News

Rotational Presidency Not In APC Constitution – Yahaya Bello

Published

5 years ago

September 22, 2021

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has said rotational presidency is not in the constitution of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor, who spoke during the inauguration of a presidential campaign movement for him by some northern youth in Kaduna, said Nigerian youths will decide his fate in the presidential race.

Daily Trust reports the inauguration of the Movement called Yahaya Bello Network Group (YBN), held barely 72 hours after the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) declared that the region may retain power beyond 2023, as it has the population to win the next presidential election.

Bello, who was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Youth and Student Affairs, Ahmed Jubril, said it is a good development that Nigerian youths are now coming on board to identify with a youth like them for the exalted position of Nigerian President.

According to him, “Governor Yahaya Bello is doing the right thing because in other countries we have seen where the youths have taken over. It is only a plus for us as youths to be calling on Governor Bello to come and be the number one person in Nigeria.”

On the agitation for return of Presidency to the South, Governor Bello said, “The agitation is part of democracy, everybody has the right to call for what they want and it is their opinion. But we know that as a party, in the APC, we don’t have any fixed law saying anybody is entitled to power in any area for a period of time. Let the youth of Nigeria decide who they want.

“If they have seen the youth in Governor Bello, if they have seen a leader and a unifier of the country in him, then he shall be President by the grace of God, because man proposes, but God has the final say.

“When elected President of Nigeria, Governor Bello will be doing a lot differently, because he has been doing that. The nation is just getting back from Coronavirus and economic recession and you can see Kogi was rated fastest growing economy in Nigeria within that period of time.

“This means Governor Bello is a man who sees beyond ordinary and taken advantage of circumstances. I believe this is the kind of person we want in Nigeria now, someone with passion for the country someone who is a unifier and has fought against insecurity. We need a leader with commitment to protecting lives and properties of Nigerians,” he said.

Inaugurating the 19 Northern states, executives and ambassadors of the movement, the Arewa youths said the call by the Southern Governors for power to return to their region is unconstitutional.

Spokesman of the Network, Bello Mohammed Bello said, gone are the days when Nigerians should be talking of politics of region, religion and ethnicity.

“We are supporting Governor not only because he is our own in the North, but because he is young, vibrant, energetic and has what it takes to lead Nigeria to the promise land.

“There are agitations everywhere, but it is not constitutional and politics is a game of number and Yahyah Bello is a man of quality. Nigeria’s presidency is something that has to do with quality and has nothing to do with your religion or background. For this reason, we also believe there are so many people from the South in support of Governor Bello,” he said.

News

FG Targets 95% NIN Coverage by December 2026

Published

2 hours ago

September 17, 2026

Hamdalat Bisiriyu

FG Targets 95% NIN Coverage by December 2026

The Federal Government is targeting 95 per cent National Identification Number (NIN) coverage nationwide by December 2026 as it expands Nigeria’s digital identity system.

President Bola Tinubu announced the target during the 2026 National Identity Day celebration in Abuja, where he was represented by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila.

The President said NIN enrolment had risen to about 142 million, up from more than 80 million recorded when his administration came into office.

To reach the new target, the government plans to expand registration through ward-level enrolment, mobile registration initiatives and licensed agents. Reports from the event said free enrolment is being extended to all 8,809 wards across the country.

Identity System for Digital Economy

Tinubu said the government wants to build an identity infrastructure that can support Nigeria’s growing digital economy.

He said a secure national identity could make it easier to access services while supporting areas such as digital banking, healthcare, transportation and government programmes.

The President also said the expansion must go hand in hand with safeguards for citizens’ privacy and dignity.

Beyond enrolment numbers, he said the government was working towards a more connected digital public system, including electronic health records, e-transport services and a more coordinated national data architecture.

The NIMC’s ongoing expansion therefore aims not only to register more Nigerians and legal residents, but also to make the identity system a key part of how people access digital and public services.

FG Targets 95% NIN Coverage by December 2026

Education

25 Universities, Teaching Hospitals Get Solar Power Under REA Programme

Published

3 hours ago

September 17, 2026

Hamdalat Bisiriyu

25 Universities, Teaching Hospitals Get Solar Power Under REA Programme

Twenty-five federal tertiary institutions have been connected to solar electricity under the Rural Electrification Agency’s (REA) Energizing Education Programme.

The REA Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, disclosed this during the commissioning of a 3MW captive solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja.

According to Aliyu, the programme covers 22 federal universities and three affiliated teaching hospitals and has deployed more than 100MW of clean energy.

He said the initiative now benefits over 300,000 students and 50,000 academic and administrative staff.

Aliyu added that the new 3MW facility would power key university facilities, including lecture halls, laboratories, ICT systems, administrative buildings and campus lighting.

Meanwhile, Minister of Power Joseph O. Tegbe said reliable electricity was essential to supporting teaching, research, healthcare and digital services in universities.

He stressed that the long-term performance of the solar projects would be more important than their commissioning.

Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Prof. Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, also said dependable electricity was critical to the institution’s academic and research activities.

25 Universities, Teaching Hospitals Get Solar Power Under REA Programme

News

OAU Investigates Death of Final-Year Student as Police Begin Probe

Published

5 hours ago

September 17, 2026

Hamdalat Bisiriyu

OAU Investigates Death of Final-Year Student as Police Begin Probe

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, is investigating the death of a final-year student of the institution.

The student, Oluwole Oluwosegun, was studying Materials Science and Engineering at the university.

According to the university’s Public Relations Officer, Olarewaju Abiodun, the incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at the student’s off-campus residence around the Damico area of Ooni Layout, Ile-Ife.

After receiving the report, the university’s Quick Response and Security (QRS) Team went to the location. The team also contacted the Nigeria Police, after which officers from the ‘A’ Division in Moore, Ile-Ife, joined them at the scene.

The university later took the student to its Health Centre, where a medical doctor confirmed his death.

Police Begin Investigation

Following the incident, university authorities handed relevant information and items recovered from the scene to the police to support their investigation.

The police have since begun inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.

Meanwhile, the university said it had informed the appropriate student affairs authorities to provide necessary follow-up, particularly regarding the welfare and emotional support of students affected by the incident.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Simeon Bamire also expressed condolences to the student’s family, friends, classmates and colleagues.

The university further encouraged students facing severe emotional distress, relationship difficulties, financial pressure or other personal challenges to seek help from trusted people and available university support services.

Professor Bamire reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to the welfare of its students and staff, stressing that no student should feel they must face overwhelming difficulties alone.