Economy
NECO Conducts Common Entrance Exams For 64,000 Candidates: NCEE
NECO Conducts Common Entrance Exams For 64,000 Candidates: NCEE
NECO conducts common entrance exams for 64,000 candidates: NCEE. Admissions into the first term academic session will begin after the release of the results.
No fewer than 64,000 candidates from Nigeria, Benin Republic and Togo, on Saturday, participated in the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for admission into federal government colleges.
The examination is conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO).
Speaking after monitoring the exercise at Model Secondary School, Maitama, and Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Abuja, the minister of state for education, Suwaiba Ahmad, expressed satisfaction with the exercise.
Ms Ahmad emphasised that the turnout of candidates reflected the continued public trust in the Unity School system.
“I am very happy with the way the exams have been conducted. ”They started on time, students were orderly, and invigilators were present and active.
“We had 64,000 candidates, 30,000 male and 34,000 female, which shows a strong interest in our Unity Colleges.
“Nigerians are still eager to have their children in Federal Government Colleges.
”This turnout shows that parents still value the role of Unity Schools in national cohesion,” she said.
On his part, the NECO registrar, Ibrahim Wushishi, said Lagos State recorded the highest number of registered candidates with more than 15,000 while Togo had the lowest with 17.
Mr Wushishi said that 109 candidates from Benin Republic and Togo combined took part in the examination with Nigerian citizens residing there.
“This is a truly regional exercise that affirms the reach and reputation of our Unity Colleges,” he said.
He noted that no challenges were reported during the conduct of the examination.
“Materials arrived on time, the exam started as scheduled, and so far, we’ve seen no issues.
“This smooth process gives us hope that upcoming senior secondary exams, both WAEC and NECO will follow suit,” he said.
The NECO boss also acknowledged the inclusion of children with special needs, saying braille materials and support personnel were provided for them during the examination.
Also speaking, the director of senior secondary education at the federal ministry of education, Binta Abdulkadir, said admissions into Unity Schools would be based on merit, state quota and exigency, the latter catering largely for children of civil servants.

NECO Conducts Common Entrance Exams
Mr Abdulkadri added that final admissions would depend on the released results, promising to remain committed to a fair and inclusive process.
The examination, which is yearly, enables pupils to access federal government colleges, popularly called Unity Colleges.
Admissions into the first term academic session will begin after the release of the results.
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.
The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.
Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.
He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.
“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”
Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.
Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.
Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.
Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC
Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.
The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.
Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.
Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.
Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”
Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.
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