
News
Pay pension to older persons — UN tasks Buhari
Dr Claudia Mahler, the UN Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of all Human Rights of older persons has called on the Federal Government to step up efforts in the payment of pension to older persons.
Mahler made the call on Friday in Abuja at a news conference on her 12-day experiences in Nigeria to access issues concerning older persons.
“In my 12 days in Nigeria, I have been to Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan and Makurdi where I met with different stakeholders, civil servants, agencies, CSOs and older persons themselves.
“My visit was to access the level of enjoyment of human rights of older persons. From estimation, in 2050, there might be 25.3 million older persons in Nigeria.
“You can see there is a huge demography change, that is why I came to Nigeria to raise awareness, because the demography change is a global issue.
“Social protection and pension is an issue. I was informed that many older persons wait for long time, sometimes for years to get their pension allowances.

“That is why I also urge the Federal Government to step up its efforts to ensure the establishment of a strong, inclusive and steady protection system, including payment of pension allowances to all older persons who are entitled,” Mahler said.
She said other issues that she observed were ageism which had to do with widespread of negative stereotype against older persons and healthcare for older persons.
According to her, most people in Nigeria see older persons as beneficiaries who should be taken care of.
“But I can assure you that older persons are entitled to human rights for the rest of their lives.
“I also observed that healthcare for older persons is still scarce. They go to the General Hospital for treatment by personnel that may not have the capacity to deal with illness peculiar to older persons.
“And sometimes, older persons wait a long time to see a medical doctor. At times, they face serious obstacle to get the right treatment.
“However, Nigeria has strong economy in Africa and the country has commitment to legal and implementable framework on issues concerning the protection of older persons.
“The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) Act is the first law in African State which protects human rights of older persons and it has mainstreamed older persons into all areas of policy,” she said.
She said NSCC has been doing a lot on working with stakeholders on ground to get first hand information and bring effective and inclusive programme to older persons.
“I was very happy to see that NSCC has signed Memorandum of Understanding with National Primary Health Care Development Agency and many others to include healthcare services to older persons in the rural areas.”
Mahler stressed that Nigeria was diverse in language, culture and geography, adding that her report would be submitted in September 2023 to the Human Rights Council.

News
BREAKING: JAMB releases first batch of 2026 UTME results, warns against score manipulation
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the release of results for 632,788 candidates who participated in the first day of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), held on Thursday.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, on Friday.
According to the Board, candidates can now access their results by sending “UTMERESULT” via SMS to either 55019 or 66019, using the same phone number registered during the examination process.
At this stage, only result viewing is available, as printing of result slips has not yet been enabled.
JAMB emphasised that the UTME exercise is still ongoing, adding that additional batches of results will be released progressively as marking and processing continue.
The Board also issued a stern warning against any attempts to manipulate or falsify results.

It cautioned candidates against altering SMS messages received from its official platforms to misrepresent their scores to others, including parents and guardians.
JAMB Releases Results of 632,788 Candidates from Day One of the 2026 UTME
The results of candidates who sat the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16 April 2026, have been released and are now available for viewing.
To check their results, candidates should send UTMERESULT via SMS to 55019…
— Fabian Benjamin (@FabianB58246501) April 17, 2026
Describing such actions as a serious criminal offence, JAMB disclosed that it has already taken action against offenders. “Two candidates and one parent are currently in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means,” the statement revealed.
The Board reiterated that anyone found guilty of such misconduct would face the full weight of the law.
JAMB urged candidates to adhere strictly to official channels and maintain integrity throughout the examination process, as it continues efforts to ensure a credible and transparent admissions system in Nigeria.

News
Arewa APC Forum withdraws support for Tinubu citing nepotism, incompetence
The Arewa APC Forum, Kano State chapter, has announced the withdrawal of its support for the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing concerns over governance and leadership direction.
In a statement dated April 17, 2026, the forum said its decision followed “extensive consultations and careful reflection” on the state of affairs at the federal level.
The group stated that it could no longer, “in good conscience,” continue to support the current administration, which it criticised over alleged issues including nepotism, incompetence, and corruption.
“We believe that leadership must inspire confidence, uphold fairness, and demonstrate a sincere commitment to national unity, institutional integrity, and responsible governance,” the statement read.
It added that where such values are persistently undermined, “silence becomes complicity.”
The forum further declared that its confidence in the current political direction has been withdrawn, urging its members to align with this position in future political engagements.

The statement was signed by Sallah Hakilu Kibiya, chairman of the forum in Kano State.
The development signals potential cracks within support structures linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in the northern region, as political alignments begin to shift ahead of the next electoral cycle.

News
Sen. Ngwu donates security gadgets to Forest Guards, lauds Mbah’s investment in security
The Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Senator Osita Ngwu, has donated critical security equipment to the Enugu State Forest Guard to bolster its operational capacity and sustain the state’s strides in combating insecurity.
The donation, made on Friday at the Forest Guard Command headquarters in Enugu, included tested body armour, bulletproof vests and helmets, long-range binoculars, communication radios, and first aid materials aimed at improving field efficiency and personnel safety.
Speaking during the presentation, Senator Ngwu commended Governor Peter Mbah for what he described as unprecedented investment in the state’s security architecture, noting that Enugu has emerged as a reference point in security management.
“To the glory of God, we have a governor who is overperforming and understands what governance entails across all sectors. Particularly in security, only a few people know that the Command and Control Centre in Enugu is currently the best in Nigeria,” he said.
He added that the level of sophistication of the centre surpasses what is obtainable even at the federal level, stressing that the infrastructure has significantly strengthened efforts to safeguard lives and property.
The lawmaker explained that his intervention was inspired by the governor’s commitment to security, emphasizing that governance requires collective responsibility.

He called on citizens to support security agencies with timely and credible information.
“There is a saying in security: if you see something, you must say something. Without information, the work becomes more difficult,” he noted.
Ngwu also acknowledged that insecurity can heighten during election periods, sometimes driven by political activities, but maintained that a responsible government must remain proactive in tackling threats and ensuring that criminal elements are brought to justice.
Highlighting the state’s Security Trust Fund, he noted that it supports multiple security agencies, including the police, army, DSS, neighbourhood watch, and the Forest Guard, adding that his donation was a modest contribution to complement the governor’s efforts.
Reacting, the Chairman of the Enugu State Forest Guard Board, Col. Daniel Chukwu (rtd.), described the donation as timely, recalling that the agency initially met a “broken and dysfunctional system” which required rebuilding from the ground up.
“We thank the governor for the enabling environment and unwavering support. Every proposal aimed at improving operations and welfare receives prompt approval,” he said.
Chukwu disclosed that the first batch of personnel had been trained in Osun State, with positive results already evident, and urged other stakeholders to emulate the senator’s gesture.
Also speaking, the Commander of the Forest Guard, DCP Olasoji Akinbayo (rtd) described the donation as a morale booster, noting that it would enhance ongoing operations across the state’s forests.
“You have set the ball rolling with this uncommon act. We expect more support from citizens so that we can do more,” he said.
He further revealed that the state government had procured over 1,000 sophisticated rifles for the outfit, enabling operatives to intensify efforts in tackling crime and securing forested areas.

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