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World Bank, US To Donate $3bn To Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan

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The World Bank and the US Export-Import Bank (EximBank) say they will commit over $3 billion to the implementation of Nigeria’s energy transition plan.

The international organizations made the commitment on Wednesday at the official global launching of the Energy Transition Plan by Yemi Osinbajo, vice-president.

Shubham Chaudhuri, Nigeria country director, World Bank, said the international bank aims at committing over $1.5 billion towards the country’s energy transition plan.

“We plan to commit over $1.5 billion towards the Energy Transition Plan on renewable energy, on power sector reforms, and potentially hydropower, on clean cooking, and wherever opportunities arise,” he said.

“The policy and institutional reforms that will be necessary are also part of the agenda and we hope to be able to provide support for the fundamentally imperative of energy access but in a way that is consistent with the energy transition, what I think of as the NEAT imperative.

“The Nigerian Energy Access and Transition (NEAT) imperative is what we here at the World Bank are absolutely committed to supporting.”

On his part, Adam Cortese, chief executive officer (CEO), Sun Africa, a renewable energy solutions company, said it was in the final stage of talks with the US EXIM Bank on a $1.5 billion financing package.

“The launch of Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan has further accelerated our efforts, proving Nigeria to be fertile grounds for investments in the sector. We are in the final stages of discussion with US EXIM Bank on a USD 1.5 billion financing package,” Adam said.

“We are truly excited about the future and we are looking forward to helping Nigeria lead by way of example in Africa.”

Speaking at the official unveiling of the transition plan, Osinbajo said Nigeria’s energy transition requires a significant scale of resources which includes spending $410 billion by 2060.

He added that Nigeria has set up an inter-ministerial energy transition implementation working group and is “currently engaging with partners to secure an initial $10 billion support package ahead of COP27″.

At COP26 in Glasgow last year, President Muhammadu Buhari announced Nigeria’s ambition to achieve net-zero by 2060 drawing on insights from the country’s Energy Transition Plan which was developed through the Energy Transition Commission to chart out Nigeria’s unique energy transition pathway.

The plan supports the country’s objectives of achieving universal access to energy by 2030 and a carbon-neutral energy system by 2060, while also providing enough energy to power the industry and other productive uses.

The plan is supported by Sustainable Energy for All and the COP26 Energy Transition Council (ETC).

BIG STORY

Stop Giving Money To Miscreants, Lagos Tells Celebrities, Influencers — Says It Fuels Insecurity, Environmental Problems

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The Lagos State Government has cautioned celebrities, social media influencers, and residents against giving money to street miscreants, warning that such actions worsen insecurity and environmental issues.

Tokunbo Wahab, the commissioner for environment and water resources, issued the warning in a statement posted on X on Tuesday.

“Celebrities, influencers, and even well-meaning Lagosians must stop giving money to these miscreants. Each time you hand them cash, you are not solving their problem; you are encouraging them to stay on the streets, emboldening them to multiply, and reinforcing a cycle of lawlessness,” Wahab wrote.

He added that what many regard as an act of kindness complicates enforcement and creates broader security challenges.

His remarks followed a complaint by a resident, Olukayode Ajenifuja, who reported harassment along the Lekki-Epe Expressway. Ajenifuja urged the state to deploy the Lagos State Neighborhood Watch to curb extortion, assault, and intimidation by homeless boys and teenagers in the area.

The warning also came after a viral video showed touts and luxury car content creators chasing a convoy believed to be carrying Afrobeats star Burna Boy, attempting to solicit money while recording content. The singer’s security team prevented them from reaching his car.

Wahab said the state government is committed to tackling the menace but urged residents to support the efforts by refusing to encourage the miscreants.

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Leave Before Visa Expires Or We’ll Remove You — UK Warns Foreign Students

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The United Kingdom has warned international students whose visas have expired to leave the country or risk deportation.

The Home Office, in a new enforcement campaign, said it has begun sending direct text and email messages to students, marking the first time such a measure is being applied.

According to the BBC, about 10,000 students whose visas are due to expire have already received the messages, while tens of thousands more will be contacted in the coming months.

The message from the Home Office reads: “If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you.”

The agency also warned that asylum claims considered “lacking merit” would be swiftly rejected.

Data released by the Home Office showed that between July 2024 and June 2025, a total of 41,100 asylum claims were lodged by people who had entered the UK legally on visas, with students making up the largest share.

Figures indicated that international students filed 16,000 asylum claims in 2024, almost six times the number recorded in 2020. Although the number has since dropped by about 10 percent, the British government said it expects a further reduction.

The department noted that asylum claims by skilled worker visa holders have decreased within the same period.

Earlier this year, the UK government reduced the period foreign graduates can remain in the country after completing their studies, cutting it from two years to 18 months.

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Police Arrest Seven Cultists With Human Skull In Akwa Ibom

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The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested seven suspected cultists linked to the proscribed Ku Klux Klan confraternity after they allegedly attacked a student and were found in possession of a fresh human skull.

Victim Ambushed

According to Police PRO DSP Timfon John, the arrests followed a report on August 25, 2025, when a student of the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, was ambushed by the gang after renouncing his membership of the cult.

  • The victim was beaten unconscious.
  • His Redmi 13C phone and ₦41,000 cash were stolen.

Items Recovered

Police said a raid on the suspects’ hideout led to the recovery of:

  1. One locally made short gun
  2. Seven live cartridges
  3. A fresh human skull
  4. A bottle of suspected black oil
  5. A bottle of Guyanese oil, believed to be used for rituals.

Suspects Identified

The seven arrested suspects were named as:

  1. Douglas Ambe Esikhene
  2. Stephen Asukwo Effiong
  3. Saviour Dany Akpan
  4. Emmanuel Friday Umoh
  5. Augustine Uduak Okon
  6. Mary Ating Asukwo
  7. Itohowo Christopher Uko

Ongoing Investigation

John confirmed that investigations have begun, with efforts underway to arrest other members of the gang and recover more items.

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