The Federal Government has announced the commencement of applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Scholarship Scheme. The announcement was made in a statement posted on the official X (formerly Twitter) platform of the PTDF. The Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme (OSS) is designed to cultivate indigenous talent for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. According to PTDF, a Federal Government agency, the 2026 award will fund both MSc and PhD programmes, with applications restricted to PTDF partner universities in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia. The Fund said this approach is based on its assessment that scholarship…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
Nigerians withdrew a staggering ₦36.34 trillion through Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in the first half of 2025, despite higher charges introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to discourage cash usage. The figure, covering January to June 2025, is nearly three times the ₦12.21 trillion recorded in the same period of 2024, according to data from the CBN’s quarterly statistical bulletin. The sharp rise came even as the apex bank, in March 2025, revised its ATM fee regime, removing the allowance of three free monthly withdrawals on other banks’ ATMs and increasing the cost of accessing cash. In a…
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has dismissed claims that the Federal Government relied on intelligence supplied by an Onitsha-based screwdriver seller using Google Maps to facilitate recent airstrikes on suspected bandit camps in parts of Sokoto State. Reacting to a report by The New York Times suggesting that a local trader provided the intelligence that led to the bombing, Fani-Kayode described the narrative as false, mischievous and deeply insulting to both Nigerian and United States intelligence services. In a statement on Sunday, the former minister said it was absurd to believe that the U.S. government would base such a…
The leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State and Senator representing Sokoto North Senatorial District, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, has expressed deep shock over the fire outbreak that ravaged Shagon Goro Market in Sokoto. The early morning inferno, which occurred on Sunday, destroyed several shops and goods worth millions of naira, leaving many traders counting their losses. In a statement issued on Monday, Senator Wamakko said he received the news with great sadness, describing the incident as a painful setback for hardworking traders whose livelihoods depend on the market. The former governor of Sokoto State called on the…
WikkiTimes, a leading investigative and accountability journalism platform in Northern Nigeria, has announced the launch of the Anas Aremeyaw Anas AI Accountability Fellowship, a specialised program aimed at strengthening investigative reporting on extractive industries, environmental degradation and resource injustice in under-reported communities across the region. The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the organisation through its media development arm, the WikkiTimes Media Foundation, and signed by its Publisher, Haruna Mohammed Salisu. The fellowship comes amid the rapid expansion of mining and other extractive activities in Nigeria, particularly in Northern states, where communities are increasingly grappling with…
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been declared the winner of a seventh term in office following an election marked by reports of violence, arrests and an internet shutdown. The Electoral Commission said Museveni, 81, secured 71.65 per cent of the votes cast in Thursday’s poll, extending his rule of the East African nation to nearly 40 years. His main challenger, pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, 43, polled 24.72 per cent. Wine rejected the outcome, describing the results as “fake,” and said he went into hiding after security forces allegedly raided his home on Friday night. In a post on X on…
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his position as the state’s chief executive, stressing that his administration remains firmly committed to peace, security, and the protection of lives and property. Fubara gave the assurance on Saturday while speaking as a special guest at the finals of the 2026 Port Harcourt Polo Tournament held in Port Harcourt, the state capital. He said maintaining public safety and stability would continue to guide his actions, adding that he would not support or encourage any activity capable of threatening peace in the state. ALSO READ Court blocks Fubara’s impeachment ALSO READ [JUST IN]…
Bayero University, Kano (BUK) has expelled 60 students following findings that they engaged in various forms of examination misconduct. The decision was made by the university’s Senate during its 431st meeting held on January 7, 2026, and was subsequently published in the institution’s official bulletin on Friday. According to the Senate’s announcement, the expulsions were recommended by the relevant academic and disciplinary committees after investigations established that the affected students violated the university’s examination rules and regulations. The action was taken in accordance with provisions of the General Examinations and Academic Regulations (GEAR) and the General Regulations Governing Postgraduate Studies…
Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, popularly known as Abba and son of former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has explained the reasons behind his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that his decision was driven by conviction, ideology and leadership appeal—not family ties. Abba formally defected to the APC on Thursday at the National Assembly, Abuja, where he was received by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside other senior APC leaders from the North-East. Party leaders described the move as a significant boost to the APC’s consolidation efforts ahead of…
Nigeria’s three tiers of government shared a total of ₦9.62 trillion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) over August–October 2025, but monthly allocations declined steadily, signalling renewed fiscal pressure. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows FAAC disbursements fell from ₦3.64 trillion (August revenue) to ₦3.05 trillion (September revenue), before dropping further to ₦2.93 trillion (October revenue). Who got what (Aug–Oct 2025) Federal Government: ₦2.28trn 36 States: ₦2.13trn 774 Local Governments: ₦1.56trn August revenue: ₦3.64trn strong start FAAC opened the period on a strong note, with the Federal Government receiving ₦810.05bn, states ₦709.83bn, and local governments ₦522.23bn.…