Canoe mishap in Borno leaves three dead, five rescued

A canoe accident in Gamboru-Ngala, Borno State, on Sunday evening left three people feared dead and five others rescued after the vessel capsized while crossing the river between Nigeria’s Gamboru town and Fotokol in Cameroon.

The incident was contained in a post shared on X on Monday by security analyst Zagazola Makama.

According to the post, the canoe, operated by Mamman Nur Abbagana of Kasuwan Katako, Gamboru, overturned around 6:30 p.m., throwing all eight passengers into the water.

“All the travellers were Chadian nationals who were reportedly returning from Jos, Plateau State, and heading to N’Djamena, Chad Republic,” Makama wrote.

Five of the passengers were rescued alive, though their identities had not been confirmed as of the time of the report.

However, a woman identified as 34-year-old Alphosine Makebu Beboroum and her two daughters, 3-year-old Centich Mamajibe and 10-month-old Mamajilem Bebaroum were feared drowned and had not yet been recovered by Monday morning.

Search and rescue efforts were still ongoing.

Makama also reported that the police arrested the canoe paddler for violating the Borno State Government’s safety directive, which requires all canoe operators to provide life jackets for passengers.

Dino Melaye cautioned against attacking other leaders

A grassroots forum of voters in Kogi State, under the aegis of the Ijumu Voters Forum, IYF, has cautioned former Senator Dino Melaye, urging him to desist from attacking leaders in the state.

This followed the former lawmaker’s recent outburst against some persons holding political offices at the federal level.

According to the group, Melaye did not significantly impact the lives of the people of Kogi West to have the moral ground to criticise others.

The grassroots voters’ forum in Kogi West, in a statement signed by its coordinator, Hon. Eleta Kelvin Oluseyi, on Monday, said the former Senator lacks the moral authority and public record required to criticise other public office holders.

According to the forum, Melaye’s years in public office were marked by noise rather than results, drama rather than development, and controversy instead of service.

“Leadership is measured by impact, and by that standard, his record falls short of what the people of Kogi West deserved,” the statement said.

“Melaye became more widely known for public stunts and political quarrels than for meaningful contributions to his constituency.

“The former Senator earned national nicknames that turned him into a spectacle rather than a statesman.”

Ogun Govt issues warning on indiscriminate waste disposal

The Ogun State Government has warned residents against the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainages, streets and other unapproved locations, declaring that violators risk two million naira fine or possible imprisonment.

The warning was issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Waste Management, Hon. Abayomi Hunye, who expressed concern over what he described as a growing culture of environmental abuse, particularly in markets across the state.

According to Hunye, the government has, in recent weeks, observed that “most people in markets dump waste indiscriminately, polluting the environment and creating a climate of filth,” a development he said poses serious risks to public health and safety.

He reminded residents of the provisions of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority Law, 2020, which criminalises improper waste disposal. Quoting Section 34(1) of the law, the government stated that “any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this law commits an offence and on arrest shall pay a penalty of twenty-five thousand naira (₦25,000) to the Authority.”

The law further provides that failure to pay the initial penalty, upon conviction by a court, attracts “a maximum fine of two million naira (₦2,000,000) or three months’ imprisonment or both.”

The government noted that despite the availability of designated waste bins and disposal points in all approved markets, many traders and residents still engage in illegal dumping.

“All the approved markets in the state have designated areas and containers for refuse disposal, but many people habitually dump refuse anywhere they choose, putting public health in jeopardy,” the statement read.

Hunye stressed that the state would no longer tolerate what he described as a “pernicious practice,” adding that enforcement would now be carried out strictly.

“There’s a law against this and henceforth, the State Government will not hesitate to implement the provisions and bring sanity to the state,” he said.

The government urged residents to cooperate with environmental officials and comply with waste disposal regulations in order to promote a cleaner and healthier Ogun State.

TikTok restricts Nigerian users from going live at night

TikTok has announced a temporary restriction on access to its live feature during late-night hours for users in Nigeria.

The social media platform has issued an in-app notice to creators to inform them.

According to the notice, their decision is a part of an ongoing safety investigation.

At midnight Nigerian time on Sunday, the platform sent a system notification to users stating, “LIVE Notices.

“TikTok LIVE Update in Nigeria: We’re temporarily limiting LIVE late at night in Nigeria as part of our investigation to ensure our platform remains safe and our community stays protected.”

Live sessions, which were active earlier in the night, became inaccessible between 11pm and 5am, with affected accounts displaying a “No Access” label.

The restriction also prevented creators from viewing live broadcasts from other countries.

Niger school abduction: We aren’t officially aware of 100 students release – CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Niger State chapter, said it has not received any official confirmation regarding reports that 100 of the students abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri have been released.

In a statement issued on Monday, the state chairman of CAN, Bishop Bulus Yohanna, said the association and affected communities have not been formally notified of any release.

“It will be a thing of joy if some of our children have been released. We have been praying and waiting for their return,” Yohanna said.

“If it is true, then it is cheering news. However, we are not officially aware and have not been duly notified. We hope and pray it’s true and look forward to when the remaining will be released,” he added.

DAILY POST recalls that the abduction occurred on November 21, 2025, when bandits attacked the school and kidnapped 315 people, including 303 students and 12 teachers.

However, about 50 pupils escaped within the first 24 hours and were reunited with their families.

Last week, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, visited the school and assured parents that the remaining abductees were safe and would soon return home.

Reacting to reports of the release during a Channels Television programme on Sunday, former Director of Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters, Major General John Enenche (retd.), commended the Federal Government and security agencies for what he described as a significant breakthrough.

“My take is that the government and the security agencies have done a lot, and I believe that Nigerians will be happy for this.

“I can tell you that it is not easy, whichever way or means were used to get these children out,” Enenche said.

Dino Melaye cautioned against attacking other leaders

A grassroots forum of voters in Kogi State, under the aegis of the Ijumu Voters Forum, IYF, has cautioned former Senator Dino Melaye, urging him to desist from attacking leaders in the state.

This followed the former lawmaker’s recent outburst against some persons holding political offices at the federal level.

According to the group, Melaye did not significantly impact the lives of the people of Kogi West to have the moral ground to criticise others.

The grassroots voters’ forum in Kogi West, in a statement signed by its coordinator, Hon. Eleta Kelvin Oluseyi, on Monday, said the former Senator lacks the moral authority and public record required to criticise other public office holders.

According to the forum, Melaye’s years in public office were marked by noise rather than results, drama rather than development, and controversy instead of service.

“Leadership is measured by impact, and by that standard, his record falls short of what the people of Kogi West deserved,” the statement said.

“Melaye became more widely known for public stunts and political quarrels than for meaningful contributions to his constituency.

“The former Senator earned national nicknames that turned him into a spectacle rather than a statesman.”

Coup: Beninese army chiefs regain freedom

The Chief of Army Staff of Benin Republic and the Chief of the National Guard have been released after being held hostage during Sunday’s failed coup attempt.

Security analyst Brant Grant confirmed their freedom in a statement posted on X on Monday.

“The Beninese Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Staff of the National Guard have been freed after they were taken hostage by the mutineers during the coup yesterday,” he wrote.

Their release comes as President Patrice Talon, in a nationwide broadcast, announced that his government had restored full control following the unrest.

Talon and several senior military officials were earlier seized in Cotonou by mutinous soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri.

The incident adds to a series of recent coups and attempted takeovers recorded in West Africa, including in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Guinea-Bissau.

Step-by-step guide on how to register for 2026 UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released a detailed guide for candidates preparing to register for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

This is as the board outlines the required steps, important warnings, and common challenges encountered during profile code generation.

The update was published on the Board’s official X handle on Sunday.

In the announcement, JAMB emphasised that candidates must ensure all personal information—especially those linked to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)—are accurate before registration begins.

Profile Code Generation

“Ensure your details on NIMC and others, i.e., O’Level/A-Level results, are the same. Send: NIN (leave one space) your 11-digit NIN number to 55019 or 66019. For example, NIN 00000011111 to 55019/66019,” it stated.

JAMB further warned that once a profile code is generated, it cannot be changed, as the candidate’s biodata is automatically retrieved from NIMC’s database.

Here is the step-by-step registration procedure.

The Board outlined the following steps:

1. Visit an approved centre:

Candidates are to proceed to the nearest JAMB office or an accredited CBT centre to begin registration.

2. E-PIN vending:

Candidates should only purchase e-PINs from authorised channels such as banks, approved vendors, and recognised online platforms.

3. Use the correct template:

JAMB stressed: “Ensure that you are given the correct registration template to fill out.”

4. Final submission:

All applicants must cross-check and confirm every detail before final submission at the centre.

Important Tips for Candidates

JAMB also issued several precautionary guidelines:

1. Candidates should make all necessary corrections with NIMC early (name, date of birth, gender, state of origin) and confirm that the updates reflect on their NIMC portal.

2. GSM numbers and email addresses used for registration are unique identifiers—they must be functional, correct, and not shared.

3. Candidates experiencing biometric issues must visit the nearest JAMB office.

4. A dual-screen system must be used during registration so candidates can verify their photographs and biometric data in real time.

Common Challenges in Profile Code Generation, Solution

JAMB also addressed the most frequent errors students face:

1. “Record Not Found”

Solution: Visit the nearest NIMC office for validation.

2. “Wrong Parameter”

This means the message format was incorrect.

Solution: Resend using the correct format: NIN 00000011111.

3. “Your NIN has already been registered with GSM number…”

This indicates a previous profile code request.

Solution: Retrieve the SIM card originally used and resend the request.

4. “Unable to verify your NIN at the moment [NIMC: UNKNOWN]”

Solution: Wait and try again later.

The 2026 JAMB UTME form will be on sale from January to March 2026.

Analysts forecast 4.5% Q4 economic growth

Analysts at Afrinvest have projected that Nigeria’s economy could expand by 4.3 to 4.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025, supported by seasonal factors, improved foreign exchange supply, and stronger consumer spending, according to macroeconomic projections.

According to its weekly update, this outlook follows the release of the third-quarter Gross Domestic Product report by the National Bureau of Statistics, which showed that the country’s real output grew by 4.0 per cent year-on-year in Q3 2025. While this represents a slight moderation compared with 4.2 per cent growth in Q2 2025, it outperformed the 3.9 per cent expansion recorded in Q3 2024.

“Looking ahead to Q4 2025, we estimate a base-case GDP growth range of 4.3 per cent to 4.5 per cent, underpinned by seasonal drivers, including a late harvest cycle and stronger consumer spending associated with year-end festivities, which should provide near-term support. Improved FX supply and gradual softening of price pressure are also expected to lift business sentiment. However, the operating environment remains challenging. Uncertain crude oil output, fiscal constraints, heightened security concerns, and still-restrictive monetary conditions could limit the extent of the expansion, particularly through their impact on credit growth and investor confidence.”

Nominal GDP reached N113.6tn, up from N96.2tn in the same period last year, reflecting an 18.1 per cent increase year on year, largely driven by price-level changes. Growth was supported by both the oil and non-oil sectors, although oil accounted for just 3.4 per cent of total GDP compared with 96.6 per cent from non-oil activities.

The oil sector expanded by 5.8 per cent year on year, aided by stable but slightly declining crude oil output. Average production stood at 1.64 million barrels per day in Q3 2025, down from 1.68mbpd in Q2 2025, but above 1.47mbpd in Q3 2024. Despite these gains, the sector’s contribution to total GDP remained modest at 3.4 per cent. Analysts noted that the performance reflects steady upstream production and continued efforts to curb crude oil theft.

Among the three main sectors, agriculture grew by 3.8 per cent year on year, benefiting from the main harvest season and rising export earnings for cash and food crops. The industrial sector, excluding oil, expanded by 3.2 per cent, showing a slowdown relative to previous quarters. Services led the non-oil economy with 4.2 per cent growth, driven by ICT, financial services, and real estate. Within these, trade grew 2.0 per cent, supported by FX stability and improved consumer purchasing power, while real estate eased to 3.5 per cent from 3.8 per cent in Q2 2025, reflecting weaker demand in the sector.

Economists said that while overall growth remains robust, the moderation in key sectors signals slower momentum, particularly in industry. “The non-oil economy continues to anchor growth, demonstrating resilience and structural diversification despite challenges in some sectors,” said a senior economist at a Lagos-based consultancy who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Mauritius team wins FirstBank Junior Achievement Award

First Bank of Nigeria Limited has presented its CEO Award to Team Mauritius at the grand finale of the 15th Junior Achievement Africa Company of the Year competition, which concluded over the weekend in Abuja.

The three-day event, held from December 3 to 5, 2025, brought together student entrepreneurs from eight African countries—Eswatini, Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia—who showcased innovative, climate-focused business solutions under the theme Action for Climate Transformation.

In a statement on Sunday, it was stated that the annual contest provides a platform for young innovators to compete for a chance to represent Africa at the global finals, while accessing funding, scholarships, and long-term venture support.

Announcing the award, FirstBank said Team Mauritius distinguished itself across the five judging pillars: strength of business idea, financial management and sustainability, leadership and teamwork, stage pitch, and trade fair performance. The team’s company, Plantura, impressed the bank with its “plant and air-based purifier,” a climate-smart solution developed by four students described by the bank as “smart, agile, and intelligent.”

“We unanimously agreed that Mauritius had our vote for the FirstBank CEO Entrepreneurship Award,” the bank stated.

President and CEO of JA Africa, Simi Nwogugu, commended FirstBank for its continued support, noting that the bank’s contribution has strengthened entrepreneurship and financial literacy programmes across the continent.

“FirstBank has been an incredible supporter,” she said. “Usually, our headline sponsors are global organisations, so having FirstBank step up in that role was very exciting. We hope to further deepen the partnership—not just through funding, but also through FirstBank employees volunteering in classrooms.”

Nwogugu highlighted Africa’s urgent employment challenges, noting that while 11 million young people enter the labour market annually, only about 3 million jobs are created, leaving millions without work. She warned that without deliberate efforts to empower the continent’s youth, poverty and crime could worsen.

“Our solution is to raise young people who are not only job seekers but job creators,” she said. “We emphasise entrepreneurship education from an early age, teaching ethics, integrity, and problem-solving. When young people identify problems, they should think immediately of how to solve them.”

She added that the future of work is rooted in technology, underscoring the organisation’s commitment to digital skills training. JA Africa currently reaches 1.5 million youths and aims to double that number by 2028 and expand to 5 million by 2030.

Also speaking, President and CEO of Junior Achievement Worldwide, Asheesh Advani, urged more Nigerian institutions to emulate FirstBank’s leadership in supporting youth entrepreneurship.

“FirstBank is a great example of leadership in this regard, and we encourage other Nigerian companies to follow their lead,” he said. Dr Tobechi Enyioko and Nidi Sohotyep presented the award on behalf of FirstBank to the team from Mauritius.