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2026 Budget Shock: Works Ministry Allocates N500m For Hairdressers And Make-Up Artists.
The Federal Ministry of Works plans to allocate over N500 million in the 2026 budget for initiatives including training hairdressers and make-up artists, distributing grinding machines, motorcycles, and mini-vans, as well as running anti-drug awareness campaigns across select Nigerian states.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The proposed expenditures are detailed in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, which was uploaded to the Budget Office’s website and accessed on Thursday. Analysis shows that these programs are spread across the country’s geopolitical zones.
For instance, under budget code ERGP 12234747, N35 million is earmarked for providing grinding machines to women in Ndokwa/Ukwani Federal Constituency in the South-South zone. Another N35 million is allocated to train women in hairdressing, make-up, and soap production in Mikang/Shandam/Qua’an Pan Federal Constituency, Plateau State, in the North-Central zone.
Additionally, N70 million is planned for skill acquisition and trade equipment for youths, women, and seven retirees in Inyamaltu/Deba, Gombe State, in the North-East. A similar amount, N70 million, is intended for supplying mini pick-up vans, shuttle buses, and motorcycles to constituents in Abakaliki Federal Constituency, Ebonyi State, in the South-East.
Other initiatives include youth empowerment, advocacy, and drug abuse awareness programs in Zamfara State, North-West, among several other constituency-level projects listed in the budget.
The inclusion of these empowerment programs under the Federal Ministry of Works’ 2026 budget has sparked public debate, raising questions about whether such allocations fall within the ministry’s core mandate.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
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