• Minister of Education proposes a 12-year basic education model
• LASG installs speed monitors, announces ₦50,000 fine for offenders
• FG set to complete the construction of the second Niger Bridge
• TUC and MAN reject electricity tariff hike 
• World Bank says Nigeria remains Africa’s largest economy

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

Minister of Education proposes a 12-year basic education model

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has suggested changing the Nigerian school model from the traditional 9-3-4 to a 12-4 model. He claimed that his switch would ensure a continuous and uninterrupted education for young students.

The Minister proposed this at the National Council of Education (NCE) meeting in Abuja, where he discussed the need to change the educational model and align it with the reformation of the Nigerian educational sector.

“It is therefore prudent to transition from the 9-3-4 to the 12-4 education system. By doing so, Nigeria will align with global standards in preparing students for better tertiary education,” Alausa stated.

LASG installs speed monitors, announces ₦50,000 fine for offenders

In partnership with Huawei, the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation has announced the installation of an Intelligent Transport System (speed monitors) on Lagos State roads to identify speeding vehicles and manage traffic.

At a press conference, Oluwasuen Osiyemi, the Commissioner for Transportation, announced the new development. He said the new speed monitors would give the Lagos State government an advantage in reducing accidents caused by speeding motorists. The latest installation would work with the existing Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras and other Traffic Management Solution devices.

“The checkpoint sites are designed to detect overspeeding. One is located at Alapere, Ogudu Road, with a speed limit of 80km/h, while the other is installed at Nitel, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, with a speed limit of 60km/h. These checkpoint sites are strategically located to detect and deter overspeeding, which remains one of the leading causes of road accidents,” he explained.

He requested that motorists adhere to the laws; otherwise, they would be fined ₦20,000 for violating a red light and ₦50,000 for violating the speed limit.

FG set to complete the construction of the second Niger Bridge

The Minister affirmed that President Bola Tinubu has instructed the commencement of Section III of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway on the Cross River-Akwa Ibom axis.

The federal government, through David Umahi, the Minister of Works, has announced its desire to complete its construction of the second Niger Bridge by linking it to the Asaba-Benin and Enugu-Onitsha dual carriageways.

David Umahi revealed that he wanted to complete the projects in December; therefore, two more contractors were needed to expedite the construction.

TUC and MAN reject electricity tariff hike 

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have both openly rejected the proposal for an electricity tariff hike, stating that it would be dangerous for the market and locally produced goods.

MAN argued that the constant increase in electricity tariffs was detrimental to the economy’s growth and performance, as it only affected the price of the commodities sold to Nigerians.

In a communique, TUC president Festus Osifo stated it was “alarming that the government was considering this hike when the previous increment has already inflicted severe hardships on citizens.”

World Bank says Nigeria remains Africa’s largest economy

The World Bank has reaffirmed that Nigeria remains the continent’s biggest economy despite its challenges.

The statement was made by the World Bank’s Country Director, Dr Ndiame Diop, who said that Nigeria’s GDP was of notable worth compared to other African countries, referencing the Country Private Sector Diagnostic (CSPD) report.

He hoped there would be an intent to eliminate the private sector challenges plaguing Nigeria’s economic growth as the country would reap the benefits tenfold.