• WAEC introduces resit exams for its candidates
• FG tightens security amidst reports of China’s spreading virus
• Nigerians lament the increase in transportation despite the reduction in fuel prices
• Adeboye, Elumelu and Ribbadu make it to the list of 100 Most Reputable Africans
• Controversy sparks as Aero Contractors abandon corpse

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

WAEC introduces resit exams for its candidates

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced the launch of its new initiative, which will enable students and exam candidates to resit their exams rather than wait for the next exam cycle.

According to the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, “WASCE PC1”, as it’s called, would allow students and interested exam candidates to have a resit exam as early as January and February 2025 rather than waiting.

“Students who access their results now and realise they need to resit one or two papers have until 8th January to register online through our website or at WAEC-accredited internet cafés. The exams will take place from 24th January to 15th February 2025,” he said.

FG tightens security amidst reports of China’s spreading virus

The Nigerian federal government has begun to take preemptive measures to ensure that China’s recently discovered virus—related to Human Metapneumovirus—will not affect those in Nigeria.

The FG stated that it would launch surveillance on inbound Chinese passengers, setting them up for quarantine before they are allowed into the country.

According to global reports, multiple hospitals have recorded overcrowding due to the virus outbreak in China, and most of the victims of this virus are said to be children.

Nigerians lament the increase in transportation despite the reduction in fuel prices

Nigerians have taken to social media to lament the incredulous increase in transportation fares since the festive periods despite the reduction in petrol prices in the country.

Vexed at the economy’s imbalance, Nigerians have asked that the government intervene. Due to surging transport fares, people are finding it difficult to move around the country.

On December 19, 2024, the Dangote refinery reduced the ex-depot price of its petrol from ₦970 to ₦899.50 per litre, leading fuel stations to sell at the rate from ₦930 to ₦980 per litre.

Adeboye, Elumelu and Ribbadu make it to the list of 100 Most Reputable Africans 

Nigerian figureheads in different sectors have made it to the 100 Most Reputable Africans 2025 list, commending their roles in their respective industries and their significance for boosting Nigeria’s image across Africa and the world.

According to Reputable Poll International, of the 100 Most Reputable Africans, some Nigerians who made the list are Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), and Tony Elumelu, Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA).

Controversy sparks as Aero Contractors abandon corpse

Clients of Aero Contractors have accused the airline of abandoning the body of a deceased at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, when it should have been flown to the Aminu Kano International Airport on Sunday, 5 January.

The family of the corpse claimed the airline had accepted payments for the ticket and they had met all requirements before booking the flight; however, the body had been abandoned.

The deceased’s uncle, Abubakar Jimeta, said the flight departed Lagos for Kano at 7:45 in the morning on January 5 with the eight bereaved family members and other passengers on board. Still, upon alighting from the plane, they discovered that the body had been left behind.