Education
We’ve renovated over 60 FCT schools — Wike
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has once again said contrary to what some people say that the FCT Administration under his watch is giving preferential attention to road infrastructure, the Administration has renovated over 60 schools in FCT.
The Minister stated this while addressing newsmen on Friday, in Abuja while on project inspection tour in Gwagwalada Area Council to inspect the Market, Etsu Road and A2 to Pai road in Kwali Area Councils.
Wike was responding to a question on whether sectors such as education and health were receiving equal attention, also assured that no sector would be left behind.
It would be recalled that the Tribune Online had reported on May, 11, 2025, how the administration is inclusive and not less than 100 to 140 billion naira has been budgeted for education in particular in the 2025 FCT budget, despite massive ongoing work in the sector.
Wike said: “Just because we’re not taking you to the schools yet doesn’t mean nothing is happening. We’ve renovated over 60 schools in FCT, and they are truly innovative and polished. We’ll invite you after the road commissioning to see for yourself.”
He emphasised that road infrastructure is fundamental, pointing out its central role in accessing education, healthcare, markets, and in tackling insecurity.
The Minister stressed that, “Development anywhere in the world starts with roads. If there are no roads, which school can you attend? Which hospital can you visit? Which farm produce can you transport? Roads unlock everything.
“Even criminals think twice when there’s a good road with streetlights. It’s about deterrence too.”
Meanwhile, residents of the nation’s capital, Abuja, have hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Nyesom Wike over the resurgence of infrastructure development across the city and satellites towns of Abuja.
The residents with a slogan, Renewed Hope in action came out to cheer the Minister while on projects inspection in Gwagwalada Area Council to inspect the Market, Etsu Road and A2 to Pai road in Kwali Area Council.
The residents who could not hide their happiness told the Minister that indeed Renewed Hope is working and were pleased to have associated with the ongoing transformation in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
They thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for trusting and believing in the the capacity of Barr. Nyesom Wike and giving him such peculiar tasks to overseas the FCT as the Minister.
They assured the Minister that the people of FCT will continue to give all the necessary support to the President and the FCT to ensure that they deliver on their mandate.
While responding, the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike reaffirmed the reality of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, declaring that the visible impact of development projects across FCT’s satellite areas proves that hope is no longer a slogan but a lived experience.
Wike, who expressed satisfaction with the ongoing transformation, especially in rural infrastructure said the joy of residents is the most powerful indicator of government success.
He said, “We’re happy when the people are happy,. When people’s happiness is tied to the government’s performance, it energizes us, telling us that we’re doing the right thing. It’s not my statement, but that of a resident who said, ‘Indeed, the Renewed Hope Agenda is at work.’ That tells you something.”
The Minister, while inspecting the A2 to Pai Road, which has now been fitted with streetlights despite being in a rural setting, emphasised the significance of purposeful leadership.
“This is the result of the right leadership. Mr. President has shown leadership, and we’re only following his vision. There’s no magic to it. When the leader is focused and provides support, those working with him have no excuse not to deliver,” he said.
While at Aguma Palace road construction site, the Minister was greeted with cheers and overwhelming enthusiasm from residents, including traders and community leaders, who expressed appreciation for the improved infrastructure.
Wike further explained that:“What we saw in Aguma Palace was incredible. The people were shouting, jubilating. That alone tells you that hope is working.”
-Tribune
Education
NFVCB Boss Urges Stronger Distribution Channels As Coal City Film Festival 2026 Opens In Enugu
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Shaibu Husseini, has called for stronger distribution frameworks within Nigeria’s film industry to ensure that locally produced content achieves global visibility.
Dr Husseini made this call while delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2026 edition of the Coal City Film Festival, held in Enugu.
Welcoming participants to the festival, Dr Husseini expressed his personal delight at hosting the event in Enugu, his birth state, noting the city’s rich cultural heritage and longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s creative landscape.
He commended the festival organisers, particularly the Festival Director, Uche Agbo, for their resilience and commitment in sustaining the initiative.
According to him, the Coal City Film Festival has grown into a significant cultural platform and a must-attend cinematic event in South East Nigeria.
Speaking on the festival’s theme, “Local Stories, Global Screens,” Dr Husseini emphasised the importance of authenticity in storytelling. He noted that films rooted in local realities, languages, and cultural truths often resonate more strongly with global audiences.
He cited notable Nigerian productions such as “King of Boys” by Kemi Adetiba, “The Wedding Party” by Mo Abudu, “Anikulapo” by Kunle Afolayan, “Black Book” by Editi Effiong, and “Lionheart” by Genevieve Nnaji as examples of culturally grounded stories that have gained international recognition on platforms such as Netflix and at global film festivals.
While acknowledging the growth in film production across Nigeria, the NFVCB boss identified distribution as a major bottleneck in the industry. He observed that many high-quality films struggle to reach audiences both locally and internationally due to limited distribution channels.
Dr. Husseini therefore urged film festivals across the country to evolve beyond networking platforms into active marketplaces where filmmakers can secure distribution deals. He stressed that festivals must attract distributors, exhibitors, streaming platforms, and marketers to create tangible opportunities for filmmakers.
“Film festivals must become gateways to distribution where filmmakers leave not just with applause, but with real opportunities,” he said.
Reaffirming the Board’s commitment to industry development, Dr. Husseini stated that the NFVCB has continued to reposition itself as a partner in progress by engaging stakeholders, improving classification processes, and promoting a balance between creative freedom and social responsibility.
However, he raised concerns over increasing non-compliance with regulatory requirements, noting that some filmmakers bypass the Board by releasing unclassified films or operating without proper licensing.
He reiterated that all films and video works must be submitted to the NFVCB for classification and registration before being released on any platform, including digital platforms such as YouTube.
“This is a legal obligation, and the Board will not hesitate to take decisive action against defaulters,” he warned, adding that regulation is essential for protecting the industry, audiences, and national values.
Looking ahead, Dr. Husseini assured stakeholders of the Board’s continued collaboration with filmmakers and festival organisers to build a structured, sustainable, and globally competitive Nigerian film industry.
He concluded by commending the organisers of the Coal City Film Festival for their vision and contribution to Nigeria’s cultural economy, urging filmmakers to continue telling authentic stories that can resonate across global screens.
-Leadership
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate implementation of a newly approved salary structure for university lecturers nationwide.
ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, made this known on Thursday while delivering a speech at a public lecture held at Sa’adu Zungur University, Yuli Campus, in Bauchi.
“We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the Federal Government to begin the payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response from the union,” he said.
The ASUU president noted that the demand forms part of broader efforts to improve the welfare of university lecturers and address long-standing concerns about poor remuneration, which he said has contributed to brain drain and declining standards in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
Analysts at Afrinvest West Africa have warned that Nigeria’s inflation trajectory may reverse its recent disinflation trend, with headline inflation projected to climb to about 16 per cent in the near term, driven by the ripple effects of the escalating Middle East crisis on energy and domestic prices.
This is as they stressed that without swift policy responses, rising energy costs could deepen cost-of-living pressures and erode recent gains in price stability.
However, the analysts noted that the decline was weaker than expected, largely due to a resurgence in food inflation, which rose by 3.2 percentage points year-on-year to 12.1 per cent, offsetting gains in core inflation, which declined by 1.8 percentage points to 15.9 per cent.
On a month-on-month basis, inflationary pressures showed renewed volatility, with headline inflation rising by 2.0 per cent in February, a sharp reversal from the deflationary reading of negative 2.9 per cent recorded in January.
Despite this, analysts cautioned that underlying price pressures remain elevated, particularly from persistently high food costs and structural bottlenecks across the economy.
Looking ahead, Afrinvest highlighted that developments in the Middle East pose significant upside risks to inflation. According to the firm, crude oil prices have surged to about $105 per barrel from $72.69 at the end of February, triggering a sharp increase in domestic energy costs.
The report noted that the spike has already translated into higher retail prices of petroleum products, with petrol rising to about N1,350 per litre, diesel to N1,650 per litre, and cooking gas to N1,400 per kilogram in several states.
“These increases are expected to cascade across transportation, logistics, healthcare and food prices,” the analysts said, adding that existing structural challenges such as inadequate power supply, poor road infrastructure and insecurity could further amplify inflationary pressures.
In its baseline scenario, Afrinvest projected that the pass-through effect of the energy shock could drive headline inflation up by about 150 basis points to 16.6 per cent year-on-year, while month-on-month inflation could spike to 5.2 per cent.
The firm warned that a prolonged crisis could derail the Federal Government’s target of reducing average inflation to 16.5 per cent in 2026 from 23.3 per cent recorded in 2025.
To mitigate the impact on households, Afrinvest urged the government to implement targeted interventions, including the rollout of affordable mass transit systems, healthcare subsidies for low-income earners, and the temporary suspension of tariffs and related charges on food imports and other essential commodities.
-Leadership
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