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FG releases conditions as Student Loan Scheme begins

Bola Ahmed Tinubu

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Students in Federal Government-owned tertiary institutions will be the first batch of beneficiaries of the student loan scheme.

The portal opens on Friday.

Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, stated this yesterday while unfolding the conditions would-be beneficiaries will be required to meet.

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No fewer than 1.2 million students are expected to benefit from the cardinal programme of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration.

President Tinubu on April 3 signed into law the bill on the scheme in line with his electoral promise that no Nigerian student would drop out of school on account of lack of funds.

The ambitious cardinal programme will be funded with one per cent of the total annual collectable revenue by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

This year, the revenue target given to the FIRS is N19.4 trillion.

Should the agency meet this projection, N194 billion will be available as a loan to the beneficiary students.

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Repayment, according to the law, will commence two years after the completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.

Speaking yesterday on other conditions for beneficiaries, Sawyerr said students in federal institutions such as universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and technical colleges, whose institutions have completed and uploaded their student data would get the opportunity.

He said: “We are going to start with federal institutions because it is a programme that we have to roll out in phases. It will eventually be rolled out to state-owned institutions.”

Sawyerr said no guarantor was needed for students to access the loan.

He said applicants would be required to provide their “Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) letter, National Identification Number (NIN), and Bank Verification Number (BVN).”

He added: “Applicants are also to complete the application, including personal details, academic information and details of financial need and submit the application after reviewing it.”

Speaking on the repayments, he said the loanees, whether they are working with the government or in the private sector, must pay back the loans after two years.

He explained: “The agency will pay 100 per cent of the fee for the loanees to the institution. There is also the track of providing stipends to the loanees.

“We only pay for one session at a time because people drop out of institutions. They change institutions or change their mind about the course they are doing.”

On the possibility of bad loans, he said the agency was trying to make sure that it had as much information about the applicants as possible and be sure that they were bonafide Nigerian citizens and were of good standing.

“We also have various ways of working with security agencies to ensure that the people who are applying for these loans are not people who may want to be fraudulent,” Sawyerr said.

Scheme excites Youth Parliament
Speaker, Lagos State Youth Parliament, Itunuoluwa Soniregun, applauded the President for bringing the Student Loan initiative to fulfillment.

She said that the importance of the loan on youths and national development could not be over-emphasised, adding that President Tinubu had shown ‘great dedication’ to the initiative, which will greatly benefit students.

“The financial burden associated with attending higher institutions can be overwhelming, this pressing need, I believe, has necessitated the implementation of the student loan bill in the country,” the Youth Parliament leader said, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

She added: “The Federal Government of Nigeria, in its wisdom, has once again acknowledged the importance of investing in future leaders, by providing financial assistance through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.

“We are indeed, impressed and applaud our vibrant President for not only keeping to his words on this initiative, but for the promptness which youths can have access to it from May 24.

“This, I must confess presents a unique opportunity for our vibrant and ambitious youths to access higher education, without being deterred by financial constraints.

”By subscribing to this loan scheme, students can pursue their dreams, and acquire the skills necessary for personal and professional growth,” Soniregun said.

She urged willing applicants to be proactive in seeking assistance and clarification from the relevant authorities, when necessary, as they approached the scheme.

Soniregun said: “For those who are interested in benefiting from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, I encourage you to seize the opportunity and explore the possibilities it offers as soon as possible.

‘Make thorough research about the requirements and guidelines; ensure that your applications reflect your commitment to academic excellence and personal growth.

“After getting it, use the funds wisely and judiciously, acknowledging that the Federal Government’s commitment to your education is a testament to their faith in your potential.”

She also charged would-be candidates to strive for excellence in their academic pursuits, as the knowledge and skills they acquired would transform their lives and contribute to overall growth of the nation.


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Abia State

2027: Prepare Your Will If You Plan to Write Election Results in Abia — Governor Alex Otti Warns

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Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, warns politicians planning to manipulate the 2027 elections to “write their wills” first, reaffirming his stance on transparency, governance, and development in Abia State.
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Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has cautioned individuals plotting to manipulate the 2027 governorship election results to first “write their wills” before embarking on such a dangerous mission.

Speaking during his monthly media chat in Umuahia, the governor emphasized that his statement was not a threat but a caution informed by intelligence reports suggesting that some displaced politicians are boasting about plans to “write” election results in 2027.

“This is not a threat but a warning. If you are planning to write election results in Abia, please write your will first,” Otti declared.

He dismissed remarks attributed to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, noting that power ultimately belongs to God.

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“I do not have the anointing to speak about what will happen in 2027 in 2025. But I know that power belongs to God, and He gives it to whom He wants. We should not speak when the Lord has not spoken,” he said.

Governor Otti advised Kalu to focus on his duties at the National Assembly, adding that there was no animosity between them despite the Deputy Speaker’s repeated public criticisms.

“My relationship with the Deputy Speaker didn’t start with politics. This is the second time he has publicly attacked my administration. I forgive him, but I think he suffers from what I call ‘Information Deficiency Syndrome.’”

He further clarified that according to the Protocol Act of 2000, the sixth position in Nigeria’s political hierarchy belongs to the Deputy Senate President, not the Deputy Speaker.

On Governance and Infrastructure

Governor Otti commended the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) for its consistent efforts in maintaining a cleaner environment across Aba, Umuahia, and Ohafia.

“We are now moving to the next phase of waste management — recycling and turning waste into wealth,” he said, disclosing ongoing engagements with investors and institutions to actualize the plan.

The governor also announced progress in reviving key moribund industries, including Star Paper Mill, Aba Textile Mill, and Modern Ceramics, through collaborations with the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and other stakeholders.

“Government is an enabler. Our goal is to revive these industries, hand them to professionals to run as private entities, and create jobs for our people,” Otti stated.

Education and Health

Governor Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming the education sector, revealing that over 5,395 new teachers have been deployed across the state, with plans to recruit an additional 4,000 due to rising enrollment.

He also highlighted improvements in healthcare delivery, including the reconstruction of general hospitals and recruitment of over 774 healthcare professionals, with applicants coming even from other African countries.

“We are building a health system powered by renewable energy to ensure every community has access to quality healthcare,” he said.

Power and Infrastructure Expansion

Governor Otti announced the installation of nearly 8,000 solar-powered streetlights across the state and ongoing projects aimed at achieving steady electricity supply in Aba, Umuahia, Bende, and Ohafia.

“When Aba Power reaches its full capacity of 188 megawatts, excess power will be distributed to Umuahia and other parts of the state. Light brings development, and darkness disappears where there is light,” he said.

He disclosed that President Bola Tinubu’s representative, Senator Dave Umahi, recently commissioned eight newly completed roads in Abia, with more infrastructure projects including the 25km Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road and Ihechiowa Ring Road set to begin soon.

On Defection Rumours

Governor Otti debunked speculations about plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that he remains committed to his principles.

You don’t take decisions simply because others are taking them. We are not people who follow the crowd,” he affirmed.

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American Accuses Reno Omokri of Deception, Calls Him “Pathological Liar” as Omokri Dismisses Christian Genocide Claims

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American Accuses Reno Omokri of Deception, Calls Him Pathological Liar as Omokri Denies Christian Genocide in Nigeria
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A former Texas Mayor, Mike Arnold, has accused former Nigerian presidential aide Reno Omokri of deception and manipulation, describing him as a “pathological liar” who thrives on calculated deceit.

In a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), Arnold said he had witnessed Omokri’s alleged dishonesty firsthand during personal and professional encounters both in the United States and Nigeria.

“The truth about Reno Omokri is sad. I’ve seen it up close. Reno doesn’t lie like most liars. He lies calm, cool, constant. Up close, he’s reptilian. Chilling. Soulless. Yet so charming,” Arnold wrote.

Arnold, who claimed to have hosted Omokri in Texas and attended his birthday safari in Kenya, accused the former presidential aide of falsifying events, exaggerating connections, and fabricating ownership of luxury assets.

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He recounted an incident where Omokri allegedly showcased luxury cars online, falsely claiming ownership of two vehicles belonging to Arnold’s friend.

Arnold also alleged that during a fact-finding mission to Nigeria on Christian persecution, Omokri promised high-level meetings with President Bola Tinubu, NSA Nuhu Ribadu, and the Sultan of Sokoto, none of which materialized.

“Looking back, those promises were props for his narrative for clout and manipulation,” he wrote.

Arnold further accused Omokri of misrepresenting him on Nigerian television, falsely introducing him as the current mayor of Blanco, Texas, and a close associate of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz.

“On live TV, he called me a Republican mayor—we don’t even have partisan municipal elections. He also said I’m a personal friend of Ted Cruz. False,” Arnold stated.

Quoting Psalm 101:7, Arnold said Omokri’s actions were “soulless” and “evil,” adding that “lying to cover up the Christian genocide raging in Nigeria is a bridge too far.”

“People must know Reno Omokri is a pathological, habitual, calculating, self-serving liar from someone who knows him personally so they won’t trust his sleazy attempts to bury the blood of tens of thousands of Nigerian martyrs with the manure spewing from his mouth,” Arnold wrote.

He also accused Omokri of harboring political ambitions, claiming that he plans to run for vice president under National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

Omokri, however, recently appeared on Arise News Night, dismissing reports of a Christian genocide in Nigeria as “ludicrous,” insisting that both Christians and Muslims are victims of insecurity across the country.

“Killings happen equally to Christians and Muslims,” Omokri said, urging Nigerians not to allow Western narratives to sow religious division.

The exchange has since sparked intense debate online, with many Nigerians weighing in on the authenticity of Arnold’s claims and Omokri’s controversial statements on religious persecution.

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Biafra

BREAKING: Nnamdi Kanu’s Ailment Not Life-Threatening – Court Adopts NMA Findings

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has adopted a medical report by a panel set up by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), which found that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is not suffering from any life-threatening ailment.

The NMA panel, constituted by the association’s president on the order of Justice James Omotosho, was tasked with determining Kanu’s actual health condition following conflicting claims from medical experts representing both the prosecution and the defence.

According to the report submitted to the court on October 13 by the prosecution team led by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), and partly read in open court on Thursday, the panel concluded that Kanu’s condition is not life-threatening and that he is fit to stand trial.

Justice Omotosho, citing the report and noting no objections from either side, ruled that the trial would proceed.

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The judge subsequently granted the defence six consecutive days — from October 23 to October 28 — to open and close its case.

Additionally, the court approved an oral application by defence counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), requesting that Kanu’s legal team be allowed to hold private consultations with him outside the Department of State Services (DSS) facility to ensure confidentiality.

Justice Omotosho ruled that the private meeting will take place in the courtroom between 9 a.m. and 12 noon on October 22, with only Kanu and his lawyers present.

The court further ordered that Kanu should continue receiving medical care at the DSS medical facility pending further proceedings.

One of Kanu’s lawyers, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed the development after Thursday’s sitting.

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Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri Resigns from PDP with 23 Assembly Members

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Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri Resigns from PDP with 23 Assembly Members

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on Wednesday during a state executive council meeting in Yenagoa, accompanied by 23 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, including Speaker Abraham Ngobere and Deputy Speaker Faithful Ebi.

His Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, confirmed the move, attributing it to ‘obvious reasons’ without specifics, while Diri thanked PDP supporters and reaffirmed his dedication to Bayelsa’s progress.

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Today, I have formally resigned my membership from PDP for obvious reasons.” – Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri.

The defection ends the PDP’s control of the state since 1999 and hints at a potential shift to the All Progressives Congress before the 2027 elections.

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Davido Announces 5IVE Alive Tour in Five Cities in Nigeria

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Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido has revealed the Nigerian dates for his 5IVE Alive Tour, linked to his fifth studio album released in April 2025, following a successful North American run.

The tour kicks off on October 26 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, and includes stops in Yola, Enugu, Ibadan, culminating on December 25 in Lagos.

Tickets are now available starting at ₦5,000 for most venues, with fans urged to purchase quickly amid high demand.


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