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  • NLNG Opens Application for 2026 Undergraduate Scholarship

    The Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has commenced applications for its 2026 Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme aimed at supporting Nigerian students in tertiary institutions.

    The scheme provides an annual award of ₦300,000 to successful candidates, renewable based on academic performance.

    In a statement, NLNG said the initiative aligns with its commitment to education and human capital development, noting that the programme is open to first-year students in the 2025/2026 academic session in federal and state universities.

    According to the company, the scholarship is targeted at outstanding undergraduates and is also open to Persons Living with Disabilities.

    Eligibility

    Applicants must be Nigerian citizens residing in the country and enrolled as full-time first-year undergraduate students in the 2025/2026 academic year.
    They are required to possess at least five O-Level credits, including Mathematics and English, obtained in one sitting, and must be between 18 and 25 years of age.

    NLNG stated that applicants must not be beneficiaries of any other scholarship or related financial award. The scheme excludes spouses, children, wards, or direct relatives of NLNG staff.

    Required Documents

    Prospective beneficiaries are to submit a completed application form, a recent passport photograph, O-Level and UTME results, JAMB and university admission letters, university identification card, birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission, Local Government identification letter, and National Identification Number (NIN) slip.

    Application Procedure

    Candidates are to apply online via the NLNG scholarship portal using a valid email address and mobile number.
    Shortlisted applicants will undergo a computer-based, online-proctored selection test. Those who pass the test will be required to submit additional mandatory documents.

    Scholarships will be awarded only to applicants who meet all eligibility and selection criteria.

    The application deadline is December 12, 2025.

  • FG Opens Portal For Recruitment Of 50,000 Police Constables

    The Police Service Commission (PSC), in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), has announced the commencement of recruitment of 50,000 police constables, following the directive of President Bola Tinubu.

    Torty Njoku Kalu, Head of Protocol and Public Affairs of the Commission, announced this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    Kalu said the recruitment was aimed at strengthening community policing, boosting internal security and expanding the manpower capacity of the Force.

    He said the Commission had approved the opening of the recruitment portal for applications from qualified Nigerians with GCE Ordinary Level, SSCE/NECO or equivalent certificates, with a minimum of five credits including English Language and Mathematics in not more than two sittings, for the General Duty cadre.

    He added that applicants for the Specialist cadre must possess at least four credits, including English Language and Mathematics, in not more than two sittings, in addition to a minimum of three years’ experience and relevant Trade Tests.

    According to the statement, applicants must be Nigerian citizens by birth, medically, physically and psychologically fit, and must fall within the age brackets of 18 to 25 years for General Duty and 18 to 28 years for Specialists.

    Kalu said male applicants for General Duty must not be less than 1.67 metres in height, while female applicants must not be less than 1.64 metres.

    He said the recruitment portal would be open from Dec. 15, 2025, to Jan. 25, 2026.

    Kalu urged interested and qualified Nigerians to submit their applications within the stipulated period.

  • NWTF Invites Applications For 2025 Women’s Rights Grant

    The Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) has announced the launch of the sixth edition of its annual grant programme aimed at strengthening women-led organisations and supporting interventions that address gender-based violence across the country.

    The Fund, in a statement, said the 2026 edition of the grant seeks to advance women’s rights, promote gender equality and reinforce the institutional capacity of organisations championing the fight against violence against women and girls.

    It said the programme is open to local non-governmental and community-based organisations operating across the six geopolitical zones.

    According to the NWTF, the initiative will support projects that amplify women’s leadership, uphold women’s voices and strengthen structures that empower women-focused institutions.

    It said eligible applicants must be gender-focused organisations with a majority of women among staff and board members, and must have operated in Nigeria for at least two years.

    The Fund also said applying organisations must demonstrate functional administrative, financial and human resource systems, as well as the capacity to design and implement realistic and innovative projects targeted at women and girls.

    It added that women-led groups, organisations working with persons with disabilities (PWDs) and organisations in hard-to-reach communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

    The Fund noted that proposals linked to political campaigns, government agencies, for-profit ventures, scholarships or religious conversion would not be considered.

    NWTF said the approved projects under the 2026 grant would focus on strengthening organisational effectiveness, promoting inclusive leadership among women, and driving advocacy for policy reforms that protect women’s rights.

    It said the project implementation period would run for four months, from January to April 2026.

    The Fund urged interested and qualified organisations to download the proposal templates and guidance documents from its webpage and submit completed applications via email to grants@womenfund.org on or before Dec. 12, 2025.

    How To Apply;https://www.scholarshipregion.com/nigerian-women-trust-fund-grant/

  • 2026 Commonwealth Shared Scholarship: Organisation Releases Application Checklist, Requirements

    The Scholarship Region says adequate preparation remains the most critical factor for applicants seeking the 2026 Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.

    The organisation stated this in an advisory on Tuesday while releasing a checklist to guide prospective candidates ahead of the opening of the application window, which typically lasts between 15 and 30 days.

    It noted that the scholarship, one of the United Kingdom’s most competitive awards, attracts more than 100,000 applicants annually, out of which only about 180 are selected.

    According to the advisory, the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is jointly funded by the UK Government and participating universities, and applicants must secure admission into an eligible UK institution before submitting their scholarship application.

    It added that 97 universities are listed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) as eligible to nominate candidates for the award.

    The checklist outlines five key preparation steps for candidates:

    1. Securing Admission
    Applicants are required to apply directly to participating UK universities and obtain a conditional or unconditional offer for eligible programmes aligned with CSC development themes.

    2. Confirming Course Eligibility
    Prospective applicants must ensure their chosen course is listed among the programmes approved under the CSC’s six development themes, which cover science, technology, innovation, peace, health, governance, entrepreneurship and climate change.

    3. Preparing Required Documents
    The advisory stressed that applications without complete documentation by the deadline are automatically disqualified.
    Required documents include:

    Full academic transcripts detailing yearly grades

    Degree certificates or valid statements of result for those yet to receive certificates

    4. Contacting Recommenders Early
    Each applicant must upload three reference letters on official institutional letterheads. Referees will not be contacted directly by the CSC.
    Recommended referees include project supervisors, academic staff and current employers.

    5. Drafting Application Essays
    Applicants must write eleven development-focused essays covering proposed study relevance, expected impact, career plans, study outline and leadership experience.
    The advisory encouraged early drafting to allow thorough review and correction.

    It added that essays must demonstrate how the applicant’s chosen programme will contribute to national development and align with CSC objectives.

    The organisation urged interested candidates to begin preparations immediately and share the information with others seeking international postgraduate opportunities.

  • TETFund Developing Security Master Plan For Tertiary Institutions — Masari

    The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) says it is developing a comprehensive security master plan to enhance safety across tertiary institutions in the country.

    The Chairman, Board of Trustees of TETFund, Alhaji Aminu Masari, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day stakeholders’ workshop on the proposed framework.

    Masari said tertiary institutions were increasingly exposed to security threats including banditry, kidnapping and cyberattacks, adding that the master plan would strengthen prevention, detection, mitigation and response mechanisms.

    He described the workshop as a major step towards producing a national document that would guide campus security policies and operations for years.

    “What we begin here today is not merely another conference; it is a foundational step in developing a comprehensive, forward-looking security master plan for tertiary institutions in Nigeria,” he said.

    Masari said the plan would establish a robust security architecture that would enable institutions to operate beyond their current capacities in addressing threats.

    According to him, the master plan is designed to promote intelligence-led operations and proactive risk management, and to safeguard students, staff, facilities, infrastructure and intellectual assets.

    He added that it would also enhance collaboration among tertiary institutions, security agencies and host communities; institutionalise emergency preparedness and crisis management; ensure business continuity; and integrate modern physical and digital security technologies into campus operations.

    Masari said deliberations at the workshop would form the foundation of a national framework to guide future security investments and policies in tertiary institutions.

    The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Mr Sonny Echono, also said many campuses remained porous, making them attractive targets for criminals.

    Echono recalled that a previous security mapping exercise had identified high-risk areas and supported the establishment of emergency response mechanisms, but stressed the need for stronger coordination among security agencies.

    He emphasised the need for clear communication channels for timely alerts and responses to security breaches, involving the military, the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    “We need to sensitise everyone that this risk is real. There are criminal elements who want to invade our campuses because they present a particular attraction due to the large concentration of vulnerable people,” Echono said.

    “This situation is worsened by the fact that some of our institutions are so porous that they can easily be invaded,” he added.

  • Reps Urge FG To Halt Deductions, Cancel COVID-19 Loans For Vulnerable Nigerians

    The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to grant a full waiver on outstanding COVID-19 survival loans owed by vulnerable households and micro-businesses nationwide.

    The call also included a directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), NIRSAL Microfinance Bank and the Federal Ministry of Finance to immediately suspend all ongoing deductions on COVID-19 intervention loans being recovered from beneficiaries.

    The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved on Wednesday by Rep. Saidu Abdullahi (APC-Niger), representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency.

    Abdullahi recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government, through the CBN and NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, introduced the Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) to cushion the economic impact of the lockdown on households and businesses. He said a total of ₦419.42 billion was disbursed to households, micro, small and medium enterprises nationwide.

    He said the facility was accessed by 792,936 beneficiaries, consisting of 674,972 households and 117,964 small businesses. According to him, women accounted for 45 per cent of the beneficiaries, with 330,128 women receiving ₦159.21 billion.

    Abdullahi said the TCF created or sustained about 1,585,872 jobs, underscoring its significant impact on livelihoods and enterprise stability during and after the pandemic.

    He, however, expressed concern that as of September 2023, about ₦261.07 billion—representing 62 per cent of the loans—remained unpaid, while ₦378.03 billion was classified as outstanding, reflecting the widespread inability of vulnerable households and micro-enterprises to repay.

    He added that recent CBN surveys indicated rising default rates across household and enterprise lending in the fourth quarter of 2024 and the second quarter of 2025. He attributed the trend to inflation above 24 per cent, severe food insecurity, declining purchasing power, business closures and shrinking household incomes.

    Abdullahi noted that despite the high default rates recorded in 2023, substantial recoveries had been made through automatic deductions from beneficiaries’ bank accounts between late 2023 and December 2025, indicating that the current outstanding exposure may be significantly lower and manageable for a structured waiver.

    According to him, the TCF was primarily a survival support loan and not a conventional business facility, as many beneficiaries used the funds for essential needs such as food, shelter, healthcare and school fees during the lockdown. He said repayment remained unrealistic for many households that had not recovered economically.

    He also cited the Federal Government’s leniency under the Anchor Borrowers Programme, where restructuring and partial waivers were granted despite a default rate above 50 per cent.

    Abdullahi further stated that several countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, South Africa and India, had similarly implemented waivers or extended repayment periods on COVID-19 relief loans.

    He warned that continued automatic deductions and aggressive recoveries were inflicting severe hardship on vulnerable Nigerians, threatening the survival of small businesses, worsening unemployment and heightening the risk of social instability.

  • BREAKING: NNPCL, Others Reduce Petrol Price In Abuja

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) and several independent marketers have reduced the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) across filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory.

    According to our survey Abuja on Wednesday showed that NNPCL retail stations now dispense petrol at ₦915 per litre, down from ₦920, representing a ₦5 reduction.

    Independent marketers such as BOVAS and MRS were also seen adjusting their prices, with some outlets selling at ₦910 per litre, compared to previous rates of up to ₦945 per litre.

    Other filling stations monitored — including AYM Shafa, NIPCO, Optima, Mobil, Ranoil and Empire — sold petrol at prices ranging from ₦920 to ₦937 per litre, depending on outlet location and depot supply.

    The latest retail adjustments follow a decline in ex-depot prices from major depots and refineries. As of Wednesday, ex-depot petrol prices were listed as follows:

    ₦824.50 per litre at Dangote Refinery

    ₦823 per litre at Eterna and Aiteo depots

    ₦822 per litre at BOVAS depot

    According to reports the revised pump price by NNPCL comes after two consecutive reductions within two weeks, bringing the price down to ₦945 per litre, from ₦975 per litre.

    The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, had last week assured Nigerians of uninterrupted petrol supply during the festive season, saying the era of nationwide fuel queues was over.

  • US Proposes Mandatory Five-year Social Media History For Visa-free Travellers

    The United States Government has proposed new mandatory screening requirements for travellers seeking entry under its Visa Waiver Programme.

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in a notice released on Wednesday, said applicants for the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) would be required to submit their social media history covering the past five years.

    DHS said the proposed measure, to be published in the Federal Register, is aimed at strengthening national security and follows Executive Order 14161 signed in January 2025 to enhance foreign-threat detection.

    According to reports the ESTA applicants are currently asked to provide their social media details voluntarily. The new guideline, however, makes the disclosure compulsory.

    “The data element will require ESTA applicants to provide their social media from the last five years,” the notice stated.

    The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said the revision would improve identity verification, curb fraudulent applications and detect potential security risks.

    Under the expanded requirements, applicants will also be expected to provide additional personal data, including email addresses used in the last 10 years, phone numbers from the past five years, IP addresses and metadata from submitted photographs.

    The proposal further seeks to introduce more comprehensive family information and a wider range of biometric data, such as facial recognition, fingerprints, iris scans and DNA samples.

    According to DHS, the move aligns with updated federal biographic-data policies and will enhance the government’s capacity to validate identities.

    Another key change in the proposal is the planned transition from the existing ESTA web portal to a mobile-only application system.

    If approved, the revised rules will affect travellers from the 40 countries currently under the U.S. Visa Waiver Programme. Over 14 million ESTA applications are processed annually.

    DHS said it is inviting public comments on the proposed changes within a 60-day window from the date of publication.

    The proposal, if adopted, would represent one of the most extensive expansions of digital identity and social-media vetting requirements in U.S. immigration history.

  • ECOWAS Appoints Dangote To Head Business Council

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appointed Nigerian industrialist, Aliko Dangote, as the pioneer Chairman of its newly established ECOWAS Business Council (EBC).

    The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, announced this on Wednesday at the 95th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja.

    Touray said the creation of the council was part of efforts to strengthen financial stability, boost regional economic resilience and enhance private-sector participation in West Africa’s integration agenda.

    He said Dangote was selected based on his extensive business experience across the sub-region and Africa.

    “We are moving forward with the operationalisation of the ECOWAS Business Council. We have identified Alhaji Aliko Dangote to be the pioneer Chairperson of the Council in view of his vast experience doing business within our sub-region and across Africa,” he said.

    According to him, the council will serve as a platform for dialogue between the private sector, member states and ECOWAS institutions, with the objective of mobilising intra-regional investment.

    Touray noted that reducing dependence on foreign capital remained a key priority for the Commission.

    “This appetite for intra-regional investment underscores the need to mobilise capital within our region to build our Community rather than wait for precarious foreign investments,” he stated.

    On regional energy issues, the ECOWAS President said the West African Power Pool was experiencing operational challenges due to debts owed by national electricity companies, and urged member states to support recovery efforts.

    He also highlighted ongoing initiatives on regional resilience, monetary integration and the activation of a regional standby force against terrorism.

    Earlier, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Timothy Kabba, called for stronger cooperation to address security, economic and democratic challenges in the region.

    Kabba said regional integration remained central to ECOWAS’ 50-year vision, emphasising the need for improved trade, transport and energy connectivity and full utilisation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

    He condemned recent coups and attempted coups in West Africa, describing them as threats to constitutional order and regional stability. He urged greater investment in joint intelligence operations, peace and security initiatives and support for the ECOWAS Standby Force.

    Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in her remarks, warned that political instability and prolonged transitions in some member states were undermining democratic gains and citizen confidence.

    She stressed the need for inclusive political dialogue, credible transitions and stronger intra-regional trade and value-chain development.

    Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the youth population, which constitutes about 65 per cent of the region’s 400 million people, depends on ECOWAS to drive development and create economic opportunities.

    She said dossiers before the council touched on governance, economic integration, peace and security, agriculture, humanitarian response and institutional reforms.

    West Africa continues to experience political and security challenges, including terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime. Several ECOWAS states are currently under military rule, while others face fragile transitions.

  • Benin Republic Coup Leader Reportedly Flees To Togo

    A security analyst for East and West Africa, Mr. Brant Philip, has claimed that the leader of the failed coup attempt in the Republic of Benin, Lt.-Col. Pascal Tigri, has reportedly fled to Lomé, Togo.

    Philip made the claim in a post on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter), adding that intelligence sources confirmed Tigri’s movement across the Benin-Togo border following the botched putsch.

    According to reports the Benin’s constitutional authorities on Monday declared Tigri and two other soldiers wanted for their roles in the failed coup, which was aimed at toppling President Patrice Talon’s administration on Sunday.

    The country’s military command said the coup plotters failed to seize key state institutions before the operation was suppressed by loyal forces.

    Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, also confirmed the development in a post shared on 𝕏.

    According to Philip, a Beninese Air Force surveillance aircraft from Parakou was observed circling over Aneho, a southwestern town in Togo, shortly after the failed coup. He suggested that some of the coup plotters may have crossed into Togo to evade arrest.

    Before the incident, Lt.-Col. Tigri was an obscure officer in Benin’s military. Security sources said he previously commanded the 3rd Inter-Arms Group of the National Guard from its creation in 2023 until January 2025.

    The officer, described as an “intermediate-level” commander, reportedly had no authority over strategic units capable of staging a major military operation. His sudden emergence as the leader of a coup attempt surprised many Beninese citizens, who questioned how a relatively unknown officer could plan such an action.

    Authorities in Cotonou have since labelled him a “traitor to the nation.” Military and intelligence reports indicate that Tigri had no previous record of political ambition or insubordination before the coup attempt.

    Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports on Tuesday suggested that Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé visited Niamey, Niger, late Monday night, where he held discussions with Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani, leader of the Nigerien junta.

    The Beninese government has yet to make an official request to Togo for Tigri’s extradition.

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