The Federal Government has approved a new ₦50,000 registration fee for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examinations, effective from 2027. This amount reflects an approximately 82 per cent increase from the current fee of ₦27,500.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

New details have revealed that the strategic arrest of the suspects’ relatives was a decisive factor in the successful rescue of pupils and teachers abducted from Oyo State’s Oriire Local Government Area. The victims, originally numbering 39 pupils and seven teachers from the Ahoro-Esinle, Yawota, and Alawusa communities, were seized on May 15, 2026. Following the tragic death of one teacher in captivity, the remaining hostages were finally freed on July 10, 2026, through a collaborative mission between the military and the Department of State Services (DSS).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Targeted Apprehensions: Security operatives identified and arrested the wives and children of the suspected kidnappers across various locations in the country after weeks of intelligence work.

• Interrogations and Leverage: These family members were relocated to Abuja for interrogation, and leaked videos of these sessions significantly altered the kidnappers’ behavior.

• Shift in Negotiations: Upon seeing the footage, the abductors abandoned their initial hardline stance and became more frequent in their communications with security forces.

• Rejected Demands: The kidnappers attempted to negotiate an exchange of the hostages for their detained family members and sought safe passage, but security agencies rejected these conditions, insisting on the unconditional release of the victims.

• Final Rescue: Investigators believe the detention of the kidnappers’ relatives protected the hostages from harm, as the abductors grew fearful for their own family members’ safety. Security forces simultaneously tightened their cordon around the forest hideout, leading to the eventual rescue of the captives.

The rescued individuals are currently undergoing medical and psychosocial support following their ordeal, which lasted more than 50 days.

The Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) is reportedly facing a leadership crisis as Dakorinama Alabo George continues to serve as Executive Secretary despite the Presidency announcing his replacement, Abdulrazak Sa’ad Namdas.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Presidential Replacement: On June 26, 2026, the Presidency, through Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, announced that Abdulrazak Sa’ad Namdas was appointed as the new head of the agency to replace George.

• Resignation Controversy: Reports indicate George had resigned to contest the APC governorship primary in Rivers State; although he was cleared to run, he withdrew from the race to support another candidate.

• Defiance of Order: Following the loss of his bid for the governorship ticket, George reportedly returned to the BCDA office and has refused to vacate the position.

• Conflicting Claims: While George has claimed that he never resigned and that an “error” regarding his replacement was “corrected,” presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga has explicitly stated that these claims are untrue and that Namdas remains the appointed head.

• Ongoing Activities: Despite the Presidency’s directive, George continues to act as the agency’s head, including holding official meetings and maintaining his profile as the Executive Secretary on the agency’s official website.

• Alleged Backing: Sources suggest George is receiving support from influential figures, including FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who previously nominated him for the role in 2024, and is allegedly working with other officials to maintain his position without the President’s direct knowledge.