BANNER NEWS

Year: 2026

  • UniCross Suspends Heads of Dept Over Exams Frauds – Director of Exams

    UniCross Suspends Heads of Dept Over Exams Frauds – Director of Exams

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter
    A number of heads of departments in the University of Cross River State, UniCross, have been suspended for involvements in examination racketeering and manipulation of results.
    Dr. Anderson Etika, Director of Exams and Results in the school disclosed this to journalists at the NUJ Press Centre, Calabar.
    He explained that to he affected heads of departments took advantage of the ongoing migration of data from old portal to the new, which is aimed at streamlining results administration in the school.
    He did not revealed the names of the culprits and how long they have been suspended, but stressed that they are really fighting back at the system for blocking loopholes.
    “These changes have cost a lot of people. Some dirty lecturers can no longer do what they usually do.
    “So they are fighting the system. They want the system to go back to ‘Egypt’ where grades could be changed, grades could be manipulated and they are the ones who are pushing some of the students.
    “Students are fighting back. Those who want to buy grades, they cannot buy grades. So that’s why you see some of all of this.  One of the kingpins had litanies of carryovers yet they are at the forefront of these issues. So the system itself is fighting back.
    “We know that there are genuine students who do not have issues and we are making effort to fix their complaints”, he assured
    He noted that a bulk of the students who are crying foul have litanies of carryovers.
    He called for little bit of patience and the result system will be completely fixed.
    He said there were some errors that needed to be fixed and they have now made huge progress.
  • Cross River Govt Hands Over Militants’ Arms to NCCSALW

    Cross River Govt Hands Over Militants’ Arms to NCCSALW

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter
    The Cross River State Government has handed over a cache of arms and ammunition surrendered by 80 repentant militants to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), South-South Zone, reinforcing its commitment to peace and security in the state.
    The handover, which took place on Monday in Calabar, was executed through the Office of the State Security Adviser following the successful disarmament of militants who had operated within the creeks of Calabar and Akpabuyo Local Government Area.
    Receiving the weapons, the Zonal Director of NCCSALW, South-South Zone, Dr. Alex Inemah Ebimiebo, commended the administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu for prioritising security and supporting efforts to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
    Ebimiebo described the development as a tangible outcome of the state’s peace-building initiatives and strong collaboration among security agencies, noting that Cross River continues to stand out as one of the most peaceful states in the country.
    He also praised the State Security Adviser, Major General Okoi Ubi Obono (rtd), for what he described as strategic leadership and effective coordination of the state’s security architecture, which has translated into sustained peace and stability.
    The NCCSALW director stressed the need for continued synergy among security stakeholders to consolidate the gains already recorded and prevent a relapse into violence.
    Ebimiebo disclosed that the Centre would immediately commence the statutory process for the destruction and disposal of the recovered weapons in line with national and international best practices.
    He urged residents of the state to shun actions capable of undermining public peace, while reaffirming NCCSALW’s commitment to tackling the spread of illicit arms across Cross River State and the wider South-South zone.
    The arms were earlier surrendered under Operation OKWOK at the Atimbo Rear Area during an exercise coordinated by the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with the Cross River State Government.
    The repentant militants, drawn from two camps, voluntarily embraced the state’s amnesty programme, laying down assorted rifles, guns, ammunition, explosives, speedboats and other military hardware, in what authorities described as a major boost to peace efforts.

  • Cross River Completes Obudu General Hospital

    Cross River Completes Obudu General Hospital

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter
    The Cross River State Government has concluded construction of the General Hospital, Obudu, and has begun final preparations for its formal unveiling, marking a major boost to healthcare delivery in Obudu and neighbouring communities.
    The facility, located along Ogoja Road, is designed to serve as a modern centre for healing, equipped to provide quality, people-centred medical services. The project was executed under the supervision of the Ministry of Health.
    Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, PhD, said the hospital aligns with the state government’s commitment to closing healthcare gaps through improved infrastructure and access to care.
    Dr. Ayuk led a recent inspection of the facility alongside key project officials, focusing on readiness of wards, laboratories and other critical service areas ahead of commencement of operations.
    He told journalists that the administration is eager to begin services immediately after final arrangements are concluded. “Once everything is put in place, I will not waste time to come and start the operation,” he said.
    The commissioner disclosed that staffing and security were central to the review, noting that a core team of health professionals, including trained nurses and a laboratory technician, has already been engaged, while efforts continue to address remaining personnel needs.
    He added that plans are underway to establish a robust 24-hour security system to protect the hospital’s equipment and ensure uninterrupted service delivery.
    Dr. Ayuk further revealed that the ministry is engaging key stakeholders to promote community ownership and patronage of the facility, including the Obudu Local Government Council, faith-based organisations, transport unions, youth groups and traditional leaders from Obukpa and Gbara communities.
    With final legal and administrative processes nearing completion, the General Hospital, Obudu, is expected to significantly improve access to quality healthcare and reinforce the state government’s commitment to the wellbeing of its people.

  • Teacher Training Overhaul: Colleges of Education Win Power to Award Degrees

    Teacher Training Overhaul: Colleges of Education Win Power to Award Degrees

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter

    Nigeria’s teacher education landscape is set for a major shift as Colleges of Education have now been granted the authority to award Bachelor’s degrees in Education independently, ending decades of compulsory university affiliation.

    The new authority flows from the full activation of the dual mandate policy by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), a reform aimed at widening access to professional teacher training and strengthening the standing of Colleges of Education nationwide.

    Education authorities say the policy marks a decisive step in repositioning Colleges of Education as autonomous, competitive institutions capable of driving quality teaching and restoring confidence in the nation’s teacher-training system.

    The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) formally announced the reform at a review workshop of the 2020 Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) minimum standards held in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

    Speaking at the event, NCCE Executive Secretary, Professor Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, said the commission is reviewing the NCE minimum standards to align teacher education with national priorities and global trends.

    He described the reform as a deliberate and far-reaching effort to reposition Colleges of Education for relevance, quality, and sustainability within Nigeria’s education system.

    Okwelle explained that the dual mandate legally empowers Colleges of Education to award Bachelor’s degrees in Education in their own right, a move he said would improve enrollment, institutional credibility, and competitiveness.

    According to him, the revised framework will emphasise competency-based training, digital literacy, inclusive education, and practical classroom readiness for future teachers.

    He added that the review process is inclusive and consultative, involving key stakeholders in teacher education, policy-making, and development partnerships.

    The NCCE boss disclosed that the revised NCE standards will integrate artificial intelligence and digital competencies, supported by curriculum innovation, digital transformation, and partnerships with organisations such as UNESCO and the British Council.

    On her part, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmed, called for practical reforms in teacher training, stressing the need to reduce redundancy, strengthen teaching practice and mentorship, and prioritise demonstrable competencies.

    She criticised the existing NCE curriculum for being overly theoretical, with weak integration of 21st-century skills such as digital and AI literacy, climate education, inclusive technology, social-emotional learning, and blended learning approaches.

    Declaring the workshop open, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, urged education stakeholders to develop realistic and implementable policies, stressing that reforms must align with available resources to be sustainable.

    Governor Sule also announced the implementation of the minimum wage for lecturers and non-academic staff of tertiary institutions in the state, a move expected to boost staff morale and support efforts to reposition teacher education nationwide.

     

  • FG Emphasizes Education for Northwest Street Children

    FG Emphasizes Education for Northwest Street Children

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter
    The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to educating street children across Northwest Nigeria, with the enrollment of no fewer than 10,000 out-of-school children already underway, beginning from Kano State.
    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (Northwest), Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, disclosed this during the first day of school resumption at Kawaji Primary School in Kano.
    Yakasai said the initiative forms part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope education agenda, aimed at reintegrating street children and school dropouts into formal education.
    According to him, the programme targets children who had never attended school as well as those who had dropped out, popularly known as Almajirai.
    “During the break, we identified about 200 children in this neighbourhood alone. Today, they have been enrolled and provided with uniforms, school bags and exercise books,” Yakasai said.
    He added that the intervention also extends to teachers, noting that educators in the selected schools were supplied with teaching materials such as notebooks, chalk and cardboard papers to enhance effective classroom delivery.
    Yakasai explained that the programme would be expanded across Kano, with three schools targeted in each district in the next academic term.
    “We are committed to ensuring that at least 10,000 out-of-school children across the Northwest are enrolled before the end of President Tinubu’s administration,” he said.
    He also drew attention to the poor state of public school infrastructure in the region, revealing that engineers had inspected dilapidated structures and prepared bills of quantities for rehabilitation.
    “Many public schools are in urgent need of repairs. We intend to take these findings to the Presidency to ensure the schools are restored to standard,” Yakasai added.

  • Tragedy in Lapai as Varsity Student Dies Over Losing Betting Funds

    Tragedy in Lapai as Varsity Student Dies Over Losing Betting Funds

     

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter

    A 300-level Computer Science student of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Niger State, Kelvin Danlami, has died in a tragic incident linked to the loss of ₦600,000 allegedly gambled away through betting.

    Campus sources said the money had been entrusted to the student but was reportedly diverted to gambling activities, a development believed to have deeply distressed him.

    The deceased was found lifeless in his off-campus residence by a neighbour, who raised an alarm and alerted the authorities.

    A fellow student, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident followed the student’s inability to account for money meant for house rent after it was lost to betting.

    “It is true that we lost one of our colleagues. The problem started after the money given to him for rent was used for gambling,” the student said.

    The Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident, describing it as unfortunate.

    Police spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the command received a report on January 19, 2026, that the student was found unresponsive in his room and was rushed to the General Hospital, Lapai, where he was confirmed dead.

    He said police operatives from the Lapai Division visited the scene, conducted preliminary investigations, and notified the family of the deceased, adding that further inquiries were ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

    The General Secretary of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Aliyu Abubakar, also confirmed the death, describing it as a painful loss to the university community and urging students to seek help during moments of distress.

  • Woman Gives Birthday in Kidnappers’ Den After Husband Killed In Plateau

    Woman Gives Birthday in Kidnappers’ Den After Husband Killed In Plateau

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter
    A woman abducted by gunmen in Plateau State has reportedly given birth while in captivity, days after her husband was killed during the attack on their community.
    The incident occurred in Kyaram community, Garga District of Kanam Local Government Area, where suspected kidnappers stormed the home of Umar Rufa’i, killed him, and abducted his pregnant wife and their daughter.
    Confirming the development, the National Secretary of the Kanam Development Association (KADA), Shehu Kanam, said the abductors contacted the family to inform them that the woman had delivered a baby while still being held.
    According to Kanam, the call came several days after the abduction, compounding the shock already caused by the killing of Rufa’i.
    “The report we received this morning is that the wife of the deceased gave birth today while in captivity,” he said.
    In a statement, KADA expressed grief over the incident, describing the killing and abduction as “shocking and unacceptable.”
    The group said Rufa’i was murdered at his residence around midnight on January 17, 2026, while his wife and daughter were taken away by the attackers.
    The association added that Rufa’i was buried according to Islamic rites on Sunday, January 18, 2026, and expressed concern over the safety and condition of the abducted woman and her children.
    KADA further lamented the worsening security situation in Garga District, noting that communities in the area have been repeatedly targeted by kidnappers and bandits, resulting in deaths, abductions, and loss of property.
    “Despite repeated appeals to the government, the situation has remained unchanged,” the group said, urging security agencies and authorities to take urgent steps to address the crisis.
    Efforts to obtain a response from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the command’s spokesperson, SP Alabo Alfred, had not responded to enquiries at the time of filing this report.
  • Father Calls for Execution of Son Accused of Killing Family of Seven in Kano

    Father Calls for Execution of Son Accused of Killing Family of Seven in Kano

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter

    The father of Umar Auwal, the prime suspect in the brutal killing of a family of seven and two other women in Kano, has publicly called for his son’s execution, saying he should not be kept alive at public expense.
    Speaking on Freedom Radio in Kano on Monday, Malam Auwal distanced himself from the suspect, describing him as “useless to society” and insisting that he deserved the maximum punishment rather than imprisonment.
    “I don’t want them to waste time on prosecution. People like Umar should be eliminated. They should not be remanded and fed with taxpayers’ money,” the distraught father said during the radio programme.
    The multiple killings, which shocked residents of Kano and beyond, occurred last week in the Dorayi Chiranchi area of the Kano metropolis. The victims were identified as Fatima Abubakar, 35, and her six children.
    Those killed include Maimuna (17), Aisha (16), Bashir (13), Abubakar (10), Faruk (7) and Abdussalam, aged one and a half years, according to police sources.
    Following the incident, the Kano State Commissioner of Police ordered a massive manhunt for the attackers. The police later arrested Umar Auwal and accused him of leading the attack on his aunt and her children in broad daylight.
    Police further confirmed that the suspect allegedly confessed to the Dorayi killings, as well as a separate attack in the Tudun Yola area, where two housewives were reportedly murdered and their house set ablaze.
    Reacting to the developments, Malam Auwal said the crime committed against his younger sister, her children, and other relatives was “condemnable,” stressing that he had completely disowned his son.
    He further alleged that Umar had previously killed another younger sister several years ago, claims yet to be independently verified by authorities.
    The grieving father commended the police for their handling of the case, saying he had already “sacrificed” his son, and vowed that neither he nor the suspect’s mother would attend court proceedings as the case moves to trial.
    If you want, I can shorten it further, strengthen the legal caution, or reshape the lead for even more impact.

  • Coalition Vows to Help Shape Responsive Future Governments

    Coalition Vows to Help Shape Responsive Future Governments

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter
    The Coalition of Professionals for Malam Nasir El-Rufai has pledged to play a constructive role in shaping future governments that are responsive and work for all citizens.
    Members of the group made the commitment yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during a strategic meeting aimed at establishing functional structures across the country.
    The coalition also reaffirmed its resolve to strengthen democratic governance, promote institutional credibility, and encourage responsible political engagement nationwide.
    The meeting, which drew key stakeholders, state officers, local government coordinators and professionals from various sectors, focused on consolidating the coalition’s organisational framework and repositioning it as a viable platform for nation-building.
    A major highlight was the appointment and ratification of new members of the State Executive Committee. The executives were selected based on competence, integrity and capacity to advance the coalition’s objectives, with participants expressing confidence in their ability to provide effective leadership at the state level.
    Addressing the gathering, the Convener, Mr Chapp Jumbo Jonathan, who was represented by Archbishop Iyango Eric Lazarus, outlined the vision and mission of the coalition, stressing professionalism, inclusiveness, accountability and service to the people.
    He reiterated the group’s determination to promote a political culture that prioritises national interest above personal or sectional considerations, while encouraging professionals to actively participate in governance processes.
    Deliberations also centred on the need for a credible government and a functional political system anchored on transparency, justice and good governance, with members adopting the coalition’s slogan: “COP for Nasir El-Rufai, Let Nigeria Live.”
    The meeting ended with a call for unity, discipline and sustained engagement, as members resolved to deepen grassroots coordination, strengthen internal communication and support initiatives that advance democratic values and institutional reforms.
  • Army Determined to Flush Out Remnants of Bandits in Kogi, Elsewhere – Brigade Commander

    Army Determined to Flush Out Remnants of Bandits in Kogi, Elsewhere – Brigade Commander

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter
    The Nigerian Army is determined to flush out the clusters of  bandits and other terrorists gangs operating in Kogi State and environs.
    The Commander of 12 Brigade, Brigadier General Kasim Sidi disclosed this at the Nigerian Army West African Social Activities (WASA) 2025 on Saturday at Chari Maigumeri Barracks, Lokoja.
    He stated that the Brigade is intensifying more efforts in order to neutralise the bandits in order for peace to be restored in communities under attack.
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    ‎He called on the citizens to support the efforts of the security operatives in the battle against bandits, kidnappers and others for victory to be achieved in the shortest period.
    ‎He highlighted the Brigade’s achievements in 2025, including successful military operations against bandits and kidnappers in the state.
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    ‎Speaking about the WASA, he described it as a significant occasion that always brings  together officers, soldiers, families, and friends to celebrate shared identity, cultural heritage, and collective achievements.
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    He noted the importance of WASA in showcasing the Nigerian Army’s diversity and unity, praising the dedication, discipline, and professionalism of officers and soldiers.
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    Special Guest of Honour, Governor  Ahmed Ododo, represented by the State Security Adviser,  Cmdr Jerry Omodara (rtd),  commended the Nigerian Army for sustaining the WASA tradition, describing it as a vital platform for promoting unity and camaraderie among troops and their families.
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    ‎The governor reaffirmed his Administration’s commitment to supporting Nigerian Army and security agencies in the course of  discharging constitutional responsibilities in the state .
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    ‎The governor commended the 12 Brigade for their resilience that made the state to record significant success in the fight against bandits  through recent clearance operations in the state.
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