Zulum Donates Multi-Million Naira JAMB Zonal Headquarters, 500-Seat CBT Centre to Boost North-east Education

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum on Wednesday deepened his administration’s investment in education by handing over a multi-million naira Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) zonal headquarters and one of Nigeria’s largest Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, a landmark project expected to transform tertiary admission services across the North-east.

The ultra-modern facility, strategically located along the Maiduguri-Dikwa Road, will serve as JAMB’s North-east Zonal Office, providing administrative and examination services to the region’s six states. It comprises a modern office complex and a dual CBT centre capable of accommodating 500 candidates simultaneously and processing more than 2,000 candidates daily.

The project is believed to be the first in the country to be wholly financed, constructed and donated by a state government to JAMB.

Commissioning the facility, Zulum described it as part of his administration’s broader strategy to rebuild education in a region that has suffered years of insurgency and disruption to learning.

He said the project was designed not only to improve access to JAMB services but also to strengthen educational infrastructure and reduce the burden on candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions.

According to the governor, the facility represents Borno State’s contribution to enhancing national education service delivery while positioning the North-east as a major hub for computer-based examinations.

The significance of the project was underscored by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who described it as an unprecedented intervention and one of the finest CBT facilities in Nigeria.

“This is the first time in the history of JAMB that a state governor has independently built and donated a zonal office and CBT centre to the Board,” Oloyede said.

He noted that what was initially conceived as an ambitious proposal had become a reality within just four months, describing the achievement as a reflection of Governor Zulum’s visionary leadership and commitment to education.

“Today, reality has surpassed my expectations. In just four months, what seemed humanly impossible has been accomplished,” he said.

Oloyede explained that the centre would significantly expand JAMB’s operational capacity in the North-east by allowing 500 candidates to write examinations simultaneously while handling over 2,000 candidates each day.

He added that the integrated registration facilities would enable the Board to complete registration and documentation for applicants from Borno State within a few days, drastically reducing delays and travel burdens.

“The CBT centre you have graciously provided will serve as a beacon of excellence for computer-based testing and administrative services. It will bring immense relief to candidates, educational institutions and stakeholders across this region.

“More importantly, it represents Your Excellency’s broader commitment to rebuilding educational confidence and expanding opportunities for young people despite the enormous challenges confronting this region,” he stated.

The outgoing JAMB Registrar further commended Governor Zulum’s sustained investment in education, human capital development and youth empowerment, describing education as the foundation for peace, stability and economic recovery in the North-east.

In a symbolic gesture acknowledging Oloyede’s contributions to educational development in Nigeria, Governor Zulum directed the Borno State Ministry of Education to name the newly commissioned facility after the outgoing JAMB Registrar.

The event was attended by the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani; the incoming JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina; Acting Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Babagana Mustapha Malumbe; Commissioner for Education, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe; and other senior government officials.

The commissioning marks another milestone in Borno State’s post-insurgency recovery efforts, with the Zulum administration continuing to prioritise investments in schools, tertiary institutions and educational infrastructure as a pathway to rebuilding the state and expanding opportunities for its youth.

Zulum Donates Multi-Million Naira JAMB Zonal Headquarters, 500-Seat CBT Centre to Boost North-east Education

VP Shettima: Nigeria’s Digital Transformation Under Tinubu Unrivaled

Applauds ongoing reforms by NIMC management

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has applauded the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem under the administration of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the process as unrivaled.

He attributed the development to the administration’s reforms being undertaken by the current management of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), particularly with the enactment of the NIMC Act 2026.

Senator Shettima, who stated this, Wednesday, when he received on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, a delegation from NIMC led by its Director General, Engr. Abisoye Odusote, said the reorganisation will enable the establishment of a sovereign Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Nigeria.

He noted that this is in addition to the transitioning of governments from paper-based administration to secure digital governance, using robust trust architectures.

The Vice President said Engr. Odusote’s leadership and impact on NIMC’s transformation from a database custodian to Nigeria’s foundational digital authority within a short period was unprecedented, rare and worthy of commendation.

He urged the entire management to lend their support for the transformative works of the Director General and adopt more technology driven models, with a view to advancing key components of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration.

He said across all sectors, the Tinubu administration is taking bold steps and making courageous decisions that will impact positively on Nigerians in education, healthcare delivery, drive financial inclusion and secure digital governance, among others.

Earlier, the CEO of NIMC, Engr. Odusote, congratulated President Tinubu for signing the NIMC Bill into law, highlighting that the legislation represents a significant transformation in Nigeria’s identity ecosystem.

According to her, the development ensures that all government databases can communicate with one another while enabling citizens to interact with the government more efficiently.

Highlighting the progress made so far, the Director General stressed that the Nigerian Immigration Service now uses the National Identification Number (NIN) for the issuance and renewal of passports.

She maintained that the NIN is now the single source of truth for Nigerian identity, adding that many insurance companies, financial institutions, and public agencies are already integrated into the new national digital public infrastructure.

The NIMC Act 2026 was signed into law by President Tinubu to activate the transition of Nigeria’s identity framework from the restrictive 2007 Act to a modern, sovereign digital public infrastructure (DPI) that secures national control over digital trust infrastructure and reduces foreign reliance.

VP Shettima: Nigeria’s Digital Transformation Under Tinubu Unrivaled

FG Moves to Shield Power Infrastructure as Vandalism Threatens Nigeria’s Electricity Reforms

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has intensified its campaign to protect Nigeria’s fragile electricity infrastructure, moving to establish a joint security task force with the Nigeria Police Force to tackle the growing threat of vandalism, sabotage and criminal attacks on critical power assets.

The move emerged on Tuesday when the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, visited the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, seeking stronger cooperation between the ministry and the nation’s primary law enforcement agency.

The proposed collaboration is aimed at securing transmission lines, substations, power plants and other strategic installations considered vital to the success of ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s electricity sector.

Tegbe said the increasing destruction of power infrastructure remained a major setback to efforts to improve electricity supply, warning that attacks on critical assets undermine investments, disrupt service delivery and slow down progress in the sector.

He called for intensified surveillance around vulnerable installations and stronger coordination between the Ministry of Power and the police to prevent criminal activities targeting electricity facilities.

The minister, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary and members of the ministry’s management team, commended the Nigeria Police Force for its performance under the leadership of IGP Disu, stressing that the security of power infrastructure required a collective national effort.

Vandalism: A Persistent Threat to Power Supply

Nigeria’s electricity sector has for years battled infrastructure challenges, with vandalism emerging as one of the major obstacles affecting the reliability of power supply.

From the destruction of transmission towers and cables to attacks on transformers and distribution equipment, criminal activities have repeatedly forced prolonged outages, increased operational costs and placed additional pressure on electricity providers.

The challenge has become more significant as successive administrations invest in expanding generation capacity, improving transmission networks and strengthening distribution systems.

Energy experts have consistently warned that without adequate protection of existing infrastructure, efforts to increase electricity access and attract private sector investment could face serious setbacks.

The Federal Government’s latest move reflects growing recognition that security of infrastructure is as important as investment in new projects.

Police Pledge Stronger Protection

Speaking during the meeting, IGP Disu welcomed the minister’s visit, describing cooperation between security agencies and critical sectors of the economy as essential to national development.

He assured the Ministry of Power that the police would continue to protect critical national infrastructure and support efforts aimed at improving energy security.

The police chief pledged that perpetrators involved in vandalism and other crimes against the power sector would be identified and prosecuted, while expressing readiness to work with the ministry to establish a specialised task force dedicated to protecting electricity assets.

According to him, the strategic importance of power infrastructure makes it a priority for security intervention, particularly because attacks on such facilities affect millions of Nigerians and economic activities nationwide.

Protecting Renewed Hope Power Agenda

The planned security partnership comes amid the Federal Government’s broader electricity sector reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to increase power reliability, encourage investment and improve access to electricity.

The administration has identified a stable power supply as a foundation for industrial growth, job creation and economic transformation.

However, stakeholders have maintained that achieving these objectives requires not only policy reforms and financial investments but also effective protection of infrastructure against criminal damage.

The proposed Ministry of Power–Police joint task force is therefore expected to provide a coordinated approach to monitoring vulnerable facilities, responding to security threats and ensuring that critical power assets remain operational.

With Nigeria’s economic development closely tied to improved electricity supply, the success of the initiative could prove crucial in protecting billions of naira invested in the sector and accelerating the country’s journey towards energy stability.

FG Moves to Shield Power Infrastructure as Vandalism Threatens Nigeria’s Electricity Reforms