The NYSC Director of Corps Welfare and Health Services, Mr. Benjamin Folorunso Ayo-Omotade, has described corps members as truly nation builders. He made the disclosure at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ede, while fielding questions from members of the Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS). “Without being immodest, I am privileged to be a member of the team that commenced the groundbreaking of the NYSC structure in Osun State. “Right from the orientation camp and throughout the service year, NYSC has designed programmes that will build your capacity and expand your horizons. The cerebral administrator, who is extremely passionate about health and well-being of Corps Members visited the Camp Clinic, where he interacted with Corps Members and had an interface with the Consultants and Medical Team from Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH).

THE governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has been named the recipient of the Muslim News Nigeria Transformational Leadership Award 2025 in recognition of his ‘exceptional, people-centred governance and far-reaching impact in public service.’ The award, an initiative of Muslim News Nigeria, an Islamic newspaper, was established to honour Muslim leaders whose conduct in government and public life brings pride to the Ummah while contributing meaningfully to national development. In a statement on Thursday signed by the Publisher, Rasheed Abubakar, the newspaper said Governor Zulum emerged after a sustained editorial assessment of his leadership trajectory since assuming office in 2019. According to the statement, the award reflects Professor Zulum’s transformational leadership style, defined by courage, accountability, compassion and uncommon dedication to rebuilding lives and institutions in one of Nigeria’s most conflict-affected states. ALSO READ: FG launches 10-year initiative to tackle preventable blindness“This nomination follows our sustained editorial assessment of Your Excellency’s leadership since your assumption of office in 2019. Muslim News Nigeria has consistently followed and documented your people-centred approach to governance, particularly your hands-on response to security challenges, the resettlement of internally displaced persons, and the rebuilding of critical infrastructure in communities devastated by terrorism and insurgency,” the statement read.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has warned that continued reliance on coastal delivery of petroleum products could push petrol prices close to N1,000 per litre in Nigeria. The company stressed that its preferred gantry loading remains the most efficient and cost-effective method to ensure price stability for consumers. Operating on a 24-hour basis, it said the facility can evacuate over 50 million litres of premium motor spirit, 14 million litres of diesel, and other refined products each day. While acknowledging that coastal loading is an option where logistics require, the refinery emphasised that gantry evacuation eliminates additional costs. The company further estimated that sustained dependence on coastal logistics could impose an additional annual cost of roughly N1.75tn, based on Nigeria’s average daily consumption of about 50 million litres of PMS and 14 million litres of diesel.

Nigeria has secured about N25bn in funding for a decade-long eye health intervention as Christian Blind Mission International formally launched its SightQuest Nigeria programme in Abuja on Thursday. “Today, that partnership reaches an important milestone with the launch of SightQuest Nigeria, a 10-year initiative to reduce avoidable blindness and to address refractive errors. SightQuest Nigeria is about restoring dignity and ensuring every person has the chance to learn, to work, and to thrive,” he said. In his welcome remarks, the CBM Nigeria Country Director, Omoi Ozovehe Samuel, described the programme as a turning point in Nigeria’s eye health response. “On behalf of CBM, it is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the official launch of SightQuest Nigeria.

Experts in the real estate sector have stated that the tax reforms introduced by the Federal Government may change the dynamics of the real estate business. The experts disclosed this on Thursday in Lagos during the 10th AlphaCrux Real Estate Outlook Conference with the theme, ‘Amplifying resilience in the real estate industry in a disputed global economy’. Once the economy is moving in a positive direction, real estate will automatically also move in a positive direction,” Adama stated. The 1.5 per cent luxury tax refers specifically to a new annual luxury property tax on high-end residential real estate. The 1.5 per cent luxury property tax is just one element of the broader Nigeria Tax Act 2025, which also includes major changes to personal income tax, corporate tax, capital gains tax, minimum effective tax rates, and tax administration rules.

The Katsina State Government has announced plans to recruit 2,000 medical personnel and 2,000 teachers as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and address manpower shortages in public schools across the state. Governor Dikko Radda disclosed this on Wednesday while supervising a verification exercise conducted by the committee overseeing a comprehensive staff audit at the Government House in Katsina. He said the state would soon issue employment letters to over 1,000 medical workers who have already completed the recruitment process, while an additional 2,000 medical personnel would be engaged to boost staffing levels in hospitals and primary healthcare centres. He added that the planned recruitments align with his administration’s broader agenda of strengthening public service delivery while creating employment opportunities for youths and qualified professionals. The recruitment processes are expected to commence in the coming weeks following the conclusion of the verification exercise.

The Federal Government has reiterated its resolve to end the long-standing interference by state governments in funds allocated to the 774 local government areas from the Federation Account. Shehu lamented the persistent encroachment by state governments on local government finances, stressing that the commission was prepared to take concrete steps to ensure financial autonomy at the grassroots. “The commission would like to establish a Local Government Committee now, like we used to do before the Supreme Court said we were busy bodies. “The crisis we are having in Nigeria today is the lack of functionality of local governments, and every single one of us knows this. Even under the military, the local governments were performing much better,” he said.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has disclosed that no fewer than 250,000 young Nigerians have been enrolled in the Federal government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme across the country. Alausa spoke on Thursday at his induction as a member of the Epe Club held in the Alausa area of Lagos State. He continued, “Skill is the present and the future. Earlier in his remarks, the President of the Epe Club, Olayemi Dada, said the club has continued to provide support to indigent students and equipment to the health centres within the division. The highlight of the ceremony included the fundraising for the proposed ultra-modern Epe Club building.

Lunch Wrap: ASX cops gut punch as tech melts againNot pretty: Tech stocks have melted again today. US software stocks copped another slap and this made it three straight sessions of tech getting shown the exit door. The tech sector slid hard enough, down by 4.5%, that it’s now staring down the barrel of a near-14% weekly slump. Gold and silver investors also found out the hard way that shiny things don’t always shine when everyone panics at once. LAST ORDERSOre Resources (ASX:OR3) has snapped up more ground around its wholly owned Miriam gold project, part of the wider Coolgardie gold projects package.

The All Progressives Congress in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State has accused former Governor Aminu Tambuwal of neglecting his home community during his tenure, while praising the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu for prioritising grassroots development. “This is a family meeting of the APC. Representing the Tambuwal Local Government Chairman, Naigari Tambuwal, the Council Speaker, Nasiru Jabo, pledged the local government’s commitment to surpassing its performance in the last election. “Anyone who visits Sokoto today can attest to the transformation taking place across the state,” Dikko said, urging the government to properly document its achievements to counter misinformation. He disclosed that 83 indigenes of Tambuwal Local Government have been appointed into various political offices, including commissioners, special advisers, permanent secretaries, and board members.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Thursday, ordered the immediate deployment of tactical, operational and intelligence assets to Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq stated that the deployment of troops under Operation Savannah Shield would deter further attacks and restore peace in Kaiama and its surrounding areas. “I came to brief Mr President about what happened in Kaiama Local Government Area and to thank him for the prompt action taken. Guterres stated on his X handle, “I strongly condemn the terrorist attack of 3 February, in Kwara State, Nigeria. “I strongly condemn the terrorist attack of 3 February in Kwara State, Nigeria.

Football pundit Gabby Agbonlahor has criticised Chelsea’s decision to sign Liam Delap instead of Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. Speaking in the aftermath of Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday night, Agbonlahor said Chelsea should have pursued the Galatasaray forward. “I said when he (Delap) joined Chelsea that I thought he should have gone to a team like Everton,” he told talkSPORT. Analysing Delap’s performance on Tuesday, he added, “What I didn’t understand was Liam Delap on the right. “I could play on the wing because I was quick, but if one sort of striker couldn’t play on the wing, it’s Liam Delap.

The African Democratic Congress has appointed and sworn in a former Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Alhaji Rahman Owokoniran, as its South West Zonal Chairman. The ceremony was conducted under the authority of the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark. (Alhaji) Rahman Akanni Owokoniran was today duly inaugurated and sworn in as the South West Zonal Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Bamidele Ajadi, who is the highest-ranking national officer of the party in the South West, with the full consent, approval, and authority of the National Chairman of ADC, His Excellency Senator David Mark, and the national leadership of the party,” Onita said. “The South West zonal leadership under Hon. (Alhaji) Rahman Owokoniran stands legitimate, recognised, and fully backed by the national leadership of the party,” it added.

The Lagos Country Club has honoured Segun Shonubi with its 2025 Outstanding Resource Person Award, recognising his contributions to the club and his wider professional impact. According to a statement, the club presented the award at its 2026 New Year’s Party, where the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, represented the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the Special Guest of Honour. The organisation stated that under Shonubi’s leadership, the committee revived the Lagos Country Club Business Forum, which had been dormant for 10 years, and repositioned it as a platform for thought leaders to collaborate on strategies for national growth and economic stability. The Lagos Country Club described Shonubi as a seasoned professional. Shonubi is married to Justice Adenike Shonubi of the Lagos State High Court.

AfriMillions has launched a N1bn weekly progressive lottery. According to a statement, the inaugural draw, which also aired on radio through a simulcast, took place under regulatory supervision and marked the official commencement of the AfriMillions weekly N1bn Mega Jackpot. The company explained that beyond the weekly N1bn draw, the platform runs daily games and maintains active interaction with players through its social media channels. AfriMillions said the new feature would modernise the traditional lottery syndicate model by making it fully digital, transparent and accessible. AfriMillions urged Nigerians to participate through its digital platform, noting that ticket purchases and registration are available on its website.