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The newly inaugurated President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, on Tuesday declared a state of emergency on the worsening condition of students’ hostels across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, describing the facilities as unfit for human habitation and a major threat to learning.

Speaking at his inauguration in Abuja, Afeez painted a grim picture of accommodation in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, accusing authorities of neglecting hostel infrastructure while millions of students are forced to live in unsafe, overcrowded and unhealthy environments.

He warned that the continued deterioration of hostel facilities could no longer be tolerated, insisting that students’ welfare, safety and dignity would become the defining focus of his administration.

“The state of students’ hostels across our tertiary institutions is pathetically disheartening. Many hostels are in a deplorable and dilapidated condition, and they continue to deteriorate with little or no attention from the relevant authorities,” he said.

Lamenting poor sanitation, inadequate facilities and exposure to environmental hazards, the NANS president declared: “I hereby declare a state of emergency on students’ hostels across tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The welfare, safety and dignity of Nigerian students can no longer be compromised.”

Beyond accommodation, Afeez promised to transform NANS into a more proactive pressure group capable of compelling government institutions to respond to students’ concerns.

He said the era of symbolic activism was over, stressing that the association would focus on advocacy, accountability and measurable outcomes.

“NANS must return to being the true voice of every Nigerian student,not just in words but in action. You deserve an association that is fearless in advocating for you, pragmatic and transparent in its actions, and consistent in delivering results,” he stated.

Highlighting achievements recorded within his first 50 days in office, Afeez said the association had intervened in the rescue efforts involving abducted students and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State and facilitated the reinstatement of suspended students at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology ,LAUTECH, and the Federal University Oye-Ekiti ,FUOYE.

He also disclosed that NANS had constituted monitoring committees to track interventions by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund ,TETFund, Niger Delta Development Commission ,NDDC, North East Development Commission ,NEDC,and the Industrial Training Fund ,ITF, with the aim of ensuring that students fully benefit from government programmes.

On the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Afeez said the association would closely monitor implementation of the student loan scheme and confront challenges affecting beneficiaries.

He announced that payment of students’ upkeep allowances would begin within the week and revealed that NANS had published a list of institutions allegedly withholding refunds due to students despite receiving NELFUND disbursements.

The student leader also unveiled plans to mobilise students ahead of the next general elections, saying NANS would spearhead a nationwide campaign for Permanent Voter Card (PVC) registration to increase youth participation in governance.

“As Nigerian students, and with NANS as our umbrella body, we constitute a large percentage of the nation’s population. We must be actively involved in determining who governs us,” he said.

He further pledged to pursue stronger partnerships aimed at expanding access to scholarships, employment opportunities, telecommunications support and quality education while preparing Nigerian students to compete in a technology-driven global economy.

Representing the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, the Director of Polytechnic and Allied Institutions, Mrs Amy Igwe, urged the new NANS leadership to promote peace, unity and responsible engagement in advancing students’ interests.

She said the Federal Ministry of Education regarded NANS as a strategic partner in the development of the country’s education sector and advised the new executives to embrace dialogue in resolving challenges.

“The Ministry of Education recognises NANS as a critical stakeholder and partner in the development of our education sector. I charge you to lead with vision, unity, responsibility and patriotism,” the minister said.

In a keynote address, the Vice-Chancellor of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Prof. Temi Ologunorisa, challenged the new leadership to champion accountability, innovation, security and students’ welfare.

He urged NANS to monitor the implementation of government intervention programmes to ensure no student was denied access to available support and called on the association to launch a national innovation initiative within its first 100 days in office.

Goodwill messages were also delivered by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande; Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Engagement, Sunday Asefon.

They congratulated Afeez on his emergence and pledged continued collaboration with NANS in advancing students’ welfare, empowerment and youth development across the country.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will recognise only the candidates submitted by the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress, confirming that the faction has already nominated candidates for 471 elective positions ahead of the 2027 general election.

INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, told The PUNCH that the commission granted the Mark-led faction access to its nomination portal, following the Supreme Court judgment affirming its leadership, adding that the rival faction had no legal basis to submit candidates.

He said, “Yes, we gave the Mark-led faction the code based on the recent Supreme Court judgment that affirmed his leadership of the party and the faction has since submitted most of its candidates for a total of 471 – presidential (2), senatorial (109) and House of Representatives (360) constituencies.

“The court, however, did not say we should accept any submissions by the rival faction which, in any case, had lost its appeal for recognition.”

The ADC, however, called for the investigation and prosecution of its factional leader, Nafiu Gombe, following INEC’s clarification that claims that Gombe uploaded the party’s candidates for the 2027 general election through the commission’s nomination portal were false.

The Tuesday statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, followed INEC’s clarification that it did not grant Bala access codes to its restricted nomination portal and that only the Mark-led National Executive Committee was recognised by the electoral body.

Reacting to INEC’s clarification, the ADC welcomed the commission’s position and accused Bala of attempting to mislead Nigerians.

The party said the issue had gone beyond political disagreements and now bordered on an alleged attempt to deceive the public.

The statement read, “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomes the prompt clarification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which unequivocally confirmed that the document circulated by Mr Nafiu Bala purporting to show that he had obtained the commission’s access code and uploaded candidates on behalf of the ADC for the 2027 general election was forged, and that the claim itself was entirely false.

“The issue before us is no longer simply about the continuous false statements that have been issued by Nafiu Bala Gombe at the behest of his sponsors. It is about the clear and unmistakable attempt to mislead the Nigerian public.”

The ADC argued that falsely claiming access to INEC’s restricted nomination portal was a serious allegation that should attract the attention of security agencies.

The opposition party consequently urged the electoral commission to ensure that everyone connected with the alleged false claim is investigated and prosecuted.

“To publicly claim that one has gained access to INEC’s restricted nomination platform and exercised powers reserved for duly recognised party officials is a grave matter that deserves the immediate attention of law enforcement agencies.

“As a responsible party, the ADC therefore calls on INEC to take all the necessary steps to ensure that Mr Nafiu Bala and anyone else involved in originating or promoting this falsehood are investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the party stated.

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The Kwara State Police Command has launched a homicide investigation into the killing of a farmer, Azeez Garba, in the Isin Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to immediately take over the case and deploy all available investigative and intelligence resources to identify and arrest those behind the murder.

The directive was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi.

Describing the killing as “cruel, senseless and unacceptable,” Adekimi assured residents that the command would leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

The statement read in part, “The Commissioner of Police has ordered a comprehensive and discreet investigation into the gruesome murder of a farmer, Mr Azeez Garba, whose lifeless body was discovered on his farmland along the Owa-Onire axis, the boundary between Isanlu-Isin and Owu-Isin in the Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State.”

According to the police, preliminary findings showed that Garba left home for his farm but failed to return, prompting a search by family members and local vigilantes.

“His motorcycle was later found parked on the farm, while his lifeless body was discovered a short distance away with deep machete wounds,” the statement added.

The command said no arrest had been made but assured the bereaved family and members of the public that investigators were pursuing every available lead.

“Investigators are working assiduously to unravel the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident and ensure that all those connected with this heinous crime are identified and brought to justice,” the statement said.

The development comes days after the deceased’s family appealed to security agencies to investigate the killing and ensure those responsible are prosecuted.