Tag: Nigeria

  • Correctional Service denies reports of bomb blast in Charles Okah’s cell at Maiduguri prison

    The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has dismissed claims of a bomb explosion at the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) in Maiduguri, describing the reports as “false and misleading.”

    In a statement issued on Monday, April 21, 2025, and signed by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Controller of Corrections Umar Abubakar, the NCoS assured Nigerians that there had been no security breach at the Maiduguri facility or at any other custodial centre nationwide.

    “The attention of the Nigerian Correctional Service has been drawn to an online report of a purported bomb explosion in Maiduguri Custodial Centre. This report is not true and is highly misleading,” the statement read. “The situation at the custodial centre remains calm and stable. Inmates are continuing their rehabilitation programmes without disruption. The fake report should be disregarded.”

    Read Also: Tension in Osun as NNPP calls for Adeleke’s removal, PDP defends Gov’s record

    The NCoS issued the rebuttal following widespread online claims that an explosion had occurred around 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 20, in the solitary confinement cell of Charles Okah, a high-profile inmate.

    Supposed eyewitness accounts from within the prison had alleged that an object, believed to be an explosive device, was thrown into Okah’s cell through the window bars, triggering smoke and fire. Okah was reportedly heard coughing and calling for help.

    Further reports suggested that strict prison procedures, particularly the rules governing solitary confinement, may have delayed immediate rescue efforts due to the time required for authorization to open a cell at night.

    Charles Okah has been in solitary confinement since March 16, 2025. He is currently serving a life sentence for his involvement in the October 1, 2010, bombing near Eagle Square in Abuja and a separate attack in Warri, Delta State, in March 2010.

    The timing of the alleged incident coincides with Okah’s recent open letter to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in which he accused officials of systemic corruption within the Maiduguri correctional system.

    While the correctional authorities continue to maintain that the centre is secure and stable, independent verification of the explosion has not yet been made. The public has been urged to remain calm and disregard what the NCoS has described as “unfounded and sensationalist reports.”

    Source: Ripples Nigeria

  • Underhand Dealings Claims In Oil Blocks Licensing Bid Round, False, Malicious—NUPRC

    The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has faulted reports in a section of the
    media (Not THE WHISTLER)that claimed some underhand dealings in the allocation of oil blocks during the 2024 oil licensing bid round.

    The Commission said the publication appears to be the work of a notorious blackmailer, and a malicious attack intended to generate unnecessary controversy, as there have been no such deals with any individual, group or institution.

    In a statement signed by Mr Bashiru Indabawa, Chairman 2024 Bid Round Committee, NUPRC, it dismissed the reports stating that the bid rounds were done in line with global best practices.

    The NUPRC recently undertook the initiation and conclusion of the 2024 Oil Bid Round.

    The process was characterised by a comprehensive and rigorous framework designed to ensure transparency and stakeholder engagement.

    Among the key components of this meticulous process were public hearings held at various stages, where all relevant industry stakeholders were encouraged to participate and voice their perspectives.

    These hearings facilitated a collaborative atmosphere, allowing for input from regulatory agencies and all parties operating in, and oversighting industry operations.

    Their involvement, according to the NUPRC, was not limited to the final stages of the bid round but played an integral role from the very outset, contributing to the development of regulations and guiding the bid process.

    It added that this level of engagement and procedural rigour underscores a commitment to fostering a fair and competitive bidding environment in the Nigerian oil sector.

    The statement added, “The selection process for the 2024 oil bid round was a comprehensive and inclusive event, involving a diverse array of stakeholders such as the International Oil Companies (IOCs), various local and international firms, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), relevant government agencies, civil society organisations, and both national and international media representatives.

    “This process was conducted in a manner that upheld the principles of competitiveness, openness and transparency, as mandated by section 73 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

    “The licensing round conducted by NUPRC under Engr Komolafe was the first in nearly 70 years of Nigeria’s upstream petroleum industry history to leverage digital technology, devoid of any human interference, in a manner adjudged to be in line with global best practices.

    “The outcome was televised live and attended by all the aforementioned stakeholders. There was no room for any manipulation to warrant any underhand dealings whatsoever, as insinuated mischievously in the publication.

    “Therefore, any allegations or insinuations regarding underhand dealings or bribery lack merit and are entirely unfounded, serving only to mislead.

    “These claims are not rooted in truth, and disregard the rigorous standards upheld throughout the selection process.

    “The article is nothing more than a fabricated narrative aimed at defaming the leadership of the Commission. Its reliance on anonymous sources undermines the credibility of the claims made, raising serious doubts about the journalistic integrity of the piece.”

    The Commission stated that the meticulous processes and regulatory frameworks established by the NUPRC during the 2024 Oil Bid Round demonstrate a commitment to transparency and fairness in the industry.

    ” Allegations of misconduct, particularly those lacking substantive evidence, distract from the real advancements being made in the oil sector and contribute to a culture of misinformation.

    “It is essential for media outlets to uphold rigorous standards of accuracy, especially when discussing matters of significant public interest and economic importance.

    “The baseless claims made in the aforementioned article serve only to mislead and create unnecessary controversy, detracting from the progress being achieved within the framework of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

    “Regardless of the mischievous motives of those behind the smear campaigns, the NUPRC leadership is unwavering in its firm commitment to the implementation of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bold reform initiatives in the Nigerian oil and gas sector for optimisation of federation revenue in the overall national interest,” it added.

    Ends

    Underhand Dealings Claims In Oil Blocks Licensing Bid Round, False, Malicious—NUPRC is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

    Source: The Whistler

  • Social Media Officer at Ignite Talent Match April, 2025

    Click Here To Apply

  • Hailey Bieber reveals she’s dealing with two ovarian cysts as she shows off bloated tummy

    Hailey Bieber has revealed that she has been diagnosed with two ovarian cysts after giving birth to her and husband singer,  Justin Bieber’s son Jack Blues Bieber in 2024. 
     

    On April 21, 2025, the 28-year-old model posted on her Instagram Stories showing off her stomach and sharing the health update. 

    “Currently have 2 ovarian cysts,” she wrote. “If you deal with ovarian cysts i’m right there with ya!” 
     

    Hailey Bieber reveals she

    This isn’t the first time Hailey has dealt with a cyst. In 2022, the Rhode skincare founder posted on Instagram that she had an ovarian cyst “the size of an apple,” sharing a photo of herself with her shirt pulled up that revealed her stomach. 

    “I don’t have endometriosis or PCOS [polycystic ovary syndrome] but I have gotten an ovarian cyst a few times and it’s never fun,” she wrote at the time.

     

    Hailey Bieber reveals she

    Source: Linda Ikeji

  • BREAKING: Bandits Impose N60million Levy On Several Zamfara Communities For Aiding Nigerian Military Operations

     Dare-devil bandits have imposed a staggering N60 million levy on no fewer than t12 communities in Zamfara State, accusing residents of aiding recent military operations that disrupted their strongholds.

     

    The affected communities include Koloma, Dan Hayin Zargado, Zargado, Dan Godabe, Sabuwar Tunga, Makini, Bubaka, Yelwa, Bahwada, Koda, Manya, and Kabusu.

     Locals fear that refusal to comply may lead to violent reprisals, including mass abductions, arson, and killings.

     

    A security reporter, Bakatsine, disclosed the development on his verified X handle on Tuesday, warning that the situation could escalate if an immediate government action is not taken.

     

    Former councillor of Dankurmi Ward, Hon. Iliyasu Salisu Dankurmi, also confirmed the levy in an interview with BBC Hausa.

     

     He explained that the demand followed recent military raids in the area believed to have inflicted heavy losses on the armed groups.

     

    “”The Nigerian Army had recently raided the area, and the bandits are now demanding N60million as compensation. They have threatened to make life unbearable if we don’t pay,” Dankurmi said.

     

    He further revealed that eight residents of the Zargado community had already been kidnapped, and their release had been tied to payment of the ransom.

     

    Many residents say they are trapped between the threat of bandits attacks and a lack of adequate protection from the authorities.

     

     Community leaders are urgently calling on federal and state governments, as well as security agencies, to intervene before the situation spirals further out of control.

     

    So far, there has been no official statement from the Nigerian Army nor the Zamfara State government regarding the levy or recent military operations in the region.

     

    The crisis in Zamfara is part of a broader pattern of insecurity plaguing Nigeria’s Northwest, where rural communities have faced years of terror from well-armed gangs engaging in kidnapping, extortion, and deadly raids.

     

     

     

    SaharaReporters reported days ago how the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) described the wave of killings in Plateau State, Zamfara and Benue as a “national disgrace and a clear failure of governance.”

    In a press release signed by its National Coordinator, Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the CNG had expressed outrage over the killings of more than 100 people in Plateau in recent weeks, with entire communities razed and thousands displaced.

    “The recent massacre in Plateau State, where over 100 lives were brutally cut short, represents a grotesque failure of governance. 

     

    “These killings are not isolated. They form part of a broader pattern of insecurity spanning Boko Haram terrorism in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and ethno-religious violence in the North-Central,” the statement read.

     

    The group had accused the Nigerian government of inaction and demanded urgent, decisive steps to stop the bloodshed. It called for the immediate deployment of reinforced security personnel to flashpoints across Plateau State and other northern regions facing similar threats.

     

    CNG had also condemned President Bola Tinubu’s reported foreign travels during the crisis, likening the President’s actions to “Nero fiddling while Rome is burning.” 

    Source: Sahara Reporters

  • ‘We’ve now taken Rivers structures out of Wike’s control’ —PDP claims

    The Acting Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Robinson Nname-Ewor, has boasted that the party has successfully seized control of state structures which were hitherto under the control of former Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

    Nname-Ewor who made the claims during an interview on Arise TV on Monday night, said Wike’s long years of influence and control over the PDP in the state are now a thing of the past as the party has now taken total control.

    Describing the former governor’s imposing influence on the party structures and control as “years of political hostage-taking,” Nname-Ewor said the party has been able to put an end to those years.

    “Before now, Wike held the party hostage at the state level. The national said don’t conduct congresses; he went ahead to conduct them. But today, we have gone beyond that,” Nname-Ewor said.

    “The party today at the state level is no longer in his hands. Therefore, there is nothing they can do as far as the party is concerned in Rivers.”

    Nname-Ewor who also spoke on the political crisis between suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Wike, said the situation was escalated when Fubara decided to be a man of his own by resisting the continued political control by the former governor.

    “Wike believes loyalty should be absolute. But the resources he used to support candidates, including Fubara and state lawmakers, were not his — they were Rivers State resources. So the first loyalty should be to the people.

    “Once Rivers people realised Fubara was no longer Wike’s puppet, they owned him. And that’s what changed everything.

    “The crisis you see in Rivers and in the PDP is not because the party is broken. It is because one man, the FCT Minister, is determined to destroy it. Remove him, and you won’t see a single crisis — neither in Rivers nor nationally,” he stated.

    The PDP chieftain also accused Wike of working against the party from within while aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that Wike’s influence has become more destructive than beneficial.

    “To us in Rivers, Wike is no longer a member of the PDP. He is only here to destroy the PDP and the opposition. And unfortunately, he is being aided by the presidency.

    “Wike today exists in the PDP because he’s on a mission to destroy the opposition in the country, not just in Rivers State.

    “And the president is helping him. The president is funding Wike to destroy the opposition. That is the irony of it.

    “How do you advise a party you’re no longer part of? How do you advise people you’re busy attacking? Wike has openly pledged to support the APC in 2027. His role now is not one of leadership but sabotage.

    “This is a new beginning for the PDP in Rivers. We are taking back our party, and we will protect it,” Nname-Ewor insisted.

    Source: Ripples Nigeria

  • UNN Alumnus Proposes Radical Model To Change Varsity Education In Nigeria

    Austine Akaeze, a seasoned academic and property consultant, revisited his alma mater two decades after graduation, and what he saw left him with a sense of dismay. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he earned his Mass Communication degree, seems to have stagnated, with dilapidated buildings and a lack of notable development. Akaeze, a lecturer at the Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State, pursuing a PhD in his Alma mater, shared his disappointing experience and reflections with THE WHISTLER.

    After your degree, twenty years back, have you visited your alma mater or is this your first visit?

    After my degree in 2005, I returned again in 2009 for my master’s and left in 2012. I returned for my PhD in 2024. I registered in November.

    What were the surprising things you noticed after your return?

    Nothing surprising. The impression was not encouraging. If I look at the Faculty of Arts, which is my primary home, it’s still the same way we left it. Nothing changed. In the Mass Communications Department, for instance, the final year class, the third year class… they are all the same way we left it.

    Then, the Postgraduate area has been turned into a computer lab that is just a mounted exhibition. Nobody uses it. So, we, the postgraduate students, most times have our lectures in the lecturer’s office or in the library. The library is dirty, unkempt, unarranged, and there are three staff working there. I keep wondering what they do.

    You take lectures in lecturer’s offices and libraries? How comfortable is it?

    You can imagine the comfort you have when taking a lecture in a lecturer’s office. Is that a lecture? It’s no longer a lecture. It’s not even an interaction. I think it’s just a normal chat because it’s absurd for students to receive lectures in a lecturer’s office unless maybe the lecturer is your supervisor.

    How many are you people in the class?

    Maybe around 20. The number varies; sometimes you see 8, 12, sometimes you see only 3 people. Sometimes you see people you have never seen before.

    Were there no changes, 20 years after your degree?

    The only change I noticed was in the office of the Head of Department (HOD) Mass Communication, Prof. Ukonu – the projector that was installed there and in the classes.

    Recently, the department published the Record Newspaper, which they had stopped publishing for years. They are planning to launch an online version of the newspaper. There was also a recent ‘Jackson Lecture’ organized by the department. Maybe there is hope, but for now, I saw nothing to give me hope. Maybe they are waiting for us.

    Who are the “us”?

    Maybe they are waiting for the alumni; the old students. We really have a lot to do for the school.
    This problem is not only peculiar to UNN. The university in Nigeria is a problem unto itself. The university is supposed to be the soul of society, the conscience where we produce humans for development and generate ideas, but what do we have now?
    Let me take you back a little. Osita Chidoka, the former minister of aviation, conducted a study in collaboration with other persons on the state of African universities. In other countries, they visited, expenditure/income of the universities was displayed on their websites. How much they got from hostel, school fees, government subvention, but in Nigeria, no single university displayed theirs.
    Nobody knows how much is coming in or going out. Everything is shrouded in secrecy; a university that is supposed to be open.

    You mentioned how bad the hostels in the school were. Could you explain more?

    To use the word “inhabitable” is to say the least. Those hostels are disasters waiting to happen.
    Franco Hall, where I spent four years during my degree days, Eni Njoku and Alvan Ikoku Hall should all be pulled down immediately before they collapse on students.

    Also, we have Nkrumah Hall, that used to be a PG Hall. It has been converted to a girls’ hostel. It underwent some renovations. I think it is still habitable.
    There is Mbanefo Hall which used to be a male hostel; it has been rehabilitated to a female hostel. It is still manageable. PG students stay now in Peter Odili Hall just before Kwame Nkrumah.
    Then let’s go up school; where we used to call White House, Akpabio and Akintola Halls should be pulled down immediately. They are no longer habitable.

    The management of public universities usually complains of lack of funds to embark on projects. What can you say about it?

    Only internally generated revenue can run a university. I don’t think funding is our problem. Our problem is the implementation of good policies that will drive us forward. The forefront of it is management. Everybody is looking for what they will get, and nobody cares about the university.

    What do you think should be done in our universities? Where can we start from?

    Education in Nigeria is in a chaotic state. It’s a serious problem. The country should redesign our educational approach. Our education is not designed for development. It’s designed to memorize facts that add nothing to the student and get a worthless certificate that cannot contribute to the new age. We are in the information technology age. The world is driven by technology.
    Our education should become more creative, more technical, and less classroom-based. Classroom lectures can happen anywhere now. Class is digital now.
    Let’s go to what UNN needs. The school needs functional classrooms that fit into the spirit of the new age, not obsolete ones. Halls of residence for students should be rebuilt and improved upon. The laboratories and library should also be upgraded.
    The lecturers’ pay should be increased. We are poorly paid considering the volume of work; you teach undergraduate, postgraduate, diplomas, PGDs, you supervise, you mark. The morale of lecturers is low. I have a passion for the job, but my salary can’t take me for a week. I have to go into real estate to survive. If I depend on my salary, I will commit suicide. It’s abnormal for an academic to be running around looking for survival while doing a job that could have earned him a living.
    These three issues should not only be taken care of in UNN but across all universities. If the Nigerian educational system can pull this together and then we talk about a new model for Nigerian education.

    What New Model are you proposing?

    I’m working on a model that will transform the quality of education in the country. I’m looking at a model where there’s one semester of classroom work and the next semester on the field, doing practical work.
    For instance, why should a university with departments of Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Building Technology bring in contractors to do a building job in the university? When we have professors in those fields and students who could have used such an opportunity to gain practical experience.
    A university should have a farm that can feed the university. A faculty of Agriculture with no tractor, no cassava farm, no corn farm… What are you “agriculturing”?
    We should channel our efforts into practical things. A university demonstration farm, bakery, table water production… We can do all these to help ourselves and keep the students busy.
    This proposed model should also be adopted in our primary and secondary schools. Mondays to Wednesdays for classroom work and Thursdays and Fridays for practical/technical work. Students will be distributed according to their areas of interest and competence.
    Workshops like electrical, mechanical, furniture, welding, engineering, and so on, should be created. Education is simply discovering and nurturing a child’s natural ability. Here, we are forcing children into things that are not compatible with them.
    If you come to universities today, you’ll cry when you see the culture of students; their disposition and all. You’ll wonder if it’s the same university you attended years ago.
    During my days, I remember as an undergraduate, it was from hostel to class, from class to the library. That was my movement. A student in their final year now doesn’t have a notebook. All they have is a phone, data, and earpiece.
    A student of Mass Communication in their final year can’t even define Mass Communication convincingly. It’s only a few of them that know what they’re there for. The new model I am proposing will help solve all these issues.

    UNN Alumnus Proposes Radical Model To Change Varsity Education In Nigeria is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

    Source: The Whistler

  • Accountant (Receivable) at Jagz Hotel Ibadan April, 2025

    Never pay for any CBT, test or assessment as part of any recruitment process. When in doubt, contact us

    Description 

    • As an Accountant, you will work with the account team in posting transactions, reviewing support documents in ensuring compliance to set procedures, perform account reconciliations, whilst ensuring compliance with accounting standards and regulations.

    Responsibilities

    Account Reconciliation:

    • Perform account reconciliations (bank, credit card, loans) within 3 days of month-end.
    • Investigate and resolve any discrepancies or issues identified during reconciliation.

    Compliance:

    • Adhere to compliance with accounting standards (GAAP, IFRS) and regulatory requirements.
    • Stay up-to-date with changes in accounting standards and regulatory requirements.

    Financial Record Maintenance:

    • Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records and ledgers.
    • Ensure proper documentation and filing of financial records.

    Internal Controls:

    • Ensure internal controls are in place and operating effectively.
    • Identify and implement improvements to internal controls.

    Manage and process guest and group accounts receivable, including:

    • Verifying and processing payments,
    • Sending out invoices and statements
    • Following upon outstanding balances
    • Resolving any payment discrepancies

    Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of accounts receivable, including:

    •  Guest and group accounting formation
    • Payment history
    • Outstanding balances
    • Ensure compliance with hotel credit policies and procedures
    • Provide excellent customer service to guests and groups, responding to inquiries and resolving issues in a timely and professional manner
    • Collaborate with other departments, such as Front Desk and Sales, to ensure accurate and efficient processing of accounts receivable
    • Meet or exceed monthly targets for accounts receivable collections
    • Identify and report any potential credit risks or discrepancies to management

    Click Here To Apply

  • Okpaleke only Nigerian Cardinal eligible to participate in the election of new Pope

    The Catholic Broadcast Commission of Nigeria, CBCN, has revealed that only one cardinal from Nigeria is eligible to participate in the election of a new Pope.

     

    According to a statement posted on the CBCN Facebook page, His Eminence, Cardinal Peter Ebere Okpaleke, 62, the Bishop of Ekwulobia, is the only Nigerian Catholic cardinal, out of four currently eligible to participate (vote) in a papal conclave.

     

    CBCN cited their age as the reason for the ineligibility of the remaining three.

    The statement read: 

     

    “His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Okpaleke (62) is the only Nigerian Catholic cardinal out of four cardinals currently eligible to participate( vote) in a papal conclave, being under 80 years of age—both to vote for a new pope and to be voted for as Pope.

     

    “Other Nigerian cardinals who cannot vote:
    Francis Cardinal Arinze – 92
    Anthony; Cardinal Okogie – 88
    Cardinal John Onaiyekan – 81

     

    “Why can’t cardinals over the age of 80 vote in a conclave? The Church excuses them from voting out of concern for the Cardinals themselves.

     

    Selecting the Supreme Pontiff can be a great burden of responsibility, and especially so when one is advanced in age. These Cardinals instead take the role of supporting the electors by helping to lead the people of God in prayer during the election.

     

    “The reason for this provision is the desire not to add to the weight of such venerable age the further burden of responsibility for choosing the one who will have to lead Christ’s flock in ways adapted to the needs of the times.

     

    “This does not, however, mean that the cardinals over eighty years of age cannot take part in the preparatory meetings of the Conclave, in conformity with the norms set forth below.

     

    “During the vacancy of the Apostolic See, and especially during the election of the Supreme Pontiff, they in particular should lead the People of God assembled in the Patriarchal Basilicas of Rome and in other churches in the dioceses throughout the world, supporting the work of the electors with fervent prayers and supplications to the Holy Spirit and imploring for them the light needed to make their choice before God alone and with concern only for the ‘salvation of souls, which in the Church must always be the Supreme Law’.”

    Pope Francis: Okpaleke only Nigerian Cardinal eligible to participate in the election of new Pope

     

    Pope Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia.

     

    He spent 38 days there, the longest hospital stay of his 12-year papacy.

     

    However, he emerged on Easter Sunday, a day before his death, to bless thousands of people in St Peter’s Square.

    Source: Linda Ikeji

  • Five dead, 8 injured in Gombe auto crash

    At least five person’s died in an auto crash in Biliri, headquarters of Billiri local government area of Gombe State on Monday.

    The victims included two men and three women.

    The spokesman for the state police command, Buhari Abdullahi. confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday in Gombe.

    He said eight other injured persons are currently receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe and General hospital Billiri.

    The statement read: “The Gombe State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of a tragic incident that occurred today, 21st April, 2025, in Billiri Local Government Area involving a heavy-duty Truck.”

    “A trailer truck transporting grains from Adamawa State to Gombe, lost control due to brake failure while approaching a gathering of Christian faithful who were on procession to celebrate the Easter season in Billiri town.”

    “The vehicle veered off the road and tragically ran into the crowd, including some Muslim residents who were observing from the roadside.”

    The PPRO added that, “Police operatives from Billiri Division swiftly responded to the distress, providing immediate rescue efforts and conveying the injured victims to the nearest hospital for emergency medical attention.”

    “In the aftermath of the incident, some aggrieved youths in the area set the vehicle ablaze, looted some people’s shops and subsequently marched to the Billiri Divisional Police Headquarters.”

    “In an attempt to express their anger, the youths began to throw stones and other dangerous objects at the officers on duty.

    “The Divisional Police Officer and several other Police personnel sustained varying degrees of injuries during the unrest. However, Normalcy has been restored.”

    By: Yemi Kanji

    Source: Ripples Nigeria