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Unused ₦50 Billion Tractors: Bureaucratic Inertia Or Wastage Of Resources?

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Nearly four months after President Bola Tinubu launched ₦50 billion worth of tractors and farm machinery to boost food production, the equipment remains idle at the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) headquarters, exposing yet another case of stalled agricultural reform and bureaucratic inertia.

The President had unveiled 2,000 tractors, 2,000 disc ploughs and harrows, 1,000 ridgers, 1,200 trailers, 500 seed drills, and other implements under his Renewed Hope agricultural initiative, promising nationwide deployment to empower farmers and create jobs for youths.

“We are taking a monumental leap forward with the introduction of state-of-the-art agricultural equipment… This is a bold step towards achieving complete agricultural independence,” Tinubu had said during the launch attended by Belarusian officials.

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However, months later, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security says it is still awaiting Presidential directives on distribution, delaying deployment ahead of the farming season. Ministry insiders told The Guardian that operations have slowed and that only the Presidency dictates the pace.

Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari had earlier outlined three deployment models — direct sales, leasing, and tractor service centres — aimed at giving farmers affordable access and boosting productivity. But the plan has stalled, leaving farmers burdened by high labour and input costs.

Vice President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Daniel Okafor, confirmed that farmers are still waiting for updates.

“We were very happy at the launch, but we are still waiting and monitoring the sharing formula,” he said.

Professor Simon Tuange of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University warned that if the tractors are not deployed soon, they may miss the current farming season.
“Agriculture without mechanisation is like a vehicle without wheels,” he said, urging the government to establish maintenance workshops alongside deployment to prevent waste.

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JAMB Arrests Two, Parent over Result Falsification

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced the arrest of two candidates and a parent for falsifying 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results using Artificial Intelligence and other electronic tools.

The disclosure came as the board released scores for 632,788 candidates who sat the examination on Thursday, April 16.

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JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, in a statement, said the suspects were apprehended for manipulating official SMS result notifications to fabricate or alter scores with the intent to deceive others, including parents and guardians.

“Currently, two candidates and one parent are in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means,” the statement read.

Benjamin warned that such conduct constituted a serious criminal offence and that the board would pursue all culpable persons to the full extent of the law.

He also cautioned candidates against tampering with result messages from JAMB’s official SMS platforms, 55019 and 66019.

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Group asks Governor Yusuf to appoint Ganduje’s daughter as Kano Deputy Governor

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A group has called on the Governor of Kano State to appoint the daughter of former Governor of Kano, Dr. Asiya Balaraba Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as Deputy Governor.

The group, known as Haɗin Kan Jam’iyyar APC ‘Yan Dangole from Kano State, expressed its support for Dr. Asiya Ganduje to become the Deputy Governor of Kano State.

According to the group, Dr. Asiya Ganduje is a woman committed to serving the people, especially the youth, through various programs that have improved their lives.

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They stated that she has demonstrated competence and dedication in politics, contributing to opportunities for youth and women in areas such as education, skills acquisition, and self-reliance.

The group also emphasized that Dr. Asiya Ganduje possesses compassion and vision for improving the lives of citizens, while encouraging women to participate in politics and economic activities.

Furthermore, they praised her cooperative character and loyalty to party principles, saying this has made her a role model for women and youth.

In conclusion, the group declared that her appointment as Deputy Governor would help bring progress, unity, and prosperity to the people of Kano State.

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UTME 2026: JAMB to Release Day 1 Exam Results Today Before Midnight

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that the results of all candidates who sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Thursday, April 16, 2026, will be released on Friday, April 17.

Spokesperson of the board, Fabian Benjamin, announced this in a post on X, noting that an announcement would be made when the results are available.

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“This is to inform all candidates who sat for the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16th April 2026, that their results will be released today before midnight. An official announcement will be made to the public and posted on this page as soon as the results are available. Thank you,” he wrote.

Scheduled to run through April 22, the examination is structured into four daily sessions beginning at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m., a framework designed to manage the large volume of candidates and reduce congestion at Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.

This year, nearly 2.2 million candidates are participating across 966 accredited centres, each expected to meet operational benchmarks such as functional computer systems, stable internet connectivity and electricity as well as adequately trained personnel.

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