Author: Standard Focus

Candidates seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions through the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) can now verify and upload their O’Level results from home under a new digital initiative introduced by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The initiative, which initially covers results issued by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), is designed to reduce candidates’ dependence on... Read more

Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have intercepted three disassembled canoes allegedly procured by a notorious terrorist leader, Shehu Bagewaye, to facilitate the movement of his fighters across riverine areas of Zamfara State. The operation followed intelligence indicating that Bagewaye had arranged for the canoes to be procured from Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State before being transported to Zamfara.... Read more

The operation was carried out on August 22, 2026, by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder following credible intelligence around the Ohaji axis of Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area.Three illegal refining sites were reportedly uncovered during the operation. The Navy also recovered 12 dugout pits, sacks, reservoirs containing the suspected products and two pumping machines. Director of Information, Navy Captain Abiodun... Read more

The Nigeria Police Force has rescued 75 men, women and children abducted by armed kidnappers in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.The victims were reportedly travelling in commercial buses when armed men intercepted them at about 5:30 p.m. on August 19, 2026, around Folwaya Village near Birnin Gwari. The attackers, said to be armed with AK-47 rifles and... Read more

The newly appointed Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari, has assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu will fulfil the promises made during the 2023 election campaign. Yari, a former Zamfara State governor and former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, spoke on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly after returning... Read more

The meeting, themed “From Resources to Wealth: Continental Cooperation for Mineral Value Addition,” will focus on strategies for transforming Africa’s mineral resources into greater economic value. The gathering is expected to bring together African heads of state and government representatives, ministers, investors, development finance institutions, multilateral organisations and executives from mining, technology, processing, logistics and mineral traceability companies. AMSG said... Read more

President Bola Tinubu has renewed the appointments of the Director-General of the National Television Authority (NTA), Abdulhamid Salihu Dembos, and the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali Mohammed Ali, for another three years. Their renewed tenure will commence on October 20, 2026.President Tinubu initially appointed both media executives on October 20, 2023.Dembos, from Yola in Adamawa... Read more

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has expanded its free petroleum product delivery initiative to Kano, Imo, Anambra and Nasarawa States as part of efforts to reduce distribution costs and potentially drive down petrol prices. The programme initially covered Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Kaduna, Abuja and Delta States. Under the initiative, the refinery absorbs the cost of transporting petroleum products to... Read more

A lawyer, Christopher Chidera, has criticised the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over what he described as its silence on the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Chidera made the allegation in an open letter addressed to the NBA leadership and copied to the International Bar Association. He questioned the legality of... Read more

The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has withdrawn its earlier threat to sanction former Governor of the state and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, and the member representing Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chris Nkwonta, over alleged anti-party comments. The decision was reached at a stakeholders’ meeting held on... Read more