The Nigerian Education Loan Fund on Friday announced the commencement of upkeep disbursements to student beneficiaries who have updated their bank account details from digital wallet platforms to commercial bank accounts.
A statement by the Director of Corporate Communications of the Fund, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, said the development marks a significant breakthrough in resolving earlier disbursement delays.
“Over 3,600 students who previously registered with digital-only banking platforms have now successfully received their backlog of upkeep payments after updating their details to conventional commercial bank accounts on the NELFUND portal.
“We appreciate the patience and understanding of all affected students during this period. Your resilience and cooperation have made this progress possible.
“Next Steps for Students Still Awaiting Payment Students who are yet to receive their upkeep payments and are still using digital wallet accounts are advised to raise a support ticket via the official NELFUND portal to request access for updating their bank details.
Alternatively, students may report through the IT office of their institution, which will compile and forward all related cases to NELFUND for resolution”, Oluwatuyi stated.
NELFUND said it remains committed to ensuring that no eligible student is left behind. This resolution process is part of our broader effort to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and student-centred delivery of our support services.
“We urge all students to continue engaging only through official NELFUND channels, and to assist peers who may require help navigating the update process.
“Once again, we thank you for your patience and support as we continue working to deliver a more inclusive and reliable student loan”, the statement concluded.
The Lagos State House of Assembly has moved to improve landlord-tenant relations as the state’s Tenancy Bill passed the second reading stage on Thursday.
During plenary, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said the bill aimed to redefine the legal framework for tenancy agreements, rights, responsibilities, and eviction processes in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the bill is titled: ‘A Bill for a Law to Regulate the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in Lagos State.’
Obasa said the bill covers procedures for recovering premises and related matters across the state.
If passed, the law would ensure that landlords, tenants, and agents fully understand their rights and responsibilities.
Obasa urged members to consider tenants who depend on end-of-year bonuses and annual leave allowances to pay rent.
He also highlighted the soaring cost of building materials and how landlords rely on rental income.
Obasa stressed the government must reassess its housing promises and ensure they are fulfilled.
After deliberation, the Speaker referred the bill to the House Committee on Housing for further review.
The committee is to report back in three weeks.
Mr Sa’ad Olumoh (Ajeromi-Ifelodun I) described the legislation as crucial, saying it aims to bring order to tenancy matters.
He said the bill promotes harmony by clearly defining rent structures — annual or monthly — and eviction notice procedures.
Olumoh added that the bill specifies roles for landlords, tenants, and agents, ensuring everyone understands their responsibilities.
He said it also offers legal clarity to guide courts in resolving tenancy-related disputes fairly and promptly.
Describing the bill as timely and people-centred, Mr Aro Moshood (Ikorodu II) called for an enforcement body within the law.
He said such a body would check landlords who impose arbitrary rents beyond legal limits.
According to him, the bill would relieve tenants and help them plan finances without unnecessary strain.
Mr Stephen Ogundipe (Oshodi-Isolo I) commended the bill for its inclusive and all-encompassing nature.
He said it covers everything from agent conduct to rent agreements and dispute resolution processes.
Mr Femi Saheed (Kosofe II) described the bill as a welcome development that outlines landlord rights on levies like tenement rates and land use charges.
He said the bill also affirms tenants’ rights and the courts’ authority over tenancy disputes.
“This law is long overdue and will modernise housing relationships in Lagos,” he said.
Mr Ajayi Oladele (Ibeju-Lekki II) said the bill will reduce conflicts often caused by estate agents.
“For the first time, everyone will understand their legal standing clearly,” he stated.
Ms Omolara Olumegbon (Lagos-Island I) praised the bill for promoting fairness and addressing rent timelines — monthly or yearly — and how they relate to eviction processes.
A former governor of Osun State and interim national secretary of the African Democratic Congress Coalition, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has expressed optimism that the party would defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress in the next general elections.
To this end, the former governor called on party members to work together to achieve success in the subsequent elections.
Aregbesola stated this while addressing members of the party in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Thursday.
The ex-minister for Interior stressed the need for party members to put aside their personal interests and differences and work towards a common goal of taking over power from the ruling APC.
He said, “Let us work together, let us put personal interest aside, and let’s get united. It is that unity we want. We should remember that we have many elections ahead; we have the presidential, we have the National Assembly, and we have the state assembly elections. We still have time, but with a big task. If we unite, we won’t be defeated in the elections. Unity is paramount in this situation.”
According to him, the ADC has garnered significant support from prominent members of the opposition parties, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, and former presidential candidate of the Labour Party Mr. Peter Obi, among others who have thrown their weight behind the party as a coalition movement platform aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu in the next election.
Also speaking, the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in the November Ondo State governorship election, Mr Gbenga Oedema, said the essence of the meeting was for Aregbesola to brief members of ADC on the state of affairs of the coalition.
“Less than two weeks ago, the coalition decided to adopt the ADC, African Democratic Congress, as the party for which we are going to manage our affairs as a political party. So ever since then, we have not had the opportunity or the privilege of somebody at the level of national to brief us, and you see that when he came, he gave us a lot of insights.
“Even the court cases that people have been hyping, he spoke about it, and he made it clear that such court cases have no effect on our activities. It’s only a stop in a teacup, which the opposition or the party in government is trying to hype as if it’s of no use. So he has briefed us about a lot of issues that we should respect,” he said.
A former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Akin Akinbobola, said the coalition was on the right path, lamenting that Nigeria was sinking and there was a need to quickly salvage her from sinking.
“Our leader has spoken to us on the need for people of progressive minds, people of like minds, to come together and rescue this country from the titanic situation that we have found ourselves in. Nigeria is sinking, and we need to salvage Nigeria from sinking. The hardship, the hunger in the land, the insecurity, and the collapse of almost every sector are based on a lack of good security, a lack of good infrastructure, and a lack of openness in governance.
“There’s a need for people who want the progress and the development of this nation to come together. That’s what the coalition is offering, using the ADC as the vehicle to actualise that,” he added.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission has said there will be bye-elections anywhere a ballot box is snatched during the conduct of the Saturday local government elections.
The chairman of LASIEC, Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (retd.) said this on Thursday during a press briefing ahead of the poll.
“There will be bye elections if a ballot box is snatched anywhere,” she said while answering questions from journalists at Tripple C Event Centre, Sabo Yaba, Lagos.
The LASIEC boss said, “While we don’t pray for such to happen,” there would be a need to conduct a bye-election in any local council where such happened.
The LASIEC boss assured Lagos residents of the readiness of the commission to conduct a free, fair and transparent election.
PUNCH Online reports that the Lagos State Police Command has announced restrictions of vehicular movements on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
The police, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, on Wednesday, noted that they had deployed personnel at strategic locations for the Saturday poll.
The All Progressives Congress has extended its congratulations to Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, following the Supreme Court’s validation of his victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
In a statement released on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party also praised the judiciary for its professionalism, dedication to the rule of law, and steadfast commitment to upholding constitutional order and electoral democracy.
After months of legal battle, a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba upheld Okpebholo’s election and dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who sought to overturn the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
Reacting, the APC stated, “The All Progressives Congress welcomes the judgement of the Supreme Court affirming Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo state in the 2024 governorship election.
“Our great Party congratulates Governor Okpebholo on this historic victory. We thank our teeming members, supporters and the good people of Edo state for their steadfast support during this legal challenge.
“We commend the judiciary for its dedication, professionalism and commitment to the rule of law, constitutional order and defence of electoral democracy as demonstrated in the adjudication of this matter.
“With this final judicial affirmation, Governor Okpebholo is now poised to expand and consolidate on the monumental development strides he has started since his inauguration as Governor.”
The APC called on all stakeholders, especially opposition candidates, to work together with Governor Okpebholo in advancing good governance and promoting development for the collective progress of Edo State and its people.
The House of Representatives Sub-Committee on the Protection of Critical National Assets on Thursday dismissed the corruption allegation against the Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Company by a civil society group, the Association for Public Policy Analysis.
The association had, through its President, Princewill Okorie, accused NELMCO of misappropriation of funds and shady operations among sundry allegations.
APPA had also questioned the continued existence of NELMCO 12 years after its privatisation.
At the resumed public hearing on the matter on Thursday, the Chairman of the Committee, Dabo Ismail, said the panel took the allegations seriously and immediately launched a comprehensive investigation to unmask what truly transpired.
According to the Bauchi lawmaker, NELMCO’s existence is backed by the provisions of the Nigerian Electricity Act, 2023, thus dismissing the position of the petitioner that the agency ought to have folded up in 2017 after the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.
“We asked NELMCO to provide us with documents backing their existence, and they did. Under the Nigerian Electricity Act 2023, NELMCO assumed responsibility for all the PHCN’s and successor companies’ assets and liabilities.
“So, this enabling law and the committee verified this law to be true and correct,” the committee chairman said.
Responding to the allegation that NELMCO spent N94m on a five-day retreat in Lagos, the Managing Director of NELMCO, Mojoyinoluwa Dekalu-Thomas, expressed the readiness of the agency to provide evidence of the expenditure incurred in the course of the training.
She said, “The Director General of the Debt Management Office, the Director General of the Bureau for Public Procurement, my executive directors, two non-executive directors, facilitators-25 people in all spent five days at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos, and we have pictures and documentary evidence to support this.
“We paid for flights, logistics, food, and accommodation, and that is where the N94 m went. It was not a one-day event but a five-day retreat, and the Minister of Power was there for the entire retreat. This is documented too,” a claim supported by the committee.
According to Ismail, the N94m “Is justifiable considering the dignitaries that attended the five-day retreat.”
An unidentified member of the committee added that at the Eko Signature Hotel Lagos, “A moderate room is N650,000 per night. Five nights for 25 people will cost N81m, no feeding, no ticketing. This figure (N94m) might be big in our eyes, but I think it is justifiable.”
In his contribution, a member of the Committee, Mr Billy Osawaru, said since the N94m was appropriated, there was no need for members to deliberate further on the issue.
“Was the money appropriated? Mr Chairman, if the money was appropriated, what that means is that at some poin, they brought this to us and we approved it. I don’t think that at this point, we should start going back. So if they have brought all this proof, we should move on,” he said.
The Chairman of the Committee again said all documents relating to the five-day retreat, including payments made for logistics, were submitted by the agency during its investigation.
He also dismissed the petitioner’s claim of a purchase of office in the North by the agency, saying, “We didn’t see evidence of purchase of office in the North.”
The Committee urged the petitioner to feel free to come forward with other subsequent findings, promising that it would do justice to every petition submitted before it in the interest of Nigerians.
Suspected bandits have abducted three persons, including two palace administrators, and burned several houses in the Bunyun community, Bashar District in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack, it was gathered, occurred on Wednesday around 7:30 pm, and is believed to be linked to last Sunday’s clash between vigilantes and bandits, which resulted in the deaths of several vigilantes and the destruction of several houses.
The paramount ruler of the community, Abdulbari’u Muhammad, confirmed the latest incident to journalists in Jos on Thursday, stating that the bandits stormed the community in large numbers, riding on motorcycles, and looted valuable items, including food, clothes, and motorcycles.
“We are completely confused and don’t know what to do, which is why we fled to Bashar. Everybody has fled because people are afraid to remain in the area,” Muhammad said.
He identified the abducted palace officials as Waziri & Wakili, his younger brother
Some villagers said the community had been deserted, with residents fleeing to nearby towns, including Bashar, for safety.
A resident of the area, Abubakar Zubairu, confirmed the incident, saying, “The community was deserted on Thursday morning following the Wednesday night attack.”
Muhammad emphasised the need for the government to deploy enough security personnel to the area to enable farmers to continue farming and secure their livelihoods.
“Our crops are already planted, and we are worried about our farms. We need the government to help us with security so that we can go back to our farms and secure our livelihoods,” he said.
The incident highlights the growing insecurity in Plateau communities and the need for urgent government intervention to protect lives and property.
Spokesperson for Operation Safe Haven, Major Samson Zhakom and his counterpart from the State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, were yet to respond to calls and text messages by our correspondent at the time of filling this report
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has disclosed that former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, was globally pursued in connection with the controversial OPL 245 oil deal.
Jonathan, who spoke through former Senate President, Pius Anyim, made the revelation on Thursday in Abuja during the public presentation of Adoke’s memoir titled “OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Nigerian Oil Block.”
He recounted that following the end of his administration in 2015, a campaign of targeted persecution was launched against officials who served in his government, with Adoke among the most affected.
“The author of this memoir, Mr. Bello Adoke, was the Attorney-General of the Federation at that time.
“He was hunted across the globe. But today, he’s alive, he’s healthy, and he’s here to tell his story,” Jonathan said.
Jonathan described the memoir as a bold and courageous effort to set the record straight, saying it was an important contribution to justice and nation-building.
He commended Adoke’s resilience, calling him a “friend and brother” who withstood intense pressure.
The former president also used the occasion to reflect on the nature of political power and urged public officeholders to act with fairness and responsibility.
“Power belongs to God. The best anyone who is blessed with the opportunity of holding public office should do is to commit to the assignment and use the opportunity to uphold truth, justice, and fairness,” he stated.
Jonathan warned that no society could thrive without justice and noted that Adoke’s decision to document his experiences was a step toward preserving the truth and strengthening democratic values.
“To some, the occasion may be a book presentation. To others, it is a celebration of victory over persecution,” he concluded.
Immediate past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has reaffirmed his support for the retention of Nigeria’s presidency in the South in 2027.
He insisted that the region must be allowed to complete its eight-year term before power returns to the North.
He made this known at a media interaction in Makurdi, the state capital, on Thursday.
He said, “Till today, I, Ortom, believe in southern presidency, even if my party (PDP) is producing a candidate for presidency in 2027, the candidate must be from the South. South should be allowed to complete eight years.
“So, for me, I am not supporting a northern candidate.”
Ortom, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and member of its Board of Trustees, also commended President Bola Tinubu for some of the economic reforms initiated under his administration.
“Tinubu administration is doing well; he is ensuring that the rule of law prevails, and this is good for our country.
“The oil industry had been a place where a few cliques siphoned our common wealth, but with the removal of subsidies, there is a lot of money in all the states.
“The president even stated this during his visit to Benue at the height of the killing of our people in Yelwata, where he said that no state would say it doesn’t have money to pay salaries.”
Ortom also lauded the ongoing tax reforms, describing them as steps in the right direction for economic growth.
However, Ortom criticised the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, saying Buhari’s administration took the country from “top to bottom.”
Ortom said he is not part of the newly formed coalition.
He added, “I remain a member and leader of Peoples Democratic Party; I am even a board member of my party and I don’t believe in coalition but where there’s need for strategic partnership, you will see me there.”
The Nigerian Army’s 223 Light Battalion, Zuru, successfully repelled a large-scale attack by over 400 armed bandits on Ribah town in the Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The operation, which took place on Wednesday, saw the troops respond swiftly to the invasion, engaging the attackers in a fierce gun duel that lasted several hours. Eyewitnesses described the scene as a battlefield, with the superior firepower and tactics of the army ultimately forcing the bandits to retreat in disarray.
Military sources confirmed that many of the bandits were neutralised during the exchange, while others fled with injuries, abandoning a cache of weapons and ammunition. The town has since been secured, and normalcy restored.
The Director of Security at the Kebbi State Cabinet Office, AbdulRahman Zagga, on Thursday, praised the courage and professionalism of the soldiers involved.
“The troops displayed uncommon bravery. Their swift response and combat efficiency turned what could have been a major disaster into a remarkable victory,” he said.
Zagga also applauded the Nigerian Air Force for its timely intervention and aerial support, which he said inflicted heavy casualties on fleeing bandits and disrupted their escape routes.
“The situation is now fully under control. The people of Ribah can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to the coordinated efforts of our security forces,” he added.
Intelligence reports suggest the attackers were part of the same criminal syndicate responsible for recent attacks in Niger State. Their attempt to extend their terror campaign into Kebbi was decisively thwarted.
In a related development, troops from the Dukku Barracks repelled another bandit assault on Mera in the Augie Local Government Area. The attackers, identified as Lakurawa bandits, attempted to rustle cattle but met stiff resistance from the Nigerian Army, which forced them to flee empty-handed.
Reacting to the successful operations, Governor Nasir Idris commended the gallantry of the security personnel and reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to strengthening security across the state.
“These victories are proof that with sustained support and collaboration, our security agencies can defeat banditry and restore peace to our communities,” the governor stated.
Just two days earlier, a joint security operation in the same Danko Wasagu axis led to the rescue of six abducted persons and the recovery of stolen livestock, further highlighting the momentum gained in the fight against insecurity in the region.
Residents of Ribah and Mera have expressed relief and gratitude, calling on authorities to maintain the current tempo to prevent future attacks.
