• JAMB sets 320 as minimum pass mark for under-16 university candidates
• Hospitals lament high electricity bill as FG is yet to deliver 50% power subsidy
• Atiku and Obasanjo meet in Ogun State to discuss coalition
• NDLEA declares four Lagos-based drug dealers wanted
• NUC increases fee to register private universities

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the five top Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss. 

JAMB sets 320 as minimum pass mark for under-16 university candidates 

WeThe Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that candidates younger than 16 years old may be eligible for admission into tertiary institutions if they show exceptional academic performance by achieving a score of 80% or higher in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

Since the UTME is scored out of 400 marks, this means that a minimum score of 320 is required.

This change comes after the recent removal of the compulsory 18-year age requirement for admission, which was previously established by former Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman.

Hospitals lament high electricity bill as FG is yet to deliver 50% power subsidy

The Federal Government’s promise to provide subsidies for electricity costs in healthcare facilities has not yet been realised, resulting in hospitals facing substantial electricity debts.

Meanwhile, students at the University College Hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State, recently protested after enduring more than 100 days without power due to disconnection.

Reports reveal that the hospital was disconnected for over three months because of significant debts to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, which changed only when the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, intervened on February 10.

In August 2024, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu announced that the government would offer electricity subsidies to hospitals and universities, even those connected to Band-A feeders.

Atiku and Obasanjo meet in Ogun State to discuss coalition 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar held a meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun state, reportedly linked to ongoing coalition discussions in preparation for the 2027 general election.

Abubakar, the standard-bearer for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, has consistently pushed for coalition talks.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that they are not concerned about the alliance between Atiku and Obasanjo concerning the 2027 general election, as they believe it does not pose a threat to Tinubu’s chances of re-election.

NDLEA declares four Lagos-based drug dealers wanted

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has put out a wanted notice for four individuals suspected of engaging in various drug trafficking activities.

Femi Babafemi, the spokesperson for the NDLEA, stated on Monday that these suspects are associates of Lagos-based drug kingpin Suleiman Aremu Ganiu, who is also known as Barryshine or Ejeoto and is currently facing charges in a federal high court in Lagos.

Babafemi mentioned that the agency declared the suspects—Olarenwaju Ramon Abdulai, Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye, and Olumuyiwa Olufemi Ilori—wanted based on an order from the federal high court in Lagos.

NUC increases fee to register private universities

The federal government has revealed increased registration fees for private universities in Nigeria. This information was shared in a memo from Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), on Monday, February 10.

The NUC announced that the new fee has been set at ₦25 million, up from the former processing fee of ₦5 million.

According to the commission, this change is part of the NUC’s efforts to enhance the quality of private universities in Nigeria. The goal is to improve the coordination and development of private university education in the Nigerian university system sector.