News April 20, 2026 Paramilitary Recruitment: Board disqualifies 793, 858 applicants

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has disqualified 360,923 applicants from the ongoing recruitment exercise, while another 432,935 failed to complete their applications, new data from the board’s official recruitment portal has revealed.

The figures, published on the CDCFIB Recruitment Portal following the closure of the Computer-Based Test CBT examination phase, paint a sobering picture of the exercise, in which a combined total of nearly 800,000 applicants — out of an overall pool of approximately 1.9 million — either fell short of the requirements or failed to see their applications through to completion.

Of the total applications received, only 1,120,491, representing 58.5 percent, were completed, while incomplete applications accounted for 22.6 percent and disqualified entries for 18.9 percent.

The gender breakdown is equally striking. Male applicants dominated the exercise, accounting for 737,270 completed applications, or 69.5 per cent of the total, compared with 323,052 female applicants, who made up just 30.5 per cent — a ratio that underscores the persistent gap in female participation in uniformed service recruitment in Nigeria.

The state-by-state data showed that Kogi State, with 75,494 completed applications, led the entire country, ahead of Nasarawa with 69,041 and Oyo with 69,071. Jigawa returned 54,414, Yobe 52,487 and Ogun 50,940. Lagos, Nigeria’s most populous state and commercial nerve centre, recorded one of the lowest figures in the country, with completed applications estimated between 5,000 and 6,000 — a performance that stands in sharp contrast to its population size and economic profile.

The portal confirms that the CBT examination phase is now closed.

News April 20, 2026 Tinubu approves new Police Academy campus, N15bn take-off grant

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new campus of the Nigeria Police Academy in Erinja, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The president also approved a special take-off grant of N15 billion for the institution.

This is contained in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Monday in Abuja.

The approval is in fulfilment of the provisions of the Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment) Act, 2021.

The law provides for the expansion of the academy, currently based in Wudil, into multiple campuses across the country.

According to the Presidency, the intervention fund will be sourced from the TetFund 2026 allocation.

It said the grant would finance priority infrastructure, academic facilities, student accommodation and core training assets.

A high-level consultative meeting recommended the siting of the new campus in Erinja.

The meeting involved the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Inspector-General of Police and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

It considered student intake capacity, funding realities, academic quality assurance and the long-term needs of the Nigeria Police Force, which is currently recruiting more personnel.

Tinubu said the expansion would strengthen institutional governance, modern policing education and national security.

(NAN)

News April 20, 2026 Forensic probe clears Amupitan of partisan X account posts – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the findings of a forensic investigation into an alleged X account linked to its chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan.

Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Amupitan, said in a statement on Monday that the investigation found that the account, @joashamupitan, and all posts attributed to the INEC chairman were fake and “forensically unverifiable.”

The controversy began on April 10 when social media users circulated screenshots alleging that Amupitan operated the account and made a partisan comment, “Victory is sure”, in response to another user.

The claim was further amplified by screenshots showing emails, phone numbers, OPay and bank verification number (BVN), which were circulated as proof of ownership.

However, Oketola said INEC commissioned an independent forensic cybersecurity expert to conduct a “multi-layered forensic and digital investigation” using platform data, internet archives, and open-source intelligence tools to investigate the claim.

“The independent forensic investigation report conclusively establishes that Prof Amupitan does NOT operate any personal X (Twitter) account,” the statement reads.

“All the alleged posts, replies, or statements attributed to him on X (Twitter) are fraudulent, forensically unverifiable, technically impossible, and part of a coordinated disinformation.”

The INEC chairman’s spokesperson said the report found that the disputed account underwent suspicious changes on the same day the screenshots went viral.

He noted that the account, originally said to be @joashamupitan, was renamed to @sundayvibe00, and then set to private before being later labelled a parody account.

“This is clearly a damage-control tactic by an impersonator seeking to eliminate a digital trail,” Oketola said.

On claims linking the account to Amupitan’s email and phone number, he said forensic tests found no connection, adding that attempts to connect the account to a phone number through OPay and BVN checks were unsuccessful.

“The X platform would have confirmed linkage had any genuine association existed. Therefore, there is no linkage between the email account and the X account,” he said.

“A phone number appearing in a BVN record cannot be used to establish social media account ownership.”

Oyetola described such a conclusion as “a logical fallacy, not forensic proof.”

He also dismissed claims based on data breach records, saying they were “non-specific” and “do not establish ownership, control, or operation of any X (Twitter) account.”

He said one of the most significant findings was a timestamp inconsistency in the viral screenshot.

“The alleged reply was timestamped 13 minutes before the original post existed. No platform can receive a reply before the original post is published. This is physically impossible,” he said.

“It is proof that the screenshot was edited or digitally fabricated before circulation.”

He added that searches on the live X platform showed that the alleged reply does not exist and has never existed.

Oyetola said the investigation uncovered a wider pattern of impersonation across multiple platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

“The forensic evidence is comprehensive, multi-sourced, and unambiguous. The posts attributed to Prof. Amupitan on X are fabricated,” he said.

“The account is a clear case of impersonation, and the surrounding activity points to a coordinated disinformation effort intended to manipulate public perception.

“One of the independent investigators described it as “a coordinated digital impersonation and disinformation campaign.”

“The independent forensic report has been referred to the law enforcement agencies for necessary action. The law enforcement agencies should move swiftly to trace the origin of the fabricated screenshots, identify the individuals responsible for creating and operating the @joashamupitan account, and prosecute them under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act.”

News Politics April 20, 2026 BREAKING: APC releases timetable for 2027 elections, fixes cost nomination form

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released its Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Elections.

This is contained in the Schedule of Activities signed by the Party’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu.

The timetable outlines, among other activities, timelines for screening, appeals, and primary elections, as well as directives on the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms.

“The APC reassures members, stakeholders, and Nigerians of its commitment to conducting a credible and transparent primary election that will further strengthen the Party’s internal democracy and consolidate its progressive ideals,” the statement added.

According to the Timetable and Schedule of Activities, sale of forms begins this Saturday, April 25 and ends on Monday, May 4, 2026.

It indicated that the presidential primary election holds between May 15 and 16; House of Representatives, May 18; Senate, May 20; State Houses of Assembly, May 21; and the Governorship, May 23, 2026.

The schedule further showed that the presidential election appeal takes place on May 18; the House of Representatives,  May 20; Senate, May 21; State Houses of Assembly, May 23; and the Governorship, May 25, 2026.

It pegged the cost of the expression of interest form for presidential aspirants at N30 million and nomination form, N70 million, while the expression of interest form for governorship contenders is N10 million and nomination form, N40 million.

The party also put the expression of interest for for Senate at N3 million and nomination form, N17 million; for House of Representatives, expression of interest form goes for N1 million and nomination form N9 million, while State House of Assembly expression of interest form is N1 million and nomination form N5 million.

It added that female aspirants, youths and physically challenged are to pay for the expression of interest form and 50% of the prescribed nomination fees each.

News April 20, 2026 Retired police officers protest over pension scheme, block Presidential Villa gate

Retired personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and their families on Monday blocked a gate of the Presidential Villa in Abuja in protest against their continued inclusion in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

The protesters, under the aegis of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria (PROF), described the scheme as “fraudulent, illegal, inhumane, and obnoxious,” calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to assent to the Police Exit Bill.

According to the retirees, the bill—passed by the National Assembly on December 4, 2025, and transmitted to the Presidency on March 16, 2026—would remove police personnel from the CPS if signed into law.

Leading the protest, the National Coordinator of PROF, CSP Raphael Irowainu (retd.), said the demonstration was aimed at urging the president to act on the legislation.

“Our major aim here is to prevail on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign our bill—the bill exiting the police from the Contributory Pension Scheme—passed by the National Assembly on 4th December 2025 and transmitted to him on 16th March, 2026, into law, nothing more than that,” he said.

Irowainu lamented that while other security agencies have been removed from the scheme, police personnel remain included.

“The soldiers have been exited, the SSS has been exited, the Air Force has been exited, the Navy has been exited, the National Intelligence Agency has been exited. The police, who are the father of them all, are trapped in this obnoxious Contributory Pension Scheme,” he added.

The retirees argued that the CPS has adversely affected their welfare, describing it as a “slavery and untimely death-inducing pension scheme.”

Monday’s protest is not the first by retired police officers over the issue. In July 2025, retirees staged a similar demonstration at the National Assembly, demanding their removal from the scheme.

Some of the demonstrators, many of them elderly, also protested at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, decrying what they described as poor pension conditions under the CPS.

The latest protest underscores growing dissatisfaction among retired police personnel over pension reforms and their exclusion from benefits extended to other security agencies.

News April 20, 2026 FG opens 2026 PTDF scholarship (Step-by-step to apply)

The Federal Government on Monday opened applications for the 2025/2026 in-country scholarship scheme for engineering and related disciplines in Nigerian universities.

The programme, administered by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, opened its portal on Monday, April 20, 2026, and is scheduled to close on Friday, May 29, 2026.

The scheme targets undergraduate and postgraduate students in oil and gas–related fields, as part of efforts to build local capacity and strengthen technical expertise within Nigeria.

Interested candidates are expected to complete their applications within the six-week window via the official PTDF scholarship portal:  https://scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng

How to apply (Step-by-step)

The PTDF outlined a structured application process that candidates must carefully follow:

Step 1: Create an account

Applicants are required to visit the PTDF scholarship portal and create an account by filling in their personal details.An email will be sent with instructions on how to log in and set a password.

Step 2: Log in to the portal

Candidates must log in using their registered email address and newly created password to access the application dashboard.

Step 3: Verify NIN

Before starting the application, applicants must verify their National Identification Number (NIN).PTDF warns that failed verification attempts should not be repeated unnecessarily to avoid multiple charges, advising candidates to resolve issues through the provided support channel.

Step 4: Accept disclaimer and terms

Applicants must read and accept the programme’s disclaimer and terms and conditions before proceeding. Declining the terms will automatically end the application.

Step 5: Fill application form

Candidates are required to complete all sections of the application form, ensuring accuracy and compliance with specified file formats for uploads.

Step 6: Select course and institution

Applicants will choose their preferred universities and courses (first, second, and third choices).Postgraduate applicants are also required to upload a statement of purpose (for MSc) or research proposal (for PhD).

Step 7: Upload required documents

Mandatory documents include academic certificates, birth certificate, and local government identification.All files must meet size requirements, typically below 300KB in PDF format.

Step 8: Additional credentials

Applicants may upload professional memberships and publications (where applicable), with limits on the number of submissions.

Step 9: Review application

Candidates must carefully preview their application to correct any errors before submission.

Step 10: Final submission

Once submitted, applications cannot be edited. PTDF advises applicants to ensure all information is accurate before completing this step.

The scholarship supports students in approved courses across Nigerian universities linked to the oil and gas sector and allied industries.

The PTDF noted that the initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance human capital development within the country’s energy sector, reduce dependence on foreign expertise, and strengthen institutional capacity.

The PTDF in-country scholarship scheme is distinct from its overseas scholarship programme and is designed to support education within Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

The initiative typically covers tuition support, stipends, and learning resources for selected candidates, with beneficiaries chosen based on merit and relevance of study to national development priorities.

News April 20, 2026 FG raises alarm over increasing fire incidents linked to solar panel installations

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), has raised the alarm over the increasing number of fire incidents linked to improperly installed rooftop solar photovoltaic systems across the country.

As Nigeria’s power sector continues to operate below expectations, many Nigerians are turning to solar to escape blackouts. However, cases of fire outbreaks from rooftop solar panels are becoming a source of concern to both the government and citizens.

In a strongly worded public notice, NEMSA expressed serious safety concerns, noting that many of the reported incidents were associated with poor workmanship, the use of substandard materials, the absence of protective devices, and non-compliance with technical standards and regulations.

The public notice, signed by the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, stated, “The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency has observed with serious safety concern the increasing number of fire incidents allegedly linked to improperly installed rooftop solar photovoltaic systems across the country.”

“It is important to note that while the adoption of renewable energy is strongly encouraged in line with Nigeria’s energy transition objectives, safety must remain paramount.”

Pursuant to Section 176 (m) and Section 184 (8) of the Electricity Act 2023, NEMSA has now issued comprehensive safety guidelines for the installation of rooftop solar PV systems in Nigeria.

The agency directed members of the public to engage the services of qualified and NEMSA-certified solar PV system installers only. It stressed that these certified professionals possess the necessary skills, experience, and knowledge of technical standards and regulations.

In the new guidelines released, NEMSA said, “The installation of the rooftop solar PV system must be carried out only by NEMSA-certified electrical contractors.

“The NEMSA-certified contractor must be in possession of his/her valid NEMSA competency certificate during the installation works.

“A load assessment of the facility or premises must be conducted prior to installation to ensure the system is appropriately sized and can operate safely.

“The roof must be structurally sound and capable of supporting the PV solar system.”

NEMSA warned that “panels should be installed using appropriate mounting structures, as weak roof construction or improper installation can result in roof damage, fire hazards, and significant safety risks.”

The agency further stated that PV modules with cracks, bent frames, air bubbles, hot spots, or loose junction boxes should not be used, as damaged modules can cause electrical faults, reduce system performance, and increase the risk of fire or equipment failure.

On electrical safety, the notice declared, “Maintain a minimum clearance of 0.13m between the roofing material and the PV modules to ensure adequate ventilation and cooling during high temperatures. Insufficient clearance may lead to overheating, reduced system performance, and potential damage to the modules.”

It also mandated installers to install DC and AC isolators to enable emergency shutdown. “Provide appropriately rated circuit breakers and fuses to prevent overloading and install surge protection devices to protect the system against lightning surges. Ensure proper earthing (grounding) of the entire system, with an earth resistance value of 2 ohms or below,” it stated.

NEMSA emphasised the need for proper battery installation, warning that “batteries should be installed in a well-ventilated, secure location away from living areas and heat sources.”

For lithium batteries, the agency directed that a battery management system must be provided, and the installation site should be equipped with an appropriate cooling or air-conditioning system to maintain safe operating temperatures.

When installing a solar system on the rooftop of an existing house, it was directed that if the system capacity cannot support the entire household load, the installer must ensure proper load separation at the distribution board, stressing that all solar cables should be neatly routed through conduits or trunking to maintain safety and organisation.

Operators were told to ensure that communication cables and power cables are routed separately and never run together in the same conduit, as combining them can lead to signal interference, degraded system performance, and a higher risk of electrical faults or fire.

NEMSA also advised installers and owners to perform regular checks and maintenance of the rooftop PV system by cleaning the solar panels to prevent dust accumulation and overheating, periodically inspecting cables, connectors, and the inverter, and promptly replacing any damaged components.

The agency warned installers and the public, saying, “Solar PV system installers and members of the public must take note of the guidelines outlined above and ensure strict compliance. Adhering to these standards is essential for safety, system performance, and regulatory compliance.”