Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. Several students from the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) were injured in a lone auto accident on Thursday afternoon along University Road. The accident involved a small commercial bus known as ‘Korope,’ which crashed due to a tire burst near the university gate. Witnesses reported severe injuries, including a female victim who lost her arm and another who appeared lifeless. Videos of the scene showed victims in pain and one female student with blood on her head appearing lifeless. UNILORIN’s spokesman, Kunle Akogun, confirmed the accident and stated that there were no initial casualties, but later, the university announced that one student had died. The victims were taken to the University Health Centre for treatment, with one needing advanced care and being referred to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. The university expressed sorrow over the incident, conveyed condolences to the deceased student’s family, and wished a quick recovery for the injured.
2. On Thursday, Nigeria’s Federal Government and organized labour agreed on a new national minimum wage of N70,000 for workers. This agreement was reached in a meeting attended by President Bola Tinubu and representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). The minimum wage was raised from N62,000 to N70,000. Future wage reviews will occur every three years instead of five. President Tinubu promised increased investment in infrastructure and renewable energy. The President directed that withheld salaries for SSANU and NASU workers in public universities be addressed. The NLC and TUC accepted the new wage with mixed feelings, given the economic circumstances, but appreciated the shorter review period. The agreement will be submitted to the National Assembly for legislation.
3. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has strongly denied reports that his son was arrested in India for allegedly killing a man while drunk. In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on new media, Abdurrahman Ahmed Bundi, and Commissioner of Information, Shehu Aliyu Shinkafi, the governor threatened legal action against any media outlet that publishes this story. The statement refuted claims from an online blog that Zulum’s son was involved in any criminal activities in India and clarified that the governor was in Saudi Arabia and Egypt during the alleged incident. The governor’s media unit condemned the reports as false, mischievous, and defamatory, urging the public to be cautious about unverified information and emphasizing the importance of responsible journalism
4. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced the resumption of dollar sales to bureaux de change (BDCs), reversing the sharp depreciation of the Naira, which had fallen to N1,640 per dollar in the parallel market. This marks the first dollar sale to BDCs since April. Each BDC will receive $20,000 at a rate of N1,450 per dollar and is allowed to sell to end-users at a margin not exceeding 1.5% or N1,475.75 per dollar. Following the announcement, the Naira appreciated from N1,640 to N1,572 per dollar, although it was still slightly weaker compared to the previous day’s closing rate of N1,570 per dollar.
5. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) stated that petroleum products from the Dangote refinery, as well as Watersmith and Aradel refineries, are of lower quality compared to imported ones. NMDPRA CEO Farouk Ahmed noted that Dangote’s refinery is only 45% complete and has not been issued an operational license. He warned against relying solely on the Dangote refinery due to energy security and market monopoly concerns. Ahmed pointed out that Dangote’s diesel does not meet West Africa’s sulfur content standards, producing 650-1,200 parts per million (PPM) compared to the required 50 PPM. This counters Dangote Vice President Devakumar Edwin’s claims that imported fuel is substandard and that international oil companies (IOCs) are obstructing the refinery by selling crude at higher domestic prices. The House of Representatives has launched an investigation into IOC manipulations affecting local crude pricing and the Dangote refinery’s operations. The refinery’s management accused IOCs of prioritizing crude sales to foreign agents, inflating local prices, and praised NUPRC for its interventions but noted ongoing challenges due to IOC pricing strategies.
6. The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has denied setting specific cut-off marks for university and polytechnic admissions in Nigeria. In a statement on its official X account, JAMB clarified that there are no fixed cut-off marks; instead, individual institutions determine their minimum tolerable scores. This clarification follows widespread reports claiming JAMB set cut-off marks at 140 for universities and 100 for polytechnics. The confusion came from statements attributed to JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, during the 2024 Policy meeting attended by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, and other education stakeholders. Additionally, Minister Mamman directed that admissions should not be granted to candidates under 18 years old, aligning with Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education system. He emphasized that this age requirement is already supported by existing laws and doesn’t require further ministerial statements. The Ministry of Education is also focusing on incorporating skills training into primary education.
7. Nollywood actress Ini Dima-Okojie has opened up about her ongoing battle with fibroid tumors. In an Instagram video, she shared that despite undergoing surgery in 2020, her fibroids have returned. Instead of opting for another surgery, she is now exploring holistic treatments to manage her symptoms. Dima-Okojie is committed to raising awareness about fibroids and supporting other women facing similar challenges. As part of her initiative, she announced plans to sponsor scans for 20 women dealing with fibroids, encouraging her followers to share this opportunity with those who might benefit.
