Defence Headquarters, DHQ has refuted recent allegations by Amnesty International that troops conducting operations in the South East have engaged in extrajudicial killings, describing them as unfounded.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye stated this during the weekly briefing of the ongoing military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria across the country in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

According to him, soldiers cannot carry their weapons, go to the street and start shooting people.

He noted that everybody with a phone in their hand is a potential source of information to the whole world.

He said that “the military is not engaged in any extrajudicial killing in the southeast”.

The Nigerian government through the Federal Ministry of Education has launched the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a non-interest loan scheme aimed at improving the welfare, professional growth, and financial stability of workers in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

The 10 million naira interest-free loan for each tertiary institution staff, with a year’s repayment tenure, also has a one-year moratorium to reduce repayment pressure.

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, while unveiling the initiative in Abuja, Nigeria described it as a strategic empowerment platform that would give both academic and non-academic staff the financial support they needed to serve students with renewed dedication and live with dignity.

The minister explained that the TISSF programme, a joint initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), implemented in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BoI)  is an integral part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Reform Agenda for the education sector.

He said the programme prioritises people as the nation’s greatest asset in transforming the education sector and driving economic growth.

“Each eligible staff member can access up to N10 million, subject to a cap of 33.3% of their gross annual salary. The loans are interest-free, repayable over five (5) years, with 12 12-month moratorium before repayment begins.

“Under the scheme, beneficiaries can access interest-free loans for medical expenses, family and accommodation needs, transportation (including electric vehicles and CNG conversions), small-scale enterprises (SMEs) and agriculture- poultry, fishing for food security, as well as academic advancement through certifications and capacity-building programmes,” he said.

According to him, the fund is more than a financial product as it was designed as a workforce transformation tool by easing financial burdens.

“The fund responds to the economic pressures and professional development gaps faced by our staff. Studies show that over 70% of tertiary institution staff in Nigeria have not participated in structured capacity-building programmes in the last five years. TISSF is here to change that.

“We expect it to improve staff retention, boost morale, and enhance institutional performance for better student outcomes,” he said.

Dr. Alausa said eligibility for the sustainable loan involves confirmed full-time staff of all federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, stressing that applicants must have at least five years to retirement and a members of recognised staff unions such as ASUU, NASU, COEASU, and SSANIP. 

He said 248 institutions comprising Federal Government-owned Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and one state-owned institution in each category per state are eligible for the disbursement.

The Ministe, however, warned Busars of the beneficiary institutions that are coordinators of the fund not to become a stumbling block to life-changing initiatives.

“Bursars must be fast and transparent in their responsibilities. There will be consequences if we notice any bottleneck challenges from you,” he warned.

The Vice Chancellor of the state University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya, while responding on behalf of the Universities expressed happiness over the TISSF initiative stressing that the fund will go a long way in assuaging their challenges and improving the education sector.

“When tertiary institution staff are taken care of, quality of education improves and when quality of education improves the nation moves forward,” he said

The National President of the Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU represented by Abubakar Aliyu promised to give full support to the initiative as “it is bound to transform their lives and livelihoods.”

The Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Dr. Olasupo Olusi said investing in tertiary institution staff is equals to investing in the future of Nigerian youths as the workers serve as guardians of the students, promising to be transparent in the management of the loan. 

“We are committed to delivery with integrity and transparency. It will be on first come first to serve, he said.

The Federal Government, through the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, has donated four 50-seater hybrid buses to the Federal Capital Territory Administration, through the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The Chief Executive Officer and Program Director of the PCNGi, Michael Oluwagbemi, who donated the Minister’s office on Thursday, said the President was committed to seeing Nigerians moving around cheaper, safer and reliable.

Recall that the PCNG Initiative is a flagship program of the Federal Government of Nigeria launched in 2023, to promote the widespread adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles especially in mass transit systems driving cost savings, job creation, energy security, and an environmentally friendly transport system.

Oluwagbemi hailed the FCT Minister as one of the biggest supporters of the CNG initiative, adding that the donated buses will serve as “a foundation asset” for the operation of the new terminals in the city. 

“This is a Presidential initiative, Mr President wants to see Nigerians move around cheaper, safer and reliable. On behalf of the board of the PCNGi and the Management and Staff of the Presidential CNG Initiative, I hand over these keys to you of these four CNG hybrid buses to the glory of God, to the service of humanity and for the employment of the people of the FCT,” he said. 

Receiving the keys on behalf of the FCT Minister, the Mandate Secretary, Transport Secretariat, Chinedu Elechi, thanked the President for the donations, noting that the buses will complement the transportation infrastructure efforts of the FCT Minister.

“So, public transportation is meant to move people from one point to the other, especially those who cannot afford private transportation, or those who can afford private transportation but opt to go on the public system. 

“We are going to get more buses, the Minister is already working on that and we thank you so very much for this,” Elechi said.

The Nigerian Government has launched a major school enrollment campaign in Kano State to address the high number of out-of-school children across Northern Nigeria.

The initiative, led by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in collaboration with the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and UNICEF, was officially flagged off at Lausu Primary School in Rano Local Government Area.

Speaking at the event, UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba, represented by Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Dr. Razaq Akinyemi, described the drive as a strategic step towards ensuring that every school-age child in Nigeria is enrolled, retained, and completes basic education.

She explained that UBEC is enhancing the learning environment by providing more teaching materials, improving teacher quality, and strengthening community involvement through School-Based Management Committees.

“We must confront the challenges facing boy-child and girl-child education, street children, the Almajiri system, and children with special needs.

“This campaign requires the active participation of all stakeholders to identify and address barriers to enrollment,” she said.

The Director of Quality Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Bello Rabe, representing the Minister of State for Education, reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to revitalising the education sector.

Also, the Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Ali Makoda, welcomed the program, describing it as a wake-up call. 

He announced that all head teachers in the state must ensure the enrollment of every school-age child within 30 days, in line with the 2025–2026 National Enrollment Initiative.

Northern States SUBEB Chairmen, represented by Malam Yusuf Kabir of Kano SUBEB, called on parents, guardians, and traditional leaders to support the campaign. 

“Enrolling your child in school is the greatest investment in their future,” he said.

UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Kano, Rahama Farah, represented by officer-in-charge  Michael Banda, stressed the importance of community involvement in ensuring children not only enrol but remain in school. 

Development partners such as PLANE also pledged their support for improving education standards and boosting enrollment.

The Emir of Rano, Ambassador Muhammad Umar, both urged parents to embrace education, describing it as the foundation for growth and development.

The event featured the distribution of free school uniforms, bags, and books to pupils as part of efforts to encourage enrollment.

Residents of Enugu and Ebonyi states have commended President Bola Tinubu for the ongoing construction of the Eke-Obinagu Flyover bridge along the Enugu-Abakaliki Road.

Those who spoke with Voice of Nigeria on Thursday at the site of the project said the project, which is nearing completion, would ease the movement of people and goods along the road.

A carpenter, Emmanuel Nwankwo who comes from Nnewi, Anambra State, to buy wood at the Eke-Obinagu market, said the bridge would, not only decongest traffic on the road but also reduce accidents.

“I expect that at completion, the bridge will make it easy for vehicles to move, particularly the trucks that cause heavy traffic on the road,” Nwankwo said.

While commending President Tinubu and the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, for the project, Nwankwo said that the bridge a similar one constructed at Nkalagu Junction also on the road, has endeared him to the administration.

Describing the project as “magnificent”, Stella Eduzor, who works at a firm in the area, said the Eke-Obinagu Bridge makes her feel a sense of belonging in the country as it would bring to the people what has been seen in other parts of the country.

“In this area, there’s always heavy traffic, especially in the morning when people are going to work in Enugu.

“With this flyover, I’ve seen that President Tinubu is bringing something wonderful to Enugu and its environs,” she said.

Also speaking, Chidimma Ijenwagu, a resident said the project, even though still under construction, brings a new aesthetic value to the area.

“This new flyover gives the entire Eke, Emene and other places a new look, she stated.