NEWS
47 New Varsities’ Proposal Clears Second Reading Hurdle
In a significant legislative move, Nigeria anticipates a potential surge in federal tertiary institutions, with the possibility of the tally of federal-owned universities reaching an impressive 99 in the near future.
The latest development comes as a bill proposing the establishment of 47 new universities has successfully passed through the crucial second reading phase.
Simultaneously, the legislative arena witnessed the advancement of approximately 56 bills to the second reading, all aimed at setting up Federal Medical Centres across diverse regions within the country.
As of now, Nigeria proudly hosts 52 federal universities, with several states accommodating more than one institution, showcasing the nation’s commitment to academic growth.
Furthermore, the House is deliberating several bills to establish approximately 32 Federal Colleges of Education, 11 Federal Colleges of Agriculture, and five additional Federal Polytechnics, supplementing the existing institutions.
In tandem with the 52 existing federal universities, Nigeria currently boasts 22 federal medical centres, 27 federal colleges of education, and 40 polytechnics, forming a robust educational landscape across the nation.
However, the journey towards expansion faced hurdles in the past.
Several bills that were passed during the 9th Assembly encountered obstacles either in garnering the necessary concurrence at the Senate to progress or in receiving the President’s signature.
Upon establishment, the upcoming institutions are slated to encompass a wide array of specialized disciplines.
Envisaged among these are Universities specializing in Science and Technology, Agriculture, Aviation, Medical studies, Engineering, and various other academic domains.
Recent findings have unveiled that the House is actively contemplating a range of bills aimed at setting up specialized institutions catering to various sectors.
These include proposals for the establishment of Colleges focused on Vocational and Skill Acquisition, Cancer Research, and Entrepreneurship.
A comprehensive examination of the House’s order paper, listing the institutions and pending bills under scrutiny, highlights Lagos State’s proactive stance in requesting the establishment of three new Federal Medical Centres.
During his address to the House members on December 30, 2023, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas highlighted the substantial legislative workload of the Green Chamber.
He emphasized the considerable volume of work undertaken, as the House received and meticulously reviewed a comprehensive total of 962 bills, 500 motions, and 153 petitions within the span of just six months.
As per the representative of Zaria Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, among the myriad bills under consideration, a notable 120 have successfully advanced through the rigorous process of the second reading.
In a statement made last year, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, highlighted a crucial factor contributing to the decline in the quality of tertiary education.
He emphasized the detrimental impact of establishing universities without a well-defined funding structure.
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
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