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Job creation, security our major aim in FCT, Wike tells British Envoy
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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barrister Nyesome Wike has said security and job creation for the residents, are key priority areas on the list of his agenda in the territory.
He made this known when the British high commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery paid him a country visit in his office in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him, the United Kingdom and Nigeria had a long relationship since the colonial period to Independence the relationship has been stronger and stronger.
Wike who was responding to the request of the commissioner on priority areas of the administration, said his interest is centered on the priority of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda which is anchored on eight priorities.
Tinubu on assumption of office in 2023 listed 8 priority areas of his administration which include food security, ending poverty, economic growth and job creation, access to capital, improving the playing field on which people and particularly companies operate, rule of law and fighting corruption.
Wike said the problems have not been all solved but there is significant progress in addressing them.
He explained that security in Abuja seems to be different because of the boundary states of Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi and Kaduna.
The minister stated that the states have high activities of bandits and it appears that when they are getting it hot in those states they run to Abuja.
Wike said, “Two months ago, it did appear to be too hot but you can now see that the level of criminal activities has come down very well because of the level of support and the commitment of security agencies, particularly the police.
“We gave the police and other security agencies a lot of logistics support and that is how I help them effectively to support the fight, this helps to calm particularly banditry and kidnapping, I can tell you that we have made tremendous progress in terms of arresting the kidnappers.
“There is no part of this world that there won’t be any form of criminality, what is important is the swiftness of security agencies to apprehend and also try to prosecute those that are involved, so am happy with what we have done.
“We also realized that before now it does appear that no activities in Abuja, many people complain that Abuja is down but as we came on board activities have come on board.
“We are proud to say that we have turned Abuja site which was not the case in the last past 8 years to construction site.
“Creating of job is a priority, what that will mean to the teaming youths is that, more creation of job is not only where it is white cola job, by these activities youths are involved, if you go to the area councils today there are a lot of jobs going on there, that has created way for the youths to be employed.
In his remarks, British high commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, said the visit was critical because of the important role the minister and his team play in the commission.
He said, “I have come to seek your view and understanding of approaches to the development of the Federal Capital Territory considering the many initiatives we have seen in the press which will lead to the prosperity of FCT.
“There have been security issues in the recent past, especially kidnapping, we want to get an update on the issue, also in a closed-door meeting I will give you more updates on UK and Nigeria’s bilateral relationships.
“In the last few days, we have step up our engagements to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a few weeks ago, the UK hosted the Nigeria defence on security and defence partnership, we shall be looking at how the business environment can be better as well”
Montgomery said the British Commission was interested in understanding the areas of priority to help in the bilateral relationship.
The Federal Government has endorsed a new examination fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), effective from 2027.
The approval was conveyed in a statement dated June 18 and signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Adeniji Ibrahim. According to the statement, the decision followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of the SSCE registration fee for candidates from 2027.
The new fee represents an 82 per cent increase from the current registration fee of N27,500. Ibrahim explained that the decision stemmed from a meeting held on March 31, 2026, between the Minister of Education and examination bodies, where the need to review examination fees was discussed.
He stated that the Minister directed both WAEC and NECO to adopt a uniform examination fee for the conduct of their SSCE examinations.
You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Honourable Minister of Education on March 31, 2026, where the need for an upward review of examination fees was discussed, the Honourable Minister directed that WAEC and NECO should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE,” the statement read.
“Consequently, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) only as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal), 2027.”
The ministry also directed that the approval be communicated to all relevant stakeholders.
Confirming the development, the Ministry of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, told TheCable that the Federal Government had approved the upward review of the examination fees.
“I can confirm the approval of an upward review of the examination fees. I spoke with the director in charge a few minutes ago and he said the approval was done,” she said.
An Iranian newspaper has published a controversial list naming former U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and several European leaders as alleged targets for revenge following the killing of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
The publication is linked to hardline elements in Iran but it is not clear whether the list reflects official Iranian government policy.
The report comes amid heightened tensions after Khamenei’s death and follows renewed vows of retaliation by Iran’s current Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has publicly promised revenge for his father’s assassination.
The newspaper’s publication has raised international concern, with analysts warning that such inflammatory rhetoric could further escalate the already volatile security situation in the Middle East. While the list has attracted widespread attention, there has been no official confirmation that it represents an operational threat or an approved policy of the Iranian government.
The development comes as tensions between Iran, the United States, Israel, and their allies remain at one of their highest levels in recent years, with governments closely monitoring the situation for any signs of further escalation.
News
Military identifies Army lieutenant who paid supreme sacrifice in rescue of abducted Oyo pupils, teachers
Military sources have confirmed the death of an Army officer, Lieutenant F.A. Isaac, during the operation that rescued 44 abducted pupils and teachers from the Old Oyo National Park.
The victims were rescued on July 10, 2026, in a coordinated operation involving security agencies after spending several days in captivity.
According to the sources, Lieutenant Isaac was killed in the line of duty during the rescue mission and was buried the same day.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier confirmed that the military recorded a casualty during the operation.
Sources said Lieutenant Isaac was among the officers leading efforts to rescue the abducted pupils and teachers when he was fatally wounded.
The pupils and teachers were abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on or about June 6, 2026, before their eventual rescue by security operatives.
FG jerks WAEC exam fees by 82%, parents to pay N50k
Iranian Newspaper lists Trump, European leaders as alleged revenge targets
Military identifies Army lieutenant who paid supreme sacrifice in rescue of abducted Oyo pupils, teachers
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