Author: ekospotlightnews

Fresh security concerns have emerged in Oyo State following the abduction of Matthew Owoade, the 60-year-old headmaster of Nomadic Basic School, Igbojaye, in Itesiwaju Local Government Area, barely a day after kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire LGA regained their freedom. Mr Owoade, who is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), was reportedly kidnapped around 6:00 p.m. on Saturday while returning home from his farm in Budo Aare. The gunmen allegedly contacted his family using his phone shortly after the abduction and demanded N30 million as ransom. Community members later found his abandoned motorcycle in a…

The Federal Government has suspended its proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) following widespread public criticism. The Ministry of Education announced that the June 18 letter introducing a uniform registration fee of N50,000, up from the current N27,500, has been withdrawn pending extensive consultations with key stakeholders. The proposed hike had sparked concerns among parents, education experts and opposition figures, who argued it would make secondary school examinations less affordable for students from low-income families. According to the ministry, the…

The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has commenced the sale of application forms for intending pilgrims seeking to participate in the 2027/1448 A.H. Hajj and Ramadan Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Announcing the development on Monday, the Board Secretary, Mr. AbdulHakeem Ajomagberin, urged prospective pilgrims to register early and begin payment of the required fares in line with the timetable issued by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Saudi Arabian authorities. According to him, Hajj application forms are available for ₦20,000, while Ramadan Umrah forms cost ₦10,000, with payments to be made at the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a fresh public advisory urging Nigerians to exercise caution against a growing cyber fraud scheme in which criminals pose as telecommunications representatives offering to upgrade subscribers’ SIM cards from 4G to 5G. According to the Commission’s Cybercrime Department, fraudsters are placing unsolicited calls to unsuspecting mobile phone users, falsely claiming that a SIM upgrade is required to access 5G services. During the interaction, victims receive a One-Time Password (OTP) on their mobile devices and are deceived into revealing the code to the callers. The EFCC warned that once an OTP is…

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has appealed to top Afrobeats stars, including Burna Boy, Davido and Asake, to establish charitable foundations to support vulnerable Nigerians, saying the government cannot shoulder the country’s growing welfare needs alone. Speaking on Saturday at the launch of the National Community Food Bank in Lokoja, Kogi State, Tinubu said Nigeria is home to many wealthy individuals who should use their resources to uplift the less privileged. While acknowledging the luxury lifestyles of successful entertainers, she encouraged them to emulate global music stars who invest in philanthropy by supporting small business owners and people struggling…

The Lagos State Government has disclosed that only five per cent of fever cases recorded in the state are caused by malaria, urging healthcare providers to confirm infections through testing before administering treatment. Speaking at the dissemination meeting of the World Bank-supported IMPACT Project, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the long-held assumption that every fever is malaria has resulted in misdiagnosis and delayed treatment of other illnesses. He announced that all public primary and secondary health facilities have been directed to treat malaria only after patients test positive through Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs), noting that the policy has…

A conservative Iranian newspaper has published a list of foreign leaders it described as potential targets for retaliation following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in US-Israeli strikes at the start of the Middle East war on February 28. The list, published by the Tehran-based Hamshahri newspaper, features 13 prominent figures, including US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The publication followed…

The husband of Mrs. Rachael Alamu, the principal of Ahoro Esinle School in Oyo State, has held a thanksgiving service following the safe rescue of his wife, who was abducted alongside 43 students and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15. Professor Alamu joined members of the First Baptist Church on Sunday, July 12, to offer prayers and songs of gratitude after Mrs. Alamu and the other victims regained their freedom on Friday, July 10, ending weeks in captivity. Photos and videos from the service showed the professor dancing joyfully with fellow worshippers as they sang “Hallelujah” in…

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, has been honoured with an Award of Excellence in Strategic Communication by the Conference 57 Chief Press Secretaries (CPS) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to public communication and media relations in Lagos State. The award was presented during the Conference 57 CPS Annual Retreat, held on Saturday in Ibeju-Lekki, where media professionals and information managers across the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) gathered to review progress and strengthen collaboration. Presenting the award, the Chairman of Chairmen in Lagos…

The Lagos State Government has commenced the removal of illegal shanties, makeshift structures, and market stalls constructed along the median of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway as part of ongoing efforts to restore order and safeguard critical public infrastructure The enforcement exercise is in line with the state’s urban renewal agenda and complements the ongoing reconstruction of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway into a modern 10-lane highway designed to improve transportation, road safety, and economic activities across the corridor According to the government, the highway median is not designated for commercial activities, residential occupation, or any form of illegal development, stressing that such practices…