WAFFI TV | Feature

NiMet Forecasts 3 day Thunderstorms, Rain Nationwide

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast widespread thunderstorms and rainfall across the country from Monday through Wednesday. In its weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, NiMet predicted early morning thunderstorms with moderate rainfall on Monday in parts of Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Gombe, Borno, and Yobe States. Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected in Bauchi, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Adamawa, Taraba, and Borno States. For the central region, light morning showers are anticipated in Plateau and Niger States, while thunderstorms with moderate rainfall are likely in Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Plateau, Kogi, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by afternoon and evening. In the southern region, cloudy skies with light rain are expected in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States during the morning. By afternoon and evening, light rains will spread to Abia, Edo, Imo, Ebonyi, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa States. On Tuesday, NiMet projects morning thunderstorms over Bauchi, Gombe, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, and Kebbi States, while afternoon and evening thunderstorms are expected in Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Adamawa, Taraba, and Zamfara States. In the central region, cloudy skies with light rains are forecast in Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Kwara, and the FCT, with widespread thunderstorms developing later in the day. Southern states will see light rains in Cross River and Akwa Ibom in the morning, followed by moderate rainfall across Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Abia, Imo, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom. For Wednesday, the northern region is expected to experience cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine, alongside morning rains in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Kaduna States. Thunderstorms with moderate rainfall are anticipated across much of the region later in the day. In the central zone, light morning rains are expected in Niger, Kwara, and the FCT, while thunderstorms with light rainfall will follow across the FCT, Plateau, Kogi, Benue, Niger, and Nasarawa States. The southern region is projected to record moderate rainfall throughout the day in most parts. NiMet advised the public to take safety measures, including avoiding driving during heavy rain, and cautioned farmers against applying fertilizers or pesticides before rainfall to prevent nutrient wash-off. It also recommended warm clothing for vulnerable individuals due to low night-time temperatures, securing loose objects against strong winds, and disconnecting electrical appliances during storms. The agency further warned against sheltering under tall trees to prevent injuries from falling branches and urged airline operators to obtain airport-specific forecasts for effective flight planning. Residents were encouraged to stay updated with official weather reports on **[www.nimet.gov.ng](http://www.nimet.gov.ng)**.

9/1/2025, 7:42:43 AM

FG Launches New Curriculum For Basic, Secondary, Technical Schools

The Federal Government has introduced a new curriculum framework for basic, senior secondary, and technical education aimed at reducing content overload and enhancing the quality of learning in schools. In a statement issued yesterday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, announced the development on behalf of the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa. According to Ahmad, the comprehensive review was carried out in collaboration with key agencies, including the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and other stakeholders. She explained that the new structure provides a balanced approach between subject offerings and practical, in-depth learning. Under the framework, pupils in Primary 1–3 will take 9–10 subjects, those in Primary 4–6 will offer 10–12, Junior Secondary School students will take 12–14 subjects, Senior Secondary School students 8–9 subjects, while technical school students will offer 9–11 subjects. Prof. Ahmad noted that the reforms are designed to reduce excessive content, allow students more time to learn, and align the country’s education system with global best practices. She praised the contributions of stakeholders during the review process and assured that the ministry will enforce strict monitoring measures to ensure effective adoption and seamless transition across schools nationwide.

9/1/2025, 6:45:58 AM

UK Bans 100 Occupations From Foreign Recruitment In Bid To Cut Migration

The United Kingdom Government has introduced sweeping restrictions on overseas recruitment, blacklisting over 100 occupations from being filled by foreign workers in a bid to reduce net migration. In a statement posted on X on Saturday, the Home Office said the new policy aims to prioritise opportunities for British workers while reforming the visa system. “Cutting net migration means getting the fundamentals right. “More than 100 occupations are no longer eligible for overseas recruitment – opening up more jobs for British workers. A fairer, skills-focused system is now taking shape,” the Home Office wrote. This move represents the latest policy step by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who assumed office on July 5, 2024, after Labour’s landslide victory over Rishi Sunak. However, critics caution that the restrictions may deepen labour shortages in key sectors, including health and social care. The barred occupations cut across hospitality, logistics, healthcare support, public services, and the creative industries — affecting thousands of foreign workers who had previously depended on these roles for lawful employment in the UK.

8/31/2025, 9:51:50 AM

Rivers Emergency Rule Expires September 18~ Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday expressed confidence that the state of emergency in Rivers State would lapse on September 18. He made the remark shortly after casting his ballot in the ongoing local government election. According to Wike, the expiration would allow the state House of Assembly to resume its legislative functions. “As far as we are concerned, this election is peaceful, people are trooping out and at the end of the day the election has been conducted successfully and peacefully. “I do know that by September 18, the state of emergency will expire and the state assembly will come back to their job and we will have a government at the grassroots level,” Wike said. The minister said the conditions were right for lifting the state of emergency since both state and local governments now had representation. He added, “The coast is clear for the state of emergency to be lifted, being that the state government has its representative and the local government has its representatives, so we are good to go.” President Bola Tinubu had earlier imposed emergency rule in Rivers to prevent a political crisis, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly for six months.

8/30/2025, 4:12:35 PM

University Professors Demand N2.5m Monthly Salary

Some Nigerian professors are demanding that their salaries be increased to at least N2.5m monthly, stressing that anything less is unacceptable. On Tuesday, several campuses witnessed protests as members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) accused the Federal Government of failing to honour the renegotiated 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement. For years, lecturers have lamented poor pay and deteriorating conditions in universities. With professors currently earning about N500,000 monthly, many struggle with accommodation, while others even compete with students for seats in buses meant for undergraduates. Documents obtained by Saturday PUNCH show that under the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS), Graduate Assistants receive between N125,000 and N138,020 monthly, while professors earn between N525,010 and N633,333. Assistant Lecturers earn N150,000–N171,487; Lecturer II, N186,543–N209,693; Lecturer I, N239,292–N281,956; Senior Lecturer, N386,101–N480,780; and Readers, N436,392–N522,212. In separate interviews, the professors insisted that their salaries should not fall below N2.5m. A University of Ibadan don, Remi Aiyede, argued that Nigerian professors are grossly underpaid compared to their peers in other African countries, noting that a government-commissioned report had already recommended similar figures. He said, “If you want to benchmark it across countries, you will see that the monthly pay of an average professor across Africa is between $2,000 and $4,000. “So, if you break that down to naira, then you will have an idea of what we are talking about. In fact, a million naira is conservative. Professors in Nigeria should not earn less than N2.5m monthly. “After the Nimi-Briggs Commission, there was a committee set up by this government, which looked into the matter. The report was submitted to the President, and if I understand what was written in that document, a professor should be earning about N2.5m.” At the University of Lagos, Prof. Abigail Ndizika-Ogwezzy of the Department of Mass Communication stressed that professors needed decent pay to deliver effectively. She lamented that poor conditions was forcing lecturers to overwork themselves. “Anything less than N2.5m for a professor at the bar is not it; look at the reality. If I want to get a house to live in this Akoka area, it’s not less than N3m per year. Then won’t I feed, pay my children’s fees, ride a good car and even take care of my health? Then when is my reward? “We are carrying the burden of three, four, five people. It is impacting our health, our eyes. We have to read scripts, prepare notes, do community service, conduct research, publish, and attend conferences. Meanwhile, we are all buying from the same market as private sector workers, yet many lecturers cannot pay their children’s school fees,” she added. Prof. Sheriffdeen Tela of Babcock University, Ogun State, also backed the N2.5m demand, saying the disparity between professors and political office holders was indefensible. He said, “If you are saying that a professor receives not less than N1.2m in a month, that means that in a year it’s still less than what the legislature takes home in a month. Some people were advocating N2.5m monthly, and yes, even with the kind of economy that we are in now, it makes sense. “Many professors live on loans because their salaries are not enough. Instead of giving them appropriate pay, the Federal government wants to give them loans, which is wrong.” Former ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, also argued that professors should earn between N1m and N5m monthly. “If Nigeria truly values education and wants its universities to compete globally, professors must be paid what they are worth. Anything short of this will only worsen the brain drain,” he said. The PUNCH

8/30/2025, 6:22:00 AM

FG Defends Passport Price Hike To N100,000, N200,000

The Federal Government on Thursday justified the upward review of Nigerian passport fees, saying the increase was necessary to sustain quality, curb corruption, and guarantee timely issuance of travel documents. In a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, ACI AS Akinlabi, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) announced that effective September 1, 2025, passport applications filed within Nigeria will attract new charges of N100,000 for the 32-page, five-year validity booklet and N200,000 for the 64-page, 10-year validity booklet. “The review, which applies only to applications made within Nigeria, pegs the new fee for the 32-page, five-year validity passport at N100,000, while the 64-page, 10-year validity passport will now cost N200,000,” the statement read. The NIS clarified that Nigerians in the diaspora will continue to pay $150 for the 32-page, five-year passport and $230 for the 64-page, 10-year passport. According to the Service, the adjustment was introduced to preserve the integrity of the travel document and enhance efficiency in its issuance process. The latest increase comes less than a year after a similar review in August 2024, which saw the 32-page, five-year booklet rise from N35,000 to N50,000, and the 64-page, 10-year booklet increase from N70,000 to N100,000. At the time, the NIS had argued that the adjustment was necessary to maintain quality standards and improve service delivery.

8/29/2025, 2:46:19 PM

FG Gifts N200,000 To Yobe Girl Who Won Global Contest

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has awarded a cash prize of N200,000 to Nafisa Abdullahi, winner of the TeenEagle Global Finals competition. Nafisa, a 17-year-old student from Yobe State, emerged as the world’s best in English language skills after beating over 20,000 students from 69 countries at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals in London, United Kingdom. The TeenEagle contest is a prestigious international competition that tests students’ proficiency in English, as well as their critical thinking and communication abilities. During a special recognition ceremony held in Abuja on Thursday, Dr. Alausa, together with the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suiwaba Ahmad, honoured Nafisa’s outstanding achievement. The Education Minister noted that the Federal Government is strengthening foundational education as part of efforts to curb the growing number of out-of-school children across the country. He further emphasized that President Bola Tinubu has shown unwavering commitment to human capital development by scaling up investments in education, healthcare, and social protection. Alausa said, “You are the future of Nigeria, and you have made us proud. For the first time in the history of our nation, we have one of the highest budgetary allocations to education. “Each time we approach the president for support in the sector, his response has been a resounding ‘yes’ because he believes in the children of Nigeria. Your success gives us the confidence to ask for more, and we will continue to do so on your behalf. He also described Nafisa as “a beacon of excellence and inspiration to Nigerian youths.”

8/29/2025, 7:53:46 AM

Nigerian Passport To Be Delivered Within One Week After Application~ FG

The Federal Government has pledged that Nigerians will now receive their passports within one week of enrolment, following comprehensive reforms in the issuance process. Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the commitment on Thursday in Abuja at the ministry’s mid-tenure performance retreat. “Our target is very clear: within one week of enrolment, every Nigerian should have their passport in hand. Not just delivering quickly, but delivering quality passports that reflect our integrity as a nation,” the minister declared. He noted that the new system was designed to eliminate long delays and extortion that once forced citizens to wait six to seven months or pay as much as ₦200,000 to fast-track processing. “The system that we inherited, which had six months of backlog, which we were able to clear in two and a half weeks, that system that was inefficient, Nigerians will apply for a passport, it will take six to seven months to get it, a system that, for a passport, you need to pay ₦200,000 to ₦250,000, that system we inherited was inefficient. “My own daughter had that bad experience. Even when I was chairman of the House Committee on the NDDC, my daughter wanted a passport, but it was a problem. I had to pay hundreds of thousands to be able to get a passport for my daughter, a 12-year-old girl. That era is over,” Tunji-Ojo said. The minister explained that the centralised personalisation centre, the largest in Africa, would ensure faster processing and stricter security. “With this facility, we can print five times more passports than we currently need. Once you enrol, it doesn’t take us more than 24 hours to vet. Printing capacity is no longer our problem,” he said. Tunji-Ojo also announced that passport control officers would no longer have the power to approve or delay passport applications, following revelations that some of them were at the centre of corruption and inefficiency in the system. He said the reform was aimed at curbing racketeering, eliminating delays, and restoring integrity to Nigeria’s travel documents. “Some PCOs had so much power that they could decide not to approve or not to print a passport until they were settled. That abuse of power ends now,” Tunji-Ojo said. According to him, centralising the approval process would ensure that passport applicants were no longer at the mercy of individual officers. He added that the reforms would also safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s passport. “We realised that the best way to cut corruption is to remove human contact to the barest minimum. Passport approval will no longer rest with PCOs. My responsibility is not for them to like me — it is to deliver efficiency. Let Nigerians be happy. “My responsibility is not just to make passports available, but to ensure that anybody carrying it is a Nigerian. If you are not a Nigerian, you cannot carry it. It’s about our national integrity,” he declared. He cited past cases where foreigners bought Nigerian passports illegally, stressing that new vetting and approval processes would restore integrity to the system.

8/29/2025, 6:57:00 AM

Oborevwori Woos Brazilian Investors, Promotes Delta’s Opportunities In São Paulo

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Thursday called on Brazilian entrepreneurs to take advantage of the vast investment prospects in Delta, stressing that the state is strategically positioned as a hub for trade, agriculture, energy, and industry in Nigeria and the West African sub-region. He made the appeal while addressing participants at the *Delta State Business and Investment Roundtable* in São Paulo, where he showcased the state’s abundant natural resources, prime location, and ongoing economic reforms designed to foster a welcoming climate for investors. Highlighting the historical and cultural similarities between Nigeria and Brazil, Oborevwori pointed to shared strengths such as agriculture, large populations, tropical climates, cultural diversity, and a passion for football. He said the event was an opportunity to deepen bilateral ties and establish strategic partnerships that would drive sustainable economic growth for both nations. Tracing Delta’s progress since its creation in 1991, the Governor noted that the state now ranks among Nigeria’s top five economies, with a landmass exceeding 18,000 square kilometres and a population of more than six million. According to him, *"Delta is blessed with vast natural resources and youthful human capital, making it an attractive destination for investors.* *Delta is Nigeria’s leading producer of crude oil and holds the largest natural gas reserves in the country, with two major export terminals in Escravos and Forcados."* He further underscored the state’s maritime advantage with its extensive coastline, four existing seaports, and the ongoing concession of Burutu Seaport, which he said has the potential to evolve into a major trans-shipment hub for West and South-West Africa. Oborevwori also emphasized Delta’s agricultural wealth, with fertile lands supporting cassava, palm produce, rice, maize, aquaculture, and livestock, alongside deposits of kaolin, silica, coal, lignite, and iron ore that can be commercially harnessed. On infrastructure, he noted that Delta’s road networks, three operational airports, and central location provide vital connections to commercial centres such as Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba. Since assuming office in May 2023, the Governor said his administration has prioritised improving the ease of doing business through tax harmonisation, the creation of economic free trade zones in Koko and Kwale, and the passage of business-friendly legislation. He added that in 2024, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources recognised Delta as the safest state in Nigeria for oil and gas investment. He revealed that the state is pushing its agro-industrialisation agenda with a 180-hectare Agro-Industrial Park designed to accommodate 20–30 processing plants, alongside new public-private partnership initiatives in housing, energy, and manufacturing. Delta, he explained, has also embraced a decentralized mini-grid system to expand sustainable energy access and power industrialisation. The Governor expressed a keen desire to learn from Brazil’s globally acclaimed ranching system, noting Delta’s readiness to replicate aspects of it to boost livestock production. “I eagerly look forward to partnering with the business community of Brazil for our mutual benefit,” Oborevwori concluded.

8/28/2025, 6:34:36 PM

Immigration Increases Passport Fees To N100,000, N200,000

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced an upward review of the fees for obtaining the Nigerian Standard Passport, effective September 1, 2025. In a statement issued on Thursday by the Service Public Relations Officer, ACI AS Akinlabi, the NIS clarified that the new charges will apply solely to passport applications made within Nigeria. Under the revised structure, the cost of a 32-page passport with five-year validity has been pegged at N100,000, while a 64-page passport with ten-year validity will now cost N200,000. “The review which only affect Passport Application fees made in Nigeria, now set a new fee thresholds for 32-page with 5-year validity at N100,000 and 64-page with 10-year validity at N200,000,” the statement read. However, passport application fees for Nigerians in the diaspora remain unchanged at $150 for a 32-page booklet with five-year validity and $230 for a 64-page passport with ten-year validity. The NIS explained that the adjustment was introduced to preserve the quality and integrity of the Nigerian passport while ensuring continued access for citizens.

8/28/2025, 12:42:48 PM

Subscribe to our newsletter

advertisement