Year: 2025

 

A former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday explained why he issued a former Ministry of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji licence to run the Geometric Power plant in Aba.

 

Commissioning the newly built substations of the Geometric Power at Ogbor Hills substations, Aba, Obasanjo recalled that his administration issued a licence to Nnaji to run the Geometric Power Plant as an indigenous power generation and distribution company with the conviction that Nigeria has the potential to make it great and expressed his joy with the progress the company has so far made.

 

Obasanjo revealed that his action followed the declining nature of commerce in Aba, which was known for industrialisation, adding that with the progressive records of Geometric Power in Aba, more industries will come into the city.

 

“When I was giving you the encouragement, two people came to me to ask why I was giving Nigerians such responsibility, that they would disappoint me. You have not disappointed me, and you did not disappoint all those, including all the people who supported you to realise this project.

 

“The lesson to learn again here within ourselves, among ourselves and by ourselves is that we have what it takes to develop,” he said.

 

He extolled the persistent and consistent virtues of Nnaji and urged him to extend the distribution of power to other local government areas of the state.

Speaking at the occasion, the state governor, Alex Otti, said his administration is determined to tackle the epileptic nature of power supply in the state, as plans have been concluded for the takeover of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company in the state with the acquisition of megawatts of power.

Otti announced that already, the installed capacity of Geometric Power generation is 141 megawatts, which he said is enough for the 9 local government areas’ ring fence, noting the level of the dilapidation of infrastructure at the substations, which would have been a disaster if the company injected power into them without rebuilding them.

 

Otti said that the essence of governance is to step in where the private sector is not meeting up, stressing that the absence of power supply brings underdevelopment, unemployment and increased poverty, and called on the traditional rulers in Osisioma LGA to protect the infrastructure in their domain.

 

In his address, the chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Geometric Power Group, Nnaji, said, “Establishing a reliable ecosystem for Aba has been a labour of dedication and strategic investment.”

 

He thanked Obasanjo for his vision to birth a power generation and distribution company that would sustain the growth of business in Aba and environs and thanked God for Otti for leading the pathway, stating that Geometric Power has been working closely with the Aba business community and other stakeholders to meet the demand of the consumers.

 

Earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Director of Aba Power Limited, Bar. Ugochukwu Opiegbe, enumerated steps taken by the company to ensure efficient service delivery in Aba.

 

In her vote of appreciation, the Group Managing Director of Geometric Power Group, Agatha Nnaji, said, “The vision for Geometric Power in Aba has always been about more than just electricity. It is about igniting potential and powering a new era of growth and prosperity.

“We are committed to continuing this journey, ensuring a sustainable and reliable power supply that underpins the city’s ambition for generations to come.”

 

President Bola Tinubu is meeting the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

 

The governor arrived the premises at about 03:45 pm Tuesday, alone, our correspondent observed.

 

Tuesday’s meeting is the Governor’s first encounter with the President since he defected to the governing party, the All Progressives Congress.

 

On April 23, 2025, Oborevwori became the first incumbent governor of Delta State to abandon the Peoples Democratic Party since 1999.

 

His predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, Deputy Governor, Monday Onyeme, commissioners, local government chairmen, and the grassroots machinery moved en bloc to the APC after a closed-door meeting in Asaba.

Okowa was the PDP’s vice presidential candidate in the 2023 election.

 

Delta’s wave of defection follows similar realignments in Rivers and Cross River, trimming the PDP’s governorship map to ten states and shaking a region once regarded as a fortress for the opposition.

 

Feelers from the APC identified Governors Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Aba Yusuf of Kano and suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, as four new converts expected to join the party in the coming weeks.

 

The PDP, Labour Party, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party are currently grappling with internal crises compounded by defections to the APC, which has left their parties in disarray.

 

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has assured students it was working assiduously towards building a technology driven system that would improve easy access to its loans.

 

This was as the FUND disclosed that no fewer than 320,000 students have thus far been paid with many more currently undergoing verification process to enable their payments.

 

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer NELFUND,Akintunde Sawyerr gave the assurances on Tuesday in Abuja, while addressing Polytechnics , Monotechnics and Institutes at a Stakeholders Engagement Session/ Technical Workshop on NELFUND System Automation and Loan Application Processes.

 

Sawyerr noted that the FUND was targeting a platform where students could access loan with confidence and without stress in a manner that was transparent and accountable.

He said: “At NELFUND our mission goes beyond giving loans. It’s about opening doors, it’s about making sure every young Nigerian who is willing to learn and grow has a real shot regardless of their background, location, or chosen path of study.

 

“For too long, many students, especially in technical institutions, have faced steep financial barriers; some drop out, others have never even applied. This is the gap we at NELFUND are here to close. But we know we can’t do it alone.

 

“This is a shared mission. It belongs to all of us, government institutions and the private sector alike. This technical workshop marks a major step forward.

 

“We’re not only providing financing, we’re building a technology-driven system that makes it easier for students to apply, for institutions to verify, and for funds to be disbursed with speed, fairness, and accountability.

 

“We’re aiming for access without stress, a platform students can use with confidence; transparency and trust so that no one is left wondering where their application stands; partnership with purpose because your feedback, your data, and your cooperation are critical to making this work. We rely on you as our institutional partners to help us bring this vision to life.”

 

Sawyerr who commended the institutions for providing technical expertise, practical hands-on training that fuels industries and empowers communities over the years, said besides teaching skills, they have built careers, created employers and strengthened economies.

 

“You know your students, you understand their struggles, your insights will help us tailor this system to reflect the realities on ground, not just assumptions on paper.

 

“To NBTE, we value your steady leadership in shaping and regulating technical education. Your collaboration is key as we move forward fully.”

The NELFUND boss urged the institutions to partner with the FUND to deliver a system that was not just functional or sustainable, but one that was transformative

 

“As we move forward fully, integrating NELFUND processes with institutional systems and standards, let us remember at the heart of all of this is a student, a young Nigerian with dreams, with ambition, and the courage to pursue them. Everything we do must serve that student.

“The only way to make it happen is by working together, listening to one another, and staying grounded in real-world challenges. I encourage you all to engage fully today share what’s working and what is not, and together let’s build something that lasts.”

 

NELFUND ‘s Executive Director, Operations, Mr. Iyal Mustapha, disclosed that no fewer than 320,000 students have thus far been paid, with more verifications currently ongoing.

 

Mustapha who explained that the failure of not having the number of registered students tally with the number of students whose application process was deemed successful was from the part of students and not NELFUND, said there was an urgent need to bridge the gap.

 

“We have 576,000 registration in our portal and we have 516,00 applications. The difference between that 576,000 and 516,000 is the 516,000 completed the application.

 

“The 576,00 started but they were not able to complete the process maybe because of data, or they are not really interested, they just want to test the system.

 

“But we want to close this gap, and with your support, we’ll be able to close this gap, so that all of them will be able to access the Institutional Loan, because it’s different from the upkeep Loan which is N20,000 a month.

 

“The Institutional Loan is what we give upfront. So, all applications that we pay to the institution are coming from here. Presently, we have paid for at least N320,000 students, presently, and we are still doing more verification, and that’s why we are here, so that we can do more verification, so that you can do more from your own side.”

 

Mustapha also disclosed that the FUND was considering connecting directly to institution’s portal to get the data they need, and how student could apply to their institutions portal without necessarily reaching out to NELFUND.

 

“One other thing that we’re trying to do going forward is to send some of our IT to all the institutions so that we can see how possible it is we connect directly to your portal instead of saying please send us data. How can we connect using an API which makes it easier to get the data of any student coming to us directly from your portal and not from our portal. So we don’t need to be collecting any data again.

 

“At the same time, we’re thinking of seeing how is it possible that a student can apply to your portal without coming to us. So it makes it so easy for the student when they’re doing registration, when they’re doing payments, they can select either to apply for NELFUND loans and the process will go through your portal. So you have all the data without ever reaching to NELFUND. All we need is for you to give assurance these are your students and if we have that, we pay you directly. It makes it simpler and faster for all the students.”

 

The European Union, United Nations Children’s Fund, and the Sokoto State Government have reaffirmed their joint commitment to improving the lives of women, children, and adolescents through a series of targeted interventions.

 

Speaking on Tuesday during a working visit to various health and education facilities in the state, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, emphasised EU’s dedication to supporting Sokoto, particularly in the health sector.

 

“We are aware of the serious healthcare challenges facing Sokoto State, and this is why we’ve begun rolling out support through the recently launched SARA project for women and adolescent health.

 

“We are also providing humanitarian aid focused on nutrition and primary healthcare support, including Quranic and nomadic schools that integrate formal education,” Mignot stated.

 

Mignot highlighted the importance of girl-child education, describing it as a “powerful accelerator for development and prosperity.”

 

He noted that countries with empowered, educated women tend to perform better economically, adding, “Giving young girls educational opportunities is vital for the future prosperity of their communities.”

 

The EU’s humanitarian arm, ECHO, is also playing a critical role by channelling significant aid towards nutrition and healthcare needs in the region.

 

“Together with EU member states, we provide over €100 million in humanitarian aid annually to Nigeria, with a substantial portion allocated to the Northwest,” the Ambassador revealed.

UNICEF Country representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, echoed similar sentiments, applauding progress in primary healthcare coverage while stressing the urgent need for further expansion.

 

“Although improvements have been made, the demand remains overwhelming.

 

“Even the best-performing primary health centres are overstretched, and more functional facilities are needed per ward,” she said.

 

In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Health, Faruk Wurno, reaffirmed the state’s readiness to meet these challenges.

 

Wurno disclosed that the government has already awarded contracts for the revitalisation of 116 primary healthcare centres, including the heavily burdened facility visited during the tour.

 

He stated, “This centre will be expanded and equipped with essential amenities, including solar power, to provide a conducive environment for both healthcare delivery and learning.

“Our goal is to reduce maternal and infant mortality by addressing key health indicators through the SARA project.”

 

The commissioner also pledged transparency and accountability in implementing the three projects launched recently, ensuring they are effectively executed to serve the people of Sokoto

 

Administrative processing has become a notable decision among United States visa applicants across the world in recent times.

 

The decision has existed since time immemorial, but visa applicants, especially in Nigeria, have begun to share their experiences with the now-popular decision.

 

While some claimed that after the decision was made known to them during interviews at the Consulate, consular officials advised them not to panic as there were checks that needed to be carried out on their profile either on social media or other documents submitted for approval.

 

Although there are only two possible outcomes for complete and executed US visa applications, and the consular officer will either issue or refuse the visa, if a visa applicant has not established that he or she is eligible for a visa, the consular officer must refuse that application.

 

According to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, US Department of State, administrative processing, popularly known as letter 221(g), takes place after the visa interview and refers to visa applications that undergo additional review or security clearances outside of “normal” visa processing times.

 

The Bureau, on its website, also maintained that visa applications selected for administrative processing must be reviewed by several US government agencies before a decision is reached.

 

Clarifying the possible applicants for the decision, the bureau said, “Individuals may be selected for administrative processing due to their citizenship, field of study or scope of research, prior visa overstays or denials, criminal activities, and more. Citizenship, Nationality, or Country of Birth Scrutiny is imposed on visa applicants who were born in or are nationals or citizens of certain countries.

 

“The list has varied since 2001, and it is often unclear whether a particular country is officially on the list or not. Applicants from countries that DOS has identified as state sponsors of terrorism always undergo a security clearance.”

Recall, in March, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services proposed a new rule requiring applicants for green cards and visas to disclose their social media handles.

 

This initiative, aimed at strengthening security screening, has sparked concerns about privacy and the potential misuse of data.

 

The rule would apply to various immigration forms, including applications for U.S. citizenship, asylum, and adjustments of status from an H-1B visa to a green card.

 

Speaking with our correspondent, most of the applicants, particularly F1 (student) visa applicants, who craved anonymity because of the phase of their application decision, revealed their fears about the outcome.

 

While a few claimed that they had not gotten a decision since the decision was made, others said it came out positively after they were mandated to write their social media handles, including Twitter and LinkedIn, out.

 

However, in this report, PUNCH Online reviews the possible things to know about the now-trending decision among US visa applicants.

1. A visa refusal under section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) means the applicant did not establish eligibility for a visa to the satisfaction of the consular officer, as is required under U.S. law, specifically section 291 of the INA.

2. When an applicant is refused under 221(g), it means the consular officer determines that the applicant is not eligible for a visa after completing and executing the visa application and any required interview.

3. 221 (g) does not mean final refusal.

 

4. An issuance of the letter means that the consular is asking you to provide other documents.

5. Depending on the concern, the application may be extended for 60, 90, or six months.

 

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has called on African leaders to make concerted efforts to build regional unity and integration among countries on the continent.

 

Diri made the call on Monday during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Central African Republic, led by the Minister of State for Education, Auretien Simplice Zingas, at the Government House, Yenagoa.

 

The governor, represented by his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, stressed the need for African leaders to remove all existing barriers to the free movement of people, goods, and services in order to achieve sustainable development.

 

He maintained that closer ties among African countries would enable them to harness their resources to make the continent a better place in terms of economic development and the overall well-being of its people.

 

According to him, Africa’s inability to bridge the divisive gaps created by the scrambling and partitioning of the continent by foreign imperial forces has placed it at a disadvantage, allowing developed countries to expropriate its natural resources for their own development.

 

Diri said that for the continent to move forward, its leaders must stop paying lip service to the issue of proper economic integration, noting that about 70 per cent of the natural resources used in developing other parts of the world are sourced from Africa.

 

He stated: “I believe that the scrambling and partitioning of Africa created imaginary walls that divided us, both in terms of development and socio-cultural integration. I strongly believe that those walls should be broken down at this age and time.

 

“Western countries, especially Europe, don’t have borders. So, why should Africa continue to have borders? We believe that if we pull down the walls, there will be more integration for Africa and businesses will flourish.

“I can assure you that over 70 per cent of natural resources used for industry and development, wherever in the world, are from Africa. So, we believe that by the time we achieve integration and work together, we will get a developed Africa.”

 

Diri expressed delight at the minister’s visit to study the workings of BayelsaPrime, noting that education was the top priority of his administration, and added that more resources would be deployed to the sector to achieve greater success.

 

He underscored Bayelsa State’s preparedness to partner with the Central African Republic in key areas, while calling on individuals and business organisations from Africa and beyond to make portfolio investments in Bayelsa to achieve mutual benefits.

 

He said: “Bayelsa is on a positive and good horizon. And that is why we are happy that people from outside are coming to learn from what we are doing here. We have just started, and we are going to improve on it to make sure that Bayelsa becomes the Mecca of education and sports in Nigeria.

 

“We are not going to rest on our laurels as a result of this success or victory we have achieved. I can assure you that the government will deploy more resources to make sure that we make more improvements. We are happy that you are coming to learn from us. We believe that we are also going to learn from you.”

 

In his remarks, Zingas said the ministerial delegation was in the state to understudy the BayelsaPrime Project in view of the remarkable success recorded in the state’s education sector.

Speaking through an interpreter, he appreciated the warm reception accorded him and his team by the state government, adding that they had already signed an agreement with New Global Education to replicate the BayelsaPrime model in the education system of the Central African Republic.

 

The BayelsaPrime Project, which was introduced two years ago, has reduced the number of out-of-school children in the state and reduced teacher absenteeism through the deployment of technology.

 

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results.

 

In this year’s UTME, over 1.5 million out of the 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination scored below 200 in the just-concluded exam.

 

This was revealed in the statistical analysis of the 2025 UTME results released by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday.

 

The statistics indicated that only 420,415 candidates scored above 200 in the 2025 edition of the UTME.

The data showed that 75 per cent of the candidates scored below 200 in the exam, with less than 1% scoring above 300.

 

In the statement accompanying the data, JAMB said, “40,247 underage candidates were permitted to demonstrate their exceptional abilities. However, only 467 of these candidates (1.16%) achieved scores that meet the threshold for exceptional ability as defined for the UTME, with their performance in the subsequent three stages still pending.

 

The examination began on Thursday, April 24.

 

In this report, PUNCH Online highlights the step-by-step guide on checking this year’s JAMB result via the website and the SMS options. See the processes below:

Check UTME results 2025 via the website

 

Visit the JAMB eFacility Portal: Open a web browser and visit the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s eFacility portal at https://efacility.jamb.gov.ng/login.

Enter your login details: Here, you’ll need to provide your email address and password you used during registration.

Access your results: Once you’ve entered the required details, click on the “Check UTME Results” button. Your UTME score for each subject taken will be displayed on the screen.

 

Checking UTME results 2025 via SMS

 

Open your messaging app: On your mobile phone, launch your text message application.

 

Compose a new message: In a new message, type “RESULT” (all caps) followed by your JAMB Registration Number.

 

Send the SMS: Send the message to either 55019 or 66019, the official JAMB result via SMS numbers.

Receive Your Results: JAMB will then send you a reply SMS containing your UTME scores for each subject taken.

 

Service Charge: This method incurs an N50 charge, which will be deducted from your mobile phone airtime.

 

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called on all levels of government in Nigeria to urgently redirect national focus toward critical areas of development, particularly health, education, and poverty alleviation.

 

Obi made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday via X, warning that the country’s worsening poverty levels were a result of years of misplaced priorities.

 

“In Nigeria today, the situation we find ourselves in calls for urgent and deliberate action,” he said. “It is time for all levels of government to prioritise critical areas of development—particularly investment in health, education, and poverty alleviation.”

 

Citing recent data from the World Bank, Obi said the poverty rate among rural Nigerians has now risen to over 75 per cent as of April 2025, while 41.3 per cent of Nigeria’s urban population also lives below the poverty line.

 

“This shows that poverty is no longer just a rural crisis—it has become a national emergency,” he stated.

 

According to the former governor of Anambra State, the current levels of poverty are significantly worse than in previous years.

 

“In comparison, the World Bank reported that in 2018/2019, about 30.9 per cent of Nigerians lived below the international extreme poverty line. As of 2025, that figure has more than doubled instead of improving,” he added.

He blamed the deterioration on what he described as misplaced government priorities over the years.

 

“These facts confirm that poverty in Nigeria has worsened significantly—and this is no coincidence,” he said. “It is the direct result of years of misplaced priorities. Rather than investing in critical sectors, we have continued to prioritise wasteful spending on non-developmental projects such as conference centres, government houses and lodges, guest houses, and fleets of official vehicles.”

 

Obi emphasised the need to shift attention to human capital development as the foundation for national transformation.

 

“We must reassess what truly matters. The decisions we make—what we build, fund, and focus on—must align with the pressing needs of the people,” he said.

 

He added that Nigeria’s path to development lies in expanding access to quality education and healthcare and in supporting job creation through Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

 

“Nigeria must expand access to quality education and healthcare and support job creation by investing in and empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, which are essential for lifting people out of poverty,” Obi stated.

 

Six members of the House of Representatives from Delta State and their two counterparts from Enugu have announced their defection from their former parties to new political platforms.

 

While the six members from Delta state announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, the two members from Enugu state swapped the Labour Party for the PDP.

 

The letters of defection from the members were read on the floor of the House at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday.

 

The defecting members from Delta were led by the Leader of the Southern regional caucus of the three House and the longest-serving member, Nicholas Mutu (Bomadi), who has been in the House on the platform of the PDP since 1999.

Other defecting members include Nnamdi Ezechi (Ndokwa/Nkwuani), Jonathan Okodiko (Isoko), Thomas Eriyetomi (Warri), Julius Pondi (Burutu), and Victor Nwokolo (Ika North and South).

 

Those who left LP are Mark Obetta (Nsukka/Igboeze South of Enugu state and Dennis Agbo (Igbo Eze North/Udenu).

 

The defectors anchored their reasons for seeking fresh political platforms on the crises rocking their former parties across all levels.

 

Recall that the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, and the former Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, left the Peoples Democratic Party two weeks ago to join the All Progressives Congress.