FG Plans to improve infrastructure in Unity Schools

FG Approves N80bn for Infrastructure Upgrades in Unity Schools, Announces Key Educational Reforms

The Federal Government has approved the sum of N80 billion for infrastructure upgrades across Unity Schools in 2025.

This include N40 billion for rehabilitation, N20 billion for security, fencing, and access control, as well as N20 billion for solar energy installation.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, disclosed this to journalists after he delivered the 2025 convocation lecture of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, titled, ‘Patriotism, Citizenship and National Ownership: The Imperative of Collective Responsibility for Nigeria’s Future’.

He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to comprehensive educational reform and national development under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.

“This is unprecedented. No administration in our history has committed this much to our Unity Schools,” he stated.

Speaking on key initiatives, Alausa outlined several ongoing and future projects aimed at revitalising Nigeria’s education sector and creating economic opportunities, especially for the youth.

He noted that the Ministry of Education is launching a youth venture capital grant programme of up to N10 million for student entrepreneurs and an additional single-digit interest loans through the Bank of Industry (BoI).

“This is a government focused on creating opportunities for young Nigerians,” the minister stated.

Since assuming office, the administration has established 21 new universities.

However, Alausa acknowledged the funding and infrastructure gaps, saying that the government is conducting a needs assessment, committing N70 billion from TETFund to upgrade 18 medical schools, constructing six simulation labs for health training institutions at a cost of N40 billion, as well as planning to realign tertiary education with labour market needs.

Addressing the issue of brain drain, he highlighted efforts to double the enrollment in medical and nursing programmes, with admissions rising from 28,000 to nearly 100,000 annually.

“We are working to produce more professionals in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and other key areas to meet both local and global demand,” he said.

 “We’re no longer dying in the midst of plenty. We’re increasing capacity and aligning education with national needs,” he stressed.

The minister also criticised the overreliance on PTA teachers, some of whom have served for over two decades under poor conditions.

“Government is taking steps to regularise qualified PTA teachers into the civil service and prevent unqualified hires moving forward,” Alausa said.

He denied rumours of a proposed 40 per cent PTA fee increase, asserting that such decisions are not within PTA mandates.

Lagos sets July 12 for local government election, Campaigns to start by April 18

The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission has officially announced July 12, 2025, as the date for the much-anticipated local government election across the state.

The announcement, made by LASIEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Tope Ojo, on Friday, signals the formal commencement of the electoral process for the 57 council chairmanship seats and 376 councillorship positions spread across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas.

According to Ojo, should there be a need for a rerun in any of the wards or councils, the supplementary election has been scheduled for July 19.

This development comes as the tenure of the current local council officials nears its constitutional end, prompting LASIEC to swing into full election preparation mode to avoid any governance vacuum at the third tier of government.

"The commission has released the official Notice of Election, marking the beginning of electoral activities. Political parties are now expected to visit the LASIEC headquarters to obtain nomination forms for their candidates,” Ojo said.

As part of its engagements with stakeholders, LASIEC has slated a meeting with all registered political parties for Tuesday.

The commission also disclosed that the detailed Election Guidelines will be published on April 17, providing a framework for the conduct of the elections, including timelines for candidate nominations and campaign activities.

Campaigns and political rallies are permitted to begin from April 18 and will run through to July 9, giving political parties nearly three months to present their platforms and candidates to the electorate.

The nomination process for “substituted” and “only candidate” entries must be completed between June 18 and June 25, according to LASIEC’s electoral timetable.

Chairman of LASIEC, Justice Ayotunde Phillips (rtd), has reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to ensuring a free, fair, transparent, and inclusive election.

She emphasised that LASIEC is working to guarantee a level playing field for all political parties, regardless of their size or influence.

“We are dedicated to strengthening grassroots democracy through a credible electoral process. The integrity of this election is paramount, and we are engaging all stakeholders to ensure trust in the outcome,” she stated.

She, therefore, urged political actors, civil society organizations, security agencies, and citizens to play their part in ensuring peaceful and orderly elections.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration has consistently emphasised the importance of local governance in achieving development goals across Lagos.

With more than 90% of public services and community development activities rooted in the local council structure, credible elections at that level are seen as fundamental to sustaining Lagos’ reputation as a pacesetter in governance and urban administration.

The upcoming elections are expected to be a litmus test for Lagos’ political structure, especially as political parties jostle for relevance and increased grassroots penetration.

Observers say the exercise will serve as a prelude to larger political realignments ahead of the next general elections in 2027.

Guest Found Dead In Delta Hotel, Manager, Three Others Arrested

The Delta State Police Command has arrested the manager of Century Home Hotel in Owhelogbo community, Isoko North Local Government and three others over the gruesome murder of a guest identified as Bishop Sunday Ogofotha.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Friday, March 28, 2025, said the manager of the hotel conspired with two boys who promised him N5,000,000 to allow them into Sunday's room.

The PPRO, who paraded the arrested manager and the others, stated that [b]Sunday's corpse was discovered in the hotel[/b]lon Friday, March 21, 2025.

Edafe noted that when the deceased, an indigene of the community, arrived from Lagos for a relative's burial and checked into the hotel, he called his wife and informed her of his location.

The funeral was scheduled for Saturday but the deceased was not seen.

Relatives called his wife who informed them of his location.

Based on that information, the family members moved straight to the hotel to make enquiries but they were told by the hotel management that nobody of such came to lodge in their hotel.

After much-heated argument, the family members insisted on checking all the rooms with a bit of resistance from the hotel management.

As the check was going on, they got to a particular room and the hotel owner, Chief Joseph Ovie Oghole, resisted, claiming that the clients lodged in that particular room were making out so they should not be disturbed.

But the family members and members of the community's vigilante group broke the door and they saw the man's corpse on the bed. He was tied with rope with so many injuries inflicted on him.

The corpse has been deposited in the mortuary in Ozoro, the headquarters of the council.

Pharmacist Oduwole Oladimeji Fredrick (OFRED) Declares Intention to Run for Mosan Okunola LCDA Chairmanship

Pharmacist Oduwole Adedeji Fredrick (OFRED) Declares Intention to Run for Mosan Okunola LCDA Chairmanship, Promises to Revamp Abesan Estate's Infrastructure

Abesan Estate, Nigeria's Largest Estate, Plays Host to Aspiring Chairman, as Residents Express Readiness to Support a Leader Who Will Prioritize Their Progress

LAGOS, NIGERIA - In a move that is set to shake up the political landscape of Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr Oduwole Adedeji Fredrick has declared his intention to run for the chairmanship position. The aspiring chairman, who is a resident of Abesan Estate and owner of one of the biggest pharmacy stores in Abesan, OFRED Pharmacy, paid a visit to the estate's leadership to make his intentions known on Friday 7th February, 2025.

AERA President Calls for More CDAs, Cooperation in Abesan Estate

AERA President Calls for More CDAs, Cooperation in Abesan Estate

At the 2024 year-end gathering of the Greenland CDA in Abesan Estate held on Saturday 11th January, 2025, Elder M.A Kehinde, President of the Abesan Estate Residents Association (AERA), addressed the community with a renewed sense of purpose. He emphasized the need for the establishment of additional Community Development Associations (CDAs) within Abesan, highlighting the benefits of a more robust and representative community structure.

Ikeja Electric Sounds Alarm on Rising Vandalism of Assets

Ikeja Electric has expressed concerns over the increasing rate of vandalism of its installations across the state. According to Kingsley Okotie, Head of Corporate Communications at Ikeja Electric Plc, the rise in vandalism, especially in the Epe community and its environs, is not only alarming but also deprives law-abiding citizens and legitimate customers of access to reliable power supply. This, in turn, affects the socio-economic activities of businesses and livelihoods.

BREAKING: Covid-like HMPV outbreak in China!

 

Covid-like HMPV outbreak in China: What we know so far

Although social media is replete with posts claiming that the situation is dire in China, neither the World Health Organization (WHO) nor Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared any stage of emergency so far.

Health Ministry monitoring respiratory, seasonal influenza cases amid HMPV outbreak in China, say Officials sources(Photo | ANI)

The year 2025 has dawned with a new respiratory illness-- caused by human metapneumovirus (HMPV)--outbreak in China creating a scare among the people here.

Coming as it does five years since the outbreak of Covid-19, which wreaked havoc in many parts of the world, there are reasons for panic.

LAGOS STATE TO HOLD LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN 20 LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS AND 37 LCDAs

 LAGOS STATE TO HOLD LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN 20 LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS AND 37 LCDAs. 

In recent times, the leadership of APC in Lagos State has been inundated by the media, party members and other stakeholders on information about the conduct of the forthcoming Local Government elections , most especially if elections will hold in the 37 Local Council Development Areas - LCDAs, it has become expedient to clear the air on the needless and distractive speculation. 

We wish to inform all and sundry that the Local Government elections will hold across the state in the 20 Local Government Councils and the 37 Local Council Development Areas in the year 2025. 

Since their creation, the Local Council Development Areas have not only been the closest to the grassroots but also brought the desired developments across the state. 

We observed with keen interest the recent debates on the desirability of the existence of the LCDAs and the need to hold elections in their political offices. 

Our position as a progressive party is that we cannot discountenance the contributions of the LCDAs to the overall political and socio-economic development of the state. 

Study reveals the safest part of the plane in the event of a crash!

Read this before you book your next flight!

The notion that passengers sitting at the back of a plane have a higher chance of survival during a crash is a topic of interest and debate. While it's essential to note that airplane crashes are rare and safety measures are continually improving, researchers have analyzed data from past crashes to identify potential trends.

A study published in 2015 by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) examined the survival rates of passengers in commercial airplane crashes between 1980 and 2009. The study found that passengers seated in the rear section of the plane (behind the wing) had a slightly higher survival rate compared to those seated in the front or over the wing.

Breaking! South Korea Jeju Air plane crash claims 167 lives. A look at recent aviation tragedies

 

South Korea Jeju Air plane crash claims 167 lives. A look at recent aviation tragedies

As 2024 draws to a close, the aviation industry faces a grim reality with multiple tragic crashes, including the devastating Jeju Air disaster in South Korea. This summary explores the details of these incidents, their causes, and the ongoing concerns regarding passenger safety in air travel.

TOPSHOT - fire and smoke rise from the tail section of a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 series aircraft after the plane crashed and burst into flames at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, some 288 kilometres southwest of Seoul on December 29, 2024. A Jeju Air plane carrying 181 people from Bangkok to South Korea crashed on arrival on December 29, authorities told AFP, with 29 confirmed dead and dramatic video showing the aircraft bursting into flames. (Photo by YONHAP / AFP) / 

Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737-800, was involved in a tragic accident at Muan International Airport, South Korea, on December 29. The aircraft overran the runway and collided with a ground obstacle, causing it to disintegrate and burst into flames.

University Duel and Smart Challenge 2024 Kicks Off: Nigeria's Brightest Minds Converge to Tackle Real-World Problems

 16 Nigerian Universities Compete in STEM-Based Competition to Drive Innovative Solutions and Societal Impact

Lagos, Nigeria - The highly anticipated University Duel and Smart Challenge 2024 commenced this week, bringing together 16 of Nigeria's top universities to showcase their expertise in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The competition aims to inspire students to leverage academic knowledge to address societal challenges through innovative technology.

According to Dr. Ore Sofekun, CEO of Foothold Advisors and key consultant for the event, "The University Duel and Smart Challenge empowers students to apply theoretical learning to real-world problems, fostering innovative solutions for societal betterment."