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House of Representatives demand reduction of JAMB fee to N3,000

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The House of Representatives has urged the federal ministry of education to review downward the cost of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) by about 50% from the current N7, 500.00 to not more than N3, 000.00.
The House, while adopting a motion by James Faleke (APC, Lagos) urged the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure that the cost of the other ‘ancillary forms’ for changes must be free or at the very barest minimum of N500.
These decisions were taken after a unanimous endorsement of the motion, in order to make university and other tertiary education accessible and affordable.
While leading debate on the motion, Fakele noted that the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) was said to have remitted the sum of N7.8 billion to the Federal Government being excess of the N12 billion made from sales of Unified Tertiary Examinations (UTME) application forms for University Admission in 2017 at the rate of N7, 500.00 each, excluding incomes from the sales of other forms such as Change of Course Forms and Change of University Forms at the rate of N5, 000.00 each.
He said an estimated 250,000 candidates purchased the UTME forms bringing the income from sales of the forms to estimated sum of N2.4bn per year.
The lawmaker further noted that the cost does not include the Post UMTE Examinations that are conducted by Universities at an average cost of N2, 500 (Two Thousand Five Hundred Naira only) per candidate excluding the expenses made on logistics.
Faleke said he was aware that JAMB had a surplus of N7 billion budget in 2017.
According to him “the increase in the number of Universities from 12 at inception of JAMB in 1798, with less than 50,000 candidates to over 400 tertiary institutions with more than 1.7 million candidates writing the exams and indices shows only about 50% of those who wrote the examinations were admitted in the universities as at 2017.
“Further aware that JAMB as a government agency is not set up for profit making but to promote educational development of the young citizens in pursuit of their professional career;
“Worried that the proliferation of Universities to 120, 83 Polytechnics, 82 Colleges of Education and other Tertiary Institutions under JAMB purview is portraying it as a profit making venture.
“I was alarmed at the allegation of the huge sum of money missing from the vaults, burning of scratch cards, lending out money made from sales of application forms, conversion of proceeds from sales of application forms to loans and Image ’empowerment’ funds to private individuals and fictitious by stories by the officials of the board”
“That being the first time such an amount is being returned to government coffers by any government agency, the management of JAMB deserves commendation for upholding the Federal Government’s Anti-Corruption policies.
“Believes that education, being a pivot upon which relational development of the nation rests, should be made available to citizens at the barest minimum cost”
The motion was thereafter unanimously adopted and referred to the committee on basic education led by Hon. Zakari Mohammed (APC, Kwara) to ensure compliance and report back in two weeks.

Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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Prophetic Confirmation: Prophet Kingsley Aitafo’s Revelation Unfolds Again

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Prophetic Confirmation: Prophet Kingsley Aitafo's Revelation Unfolds Again

Prophetic Confirmation: Prophet Kingsley Aitafo’s Revelation Unfolds Again

 

Renowned prophetic voice and spiritual leader Prophet Kingsley Aitafo, has once again stirred spiritual and global conversations with the fulfillment of one of his recent prophecies—this time concerning the alarming escalation of military tensions between India and Pakistan.

 

In a previously shared prophetic message, the seer warned:

“Let us continue to pray against a third world war. I see something like a mini-war. Also, let us gather and pray against another ailment coming to the earth—one more deadly than COVID-19.”

 

Prophetic Confirmation: Prophet Kingsley Aitafo's Revelation Unfolds Again

As of today, these words have taken on a troubling resonance. India and Pakistan have reportedly entered their most intense military confrontation in decades, with hostilities extending well beyond the long-disputed Kashmir region. Multiple credible international reports confirm drone and missile attacks between the nations, sparking fears of a broader conflict.

 

 

Stephanie Bennett, reporting from London, noted:

 

“It’s the biggest military conflict in decades between India and Pakistan, and there’s no clear end in sight. What began in Kashmir has rapidly escalated into widespread artillery and drone warfare, with both sides claiming to be acting in retaliation.”

 

Despite assurances from Indian forces of a desire to avoid further escalation, tensions remain dangerously high. Both countries, equipped with nuclear capabilities, are under global scrutiny as concerns mount over the potential for further escalation into a catastrophic war.

 

 

Each side denies initiating the aggression, placing blame squarely on retaliatory measures. However, with rhetoric intensifying and the threat of nuclear engagement looming, international observers are calling for immediate de-escalation and diplomatic intervention.

 

 

This latest development raises concerns on the geopolitical front and highlights the prophetic accuracy of Prophet Aitafo’s warnings, sparking renewed calls for prayer, spiritual sensitivity, and preparedness in uncertain times.

 

 

As his warnings continue to unfold with uncanny accuracy, many are asking: Are we heeding the signs, or ignoring divine instructions?

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Why We Rejected N200 Million Bribe to Stage Protest Against President Tinubu, Matawalle — Group

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Lagos APC in Turmoil as Chairmanship Aspirants Reject ‘Imposition Plot’ Ahead of Council Polls

 

An advocacy group, the Northern Socio-Political Rights Network (NSPRN), says it turned down a N200 million bribe offered by proxies linked to the Zamfara State Government to mobilise a protest against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Kaduna, the group’s president, Mohammed Farouk Lawal, said the offer was made to them through third-party emissaries earlier this week, with clear instructions to publicly accuse President Tinubu’s administration of shielding Matawalle from corruption investigations.

Lawal said the plot was part of a calculated campaign to weaken the federal government’s hold on the North-West by discrediting key appointees loyal to the president.

“We were approached by individuals claiming to represent high-ranking officials in Zamfara. They offered us N200 million to organise a large-scale protest in Abuja, targeting President Tinubu and Dr. Matawalle,” Lawal said.

“The aim was to give the impression that the North has turned against the president and that there is widespread outrage over perceived protection of certain ministers from investigation. We rejected the offer outright.”

He alleged that the same network had already funded previous protests using other groups and was aggressively scouting for new voices to legitimise its campaign.

“They are desperate for credibility. When they realised that our group has a clean record and strong grassroots following in the North, they thought buying us over would amplify their lies. But we are not for sale,” Lawal said.

According to him, some of the terms of the deal included reading out pre-written scripts at press conferences, staging a protest at the EFCC headquarters, and creating viral videos calling for Matawalle’s arrest.

The NSPR Network said the offer confirms that recent protests against the Minister of State for Defence were not grassroots-driven but part of a “state-funded blackmail operation”.

“What is happening is an internal war against Tinubu’s appointees. We have it on good authority that these attacks are designed to cause disaffection ahead of 2027. But this group will not be part of it,” Lawal declared.

The group commended President Tinubu for appointing northern leaders with capacity and defended Matawalle as one of the few former governors actively supporting military efforts to curb banditry and terrorism in the North.

“While some are busy funding protests, the minister is helping to secure our region. Nigerians must see through this charade,” Lawal added.

The group urged security agencies to probe the source of funds allegedly being used to sponsor political protests in the capital, warning that if unchecked, such actions could pose a threat to national stability.

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Airtel reveals mechanism of Spam Alert Service as rollout reaches two additional countries

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As the revolutionary Airtel Spam AI Alert Service rolls out across Airtel Africa’s 14 operating countries, Airtel Nigeria CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, has elaborated on the unprecedented benefits and operating principles guiding the Spam Alert Service.

Designed to enhance user safety, this pioneering AI-driven product provides real-time defense against spam and fraudulent SMS messages, making it a gamechanger for mobile security across the continent.

The Airtel AI Spam Alert Service, which is engineered to automatically detect and label suspicious SMS messages as “Suspected SPAM” without requiring any user action or additional apps, leverages a robust AI algorithm that analyzes over 250 parameters. These parameters includee sender behavior, message frequency, message geographical distribution, and unusual activity patterns.

Impressively, the service completes this process under just two milliseconds, offering near-instantaneous alerts while maintaining the privacy of user data by not reading message content.

Commenting on the breakthrough service, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, stated: “Nigeria is not just a critical market for us—it’s a leader in digital adoption within the continent. Our AI Spam Alert Service reflects our dedication to safeguarding our customers from the growing threat of SMS fraud.

“As the first of its kind in Africa, it addresses a fundamental issue of trust and security, which is paramount to our digital ecosystem. We’re proud to offer this service to Nigerians and extend it across our African footprint.”

Following its successful deployment in Nigeria, the Spam Alert Service has now launched in Tanzania and Kenya and is set to cover Airtel’s entire African operations.

The service’s automatic activation for all Airtel customers, across both smartphones and feature phones, ensures maximum reach and accessibility.

Early feedback from subscribers has been overwhelmingly positive, with users praising the AI’s efficiency in flagging potentially harmful messages without interfering with their everyday communication.

By pioneering this AI-based spam detection technology, Airtel Africa demonstrates its commitment to leveraging cutting-edge innovation to resolve critical issues facing its subscribers. The AI Spam Alert Service not only protects users but also sets a new benchmark for mobile security standards in the region.

“Our goal is to build a safer digital environment for our users,” added Balsingh. “This innovation is part of our broader strategy to incorporate advanced technologies that address real challenges while enhancing the overall customer experience.”

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