July 2025 | Page 20 of 48

Gaza Students Take Exams for the First Time Since War Began

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago04 mins

Hundreds of Palestinian students in Gaza are sitting their end-of-secondary-school exams for the first time since the war began in October 2023. Despite ongoing Israeli attacks and widespread devastation, about 1,500 students are taking the crucial exams organised by Gaza’s Ministry of Education, aiming to secure a chance for university admission. The exams, conducted electronically, are part of an online initiative launched by the ministry to ensure education continues amidst the destruction of nearly all educational infrastructure in Gaza. Some students are taking the exams from home, while others are at designated centers, depending on safety conditions in their areas. Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah, highlighted that for many students, these exams represent a gateway to higher education and future opportunities. “Even in a warzone, with no classrooms, no books, and barely any internet, Gaza’s students are showing up, logging in, and sitting their final exam, refusing to let war erase their future,” he said. Due to the war, many students who should have already started university have had their education delayed. The new online exam platform, the first of its kind in Gaza, was created to allow students to complete their studies despite the ongoing conflict. However, challenges such as weak internet connections, lack of devices, and unsafe conditions remain major obstacles. Morad al-Agha, exams director for the Central Gaza Governorate, confirmed that technical preparations have been made to ensure smooth administration of the exams. Students have already participated in mock tests to familiarize themselves with the system. One student, Doha Khatab, shared the struggles of digital exams: “The internet is weak, many of us do not have devices, and there is no safe space to take the test. We also lost our books in the bombardment.” To support students, some teachers have reopened damaged classrooms to offer in-person guidance. Enam Abu Slisa, a teacher, explained, “It is the first time the ministry has done this online and students are confused, so we’re trying to guide them step by step.” According to the United Nations, 95 percent of Gaza’s educational infrastructure has been destroyed, leaving more than 660,000 children out of school. Many former school buildings are now shelters for displaced families and are still vulnerable to Israeli airstrikes. A recent report presented to the UN Human Rights Council accuses Israeli forces of systematically targeting education infrastructure in Gaza, actions described as potential war crimes.

DR Congo, M23 Rebels Sign Peace Declaration in Qatar

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago02 mins

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group have signed a declaration of principles in Doha, Qatar, aimed at ending fighting in eastern Congo. The agreement, finalized on Saturday, comes weeks after direct negotiations in Washington, following months of heavy clashes between government forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. The group’s recent offensives, including the capture of major cities, have killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands. The decades-long conflict has its roots in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, with M23 composed largely of ethnic Tutsi fighters. Neighboring countries have deployed troops to the volatile region to prevent the violence from escalating into a full-scale regional war. In March, Qatar mediated a surprise meeting between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, resulting in a call for an immediate ceasefire. This meeting laid the groundwork for the current peace efforts. In June, the United States hosted further talks, where the foreign ministers of DRC and Rwanda signed a peace deal and met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. Trump emphasized strict penalties for any violation of the agreements and pushed for ongoing diplomatic efforts. While the DRC has long labeled M23 as a terrorist group, both sides have now committed to working toward a sustainable peace under the Doha agreement. However, international observers remain cautious, given the history of failed ceasefires and persistent allegations that Rwanda continues to arm and support the rebels—claims Rwanda has consistently denied.

50 Palestinians Killed as Israel Strikes Food Aid Sites in Gaza

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago01 mins

At least 50 Palestinians, including 32 people near food aid sites in Rafah, have been killed in fresh Israeli attacks across Gaza, according to reports on Saturday. The strikes targeted multiple locations, including areas where civilians were queuing for humanitarian food supplies. Eyewitnesses described scenes of devastation, with bodies and injured victims scattered around destroyed aid distribution points. The World Food Programme (WFP) has sounded the alarm, warning that thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are on the “verge of catastrophic hunger,” with one in three residents going days without food. The attacks came a day after extensive Israeli bombardments leveled parts of the Al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City, leaving behind a trail of destruction and deepening the humanitarian crisis. The latest violence underscores growing international calls for a ceasefire as the death toll and suffering of civilians continue to mount in the enclave.

ADC Accuses Tinubu Administration of Politicising Buhari Tribute

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago04 mins

Abuja – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu and his administration of using the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari for political gain, describing Thursday’s Special Federal Executive Council (FEC) tribute as a “publicity stunt by an unpopular government.” The allegation was contained in a statement issued Friday by the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi. The ADC said the outpouring of praise for Buhari from a government that had “spent over a year blaming and sidelining him” over Nigeria’s economic challenges was hypocritical and “in bad taste.” President Tinubu, speaking at the FEC session held in Buhari’s honour at the State House, Abuja, paid a glowing tribute to his predecessor, calling him “a good, decent, and honourable man” whose discipline, patriotism, and integrity would be remembered for generations. He acknowledged Buhari’s imperfections but said his commitment to national service distinguished him. The ADC countered that the administration had repeatedly distanced itself from Buhari-era policies—especially on fuel subsidy, economic management, and public sector governance—only to now “cloak itself in the very legacy it once denounced.” “The choreographed FEC tribute, complete with a publicised appearance by our late President’s grieving son, was not a demonstration of genuine respect,” the party said. “It was a calculated PR stunt staged to distract Nigerians from the administration’s deepening failures and to rewrite history while the nation mourns.” The party expressed concern over the inclusion of Yusuf Buhari, describing him as a private citizen in mourning, and questioned why the presidency would “exploit a family’s grief to polish its image,” particularly in northern political constituencies where Buhari retains strong grassroots support. The ADC said it had earlier warned the Buhari family that efforts were under way to leverage the late leader’s passing for political advantage. “What we witnessed at the FEC this week is only the beginning,” the statement added. It further accused the Tinubu administration of mounting a sustained effort since taking office to blame Buhari for fiscal distress and economic hardship—arguing that the presidency cannot now selectively embrace his legacy for political optics. “You cannot spend months discrediting a man’s record and then perform grief for the cameras,” Abdullahi said. “Nigerians can see through the grand deceit.” The ADC maintained that no public-relations campaign can rescue a government that has “behaved in the last two years like an army of occupation.” Presidential aides had not formally responded to the ADC’s allegations as of press time.

APC Urges Action Against Ethnic, Religious Division Ahead of 2027 Polls

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago03 mins

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for decisive action against the growing weaponisation of ethnicity, religion, and misinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking at a capacity-building seminar for APC Zonal and State Publicity Secretaries on Friday, the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, urged APC spokespersons nationwide to rise to the challenge of countering false narratives and divisive politics. Basiru decried the spread of false information using misleading images and accused political opponents of deepening ethnic and religious fault lines, which he said were not as pronounced during his youth. “We have seen the weaponisation of falsehood as an instrument of politics in Nigeria,” Basiru said, citing examples of fake images being circulated to mislead the public. Highlighting the positive impact of President Bola Tinubu’s reforms — including fuel subsidy removal and exchange-rate unification — Basiru noted that Nigeria’s economy is stabilising, with oil production now at 1.7 million barrels per day and the naira becoming “one of the best-performing currencies.” Alake Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reforms The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, also addressed the seminar, commending the federal government’s policy decisions, which he said have significantly improved revenue allocation to states and local governments. Alake described fuel subsidy removal and exchange-rate unification as “two hydra-headed economic monsters” that had previously dragged the economy backward. He stressed that their removal has freed up resources for infrastructure and state development. “If you don’t stabilise the macro, you cannot fix the micro,” Alake said, adding that job creation and increased production will follow ongoing infrastructure projects.

Dangote Refinery Suspends Discount Scheme Over Marketers’ Diversion Racket

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago04 mins

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has uncovered a fresh racket involving some of its affiliate marketers and strategic partners who were allegedly diverting discounted refined petroleum products for profit. This discovery has prompted the refinery to suspend its discounted fuel supply scheme with effect from July 13, 2025. Investigations revealed that certain marketers, who were granted discounted products intended to ensure affordability and steady nationwide supply, had been diverting loaded trucks to unregistered third-party marketers. This diversion allowed them to profit from the price differential while bypassing operational costs such as logistics and compliance. The discounted pricing scheme, designed to help Dangote’s registered affiliate marketers maintain stable profit margins and ensure nationwide product availability, was being exploited as some marketers resold products directly from the refinery’s tarmac at prices above the agreed subsidised rate. In a letter to all strategic partners signed by Fatima Dangote, Group Executive Director of Commercial Operations, the company stated: “DPRP Management is suspending the discounted price offered to Partners effective 13th July 2025 and working towards restructuring the scheme.” The refinery, however, clarified that all outstanding Product Release Notes issued at the discounted rate before the suspension date would remain valid. Payments completed before July 13 would still be honoured at the discounted rate. An oil and gas expert, Olatide Jeremiah, confirmed that some affiliate marketers had been diverting products to non-registered marketers to make quick profits. He noted that marketers were taking advantage of Dangote’s discount scheme and selling products at N819 per litre instead of the official N825, bypassing retail station operations. Recent market checks show that non-affiliated marketers who rely on imported fuel have continued to align their prices with Dangote’s registered marketers, with ex-depot prices averaging N820 per litre, down from N835 at the start of last week. Although the refinery did not publicly name the defaulting marketers, its strategic partners include MRS Oil, Heyden Petroleum, Ardova Plc, Hyde Energy, Optima Energy, Techno Oil, TotalEnergies, Garima Petroleum, Sunbeth Energies, Sobaz Nigeria Ltd, Virgin Forest Energy, Sixxco Oil Ltd, NU Synergy Ltd, and Soroman Nigeria Ltd. The refinery assured stakeholders that the strategic partnership program will continue, albeit with a restructured framework, and urged retail stations to maintain the recommended pump prices to avoid further market distortion.

Security Crisis: Obi Urges President Tinubu to Return Home and Address Domestic Challenges

Peter Obi Decries UNICAL Dental Students’ Crisis, Says No Student Should Suffer for Leadership Failures

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago03 mins

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged the Federal Government and the leadership of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) to immediately resolve the ongoing crisis affecting dental students’ graduation and induction quota at the institution. In a statement released on Saturday, Obi expressed concern over reports of delays and disruptions in the academic progression of dental students at UNICAL. He noted that while the university’s Vice Chancellor has promised to address the situation, “no student should suffer due to what I consider a failure of leadership.” Obi recalled a similar challenge he faced as governor when the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria shut down the medical school at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University for lacking a teaching hospital. At the time, students were at risk of graduating with unrelated degrees despite years of medical training. “I refused to let those innocent students become victims,” Obi said. “I committed to building a functional teaching hospital within two years, and despite skepticism, I completed and commissioned what is now the Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital in Awka in less than 18 months.” He stressed that education, particularly in critical sectors like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), is too vital to be jeopardized by bureaucratic lapses or inadequate infrastructure. Obi called on the Federal Government to urgently provide financial and institutional support to UNICAL, enabling the university leadership to resolve the matter swiftly. “Our children must not continue to lose their future in Nigeria,” Obi warned. “At this critical time in our nation, we cannot afford to neglect education and healthcare, while wasting resources on areas that bring no tangible value. A New Nigeria is Possible.”

Tragedy in Kano: Four Drown in Blocked Waterway

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago02 mins

The Kano State Fire Service has confirmed the death of four individuals who drowned in a blocked waterway at Zangon Kaya, located in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State. The incident was confirmed in a statement released on Friday by the Public Relations Officer of the Fire Service, Alhaji Saminu Abdullahi, who said the tragedy occurred on Friday afternoon. “We received an emergency call at about 1:48 pm from one Rabiu Yusif, informing us that four people had fallen into a blocked waterway that had gathered due to the ongoing railway line construction,” Abdullahi stated. “We immediately sent our rescue team to the scene. Two of the victims entered the waterway to swim when they got trapped.” Abdullahi explained that another individual went in to rescue them and also got stuck, while a fourth person, attempting to help, also became trapped. Upon the arrival of the rescue team, residents managed to pull out two victims, while the team recovered the remaining two. All four were rescued unconscious and later confirmed dead. The victims have been identified as Bashir Sani (28), Nasirudden Tasi’u (25), Usman Ubale (26), and Yakubu Muhammed (22). “Their corpses were handed over to SP Abdulkadir Albasu of Dawanau Police Division,” Abdullahi added. Read Full Details Here