News
NUJ sets N1m award for 2024 Investigative Journalist winner

An investigative journalist, whose work has local and international impact adjudged as the best in the entry for the 2024 NUJ Press Freedom Award would go home with a cash prize of N1 million, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Comrade Chris Isiguzo has said.
Isiguzo, who addressed a world press conference, said the NUJ will introduce the investigative award in the 2024 edition to promote the constitutional mandate given to the journalist as an agenda setter and advocate of good governance.
The President of the Union said, “Press freedom is the cornerstone for building fair and impartial institutions. Press freedom is a catalyst in the mobilisation of the citizenry to hold their leaders accountable as well as promote speaking truth to power.”
He noted that “the press is the fourth arm of government and recognised this in the 1999 Nigerian constitution as amended.
Therefore, “it is the duty of the press to hold the government and citizens accountable at different levels.”
He said their decision this year was to combine the Good Governance Awards with the Press Freedom Awards as part of this mandate to showcase performances by various administrators.
He said the Press Freedom Awards, which celebrate the important principles of press freedom, defend the media from attacks on their independence and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty,
Isiguzo said since press freedom is an indispensable pillar in the architecture of democracy anywhere in the world, no democracy can thrive without citizen’s adequate access to transparent and reliable information.
According to him, “Many journalists in Nigeria have faced harassment, threats, physical injury, imprisonment, and even death in the course of discharging their legitimate duties.
It is the courage and sacrifice of these journalists that we are celebrating by organising the 2024 Nigeria Union of Journalists’ Press Freedom and Good Governance Awards.
Isiguzo said, “Torch Bearers of Press Freedom Awards will be given to journalists who have faced harassment, physical injury, imprisonment, or death in their line of duty.
“Best Investigative Reporter of the Year Award will be given to the reporter who has done the best investigative reporting in the year under review.
“The story must have a significant positive national and international impact, have led to system improvements, and have enhanced the citizens’ quality of life.
“Press Freedom Platform Awards will be given to media houses that have supported press freedom
“Corporate Friend of the Media Awards will be given to corporate organisations that have supported press freedom.
“Defender of Press Freedom Awards will be given to experienced journalists and other Nigerians who have actively defended press freedom
“Lifetime Achievement Awards will be given to those who have shown resilience in supporting press freedom and/or have provided media platforms for journalists to practice their craft.
News
BREAKING: JAMB Registrar breaks into tears, apologises for UTME errors

…….Reschedules exam for affected candidates
The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, today, broke into tears as he apologised for the errors in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
He said tearfully during a press conference in Abuja. that: “I apologise for the trauma caused the candidates.
Recall that Oloyede at the start of the press briefing acknowledged “one or two errors” made during the 2025 UTME.
JAMB reschedules UTME for affected 379,997 South East, Lagos candidates
The 379,997 candidates in the five states of the South East and Lagos will be rescheduled for another Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination.
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq, made this known in an ongoing press briefing in Abuja today.
Oloyede, who took responsibility for what he described as a “sabotage” of the 2025 UTME, said the affected candidates will start getting text messages from the Board starting tomorrow.
“The affected candidates will start getting text messages for reschedule starting from tomorrow.
“I apologise, I take full responsibility.
”Of the 1.9 million candidates who sat the UTME, over 1.5 million reportedly scored below 200 out of the maximum 400 marks, raising concerns across the education sector.
According to the examination agency, a total of 1,955,069 results were processed, out of which only 4,756 candidates (0.24 per cent) scored 320 and above, considered top-tier performance, while 7,658 candidates (0.39 per cent) scored between 300 and 319, bringing the total for those who scored 300 and above to 12,414 candidates (0.63 per cent).
Also, 73,441 candidates (3.76 per cent) scored between 250 and 299 while 334,560 candidates (17.11 per cent) scored between 200 and 249.
A total of 983,187 candidates (50.29 per cent) scored between 160 and 199, which is widely regarded as the minimum threshold for admissions in many institutions.
In the same vein, 488,197 candidates (24.97 per cent) scored between 140 and 159, 57,419 candidates (2.94 per cent) scored between 120 and 139, 3,820 candidates (0.20 per cent) scored between 100 and 119, and 2,031 candidates (0.10 per cent) scored below 100.
Over 75 per cent of all candidates (1.5 million) scored below 200, average score seeing as the examination is graded over 400.
News
Lagos to launch monthly rent payment scheme, but would landlords agree?
The initiative is part of broader efforts to make housing accessible and affordable for residents.

The Lagos State Government said it is ready to introduce monthly and quarterly rent payment system for easing financial burdens on residents, especially low-income earners.
The Commissioner for Housing, Mr Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, disclosed this at the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing to mark Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second year in office, yesterday .
He said the initiative is part of broader efforts to make housing accessible and affordable for residents.
He recalled that the state had earlier launched a rent-to-own housing scheme which allows tenants to make an initial five percent down payment and spread the balance over a 10 years period.
“That initiative was well-received, and its success encouraged us to explore new ways to reduce the pressure of yearly rent payment,” he said.
Crime
JUST IN: Nigerian Govt witness tenders Ahmed Gulak’s death certificate in Nnamdi Kanu’s trial

A Federal Government witness, identified as BBB, on Wednesday tendered a certified true copy (CTC) of the death certificate of Ahmed Gulak, in the ongoing terrorism trial of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Gulak, a former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was killed by suspected IPOB members in 2012.
The News Agency of Nigerial reports that BBB, who was the 2nd prosecution witness (PW-2), tendered the document before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja while being led in evidence by the Federal Government’s lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN.
Upon resumed hearing, Awomolo informed the court that though the matter was scheduled for cross examination of PW-2, he had a question to ask the witness.
“We ask for a permission to ask a question my lord,” he said.
Kanu’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, did not oppose Awomolo’s application and the judge directed him to go ahead.
Awomolo then asked BBB that one of the last evidence he gave was that during the radio broadcast made by Kanu, he called for a sit-at-home, leading to the death of Gulak.
The witness confirmed the statement. He said he participated in some of the investigations leading to Gulak’s death.
Besides he said he had a certificate of his death in the courtroom from the police dated July 18, 2021.
According to the witness, the document is a certified true copy of the medical report on Gulak.
When the document was shown to Kanu’s lawyer, he said he has no objection and Justice Omotosho admitted it in evidence and marked it as Exhibit PWJ.
Awomolo then sought the court’s permission for the document to be given to the witness to read in the open court.
BBB, who read the content of the death certificate, said the document was from the Nigeria Police, Owerri in Imo State, concerning Gulak, who was allegedly shot dead by IPOB members in 2021.
After the question, Agabi proceeded to cross examine the witness.
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