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Flood Washes Away Culvert, Cuts Off JoSTUM From Makurdi as Thousands Stranded

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Thousands of students, academic staff, and residents have been stranded following the collapse of a major culvert linking Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JoSTUM) with Makurdi and several surrounding communities in Benue State.

The culvert, located on the Ake River between Antsah and Anini villages, was reportedly washed away by heavy rainfall, cutting off access to the university, Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, the School of Special Science, and nearby communities.

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The development has sparked concern among university authorities, community leaders, and residents, who have called on the Benue State Government to urgently restore access to the affected areas.

Speaking on the situation, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of JoSTUM, Prof. Elizabeth Kembe, described the road challenge as a recurring problem for the institution.

She explained that while the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) had commenced rehabilitation of the damaged culverts, the project was interrupted by heavy rainfall before completion, leaving students and staff unable to access the campus.

According to her, academic activities have resumed, but many students remain stranded, forcing some official university engagements to be moved to the Pro-Chancellor’s guest house due to the poor road condition.

Also speaking, the university’s Registrar, Dr. John David, said movement became extremely difficult after Sunday’s heavy rainfall. He noted that residents and commuters now rely on alternative routes where they are charged between N500 and N1,000 to cross.

David urged the state government to urgently repair the road, stressing that it serves as a critical route connecting the university and neighbouring communities.

He further appealed to the Federal Government to construct the institution’s original access road from Agan Village to the main campus, saying it would ease traffic pressure and improve accessibility.

The Director of the Ahmadu Ali Centre for Public Health and Comparative Medicine at JoSTUM, Prof. Mohammed Adah, described the situation as a major setback to academic and clinical activities.

He lamented that students and staff could no longer move freely between the university’s main campus and its Veterinary Teaching Hospital located at North Bank, disrupting lectures and clinical sessions.

“We have over 8,000 students and cannot continue this way,” he said while calling for immediate intervention.

An external member of the university council, Dr. Mohammed Kwankwaso, also expressed concern, describing it as risky for a university of such size to depend on a single access road.

Meanwhile, Youth Leader of Udzer Community, Benjamin Yogbo, said the damaged road serves as the major link between educational institutions and surrounding settlements.

He noted that the disruption has prevented workers from reaching their workplaces, students from attending classes, and traders from conducting normal business activities.

A resident, Jumai Ishama, lamented the hardship faced by families in the area, revealing that her children had been unable to attend school since Monday while business activities had slowed significantly.

Responding to the concerns, the Benue State Coordinator of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, Dr. Stephen Numbeve, assured residents that the contractor had not abandoned the project.

He attributed the delay to persistent rainfall and announced that earth-moving equipment would be deployed immediately to create temporary access for road users.

Numbeve expressed confidence that work on the damaged culvert would be completed within 21 days, restoring normal movement for students, staff, and residents.

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Tinubu Sends Six NMDPRA Executive Director Nominees to Senate, Retains Three

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President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of six nominees for executive director positions at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to the Senate for confirmation, retaining three existing directors while introducing three new nominees.

The nominations were conveyed to the Senate in a letter from the President, according to a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The six nominees comprise three executive directors seeking reappointment and three new candidates proposed for different leadership positions within the petroleum regulatory agency.

SEE ALSO: Tinubu Promises to Boost Local Production with NNPC Refineries

The officials nominated for reappointment are Abiodun Adeniji, Executive Director of Finance and Accounts; Ogbugo Kalu Ukoha, Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure; and Dr Mustapha Lamorde, Executive Director of Health, Safety, Environment and Community.

The three new nominees are Mobolaji Tajudeen Musa, proposed as Executive Director of Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installations and Transportation Infrastructure; Ogechukwu Modie, nominated as Executive Director of Economic Regulations and Strategic Planning; and Said Abutalib, nominated as Executive Director of Corporate Services and Administration.

If confirmed by the Senate, all six nominees will serve five-year terms.

President Tinubu urged the lawmakers to consider the nominations expeditiously, stating that the appointments would ensure institutional continuity and strengthen the Authority’s oversight capacity.

In a related development, the President has approved the appointment of Jumoke Gafar as Secretary to the Board/Authority and Legal Adviser of the NMDPRA.

Her appointment is subject to the completion of the statutory processes stipulated under Section 46 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The latest nominations follow Tinubu’s appointment of Engr. Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as Chief Executive of the NMDPRA in April.

The Senate’s consideration and confirmation of the six nominees will determine their formal appointment to the respective executive director positions.

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Osun Tackles Sanitation with Adhoc Road Sweepers

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Four gang-killed two in Osun, destroy N8M properties

In the bid to improve environmental sanitation, the Osun State Government plans to engage with immediate effect, able-bodied men and women as ad hoc road sweepers.

Biztellers reports that the exercise would cover designated areas of the state.

The recruitment exercise, announced by the Osun State Taskforce on Environmental Sanitation (OSTES) is open to medically fit able bodied men and women who are residents of the areas where they intend to work.

According to the public service announcement, applicants must be at least 30 years of age, medically fit and resident in their preferred areas of assignment.

READ ALSO: US Hails DPRP as Nigeria’s Petroleum Exports Surge Seven Times

The designated areas mentioned by the Taskforce include Akoda- Abere, Ataoja -Ogo-Oluwa, Olaiya -Old Garage, Igbonna -Ayetoro, Power Line – Ota-Efun and Kobongbogboe.

Other areas covered by the exercise are Ataoja- Dele Yes Sir, Stadium- Testing Ground and Ilesa- Garage, as well as Oke-Fia -Dada Estate, Dele Yes Sir- Lameco and Oroki Housing Estate.

Interested applicants are required to submit application letters to the General Manager, Osun Waste Management Agency, at its office located at the former Boreepo House, West Bye-Pass, Ring Road, Osogbo.

The announcement further stated that the deadline for submission of applications is Thursday, November 12th, 2026.

The recruitment is expected to support routine road sweeping and complement the state’s efforts to promote a cleaner, healthier and safer environment.

Applicants have been advised to ensure that they meet the stated requirements and reside within the areas where they seek to be deployed.

It would be recalled that the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, had earlier declared every Thursday of the week as Environmental Sanitation Day throughout the state during which offices, markets, shopping malls and homes among other public places are to be swept clean between 8am and 10am.

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PTDF Succour 15,000 Nigerians with Scholarships

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The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) said it has sponsored nearly 15,000 Nigerians for studies at home and abroad, with 1,571 scholars currently studying in 15 countries, as of July 2026.

This is as the Fund is now asking the United Kingdom (UK) to help address visa rejections, high tuition fees and the monitoring of its scholars, which it says are putting pressure on the programme.

The executive secretary of the Fund, Prof Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, made the request on Tuesday at a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles. The meeting was held at the General Shehu Musa Yar’adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology, Kaduna.

According to Aliyu, the Fund had sponsored the beneficiaries through its Overseas Scholarship Scheme and In-Country Scholarship Scheme, for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

He said that as of July 2026, 1,571 scholars were studying in 15 countries and more than 120 partner institutions. He added that demand for PTDF scholarships was still rising.

READ MORE: Investors Embrace DPRP IPO Globally, 120 Countries, 54 African Nations

The executive secretary said the UK had for decades been the Fund’s main partner in building skills for Nigeria’s energy sector.

He said the PTDF worked with 24 British universities, including Robert Gordon, Strathclyde, Portsmouth, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester.

He said the partnership had helped train thousands of Nigerian engineers, geoscientists, researchers and energy professionals.

Aliyu also said the Fund worked with institutions in Germany, France and Malaysia, where it sought cheaper ways to train Nigerians. He said the Fund still wanted to keep its long-standing ties with the UK.

The ES told the High Commissioner that the Fund was facing problems with its UK partners. He listed these as tuition fees that were high compared with other European countries, and visa rejections.

“I would like to take this opportunity to highlight several challenges we are facing with our UK partners for the High Commissioner’s attention,” he said.

He said the Fund also wanted a plan to monitor its scholars in the UK, with support from the UK government and the host universities.

Aliyu did not give figures for the fee increases or the number of visa rejections.

In response, Vowles said the British High Commission understood the difficulties, especially those linked to visas and increases in tuition fees.

“We will take these concerns away as a team and communicate them to the relevant stakeholders within the UK system,” he said.

The High Commissioner said the PTDF and the High Commission had worked together to simplify the process. He said the PTDF’s recognition as a government-approved sponsor was expected to help.

“Having the PTDF recognised as a government-approved sponsor will hopefully make the process much smoother,” he said.

He did not promise any change in fees or visa rules.

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