Author: Naija Daily News

The Federal Government has announced the discontinuation of physical verification of academic credentials, transitioning fully to an online system aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, and public service delivery. This was disclosed on Friday in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade. According to the ministry, the move is in line with the government’s broader digital transformation agenda and its commitment to deploying modern technology to enhance efficiency, ensure data integrity, and support evidence-based policy decisions within the education sector. The statement noted that with the introduction…

Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested 15 suspected oil thieves in the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State during a coordinated operation. According to an operational report released on Friday in Abuja, the suspects were apprehended in the early hours of the day by troops of Headquarters 9 Brigade in collaboration with 65 Battalion, following credible intelligence. The report disclosed that the suspects were intercepted while attempting to illegally tap crude oil from a discharge point linked to a vessel supplying the Dangote Refinery. The vessel was reportedly offloading crude oil for the production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)…

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has said Nigeria has no immediate plans to approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for loans despite mounting fiscal pressures. Edun made the statement on Thursday during a ministerial press briefing at the ongoing IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., amid growing concerns about rising debt levels across Africa and calls for vulnerable economies to seek financial support. He stressed that the country is not considering borrowing from the IMF or any other external source at this time, noting that many African nations are already grappling with…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Remilekun Balogun-Okedeyi for forging documents of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to support a fraudulent visa application. The Commission disclosed this in a statement published on its official website, detailing the outcome of investigations into a visa fraud scheme in which the defendant falsely presented herself as a NAFDAC employee using forged records. According to the ICPC, Balogun-Okedeyi used falsified employment and promotion letters, an identity card, and an introduction letter purportedly issued by NAFDAC to misrepresent her employment…

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has urged the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) not to increase ticket prices despite the sharp rise in the cost of jet fuel, warning that such a move would impose significant hardship on travellers. In a letter dated April 16, 2026, and addressed to the AON President, Keyamo appealed for restraint, noting that the price of Jet A1 fuel had surged from N900 per litre as of February 28 to about N3,300 per litre, representing a 300 per cent increase. He acknowledged the operational challenges facing airlines but cautioned that an…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised an alert over the circulation of unregistered and suspected counterfeit Colgate toothpaste in Kaduna State. The agency disclosed this in a public notice following a complaint received by its Post-Marketing Surveillance (PMS) Directorate, which prompted an investigation into the reported sale of the products. According to NAFDAC, officials inspected a retail outlet where the items were allegedly being sold and discovered two suspected counterfeit products branded as Coglaet ActivGel 100g and Coglaet Herbal 100g. The shop owner reportedly told investigators that the products were sourced from a…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched a strong rebuttal against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of hypocrisy, historical distortion, and intellectual dishonesty following recent remarks targeting his record. In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s camp described the president’s comments as a “reckless tirade,” alleging they reflected desperation and a pattern of selective memory. The response followed Tinubu’s remarks on Thursday night, where he criticised Atiku’s handling of Nigeria’s privatisation programme during his time in government. Shaibu argued that the president’s critique collapses under scrutiny, claiming Tinubu had…

By Deborah Nnamdi Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have attacked a commercial bus belonging to Benue Links, abducting several passengers, including candidates travelling to sit for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Benue State. The incident occurred between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, along the Benue Burnt Bricks axis in Otukpo Local Government Area. Sources said the bus, which was conveying young passengers heading to Otukpo for their examination scheduled for today, Thursday, was ambushed by the assailants, who robbed the occupants before taking them into the bush. An eyewitness, who spoke on condition…

By Deborah Nnamdi Nigerian industrialist and philanthropist Aliko Dangote has been named among the 2026 edition of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. The annual TIME100 list, released on April 15, recognises individuals whose leadership, ideas, and actions are shaping the future across business, politics, culture, and society. Dangote, who is the only Nigerian on the list this year, appears in the “Titans and Innovators” category, marking his second inclusion after his first recognition in 2014 for his impact on business and philanthropy. He joins a diverse group of global figures, including political leaders such as Donald…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to shelve any plans of contesting the 2027 presidential election, declaring that there is “no space” for him. Wike made the remarks on Thursday while speaking to journalists during an inspection of ongoing road projects in the Kuje Area Council. He suggested that Atiku should instead consider contesting in 2031. “There is no space for him in 2027. He can wait till 2031. By then he will be 82. Even though he has said this is his last time, we will…