Author: GANUX

The Nasarawa State Government has promised to sustain its efforts in utilising the available lithium resources to ensure that the first electric vehicles factory in Nigeria is established in the state.

The Governor, Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Sule stated this on Sunday in Lafia, the state capital at an event organised by the a group under the aegis of Abdullahi Sule Gidan-Gidan Support Group, to celebrate the two years of his second tenure in office.

He explained that the state’s lithium reserves had received significant attention, particularly with the recent inauguration of a lithium processing factory in Nasarawa, built by Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited.

The governor noted that working towards having an electric vehicle factory in the state, aligned with the Federal Government’s efforts to promote clean energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

“We will continue to engage investors and strategic partners to ensure that the second stage of the processing, which is the production of the battery and the eventual assembly of the vehicles, is done here in the state.

“My administration desires to achieve this, and even if we are unable to achieve it, I hope that anybody who is taking over from me in 2027 will pursue it to a logical conclusion.

“Because it is by achieving this that the state will be the number one economy we are dreaming about,” Sule added.

While promising that his remaining two years in office would be better than the last two years, Sule appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his impressive economic reforms and promised to fully key into the reforms for the overall development of the state and country.

Sule further expressed his gratitude to the group for organising the event to honour him as his administration marks two years in office, assuring that he would not stop working hard towards delivering the dividends of democracy to all residents of the state.

In his remarks, Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, said lithium had always been in the state, but it took the foresight and ingenuity of the governor to expose it to the outside world.

Akabe further revealed that there is a huge quantity of lithium deposits in the various Local Government Areas of the state, affirming that the state government would leverage on it to attract investors.

“Electric vehicles use batteries which are produced by lithium, and Nasarawa State is the headquarters of lithium in the country,” he stated.

In her opening remarks, Convener of the event and Chairperson of the Abdullahi Sule Gidan-Gidan Support Group, Hussaina Sule, explained that the event was to celebrate the milestone achievements of the governor in the last two years.

She listed some of the projects including flyovers and underpasses in Lafia and Akwanga LGAs of the state, and the ongoing construction of the state’s secretariat complex in Lafia which would house all the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the state.

“Construction of over 600 kilometers of urban and rural roads, dualisation of Shandam road, and huge investment in the security of the state.

“Others are the employment of over 4,000 youths into the state’s civil service, the implementation of the new minimum wage, the implementation of over 10 years of outstanding promotions, and the construction of many blocks of classrooms, among others,” she added.

The convener, therefore said the state was lucky to have a man like the governor at this time, while praying that God should reward him for his dedication and commitment to ensure that development reaches the nooks and crannies of the state.

A Nollywood actor, Godwin Nnadiekwe, has been hospitalised with internal bleeding following a violent on-set incident involving his colleague, Zubby Micheal, which he claims was not part of the scripted scene.

The actor shared details of the incident in an Instagram post on Saturday, stating that he was kicked in the chest by a fellow actor during filming.

While refraining from naming the individual directly, he clarified that his intention was not to call anyone out.

But in a now-viral behind-the-scenes clip uploaded by Nnadiekwe, actor Zubby Micheal was seen angrily exiting a vehicle, leaping over a barricade in front of a house, and kicking Nnadiekwe as he emerged. Micheal was then seen entering the building after the altercation.

In the post, Nnadiekwe explained that the unexpected kick caused him serious pain and was not part of the planned action in that scene.

Nnadiekwe revealed that he had to seek medical attention on his own, receiving no support from the production team or on-set first aid.

“During a scene, I received a kick to the chest from my colleague that wasn’t part of the script or directed by the director.

“It caused me serious pains. Had to get medication for my chest to feel better today. I did all these by myself. No assistance!”

He stressed that all physical actions on set should be intentional and under the director’s guidance.

Nnadiekwe also issued an emotional appeal to the film industry, urging actors and producers to prioritise safety, especially in an environment where many productions lack insurance, medical support, or structured safety protocols.

“When we’re working without insurance policies or readily available first aid, unexpected physical actions like this, even if accidental, can have real consequences… What if something more serious had happened?”

Shortly after his post, Nnadiekwe’s management released a public statement confirming that his condition had worsened.

They reported that he had been rushed to hospital and is currently undergoing treatment for internal bleeding. The statement named Zubby Micheal as the colleague involved.

“We regret to inform you that Actor Godwin Nnadiekwe was rushed to the hospital this evening.

“He is undergoing treatment for internal bleeding following an incident involving a kick on the chest during filming with his colleague, Zubby Michael.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has destroyed 77,000kg of skunk weed in separate farms in Cross Rivers and Edo states.

According to a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja, a total of 75,000 kilograms of skunk were destroyed by NDLEA operatives at Esuk-Odot village in Cross River.

“1,957.5kg of the same psychoactive plant was destroyed at Ohosu forest, Ovia South West LGA, and Okhuse community forest, Owan West LGA, Edo on Friday, May 23, and Saturday, May 24.

“This brings the total to 77,000 kilograms of skunk,” he said

Babafemi said that in Nasarawa state, two suspects, Sunday Daniel, 51, and Abu Peter, 30, were arrested at Keffi by NDLEA operatives on Saturday, May 24.

He said that 4,000 kilograms of skunk were discovered concealed under unprocessed wood in their lorry.

Also, another suspect, Godwin Obi, 39, was nabbed at Karu with 154.5kg of the same substance on Wednesday, May 21.

In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna–Zaria expressway at Gwargwaje on Wednesday, May 21, intercepted 22-year-old Muhammad Hamza with 57,750 pills of tramadol and diazepam.

Babafemi said that their counterparts in Bauchi arrested Usman Muhammad, 45, along the Bauchi-Misau road with 80 blocks of skunk weighing 45kg on the same day.

Similarly, operatives on stop-and-search operations along the Potiskum–Damaturu road in Yobe intercepted 55 parcels of Colorado drugs.

Babafemi said that the drugs, which weighed 2 kg, had a suspect, Adum Muhammed, 29, arrested with it.

“The suspect was nabbed attempting to smuggle it into the Republic of Chad through Ngamboru-Ngala border town in Borno State, “he said.

Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman, retired, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa commending the officers and men of the commands for the arrests and seizures of the past week.

Marwa praised all the commands across the country for ensuring a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria currently lacks half of the skilled workforce necessary to efficiently operate the country’s power sector, particularly within the burgeoning renewable energy industry.

The Director-General of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, Ahmed Nagode, made this disclosure during the official launch of the Next Gen RESCO Programme, organised by the Rural Electrification Agency in collaboration with NAPTIN and Eco-Innovation Empowerment Initiatives.

A REA statement released on Sunday noted that Nagode emphasised the urgent need to bridge the skills gap among Nigerian youths to meet the evolving demands of the energy sector.

The event was themed, “Empowering Future Leaders in Renewable Energy.”

“This tripartite collaboration is carefully structured to identify, train, and empower youths with the requisite skills to thrive in the renewable energy sector,” he said.

Nagode highlighted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda for job creation and economic growth, adding that Nigeria’s youthful population presents a unique opportunity to drive transformation in the sector.

He observed, “In Nigeria and many developing countries, the youth population is vast. However, white-collar jobs are shrinking like a pyramid the higher you go, the fewer they become.

“This programme addresses that gap by promoting skills acquisition to develop a vibrant, efficient, and effective renewable energy workforce, a sector still largely under-penetrated.”

Nagode pointed out that although Nigeria produces many graduates, most lack the practical skills required to function effectively in the industry.

“There is a difference between academic qualifications and the skills needed to operate the power network. That is the void NAPTIN was created to fill, especially in the renewable energy space,” he explained.

He outlined four critical training areas: solar photovoltaic installation and maintenance, solar PV supervision, mini-grid design, and energy efficiency.

Nagode added that while NAPTIN serves as a centre of excellence within the West African Power Pool and the Association of Power Utilities of Africa, the institute prioritises technical competence over paper qualifications.

“Many graduates lack relevance to available jobs. In renewable energy, we have not even filled 50 per cent of the required human capital. This gathering is about ensuring we produce well-skilled youth to operate and maintain renewable infrastructure,” he said.

He also expressed concern about the sustainability of solar infrastructure currently being deployed nationwide.

“Even in Abuja, solar streetlights are everywhere. Without proper operation and maintenance, many will fail within four to five years. This underscores the urgent need to scale up skills training for young Nigerians,” he stated.

Nagode urged stakeholders to prioritise local content development by training youths to take ownership of Nigeria’s renewable energy future rather than relying on foreign expertise.

To address this, the REA is determined to create an additional 10,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector in the coming years to help bridge the country’s significant energy access gap.

REA’s Managing Director/CEO, Abba Aliyu, noted there are currently about 70,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector, with thousands more needed.

He said, “The entire African continent accounts for only 320,000 jobs in this sector, with Nigeria the country with the greatest number of people lacking access accounting for just 70,000.

“We need to change that narrative. We are moving beyond rhetoric, actively creating opportunities. Through this event, we are adding 120 new jobs in renewable energy.

“Thanks to deliberate policies by Mr President, Nigeria now has a 600-megawatt photovoltaic panel manufacturing capacity, a capacity that did not exist before his administration.”

The Next Gen Programme, Nigeria’s first public-private talent pipeline for renewable energy, aims to attract and equip young Nigerian graduates with the skills required to work in the sector.

The initial cohort of 120 graduates, selected from across the six geopolitical zones, will undergo a paid three-month classroom course at NAPTIN, followed by a one-month internship with selected Renewable Energy Service Companies.

Aliyu explained that the programme combines classroom learning with nine months of paid internships at leading RESCOs, with automatic job offers for top-performing trainees.

The National Boundary Commission has announced its commitment to integrating research and technology, including drones, into boundary management.

The Director-General, Mr Adamu Adaji, disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja while evaluating the impact of President Bola Tinubu’s administration after two years in office.

Adaji told the News Agency of Nigeria that the commission has transitioned from analogue to digital and electronic systems in managing boundaries.

He said that, with President Tinubu’s support, the commission has made significant strides in addressing Nigeria’s boundary issues.

“For those of us in mapping and surveying, we have progressed from traditional analogue methods to electronic systems.

“Now, with satellite imaging, aerial mapping, and drones, we can assess areas that would have been difficult to access on foot.

“So, we are truly embracing technology,” he said.

He reiterated the commission’s dedication to leveraging available technology to obtain accurate, real-time data for efficient boundary definition.

The Director-General also noted that research plays a crucial role in data collection to support the delineation of internal, international, and maritime boundaries.

He added that the commission’s Research and Policy Analysis Department is well-equipped to provide relevant data for informed decision-making in effective boundary management.

“Going forward, we will capitalise on Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ to deepen the adoption of technology and research in defining and demarcating internal and international boundaries.

“This will ultimately deliver the dividends of democracy to the people, especially those residing in border communities.

“We will focus on the physical definition of boundaries, particularly in areas where disputes have been resolved.

“Thankfully, we have improved budgetary allocations that will enable us to intensify boundary demarcation efforts and organise workshops to raise awareness on boundary management,” he said.

Adaji acknowledged the challenges posed by difficult-to-access boundary locations but expressed confidence that modern technology would help overcome these obstacles.

(NAN)

The Poultry Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, has attributed the reduced patronage of eggs to low purchasing power, greedy retailers, and low consumption.

The PAN Lagos Chairman, Mojeed Iyiola, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos.

Iyiola noted that eggs remain the cheapest source of protein in the country, but blamed retailers and low purchasing power among the reasons for the decline in egg consumption.

“The reduced patronage of eggs in the poultry sector is not peculiar to farmers alone.

“Virtually all consumable goods are experiencing low patronage due to the low purchasing power in the economy.

“Perhaps salaries are insufficient to meet the nutritional demands of families, or other expenses take priority over purchasing eggs.

“Eggs are still the most affordable protein you can buy in Nigeria; they are not as expensive as people think.

“The price from poultry farms is less than N5,500 per crate. However, individual consumption patterns vary.

“The perception that eggs are expensive is simply fixed in people’s minds,” Iyiola said.

He reiterated that the greed of retailers and middlemen contributes to the low patronage due to their quest for increased profits.

“Retailers who buy eggs at N5,500 at the farm gate price are adding higher profits than normal for selfish gains.

“When retailers purchase a crate at N5,500, the maximum profit they should add is no more than N100 or N200.

“However, some retailers sell a crate for as high as N6,000 or N6,500, thus making more profit than the poultry farmers who do all the work.

“A profit of N1,000 per crate is excessive, so the price increase or low patronage cannot be blamed on farmers.

“Also, the cost of raw materials for production should be considered, although it is still bearable,” the PAN chairman said.

Iyiola explained that the subvention from the Lagos State Government had helped farmers subsidise costs while it lasted.

“The subvention we received from the Lagos State Government was temporary and helped us while it lasted, but it is currently on hold.

“We are still expecting palliatives from the government to further cushion production expenses in the sector,” he said.

On his part, Joel Oduware, a poultry processor, said the general economic downturn could be blamed for the hike in prices and low purchasing power globally.

“Generally, the low patronage of eggs is due to the economic downturn, low disposable income, and reduced purchasing power.

“Despite schools resuming, we expected an increase in egg consumption compared to when they were on recess, but consumption remains low, especially in some northern states and other regions.

“Basically, the general economic strain is the reason for low patronage. The global financial situation is also affecting our industry; people cannot afford to eat as comfortably as before.

“We could reduce the price of eggs somewhat instead of experiencing a constant glut in the sector.

“However, any price reduction must factor in production costs,” Oduware said.

Governor Mohammed Umar-Bago of Niger State has inaugurated a 20-year short-term development plan for the ‘New Bida Town’.

Umar-Bago explained that the plan aims to strategically modernise the city in line with his administration’s vision of ‘Urban Renewal Development’ across the state.

He disclosed this at a Town Hall meeting and stakeholders’ engagement on the ‘New Bida 20-Year Development Plan’, organised by the Ministry of Lands and Survey in collaboration with the New Niger Development Project, held in Bida on Sunday.

The governor described the plan as a short-term strategy designed to accelerate development and stimulate socio-economic activities in the town.

Speaking on the proposed 44km Ring Road dual carriageway, intended to divert traffic, Umar-Bago said a new city would emerge.

He added that social amenities and a 100-megawatt solar farm would be provided for residents.

“With thousands of articulated vehicles passing through Bida, bringing numerous negative consequences, the construction of the ring road with a 1km setback on each side is essential for the health, safety, and prosperity of the town,” he said.

Umar-Bago further explained that the development would be implemented in phases, comprising a 20-year short-term plan and a 50-year long-term plan.

He noted that over three million trailers passing through the area monthly could generate N3 billion in revenue, a resource yet to be tapped.

The governor pledged to ensure the state’s rapid development despite financial constraints.

“Niger State Government has no intention to seize or grab land; we aim to establish proper layouts.

“Wherever a house or farm falls within the right-of-way, owners will be adequately compensated.

“The relevant MDAs will engage with affected persons, and I urge them not to take the law into their own hands,” he stressed.

He appealed to the public for understanding and support, reiterating that the government is not confiscating anyone’s land.

“However, owners of properties affected by the project will receive due compensation,” Umar-Bago vowed.

He also warned community members to be cautious of land grabbers.

In his remarks, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, called on residents to cooperate with the government’s efforts to develop Bida and its environs.

“This will secure a prosperous future for generations to come. The road construction will save lives and open avenues for greater economic growth,” he said.

Abubakar noted that the initiative comes at a crucial time when Nigerians face economic hardship and poor road infrastructure.

He praised Umar-Bago’s developmental efforts in the Emirate and the state.

The traditional ruler urged the people to pray fervently for the governor’s wisdom, good health, and ability to deliver meaningful progress.

He also encouraged citizens to be law-abiding, respect authorities, and live peacefully regardless of ethnic or religious differences.

The Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mrs Maurice Magaji, described the event as a defining moment and a collective commitment to transforming Bida into an economically vibrant city.

She added that the plan provides a framework for sustainable growth and environmental resilience.

Retired Major-General Mohammed Garba, an APC stalwart, and Professor Muhammad Kutea-Yahaya, Pro-Chancellor of Abdulkadir Kure University, Minna, among other stakeholders, also spoke at the event.

They commended the governor’s developmental strides and called on the public to support him in realising his vision.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has revealed that in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, 17,025 candidates representing 0.88 per cent of the total 1,931,467 scored 300 and above.

This marks the highest number recorded since the introduction of the Computer-Based Test.

According to a statistical report obtained by PUNCH Online on Saturday, this reflects a significant improvement in performance compared with previous years since the adoption of the CBT format in 2013.

According to the report, 1,931,467 results were released in 2025, representing 100 per cent of the candidates who sat the examination.

This figure surpasses the 1,842,364 results released in 2024 and indicates a steady increase in UTME participation over the years.

In comparison, 8,401 candidates (0.46 per cent) achieved similar scores in 2024, while 5,318 (0.35 per cent) did so in 2023.

Earlier figures were generally lower, with only 724 candidates (0.06 per cent) scoring 300 and above in 2021, and none in both 2014 and 2013.

In the 250 and above category, 117,373 candidates (6.08 per cent) attained this range in 2025.

This is an increase from 77,070 (4.18 per cent) in 2024 and 56,736 (3.73 per cent) in 2023.

Similarly, “565,988 candidates, accounting for 29.3 per cent, scored 200 and above, compared with 439,961 (24 per cent) in 2024 and 355,689 (23.36 per cent) in 2023,” the report said.

Despite these improvements, the majority of candidates — 1,365,479 (70.7 per cent) — scored below 200 in 2025.

This represents a slight decrease from 76 per cent in 2024 and 76.64 per cent in 2023.

A year-by-year comparison reveals significant fluctuations in performance. For example, in 2021, only 168,650 candidates (13 per cent) scored 200 and above, whereas in 2016, 568,847 (34 per cent) achieved this range.

The number of high scorers has steadily increased in recent years, suggesting a trend of academic improvement and greater familiarity with the CBT system.

Since the introduction of CBT in 2013, JAMB has continued to refine its examination processes, and the 2025 results appear to reflect the positive impact of these efforts.

The Board is expected to issue further statements on the implications of this year’s results for the tertiary admissions process.

PUNCH Online reported that JAMB released the results of the resit examination conducted for candidates affected by a technical error during the 2025 UTME.

Recall that the initial results of the 2025 UTME were released on May 9. However, on May 14, JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed that the results of 379,997 candidates across 157 centres in the Lagos and South-East zones had been compromised due to a technical glitch.

The registrar confirmed that affected candidates would be required to retake the examination.

He attributed the issue to faulty server updates, which hindered the proper upload of candidates’ responses during the first three days of the examination.