Jake Swandeh, Author at Made in Benue

Jake Swandeh

332 articles published

Natasha Not NCDC Committee Member – Zam

PoliticsFebruary 17, 2026194Views 0Likes 0Comments

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Senator Titus Zam, has dismissed claims by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that she is a member of the committee, insisting that her name does not appear on its official roster. Zam, who represents Benue North-West in the Senate, clarified the matter amid growing…

EFCC Detains El-Rufai Amid Probe Into Alleged ₦432bn Mismanagement

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja as part of an escalating investigation into alleged financial irregularities involving about ₦432 billion during his tenure in office. El-Rufai reportedly honoured an invitation to appear before the anti-graft agency at its Jabi headquarters, where he…

N’Assembly Eyes Jan 16 for Presidential Poll, Suspends Electoral Bill Harmonisation

PoliticsFebruary 17, 2026161Views 0Likes 0Comments

Nigeria’s National Assembly is considering January 16, 2027, as a new date for the next presidential election, a move that could significantly alter the country’s electoral calendar and avert a potential clash with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The proposed shift, currently under legislative review, follows consultations between federal lawmakers and the Independent National…

Four Health Workers Die as Lassa Fever Cases Surge in Benue

Health and LifestyleFebruary 17, 2026210Views 0Likes 0Comments

The Benue State Government has confirmed the death of four health workers following a surge in Lassa fever cases, raising fresh concerns about the safety of frontline medical personnel and the spread of the viral disease in the state. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Commissioner for Health, Paul Ogwuche, disclosed the…

NUC Approves 33 New Universities, Raising Nigeria’s Total to 309

Nigeria’s higher education landscape has expanded significantly following the approval of 33 new universities by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in 2025, pushing the total number of universities across the country to 309. Data obtained from the commission indicates that the newly approved institutions cut across federal, state and private ownership, reflecting sustained momentum in…

Super Eagles Set for Jordan Friendly as FIFA Ruling on World Cup Protest Looms

EntertainmentFebruary 16, 2026245Views 0Likes 0Comments

Nigeria’s Nigeria national football team are lining up an international friendly against Jordan national football team, but final confirmation of the fixture is expected to hinge on a pending decision from FIFA regarding the country’s World Cup eligibility protest involving DR Congo. Officials familiar with the arrangement say the proposed friendly is part of broader…

US Sanctions Eight Nigerians Over Alleged Links to Boko Haram, ISIL and Cybercrime

The United States government has imposed sanctions on eight Nigerian nationals over alleged links to extremist financing networks and cybercrime activities, freezing any assets under US jurisdiction and barring American individuals and entities from conducting business with them. In a statement released by the US Department of the Treasury, the individuals were designated under counterterrorism…

DSS Files Three-Count Charge Against El-Rufai Over Alleged Interception of Ribadu’s Phone Call

PoliticsFebruary 16, 2026215Views 0Likes 0Comments

The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a three-count charge against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over the alleged interception of a telephone conversation involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. The charge was filed on Monday by counsel to the DSS at the Federal High Court in Abuja, marking a significant escalation…

El-Rufai Arrives at EFCC Headquarters as Supporters Stage Protest

PoliticsFebruary 16, 2026214Views 0Likes 0Comments

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday arrived at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning over allegations of corruption, a development that immediately drew a crowd of supporters to the anti-graft agency’s Abuja office. Eyewitnesses said El-Rufai arrived at the commission’s headquarters in the morning hours, accompanied by…

OPay Clinches Fintech Company of the Year for Second Consecutive Time at Leadership Awards

Business and EconomyFebruary 16, 2026281Views 0Likes 0Comments

In a reaffirmation of its growing dominance in Nigeria’s digital finance landscape, OPay has been named Fintech Company of the Year 2025 at the prestigious Leadership Awards, marking its second consecutive win in the category. The recognition underscores OPay’s expanding influence in financial technology, particularly in driving financial inclusion, accelerating digital payments adoption, and scaling…

Nigerian MSMEs Lose Estimated ₦10tn Annually to Employee Fraud — Industry Group Warns

Business and EconomyFebruary 16, 2026269Views 0Likes 0Comments

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria are losing an estimated ₦10 trillion annually to employee-related fraud, according to a leading industry group, raising fresh concerns about internal controls, business sustainability and national economic growth. The disclosure highlights a largely underreported threat confronting Nigeria’s small business ecosystem — internal fraud perpetrated by employees through…

First Batch of US Troops, Military Aircraft Arrive in Nigeria Ahead of Joint ISWAP Offensive

The first contingent of United States troops and military aircraft has arrived in north-east Nigeria, marking a significant development in ongoing efforts to combat insurgency in the region. According to a report by The New York Times, a US military aircraft landed in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on Thursday night. The deployment comes…