The 2025 Education First English Proficiency Index report, through its official website, confirmed that Nigeria has emerged as the fifth-best English-speaking country in Africa. The report, compiled by global education leader EF, assessed English skills across 123 countries and regions, using data from 2.2 million test takers. This year’s edition also included, for the first time, speaking and writing skills, measured using artificial intelligence technology developed by EF’s education technology arm. English, Nigeria’s official language, remains central to education, governance, media, and business, helping the country maintain strong proficiency levels. On the African continent, Nigeria trails South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya,…
Author: Abimbola Ogunaike
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UK authorities will from Monday, 5 January, 2026 deploy new counter-terror style powers to seize the phones of migrants who arrive by small boats from northern France, to tackle criminal gangs behind the crossings. The initiative is part of Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s attempts to slash the number of migrant arrivals, and stem a surge in support for Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage’s anti-immigration party Reform UK. Over 41,000 people made the perilous sea journey across the Channel last year — the second highest tally since records began in 2018. Police and immigration enforcement officers will confiscate phones and SIM…
After 14 months in charge with the club sixth in the Premier League table, Ruben Amorim has been sacked as Manchester United manager. Manchester United, in a statement issued on Monday, 5 January, 2026, said the decision has been made ‘reluctantly’ and ‘it is the right time to make a change’. On Sunday, 4 January, 2026, Amorim hinted that he was not happy with the level of interference from the Man Utd board. Ruben was appointed in November, 2024 and led the team to a UEFA Europa League Final in Bilbao in May. With Manchester United sitting sixth in the…
Abductors of Abu Ibrahim, a medical doctor who was kidnapped with his brother, Abu Tahir, have reportedly demanded ₦200 million as ransom for setting their captives free. A source close to the family who asked not to be named, told newsmen on phone that the kidnappers made the demand when they contacted the victims’ family on the night of Saturday, 3 January, 2026. He, however, added that negotiation to beat the ransom down is still ongoing. The two brothers were kidnapped on January 1, 2026 along City Pride Road, Igbira Camp, Auchi, the administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government…
Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA), on Monday, 5 january, 2026 confirmed that death toll from the Saturday’s boat accident in Nguru Local Government Area of the state has risen to 29. The ill-fated boat, which took off from Adiyani in neighbouring Jigawa, capsized along Yobe River in Garbi town at about 7:48 pm on Saturday, 3 January, 2026. Over 50 passengers mainly farmers and traders were believed to be on board when the incident occurred in the area, which is over 230 km from Damaturu, the state capital. The Executive Secretary of YYOSEMA, Dr Mohammad Goje, who confirmed this through…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written two letters to the Senate, seeking confirmation of 21 nominees for the boards of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). In the first letter, President Tinubu nominated Senator Magnus Abe to serve as the NUPRC board chair. Abe, who represented Rivers South East in the Senate for two terms, is a former NNPC board member and current chairman of the National Agency of the Great Green Wall. Other nominees for the NUPRC board are Engineer Paul Yaro Jezhi, a former Trade Union Congress…
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Friday, 2 January, 2026 announced plans to resume its Total, Indefinite and Complete Strike (TICS 2.0) on January 12, 2026, citing the Federal Government’s failure to implement agreements made in a previously signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The association disclosed the update in a statement shared on X, signed by its President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, following an Emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Friday, 2 January, 2025. The doctors warned that the country could face another nationwide disruption of medical services if its demands are not met. The planned industrial action…
Venezuela’s neighbours and allies of its President, Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, 3 January, 2026 condemned a large-scale US strike on the South American country, as Spain offered to mediate for a peaceful settlement. US President Donald Trump said earlier that US forces had captured Maduro and flown him and his wife out of the country. The Venezuelan government decried what it termed an “extremely serious military aggression” by Washington and declared a state of emergency as several leaders allied with Caracas denounced the US action. Iran Iran, which has close links with oil-rich Venezuela, said it “strongly condemns the US…
The United States of America on Saturday, 3 January, 2026 announced drug and terrorism charges against Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro, following claims by President Donald Trump that US forces captured him in a “large-scale strike” on the South American country. Trump said the operation was carried out in coordination with US law enforcement. “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country,” Trump said on Truth Social. The US President also announced that he…
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD has constituted a 7 – man congress implementation committee to work with the state party Chairman ahead of the State 2026 APC Congresses. Governor Eno inaugurated the committee during the new year Party Stakeholders meeting, held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, Friday, 2 January, 2026. The implementation committee has Prince Enobong Uwah as Chairman, Hon. Dr. Patrick Umoh as Secretary, while Hon. Frank Archibong, Mr. Nsentip Akpabio, Architect Ubokutom Nyah, Engr. Uwem Okoko, and Hon. Mrs Owoidighe Ekpoattai are members. Governor Eno charged the implementation committee for the exercise,…