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JUST IN: FG opposes N/Assembly’s proposals for 200 new varsities
The federal government has expressed opposition to the proposals by the National Assembly for creation of nearly 200 new universities in the country.
It said with almost 200 bills in the National Assembly for establishment of new universities, there is a growing concern that the system is becoming overwhelmed.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, stated this in Abuja yesterday during the third edition of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing.
The country currently has 278 universities, 64 of which are federal; 67, state; and 147, private.
The government had, last month, announced a one-year moratorium on the establishment of new private universities “to enhance the quality and sustainability of private universities, ensuring that only institutions with the necessary financial and academic capacity are granted licenses.”
The minister yesterday emphasised that strengthening the capacities of the existing universities is more important than establishing new ones.
He said: “They (lawmakers) are passing a lot of bills. Today, I can tell you that there are almost 200 bills in the National Assembly. We can’t continue like this.
Even though we have a lot of them, the capacity for a university to admit is not there. What we need to do now is to rebuild the capacities so that we can offer more viable courses to our citizens.
“We need to stop this (the 200 bills for new universities) from happening. There is so much pressure on the president. We have to, at least, be sensitive to it as well.
“I understand the sentiment of our legislators. They want to show that they are working. We know they are working. But then, we have enough assets, we have enough opportunities out there for students to go to universities.
“What we now need to do is to begin to mobilise more resources to develop infrastructures, build engineering workshops, build laboratories in these universities, recruit international standard teachers, so that we can begin to get these universities to develop, to deliver high quality of education that will be known for as a country.
“Today, if you care to know, we have 64 federal universities, 67 state universities and 147 private universities.
If you look at the entire enrolment together, the private universities account for just 7.5% of total undergraduate enrolment.
I will tell you the meaning of the number. The total number of undergraduate enrolments today is just about 875,000, which is, at least, fairly low.
“We have universities with less than 1,000 undergraduate students, and there is this intense demand for more universities to be opened. We have to stop that.”
however, it is not only the legislators that are obsessed with pushing for the establishing of universities as constituency project or for status symbol.
News
BREAKING: Nigerian Air Force fighter jet crashes in Niger State (Video)
A Nigerian Air Force fighter jet has crashed in Niger State.
The aircraft went down near Karabonde village in Borgu Local Government Area this afternoon.
Initial reports from military sources confirm that both pilots ejected safely and survived the crash with no fatalities reported.
Authorities have ruled out hostile action, stating that the incident was caused by a technical/mechanical fault.
Emergency response teams have been dispatched to the crash site. Further details are awaited.
Watch vvideo below:
News
Emeka Monye of ARISE NEWS Launches N1m Award for Anambra’s Top WAEC Student Annually
Renowned journalist and media strategist, Emeka Monye, has launched an annual award of N1 million for the best-performing student in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Anambra State.
The award, which is aimed at promoting academic excellence, is open to all Anambra students – both public and private schools – who sat for the WAEC examination.
Monye, who is the Anambra State Correspondent for ARISE TV, said the initiative is part of his efforts to give back to the society and encourage students to strive for excellence.
According to Monye, the award is a way of recognizing and rewarding outstanding academic achievement, and he hopes that it will inspire other students to work hard and emulate the winner’s success.
The award winner will be selected based on their performance in the WAEC examination, and the announcement is expected to be made soon.
Monye, who has been a driving force in media innovation, has instituted this award to motivate students to aim high and achieve their goals.
He believes that education is key to personal and societal development, and this initiative is his way of contributing to the growth and development of Anambra State.
The launch of this award has been welcomed by the state COMMSIONER for education, Prof. NGOZI Chuma-Udeh who described the initiative as a great motivator for students to excel academically. Prof. Chuma-Udeh, while receiving the founder and initiator of the EMEKA MONYE SCHOLARSHIP PRIZE, Emeka Monye in her office, asked other well-meaning individuals to emulate the good gesture of the journalist whose charity work will make impact in the education sector.
The award, which commences in 2026 academic session and runs through to 2035, is expected to be presented annually in the sum of one hundred thousand naira for the next ten years, and Monye has called on other stakeholders to join him in promoting education and academic excellence in the state in particular and the country as a whole.
News
Truck Drivers Block Obajana-Kabba Highway, Causing Massive Gridlock in Kogi State
Motorists were stranded on the Obajana-Kabba Highway in Kogi State following a roadblock staged by truck drivers, bringing traffic to a complete halt on the busy federal route.

The blockade has triggered severe congestion, leaving thousands of vehicles unable to proceed in either direction and forcing travelers to seek alternative paths.

The protest reportedly began after a dispute between the truck drivers and security operatives along the road. While full details of the incident are yet to be confirmed, the drivers parked their articulated vehicles across the highway in protest, effectively shutting down the corridor.

The disruption comes at a particularly busy time, with many residents traveling to attend funerals, weddings, and political functions across Kabba and neighboring communities.
Frustrated motorists have resorted to diverting through Okene, resulting in heavy traffic buildup on the alternative route and extended travel delays across the region.

As at press time, authorities are yet to intervene or issue an official statement on efforts to clear the highway and restore free flow of traffic.
Commuters are urged to avoid the Obajana-Kabba route until the situation is resolved.
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