NEWS
Buhari Writes NASS, Seeks Confirmation of Service Chiefs’ Appointments

President Muhammadu Buhari has communicated the appointment of the Service Chiefs to the National Assembly, seeking for their confirmation by the Senate.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Matters (Senate), Sen. Babajide Omoworare, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday.
He said that the letter, addressed to the President of the Senate, was dated Jan.
“This was done in furtherance of Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A.20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,” he said.
Omoworare said that this was contrary to fears being expressed in certain quarters that the president had “bypassed” the National Assembly in the appointment of the service chiefs and that he (Buhari) had no intention of seeking consideration and confirmation of their appointment.
“The president, upon nomination for appointment, sought confirmation of the Senate for the appointments of Maj- Gen. Lucky Irabor, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, Rear Admr Awwal Gambo and AVM Isiaka Amao as Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff respectively, vide his aforementioned letter.
“It is on record that this same procedure was adopted when the immediate past service chiefs were appointed,” he said.
Omoworare expressed the hope that, as the National Assembly resumes plenary on Feb. 9, the president’s communication for consideration and confirmation of the nominations would be undertaken. (NAN)
Education
WAEC Apologies for Conducting English Exam Late, Cites Leakage Prevention

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has apologized for delay in conducting English Language Paper 2 in the ongoing 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The took place on Wednesday evening.
In a statement by Moyosola Adesina, Acting Head of Public Affairs Department of
WAEC, the council said that it encountered challenges.
”While maintaining the integrity and security of our examination, we faced considerable challenges primarily due to our major aim of preventing leakage of any paper.
“We recognise the importance of timely conduct of examinations and the impact of this decision on candidates, their schools and parents, and we sincerely apologise for any inconveniences caused,” WAEC stated.
It said that it successfully achieved its objective but it inadvertently impacted the timeliness and seamless conduct of the examination.
“In spite of our best efforts, we encountered logistical hurdles, security concerns and socio-cultural factors that negatively influenced our operations,” WAEC said.
The council re-affirmed its commitment to upholding the highest standard in examination conduct, and pledged to continue to promote academic excellence. (NAN)
Foreign News
4 killed in South Korean Navy plane crash

A South Korean Navy patrol plane with four people on board crashed on a mountain in Pohang, a city in the south-eastern part of the country.
The Yonhap news agency reported on Thursday, citing authorities.
The crash happened at 1:50 pm (0450 GMT).
According to the report, witnesses said smoke was seen rising from the mountain.
The bodies of all four people aboard the plane have since been recovered, Yonhap reported.
The navy, in a short statement to reporters, said the crash occurred after the aircraft took off for a training exercise, but crashed due to unidentified reasons.
The navy said that it is investigating further details.
Fire workers were dispatched to the scene to extinguish the blaze.(dpa/NAN)
NEWS
NAFDAC Warns Water Producers on Compliance

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday warned producers to strictly follow hygiene standards and digital registration procedures. Mr Kenneth Azikiwe, Director of NAFDAC’s FCT directorate, said the warning followed inspections that revealed expired licences among several producers.
Azikiwe also educated members of the Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP), Mararaba-Karu branch, on the importance of compliance. The agency highlighted regulatory timelines and advised on improving water quality across the FCT and parts of Nasarawa State, including Mararaba, Nyanya, and Karu. He noted that producers were careless with water treatment, often misusing sterilisation equipment during production. Azikiwe cited cases where workers unplugged ultraviolet sterilisers to charge phones and turned hygiene areas into kitchens. He reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to public safety and urged compliance for the benefit of all Nigerians. Azikiwe encouraged producers to use the agency’s digital platform, the NAFDAC Automated Products and Nutritional Monitoring System (NAPAMS), for easier access to services. He added that laboratory samples are now processed weekly to speed up approvals and urged strict adherence to procedures. Mrs Gloria Wilberford, Head of the Greater FCT Office in Mararaba, said NAPAMS had greatly improved after its upgrade to version 3. She noted that laboratory submissions now occur every Wednesday, cutting delays that used to last over a month. Wilberford said the agency’s aim was to support compliant businesses, not to penalise them. She added that setting up offices in Mararaba and Suleja was meant to ease administrative hurdles in satellite towns. Mr Michael Ajagbonna, Nasarawa Coordinator for the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, explained SON certifies products while NAFDAC handles their registration. He stressed on mutual respect among regulators and the need to work within legal boundaries, despite overlapping duties. ATWAP National Financial Secretary, Amb. Usman Diggi, said members struggle with digital literacy but promised to help identify non-compliant producers. “As a union, we can’t sanction violators, but we will report them to NAFDAC,” he stated. Mr John Michael, an ATWAP member, found the session informative and called for more stakeholder engagement. He said the workshop clarified registration issues and gave members the tools and contacts needed to resolve them. (NAN)