Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has responded to the House of Representatives’ concerns over stalled legislative collaboration, assuring that the Senate is committed to the swift consideration of over 160 House-passed bills currently pending in the upper chamber. Akpabio made the assurance on Tuesday while delivering a goodwill message at the Open Well of the House of Representatives. He revealed that since the House expressed its dissatisfaction last week, the Senate has already considered and passed six of the pending bills. The House, in a rare show of defiance, had resolved to stop considering Senate-passed bills, citing the Senate’s failure to…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has set 150 as the cut-off mark for admission into universities in the country.  JAMB made the decision on Tuesday during the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja. It said the cut-off mark for colleges for nursing is 140, colleges of agriculture 100, and colleges of education 100. “The minimum admissible scores for admissions for the next academic session have been fixed at 150 for universities, 100 for polytechnics, 100 for colleges of education, and 140 for colleges of nursing sciences by the…

The Labour Party has disclosed plans to expel its former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his involvement in an opposition coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu.  This was said by a chieftain of the party, Abayomi Arabambi, during a live appearance on Channels Television on Tuesday. He said Obi’s continued engagement with the coalition while still identifying as a Labour Party member was “unconstitutional” and “unacceptable.” “Let me make it very clear: we are convening a NEC (National Executive Council) meeting where he (Obi) will be expelled. It is unconstitutional for you to belong to two political parties at a…

The Federal Government has formally set 16 years as the minimum age for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa announced this during the opening session of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) 2025 Policy Meeting on Tuesday in Abuja. “This policy decision reflects a balance between cognitive maturity and academic preparedness. 16 years is non-negotiable,” he said. He warned that the heads of institutions found to be engaged in admission fraud would face prosecution. He stressed that the age requirement is mandatory and non-negotiable, adding that heads of institutions found complicit in admission fraud…

The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted likely flash flooding in some states, including Sokoto, Lagos, Benue, among other States, this July, 2025. This was revealed according to NiMet predictions for states at risk of flooding this month, which were released on Monday. The flash flood risk alert for July 2025 shows the states with varying probable risks of experiencing flash flooding events due to the onset of rainfall across the country. Other states with notable risk of flash flooding are; Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Rivers and Akwa…

A founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Board of Trustees member, Adamu Waziri, has resigned from the party and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Waziri announced his decision on Monday at his Dogo Tebo Ward in Potiskum, Yobe State. He said the move was in line with the PDP constitution, which requires formal resignation at the ward level. Explaining his decision, Waziri said the PDP no longer reflects the values of a credible opposition. “I was a member of PDP, and due to the exigencies of the moment and in the interest of the nation, I…

The suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has stated that she will resume legislative duties in the Senate on Tuesday following a court order directing her recall to the Red Chamber. The lawmaker disclosed this in a video shared on social media, which started trending on Sunday. She thanked her supporters for standing with her. “I thank you for your support. I am glad we are victorious today. “We shall resume in the Senate on Tuesday by the grace of God,” she said. Her comment followed Friday’s judgment by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which declared her…

The Rivers State Police Command has declared the Chief of Staff (CoS), Aloni Olodi and Chief Security Officer (CSO), Hector Ekakita of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Rivers State, wanted in connection with the violent attack on the council’s Administrator, Goodluck Ihemnacho. A statement signed by the police public relations officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the attack on Ihemnacho occurred on 20th June 2025 at the Council Secretariat, Ahoada East. The statement said that despite a prior public notice and formal invitation to report to the police state headquarters for questioning, the duo refused to obey the directive. The police…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike has said the President Bola Tinubu’s administration is rebuilding FCT to a befitting nation’s capital. Wike stated this on Sunday, during a Thanksgiving Service at St. James’ Anglican Church, Asokoro, Abuja, for the successful completion of project inaugurations by Tinubu to celebrate his second year in office. The minister said nothing was moving in the nation’s capital until the coming of Tinubu’s administration, pointing out that residents were already confessing the changes. “This is because you have a government that is determined to make the needed changes. “If the Tinubu government…

The Senate has given conditions for the reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, after a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the six-month suspension handed down on her by the Senate. Justice Binta Nyako, in her judgment on Friday, ordered the Senate to reinstate the Kogi Central senator, describing her suspension as excessive. In March, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Red Chamber for six months for alleged gross misconduct, following her face-off with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over the sitting arrangement. Tensions intensified when Akpoti-Uduaghan, on national television, accused Akpabio of punishing her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances. The…