WAFFI TV | Feature

N300bn Fund For Graduate Entrepreneurs Coming~ Minister

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced yesterday that the Federal Government is set to launch a N300 billion Graduate Entrepreneurship Fund aimed at empowering young Nigerians to start their own businesses and achieve self-reliance. He revealed that each graduate will be eligible to access at least N10 million, with the possibility of receiving more if necessary. Dr. Alausa made this known during the convocation lecture at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, highlighting that the initiative is one of the strategic moves by the Bola Tinubu administration to transition Nigeria from a resource-dependent economy to a knowledge-driven one. The lecture, themed “Patriotism, Citizenship and National Ownership: The Imperative of Collective Responsibility for Nigeria’s Future,” was part of events commemorating LASU’s 28th convocation ceremony. The Minister said: “If we look at patriotism, citizenship and national ownership, there is a major thread that connects them and that is education. Patriotism goes beyond mere attachment to national symbols; it is active engagement in nation-building and fostering unity in diversity. It is measured by actions that help in nation-building. “Citizenship also entails obedience to the laws of the land, civic responsibilities, national loyalty, and protecting national assets among others. While national ownership involves protecting national resources, using the same for the good of all etcetera. However, in all of this, education is a catalyst. Citizens must embrace their rights for the nation to thrive. “Therefore, the present administration has taken it upon itself to provide equitable access to education. Focus on technical, vocational and entrepreneurship training, give the girl child the necessary support, and ensure quality assurance in our education system so that our young ones will not only be patriotic, be good citizens but also know that national resources have national ownership and to be used for the good of all.”

4/9/2025, 7:59:30 AM

NSA Asks Nigerians To Stop Giving Money To Bandits, Kidnappers

Amid ongoing security challenges in the country, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has urged Nigerians to stop paying ransom to kidnappers and bandits. He made this appeal on Tuesday while receiving 60 kidnap victims recently rescued from captivity in Zangon Kataf, Southern Kaduna, after sustained military operations. The victims were welcomed at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre in Abuja, the nation's capital. “Please stop giving money to these people, it is the most difficult thing we are facing,” the NSA told Nigerians. “Many of these people (kidnap victims), their families have given money to these people (kidnappers) but it did not lead to their own release. It is we the security forces that have brought them out. “It is not the money that they are giving. These people, the more you give, the more you compound the problem for us. We have never given anybody a dime and we don’t want people to do so.” According to Ribadu, Nigerians aid the activities of kidnappers nationwide if they keep paying ransom. The NSA attributed the successful rescue of the victims to the efforts and resilience of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies. “Let me specially commend our armed forces and security services. Their tireless pursuit of these criminals is the reason we are here today,” he noted. Ribadu also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu for his consistent support of the nation’s security architecture. “Thanks to the commitment of Mr. President, we are making progress daily. However, the release of victims is not the end. We will continue to pursue these perpetrators and ensure they face justice.”

4/8/2025, 9:03:13 PM

DSTv, Starlink, Others Pay ‘Peanuts’ To Operate In Nigeria Minister

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, on Tuesday revealed that the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to address the increasing misuse of satellite technologies. He expressed concern that service providers like Starlink and DSTV contribute minimal fees to operate in Nigeria. Nnaji also highlighted that some foreign investors have been exploiting loopholes to evade required government levies. He made these remarks at a stakeholders’ workshop on space regulation, hosted by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in Abuja, where the agency also unveiled its new logo. The minister emphasized that effective space regulation could significantly enhance government revenue and help curb the operations of pipeline vandals, insurgents, and criminal groups. He said, “In the near future, we will move from the $ 1 trillion economy to $ 5 trillion. So with this space regulation and licensing. Starlink and most of them, including DSTV will come here, some will pay peanuts and shortchange Nigerians. These are part of what we want to address through this space regulation and license. “You can be sure that yearly, if we are going by what my capacity DG of NASRDA has said, we will be looking at over N200 billion annually, with annual increment of 18-20 per cent. This is just one of the initiatives coming out of the agency.” Nnaji further stated that the days of satellite pay-TV and radio signals cutting out during rainfall will soon be over. He explained that investigations revealed some service providers are using incorrect bandwidths, which leads to signal disruptions during weather changes. “All these challenges of your TV or radio not working or losing signal whenever it is raining are because the DSTV and the likes are not hosting their equipment at the right bandwidth. They will host it at the lower bandwidth, where they will not spend money on the higher bandwidth. “But with the regulation, we will force them to move it up to where it’s supposed to be. Because if you move it up to where it’s supposed to be, you won’t have any of those problems of losing signal as soon as it starts raining. So this is part of the many reforms that are going on under this very capable man, Dr. Olumide Adepoju. “There is also an approval again from the President on mainstreaming of space technology in revenue generation. This is because we know that in the oil sector where we waste a lot of money talking about giving some people a push and contracts to monitor our pipeline, we will achieve it with next to nothing using space,” he said.

4/8/2025, 8:59:24 PM

Bayelsa Wins Niger Delta Sports Festival With 42 Gold

Team Bayelsa has emerged overall winner of the inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival, clinching 42 gold, 29 silver, and 15 bronze medals—topping the medal table with a total of 86 medals. Bayelsa athletes delivered outstanding performances across the 17 sporting events featured during the week-long festival, which saw over 3,000 athletes compete from the nine Niger Delta states. Sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the event was designed to uncover and celebrate raw sporting talent from the region. Delta State finished a close second with 41 gold, 26 silver, and 32 bronze medals, while Edo State secured third place with 23 gold, 63 silver, and 31 bronze medals. Rivers State followed in fourth with a total of 63 medals, including 21 gold. Ondo State placed fifth with 43 medals, and host state Akwa Ibom finished sixth with 37 medals. Abia and Imo States secured seventh and eighth places with 32 and 42 medals respectively, though Imo had fewer golds. Cross River came ninth with 31 medals. At the closing ceremony held Tuesday at the Uyo Township Stadium, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno—represented by Uyo Local Government Chairman, Dr. Uwemediimo Udo—commended the organisers and participants for a successful event. He urged stakeholders to nurture the talents discovered during the festival, emphasizing that the event was not only about competition but also about building networks, sharing ideas, and fostering unity. “Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom is here in spirit, as he asked that I represent him at this event. He has sent his best wishes to organisers, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and all the participants. “He said I should inform you that nobody is a loser, as far as this competition is concerned. “He has also asked that not just discovering these talents, but he is interested in nurturing these talents to ensure they achieve their utmost, as far as their areas of specialty are concerned,” He said.

4/8/2025, 4:57:29 PM

Mock UTME: JAMB Officials Get N397m Transport Allowance

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released N397,030,900 in transport allowances to 1,909 officials participating in the 2025 Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, set for April 10, 2025. This was disclosed by JAMB’s Director of Finance, Mr. Mufutau Bello, during a meeting in Abuja convened to assess the board’s readiness for both the mock exam and the main UTME. Bello, highlighting the national importance of the exams, noted that the disbursed sum represents only the first tranche of payments, covering one-third of the officials involved. He stated: “The Mock UTME is a key phase in fulfilling our core mandate, and we must continue to set the standard for excellence. The success of this exercise is crucial not only to the integrity of our education system but to the national reputation of our processes. Any lapses could undermine the credibility of our education system.” Bello further noted, “A total of N397,030,900 has been released for transport allowances to 1,909 officials traveling for the mock examination on April 10, 2025. This is only the first phase, covering one-third of the total number of officials involved.” In response, the staff pledged their commitment to ensuring a smooth and successful execution of both the mock exam and the main UTME nationwide. They also clarified issues surrounding local travel allowances, noting that such concerns often arise from a lack of understanding of the intricate logistics involved in organizing a nationwide examination.

4/8/2025, 8:36:52 AM

Trump Threatens Further 50% Tariffs On China

On Monday, US President Donald Trump warned of significantly higher tariffs on Chinese imports if Beijing failed to drop its retaliation plans. He also stated that Washington would initiate talks with other nations interested in negotiations. According to the White House, the new measures would add to the already high US tariffs set to take effect on Wednesday, raising the overall rate to a steep level, AFP reported. “If China does not withdraw its 34 percent increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50 percent, effective April 9th,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. As part of a broader plan to impose “reciprocal” tariffs on countries with which the United States has large trade deficits, Trump last week unveiled a 34 percent additional tariff on China, taking effect Wednesday. Beijing has announced counter-tariffs mirroring Washington’s, set to take effect on April 10. These will be added to China’s existing duties. In addition, the world’s second-largest economy has rolled out other countermeasures, including export restrictions on rare earth elements. Since returning to office, Trump has imposed a 20 percent tariff hike on Chinese imports, citing Beijing’s alleged involvement in the fentanyl supply chain. With a 34 percent rate set to begin and a new 50 percent threat looming, total added tariffs this year could reach 104 percent, according to the White House via AFP. The White House noted that this new rate builds on Trump-era tariffs, most of which were maintained and expanded by former President Joe Biden in specific sectors. On social media Monday, Trump slammed China’s economic tactics, accusing it of using “non-monetary tariffs” and “illegally subsidizing companies.” He added that “all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated.” But “negotiations with other countries, which have also requested meetings, will begin taking place immediately,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

4/8/2025, 7:14:26 AM

Presidency Denies Sacking INEC Boss, Yakubu

The Presidency has refuted widespread claims that President Bola Tinubu has dismissed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu. The viral reports, which surfaced early Monday, alleged that Yakubu had been ousted and replaced by one Professor Bashiru Olamilekan in what was termed a “sweeping change” in the commission’s leadership. In response, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Digital and New Media, O’tega Ogra, dismissed the reports as false and urged the public to ignore them. “Disregard any fake news making the rounds about the replacement of the INEC Chairman,” Ogra wrote in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter). He emphasised that any such decision or announcement would emanate from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation or another official communication channel. “Any such announcement will come from the SGF’s office or any other official source,” he added. The viral report, which caused a stir across various social media platforms, has since been dismissed as misinformation, with no official corroboration from the Presidency or any Federal agency.

4/7/2025, 4:47:53 PM

FG To Deliver 75,000 Electricity Meters In April, 200,000 Units In May~ Adelabu

The Federal Government has announced plans to deliver the first batch of over 3.2 million electricity meters aimed at addressing the country’s metering gap of over 7 million units. In a statement on Sunday, Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations to the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, said 75,000 meters under the International Competitive Bid 1 are expected by April 2025. The second batch of 200,000 meters will follow in May 2025. “While challenges persist, the facts tell a more balanced story – one of sustained effort, financial commitment, and structured implementation plans by the Federal Government of Nigeria to close the metering gap”, according to Tunji. “Despite claims of stagnation, metering installations have been progressing steadily. As of December 2024, a total of 5,502,460 customers had been metered, representing about 55 per cent of the 10,114,060 active electricity customers in Nigeria. “In 2024 alone, 572,050 meters were installed. While the government acknowledges the existing metering gap, it is actively working to close it as quickly as possible. However, the fact remains that a sizable portion of active electricity users already have meters, countering the exaggerated portrayal of an industry in crisis,” Adelabu stated. According to the statement, though installation rates have varied over the years, the sector has maintained a yearly average of about 668,000 meters of installation annually. Structured financing and government-backed initiatives are expected to accelerate deployment beyond the current pace, ensuring that the metering gap is addressed efficiently, the minister added. “To bridge this gap, the government has put in place key initiatives aimed at significantly improving metering across the country. The Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) is set to deliver 3,205,101 meters by 2026. “This will be achieved through different procurement models, including 1,437,501 meters through International Competitive Bid 1 (ICB1), 217,600 meters through National Competitive Bid (NCB), and 1,550,000 meters through International Competitive Bid 2 (ICB2). “As part of this plan, the first batch of 75,000 meters under ICB1 is expected by April 2025, followed by the second batch of 200,000 meters in May 2025. “In addition to the DISREP, the N700 billion Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) is another key intervention designed to accelerate metering. The initiative, which has already secured N700 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), is structured to ensure large-scale meter procurement and deployment,” the minister added.

4/7/2025, 12:13:13 PM

Youths Defy Police Warning, Stage Protests In Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, Others

Youth protesters under the Take-It-Back Movement defied police warnings on Monday to stage demonstrations across several states, including Abuja, Lagos, Oyo, and Rivers. Wearing their trademark orange berets, the demonstrators in Lagos kicked off the rally at the Ikeja Under Bridge, marching through key roads in the city while chanting solidarity songs, closely monitored by police officers. The Nigeria Police Force had earlier called on the group to cancel the planned nationwide protest, labeling its timing as “ill-conceived and mischievous.” Responding swiftly, activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore dismissed the police's objections, denying that the protest—scheduled for Monday—was meant to disrupt National Police Day celebrations. The Take-It-Back movement protests are usually without any specific demands. The “Take It Back” movement has been active in organizing protests and making demands on various issues: The state of the Nigerian economy, the president’s declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State, among other issues. In Oyo, members of the Take-It-Back Movement protest held their peaceful demonstration in Ibadan, the state capital with security operatives on standby to ensure no breach of peace Police Fire Teargas At Protesters The situation, however, turned awry in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where police fired teargas at protesters at the Isaac Boro Park. “Nobody can tell us where not to gather, we are Rivers people,” the young demonstrators told the policemen who warned them not to hold the protest. Policemen gave the protesters a hot chase and beat up some of them including journalists reporting the event. The protesters had earlier told the policemen that they had informed the police command of their intention to stage the demonstration in a letter dated April 3, 2025. One of the protesters had told reporters that the “peaceful protest” was to express their grievances to the government. “We are not here for violence,” he had said. The demonstrator listed some of their grievances to include the repeal of the Cybercrime Act and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. “As it is, we have no government. This government in Rivers State is alien to our people; it is unconstitutional. We are here to demand that our governor comes back to office and lead us appropriately. We have a social contract with the governor and not the sole administrator. This is democracy,” he said. Just like in Rivers State, police officers in Abuja dispersed protesters with tear gas on Monday. The demonstrators had converged in the Maitama area of the Federal Capital Territory to voice their discontent but were quickly scattered as tear gas canisters were fired, forcing many to flee. The protest, part of a nationwide demonstration led by the Take-It-Back Movement and other civil society groups, aimed to spotlight several pressing national concerns. According to the organisers, their key grievances include the alleged abuse of the Cybercrime Act, escalating economic hardship, and the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State. Protesters marched with placards bearing messages like “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe” as they moved through the streets of Abuja.

4/7/2025, 12:05:49 PM

Shehu Sani, Reno Omokri, Femi Fani~Kayode Others Reportedly Make Ambassadorial List

The Nigerian government has reportedly nominated several prominent figures for ambassadorial appointments. Among them are former federal lawmaker Senator Shehu Sani, ex-presidential aide Reno Omokri, and former governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu). Others on the list include Fola Adeola, founder of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, as well as Femi Pedro and Femi Fani-Kayode. Sources reveal that the nominees are currently undergoing screening by the Department of State Services (DSS), and the final list is expected to be made public soon. According to Vanguard, one of the nominees anonymously confirmed their selection on Sunday. On why the names of the appointees had not been released, an official from the presidency told the newspaper anonymously that, “When those appointed have cleared security checks, we will release the list. “Only those who have been cleared are announced. The process is ongoing. I know we should have a list before the end of this month.” Waffi TV notes that Nigeria’s ambassadors were recalled from their posts last year, and no replacements have been made since then. President Bola Tinubu’s media aide, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, previously addressed the delay, explaining that the selection process for ambassadorial nominees must be meticulous before the final list is submitted to the National Assembly.

4/7/2025, 10:51:11 AM

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