Kwara schools to reopen Monday
The Kwara State Government has directed all public and private schools in the state to reopen on Monday, April 20, 2026, for the start of the third term following a three-week break. The decision was communicated in a statement by the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Peter Amogbonjaye, after consultations with stakeholders across the...
NELFUND denies suspending student loan programme, labels notice fake
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has dismissed reports claiming it has halted its student loan disbursement scheme, describing a widely circulated notice as false. In a statement shared on Saturday via its official X account, the agency clarified that it has not announced any suspension of loan payments and urged the public to ignore the misleading document. The viral message had...
Meta begins mass layoffs May 20 as Zuckerberg invests in AI
Meta is preparing to roll out the first phase of significant job cuts on May 20, with additional layoffs likely later in 2026, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The parent company of Facebook and Instagram is expected to reduce its workforce by about 10 per cent in the initial round, affecting nearly 8,000 employees globally, one of...
JAMB arrests candidates, parent over AI-Driven UTME result fraud
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has confirmed the arrest of two candidates and a parent accused of falsifying results from the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) using artificial intelligence and other digital tools. The development was announced on Friday alongside the release of results for 632,788 candidates who sat for the exam on Thursday, April 16. JAMB’s spokesperson,...
Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz again: Latest developments in Middle East war
Iran's military declared the Strait of Hormuz closed again on Saturday, hours after reopening it, casting doubt on United States President Donald Trump's optimism that a peace deal to end the Middle East war was "very close". Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war on Saturday, April 18, 2026: Gunboats fire on tanker Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker...
Lagos expands public toilets, urges businesses to open restrooms
The Lagos State Government has stepped up its campaign to end open defecation, revealing that over 1,700 public toilets are now operational across the state. Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed that 1,710 facilities have been strategically distributed to serve both residents and visitors. He noted, however, that government efforts alone are not enough to fully address...
2026 UTME: JAMB records ‘minimal’ hitches, warns against exam malpractice
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) recorded minimal challenges across Nigeria. The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said this at the University of Ibadan (UI) Computer-Based Test centre in Ibadan during a routine monitoring visit to CBT centres in Oyo State on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Oloyede described the exercise as largely...
Benue police nab 7 over travellers’ abduction, rescue victims
The operatives of the Benue State Police Command have arrested seven suspects over their alleged connection with the April 15 abduction of some passengers in the Otukpo area of the state. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Edet Udeme, disclosed this via a statement issued on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Udeme said the arrests were made during a coordinated joint security operation involving...
Nigeria not poor, focus on inequality — Presidency
Nigeria is not a poor country but one grappling with deep inequality and structural economic challenges, the Presidency said Friday, calling for a shift away from poverty-centred narratives. Dr. Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, made the remarks on Channels Television, arguing that framing Nigeria as poor distracts from actionable solutions. "Nigeria is not a poor country,...
Iran reimposes control over Strait of Hormuz amid U.S. dispute
Iran’s central military command on Saturday declared it would reimpose tight control over the Strait of Hormuz, reversing an earlier move to ease restrictions as part of talks with United States. In a statement broadcast on state television, the command accused Washington of failing to honour commitments, alleging that a naval blockade affecting vessels linked to Iranian ports remains in...
