed that 2,157 candidates are under investigation for suspected examination malpractice. Additionally, 71,701 candidates were absent, and others faced biometric verification issues—some of whom may be rescheduled once investigations are concluded. Of the…
A civic organization, Peoples Assembly of Nigeria (PAN), has condemned the factional President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Atiku Abubakar Isah, for what it described as a politically motivated smear campaign against Mr. Seyi Tinubu. In a statement signed by its Chairman, Usman Nagadi, PAN said it conducted an independent inquiry into the recent claims made by Isah and found them to be entirely false and without any factual basis. “The allegations against Mr. Seyi Tinubu are nothing but a fabrication driven by greed and political manipulation,” Nagadi stated. He alleged that Isah had attempted to extort…