Author: Naija Daily News

By Deborah Nnamdi A South African woman has been found guilty of human trafficking and kidnapping after a court ruled she sold her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, who has been missing since February 2024. Racquel “Kelly” Smith, 35, was convicted on Friday alongside her boyfriend and a mutual friend, following a two-month trial that gripped the nation and sparked public outrage. Judge Nathan Erasmus delivered the verdict at a community hall in the small coastal town of Saldanha Bay, where the trial was held due to intense local interest. “The evidence shows that Joshlin was exchanged,” said Erasmus, referring to…

By Deborah Nnamdi As part of its ongoing digital transformation efforts, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched the Electronic Currency Declaration Form (e-CDF) at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. This initiative aims to enhance border security and ensure greater transparency in financial disclosures. According to NCS spokesman, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, the pilot phase of the project began on April 9, 2025, and was executed smoothly. He noted that the system effectively captures both inbound and outbound currency declarations, providing a more secure, efficient, and accountable process for international travelers. During the pilot, the e-CDF system recorded 69 transactions.…

By Deborah Nnamdi An early morning fire on Friday razed three shops in the Sango area of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. The blaze, which started around 4:30 a.m. behind the Fart Oil filling station, was reportedly triggered by an electrical spark from a freezer left plugged in overnight, igniting flammable materials nearby. According to eyewitness accounts, three out of ten prefabricated shops in a row were completely consumed by flames before the arrival of fire service personnel. Though no lives were lost, the fire destroyed goods including freezers, drinks, and other items valued at several million naira. Confirming…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially begun implementing the Dual Mandate Policy across all Federal Colleges of Education (FCOEs), following the passage of the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023. In a statement released by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education, the new law—signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—authorizes FCOEs to offer both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Bachelor’s Degrees in Education. This marks a major advancement in the country’s teacher education system. Speaking at the policy launch in Abuja, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa hailed the move…

By Deborah Nnamdi Abia State Governor Alex Otti has clarified that his relationship with President Bola Tinubu does not depend on political affiliation, stating that he remains close to the President without being a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This comes in the wake of recent defections, including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, along with PDP lawmakers in the State Assembly, who all joined the APC. Okowa, the PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, claimed the move was to strengthen Delta State’s ties to the presidency. In an interview with Arise Television on Friday,…

By Deborah Nnamdi Suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, have taken initial steps toward mending their fractured relationship, following a mediation effort led by former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba and incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun. Reliable sources confirmed that the two political figures recently met at Wike’s Abuja residence, marking a significant move toward resolving the deep-seated political rift that has gripped Rivers State. The meeting, which signals the beginning of peace talks, reportedly featured a candid discussion during which Governor Fubara apologized to Wike. A source close to…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has acknowledged making mistakes in its earlier statement about the ongoing probe into the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme. In a press release issued on Thursday, the commission clarified that the error had unintentionally given the impression that irregularities had already been confirmed in the management of the student loan program. “Unintentionally, the word “NOT” was missing in the second to the last paragraph of our earlier press release in respect of an ongoing investigation regarding the Student Loan Scheme. The missing word created an erroneous…

By Deborah Nnamdi President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to enhancing the welfare of Nigerian workers in a message shared Thursday on his official X account, in celebration of the 2025 Workers’ Day. He recognized the vital contributions of workers to the nation’s progress and development. “To every Nigerian worker, Happy Workers’ Day. You are the engine of our economy and the secret to our nation’s growth. Our administration has and will continue to prioritize workers’ welfare. Together, we will make Nigeria great again. “Here’s to everyone – young and old, entrepreneur or employee, in the private or public…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has initiated an in-depth investigation into suspected mismanagement in the disbursement of student loans under the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). In a statement issued on Thursday, May 1, 2025, ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare revealed that out of the N100 billion allocated by the Federal Government for student loans, only N28.8 billion was disbursed to students in tertiary institutions. The probe was prompted by media reports implicating 51 tertiary institutions in unauthorized deductions from students’ institutional charges, ranging from N3,500 to N30,000, despite the costs being covered…

By Deborah Nnamdi During Thursday’s May Day celebration at Eagle Square in Abuja, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero called on the federal government to increase the retirement age for all civil servants to 65 years or 40 years of service—matching provisions already in place for certain sectors—as part of the union’s key demands. “It is imperative to extend the revised retirement age of 65 years or 40 years of service currently enjoyed by teachers, health professionals, and judges to all public servants,” Ajaero stated. He emphasised that equal treatment across all categories of civil servants would promote fairness,…