Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has stated that he cannot hide his stance on issues.

He said this while reacting to an X user, @irahabib, who commended him for a book he authored titled ‘Accidental Public Servant’.

The netizen explained that after reading the book, he was convinced that only a politician who intends to develop the country truly would have El-Rufai in his cabinet.

The user wrote: “The day I read El-Rufai’s book titled Accidental Public Servant, I concluded that no politician would want @elrufai in their cabinet unless they genuinely intend to develop this country. He doesn’t know how to pretend.”

Reacting, El-Rufai posted: “Thanks for your kind words, @irahabib. Truly, I don’t know how to pretend. Being a Nollywood actor in governance is for some others, not some of us. Have a nice day. – @elrufai”

The former governor has been in the news lately for criticizing President Bola Tinubu-led administration and the All Progressives Congress, APC.

El-Rufai noted that the APC no longer has internal democracy, stressing that no organ of the party has met in the last two years.

Speaking at an event in Abuja, the former governor said he no longer recognizes the APC due to lack of internal democracy

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has expressed disgust over the presence of some politicians in the camp of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

He urged former ministers of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi, and Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to return to the APC.

Speaking via a post on his X account, the APC chieftain stated that seeing these men in the camp of Atiku makes him want to “vomit”.

According to Igbokwe: “Good morning, everyone, especially our APC faithful supporters across Nigeria. I want HE Amaechi, HE Fayemi, HE Aregbeshola, HE Kwankwaso and others to move back to APC. Seeing them in Atiku’s camp makes me to want to vomit.”

Meanwhile, Igbokwe, has defended former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, recalling his legal challenge against Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ex-Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over allegedly fraudulent monetary policies aimed at President Bola Tinubu.

Igbokwe highlighted that during the run-up to the 2023 presidential election, El-Rufai took legal action against Emefiele, accusing him of implementing financial policies designed to obstruct Tinubu’s victory.

Emefiele’s controversial monetary policies, particularly the naira redesign, were widely criticized for causing economic hardship and were perceived by some as a deliberate attempt to sabotage Tinubu’s campaign.

Recently, El-Rufai has drawn criticism within the APC after expressing disillusionment with the party, claiming it has strayed from its founding principles.

He also lamented that key APC organs had not convened in the last two years.

Defending El-Rufai, Igbokwe took to Facebook to dismiss negative narratives about the former governor, stating: “Do not tell me negative things about El-Rufai. I do not dwell on negativities. I dwell on positive things.

“Where were you when he courageously headed to court to challenge Emefiele’s fraudulent monetary policy that was targeted at PBAT?

“Emefiele’s monetary policy was targeted at PBAT. The major progenitors of the fraudulent banking policy are from a particular zone called SS. The plot failed woefully

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) raised concerns over the widespread human trafficking and irregular migration, saying it is now endemic across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.

This was disclosed in a statement by the NAPTIP Zonal Commander, Ganiu Aganran, in Benin, seeking collaboration with other state and federal bodies to address these growing challenges.

Aganran stated this on Friday during a courtesy visit by members of the Edo State Migration Agency (EDSMA), led by its Director-General, Lucky Agazuma.

He said the Edo migration agency would work with NAPTIP in the area of investigation, arrest, prosecution and coordinated public awareness programme.

He stressed the need for effective synergy between the agencies as the state was highly endemic in trafficking in person and irregular migration.

Aganran said, “In Nigeria now, there is no state that is not endemic in trafficking in persons and illegal migration. Even all the local government areas across the country are now endemic in trafficking in person and irregular migration.

“NAPTIP uses five approaches of policy, partnership, protection, prosecution and prevention in tackling trafficking in persons and irregular migration.”

The commander highlighted that NAPTIP, as a law enforcement agency of the Federal Government, had the power to arrest, investigate, prosecute, rescue victims and empower them.

“So we have to work together in awareness creation and intelligence sharing. When there is a need for referral of cases, arrest and investigation, don’t hesitate to call us because we are there for you,” he said.

Aganran reiterated the commitment of the agency to partner with EDSMA and advised it to latch on the NAPTIP experience to do the right thing from inception.

Earlier, Agazuma said the visit was to strengthen the existing relations between the two organisations.

He said, “Also we are here to let you know that the Edo State Taskforce on Human Trafficking dovetails into the Edo State Migration Agency, and seeks your support and collaboration in tackling trafficking and illegal migration in the state.”

He said that such collaboration would build a stronger relationship to enable it to address the menace in the state

Chief Olabode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as just a mere congregation of strange bedfellows. 

The PDP chieftain said this at a press conference on Friday in Ikoyi while condemning the Wednesday invasion of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. 

According to him, the development was disturbing to him as a life member of the Board of Trustees of the main opposition party.

He noted that as the largest political party in Africa, PDP should not allow itself to be turned into an ‘Agbero’ party, adding that the individuals who orchestrated the use of thugs to invade the party Secretariat acted shamelessly.

“As the largest party in Africa, PDP should not be turned into an ‘Agbero’ party by any member with an inordinate ambition. We have rules and regulations that govern our party,” he warned.

Continuing, Bode George urged the leadership of the party to bring the two opposing factions together for peace, saying that whoever is not ready to let go of individual ambition in the interest of the PDP should be told to step aside. 

He continued, “As leaders, we must not allow anybody to destroy our party because PDP is the only true national party. The APC is just a mere congregation of strange bedfellows. This is the time to show members working against our party the way out. No sentiment at all. 

“It is sacrilegious that thugs were hired to enter the premises to unleash mayhem, disrupting the 79th Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting. If that could happen, then what do you think those who sponsored the thugs will do, during National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings?”

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a reduction in the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, from N950 to N890, effective from Saturday.

This price adjustment is said to be in response to favourable developments in the global energy sector and a significant decline in international crude oil prices. Dangote Refinery said its decision to crash the price reflects its commitment to aligning with market realities and ensuring that consumers benefit from changes in international crude oil prices.

Dangote refinery, in a statement issued by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, explained that this latest move follows a similar decision made on 19th January, when a modest price increase was implemented due to rising crude oil costs. However, with recent global market trends indicating a decline, Dangote Refinery added that adjusting its pricing structure was a bold move to drive economic relief for Nigerians.

The statement also noted that the price reduction would significantly lower the cost of petrol across the country, generating a positive ripple effect throughout the broader economy.

“Dangote Petroleum Refinery firmly believes that this reduction from N950 to N890 will result in a meaningful decrease in the cost of petrol nationwide, thereby driving down the prices of goods and services, as well as the overall cost of living, with a positive ripple effect on various sectors of the economy,” the statement said.

The refinery has also called on marketers across the country to ensure that the benefits of the reduced price are passed on to the Nigerian public while reiterating its support for the economic revival spearheaded by President Bola Tinubu, whose administration is focused on making Nigeria self-sufficient in refined petroleum products and positioning the country as a leading oil export hub.

“This collective initiative will contribute to the wider economic recovery plan led by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is dedicated to making Nigeria self-sufficient in refined petroleum products and positioning the country as a leading oil export hub¸” it noted.

It stressed that Dangote Petroleum Refinery would continue to introduce innovative strategies aimed at safeguarding the interests of Nigeria and its citizens.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s decision is expected to play a vital role in stabilising the country’s economy, ensuring that the benefits of lower fuel prices are felt across all sectors

Actress Funke Akindele has urged fans to help push her latest movie, ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa,’ to a new box office milestone of ₦2 billion.

The film has already grossed an impressive ₦1.8 billion, but in a lighthearted video shared on her X handle on Saturday, Funke clarified that she doesn’t get to keep the full amount.

She explained that cinemas, tax authorities and distributors all take their share of the earnings.

Jokingly, she hinted that she might be satisfied when the film hits ₦2 billion, encouraging her followers to keep supporting the movie in cinemas.

“I beg no be only me get the 1.8billion o!!! Cinema go collect, tax go collect, distributor go collect!!!! Maybe when I get to 2Bnaira, I fit settle. So pls go see #eljthemovie in cinemas and take us to 2billion naira. Thank you,” she wrote.

Funke Akindele and Wunmi Toriola emerged as the highest grossing lead actresses in 2024.

FilmOne, a movie distribution company, disclosed this on its instagram page, @filmoneng, on Monday.

While Funke bagged the first highest grossing lead actress for her film ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa,’ Wunmi Toriola came second for her film, ‘Queen Lateefah’.

Toyin Abraham clinched the third highest grossing lead actress with her movie , ‘Alakada Bad and Boujee’.

Tomike Adeoye got the fourth position for the movie, ‘Ajosepo’, and Eniola Ajao made the fifth highest grossing lead actress for her film, ‘Beast of Two Worlds: Ajakaju’.

Kehinde Bankole emerged the sixth highest grossing lead actress for the movie, ‘Funmilayo Ransome Kuti,’ while Adunni Ade clinched the seventh highest grossing lead actress for ‘Lakatabu’.

Uche Nwaefuna is the eighth for the movies, ‘Thinline’, ‘Silent Intruder’ and ‘The Betrayed’.

Regina Daniel made the ninth highest grossing lead actress, while Gbugbemi Ejeye emerged the tenth for ‘Farmer’s Bride’.

…Earmarks N6.2b for free education, school feeding

The Kano State government said the sum of N2.5 billion has been earmarked for the conduct of mass wedding in the state.

The State’s Commissioner of Planning and Budget, Musa Sulaiman Shanono, stated this while briefing newsmen on the breakdown of the N719.7 billion approved budget for the fiscal year 2025.

Shanono said the money will be used for the conduct of the quarterly mass wedding across the 44 LGAs of the state.

Recall that the mass wedding was first introduced in the state by the two-term former governor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso-led administration.

Recall that the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP-led government under Governor Abba Yusuf had, in 2023, conducted a mass wedding for over 1,800 couples in the state at the cost of N854 million.

The commissioner further said that the whopping sum of N6.2 billion has also been allocated for free education program (N4 billion) and free school feeding (N2.2 billion) in the state.

He said the education sector got the lion’s share of the budget with an allocation of N205.9 billion, representing 29% of the total budget size.

According to him, “The 2025 proposed budget tagged “Budget of Hope, Human Capital, and Economic Development” seeks to further consolidate the state government policies that are being implemented in directing resources and efforts to stimulate human capital and economic growth of the state.

“The proposed budget had a total size of N549.1 billion as presented to the State House of Assembly. The House, in line with the provision of the law, has gone into the processes of scrutiny, consultations, and public hearing. The budget was passed into law on Thursday, 20th December, 2024, and assented to by His Excellency, the Executive Governor, on 31st December, 2024. The 2025 approved budget has a total size of N719.7 billion, representing an increase of N170,595,000,000, equivalent to 31%, over what was initially submitted by His Excellency to the State House of Assembly. The total recurrent expenditure is N262.6 billion, and the total capital expenditure is N457 billion. The ratio of recurrent to capital expenditure is 36:64. The budget is higher than the 2024 by N282.4 billion, which represents a 65% increase. The approved budget is above the state’s projected available resources as contained in the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) due to the improvement of new sources of revenue from FAAC as a result of subsidy removal and other capital receipts.

“The total approved recurrent revenue for the fiscal year 2025 budget stands at N617 billion, consisting of N85.8 billion in internally generated revenue (IGR) and N531 billion in expected revenues from Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) as against the 2024 total recurrent revenue of N379.7 billion. By extension, the 2025 recurrent revenue is higher than that of the year 2024 by N237 billion, representing an increase of 62.5%. It is equally important to note that the projected Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is less than that of the year 2024 by N16 billion, representing a 15.8% decrease. Capital Receipts Ladies and gentlemen, the estimated capital receipts for the year 2025 stand at N73.7 billion. While the Treasury Opening Balance is to the tune of N29 billion.

“Below is the detailed breakdown of some major projects and programs set aside for each sector in 2025. The 2025 approved budget for this sector (education sector) received the sum of N205.9 billion. Free education program—N4 billion, school feeding programs in all early child care and primary schools to improve nutritional status, learning capacities, and enrolment/retention of school-aged children through community participation—N2.2 billion.

“…The government planned to spend N91.3 billion for sector-related programs and services in this fiscal year. A few of the programs include the following: Primary schools free afternoon meal program (CRC facilitation) – N500 million, quarterly auren gata/zawarawa and Yan mata (mass wedding) across 44 LGAs – N2.5 billion,” the Commissioner, Shanono, however, stated.

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has criticised Nigerians for condemning corruption while simultaneously defending corrupt individuals when they face prosecution.

Speaking in Abuja on Friday during a visit by officials of the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), led by Chris Olukolade, Olukoyede stressed that corruption remains the biggest obstacle to Nigeria’s development.

“One of the major problems in Nigeria which when tackled, will make under-development a thing of the past, is corruption and financial crimes,” he said.

The EFCC boss emphasised that the responsibility to fight corruption lies not only with the government but with every citizen, adding that true progress requires collective commitment to integrity and accountability.

Olukoyede also pointed out the contradiction in public attitudes, noting that while Nigerians decry corruption, they often support and defend corrupt leaders when they are prosecuted.

“Everybody is crying that Nigerians are corrupt, that the system is corrupt; that corruption is killing us and destroying our system, but when we investigate high profile cases and arraign people in court, the same people will carry placards and be supporting corrupt leaders.

“It doesn’t show that we are serious about this fight, the fight is supposed to be a collaborative effort,” he stated.

Olukoyede reiterated the EFCC’s commitment to combating financial crimes within the limits of the law and called for greater public collaboration in the fight against corruption. The agency, he said, will work with the CCC to enhance strategic communication and public awareness about integrity and accountability.

Exams asses what we know and how hard we work. But some exams are much harder than others. These tough tests need not just knowledge but also a lot of effort and mental strength. Passing them often takes years of study, determination, and sometimes many tries.

The country with the hardest exam is China, as it is home to the world’s No. 1 toughest exam, Gaokao, while India has 3 of the world’s top 10 toughest exams.

In this article, we’ll explore the 10 hardest exams in the world that only the toughest can pass.

10. Master Sommelier Diploma Exam

The Master Sommelier Diploma Exam is run by the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS). It focuses on improving beverage services, especially wine and food pairing. The exam is very difficult, with a pass rate of only 10%, even after multiple attempts.

There are three levels in the exam: theory, service, and blind tasting. In the final level, candidates must identify the year, region, and type of wine. This makes it the hardest wine exam in the world. Most candidates need at least three tries, and some take five or six attempts. Candidates must pass the theory level first and then complete the other two levels within three years. If they fail, they must retake it within two years. If they don’t pass all levels within three years, they must retake the entire exam. Since 1969, only 269 people have passed.

The exam lasts 50 minutes. Around 70 candidates take the exam each year, with a 5-10% pass rate. The exam is held once a year in the UK and twice a year in the US.

9. All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam

The All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam is held every year by Oxford University. The exam offers a 7-year fellowship, with only one or two people chosen from about 80 each year. Applicants must write four essays on topics from humanities subjects, with 3 hours for each essay. The questions are abstract and hard to prepare for. Only people with a strong background in humanities can apply.

The questions are subjective and have no clear right or wrong answers, like “Is Edward Snowden a hero or a villain?”. The exam looks for students with strong debate, analysis, and judgement skills. Candidates must also show clear thinking, independence, and broad knowledge. Those who pass the written exam are invited for a viva, where they explain their answers orally.

The exam lasts 3 hours for each of the 4 papers. About 80 people take the test each year, with a pass rate of only 2.5%. The competition is tough. The exam covers subjects like English literature, philosophy, politics, and economics. Candidates can choose any topic for their specialised papers.

8. GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, India)

The GATE exam is an online test in India that checks students’ knowledge of engineering and technical skills. It is very competitive and tough, so long study hours are needed to pass. Many students take GATE every year to get into master’s and Ph.D. programs at top institutes like IITs, NITs, IIITs, IISc, and IIMs. Public sector companies like Indian Oil and GAIL also use GATE scores to hire people. Some universities in Germany and Singapore give scholarships based on GATE scores.

The exam has 65 questions: 10 on general aptitude and 55 on the candidate’s chosen subject. It lasts 3 hours and includes both multiple-choice and numerical questions. The questions are not too hard, but the large syllabus makes the exam tough. The pass rate is 18%, and the competition is high. The exam is recognised in India, Singapore, and Germany and covers subjects like aerospace engineering, IT, chemical engineering, and computer science.

7. CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert)

The CCIE exam, run by Cisco, is for networking professionals who need to prove their skills in building, maintaining, and troubleshooting complex networks. Only Cisco engineers can take the test, and the low success rate makes it very hard to pass.

The exam has six sections, covering topics like routing, collaboration, and security. It has two stages. Candidates who pass the first stage can move on to the second, which lasts 8 hours with a 1% pass rate. To succeed, candidates need deep knowledge of networking and 7 to 10 years of experience.

The exam includes a 2-hour written test and six other tests. Around 63,000 people take it each year, with a pass rate of 30%. The exam covers topics like Network Infrastructure, Software Defined Infrastructure, and Infrastructure Services.

6. CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)

The CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exam is one of the hardest exams in finance. Every year, over 100,000 people from about 100 countries take the CFA exam. The CFA designation is one of the most respected in finance and investment management. The exam tests candidates on important finance tools and practices. To get the CFA Charter, candidates must pass three levels: CFA Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. Each level has a tough 6-hour exam with 240 questions. Candidates also need 48 months of work experience. The first two levels have multiple-choice questions, and the third level has essay-style questions. On average, it takes four attempts to pass all three levels. After passing the exams, candidates need four years of work experience to become a CFA Charterholder.

5. GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination), run by ETS, is one of the hardest exams in the world. It tests if someone is ready to pursue a master’s degree abroad, mainly in the USA. For example, a good GRE score is necessary to get into top universities like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The GRE is for those who want to study abroad, especially for master’s, MBA, and PhD programs.

Although the GRE was first created for US universities, it is now accepted in more than 90 countries. It is more complex than other exams because of its detailed syllabus. The test measures skills in verbal reasoning, logical reasoning, quantitative ability, critical thinking, and analytical writing. Many people prepare hard for this test for different reasons, like studying or moving abroad, making it tough to pass. Therefore, strong preparation is needed.

The GRE General Test can be taken once every 21 days, up to five times a year. The test lasts 3 hours and 45 minutes, and the pass rate is 43%.

4. Mensa

Mensa International (MI) is a global group for people with very high IQs. It is one of the oldest and most respected high-IQ societies. To join, a person must score in the top 2% on an approved IQ test. This means their IQ is higher than 98% of people. Mensa is non-political and does not discriminate based on race or religion. The IQ test for Mensa is very hard. It tests logical thinking, problem-solving, and intelligence.

People of all ages, from 2 to 100 years old, can take the test. If they pass, they can join a community of highly intelligent people worldwide. Mensa has 145,000 members in nearly 100 countries. Some IQ tests for Mensa membership include Stanford-Binet (132 and above) and Cattell (148 and above). The test takes 25 minutes and has 35 hard problems.

The pass rate is only 0.02%, making it one of the hardest IQ tests. Mensa tests are held in about 90 countries, including the US, UK, Ireland, and Germany. Passing the test is a big achievement, as it gives membership to one of the most exclusive high-IQ societies.

3. UPSC CSE

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE). It is one of the top five hardest exams in the world. This exam has been held for over 100 years and is highly competitive. Many students prepare for years to pass it. There is a limit on the number of attempts. General category candidates can try six times, while OBC candidates can try nine times. To take this exam, candidates must be between 21 and 32 years old.

The UPSC CSE selects top candidates for civil service jobs like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS). Every year, about 500,000 people apply, but only 1,000 get selected.

The exam has three stages: Prelims, Mains, and an Interview. The prelims is held in March and has two objective-type papers. The Mains, held in December, has seven descriptive papers. Candidates who pass these two stages are invited for an interview, where a panel tests their knowledge, personality, and logical thinking. This exam is extremely difficult, with a pass rate of just 0.2%. In 2023, about 1.3 million candidates applied, but only 14,624 moved to the next round.

The exam lasts three hours and includes multiple-choice and descriptive papers on General Studies (Paper 1 & 2—CSAT). The UPSC CSE is held once a year across India. Passing this exam gives candidates the chance to work in top government positions in India.

2. IIT-JEE

The IIT-JEE (Joint Entrance Examination Advanced) is the second toughest exam in the world and the most difficult exam in India. It is a national-level test and the only way to enter the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

Students who pass this exam may get the Siemens Scholarship, which helps them pay for their engineering degree. The JEE exam has two levels: JEE Main and JEE Advanced. Students must first pass JEE Main before they can take JEE Advanced. The JEE Main exam happens twice a year, in January and April, while the JEE Advanced exam happens once a year and is conducted by seven IITs.

This exam is very competitive, as many students try for a few available seats. In 2023, 251,673 students took the exam, but only 26.17% passed. The test lasts for three hours and has 90 questions, each worth four marks. It includes Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology.

1. Gaokao Exam

The Gaokao, or National College Entrance Exam (NCEE), is a very difficult test in China. It was introduced in 1952 and is the main exam for students who want to enter Chinese universities. The exam has tough questions in subjects like math, chemistry, biology, physics, geography, Chinese literature, and political science. It takes place once a year, usually in early June, and lasts about nine hours over two days. The schedule may be different in each province.

Most students take the Gaokao in their last year of high school, around age 18. However, preparation for this test starts early and often takes 12 years of hard work. The exam is very competitive, with a low passing rate of less than 0.25%. Each province has its own scoring system, so the passing score is different in each region and year. The pressure to do well is very high. Many students experience stress, anxiety, and other mental health problems because of this exam.

…Doctors call on President Tinubu to rescue the hospital

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja (FTHL), has renewed its plea to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, to investigate the worsening conditions at the hospital, warning that it risks total collapse.

During a peaceful protest held at the hospital yesterday, Dr. Olushola Baoku, the immediate past Chairman of ARD, revealed that the hospital’s doctor count had plummeted from 315 to just 43 due to poor working conditions.

Baoku described the hospital as a “slave camp” under the leadership of the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Olatunde Alabi. He highlighted issues such as temporary contracts renewed every two months, lack of pensions, hazard allowances, and non-functional medical facilities.

He lamented the hospital’s inability to treat emergencies, citing the death of a hospital staff member due to power outages.

The protesting doctors demanded the immediate reinstatement of their suspended President, Dr. Jimoh Umar, whose suspension followed demands for hospital reforms.

Baoku alleged that despite an order from the Minister of Health through the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Kachollom Shangti Daju, on December 12, 2024, directing Dr. Umar’s reinstatement, the CMD had refused to comply.

The association vowed to sustain its protests until their demands were met, urging the government to act swiftly to prevent the hospital’s total collapse.