85% of Nigerian Foreign Scholarship Students Don’t Return, Minister Laments ABUJA — The Minister of Education has expressed deep concern over the growing trend of Nigerian students who fail to return to the country after benefiting from government-sponsored #foreignScholarships. According to the minister, an alarming 85% of beneficiaries of Nigeria’s overseas scholarship programs choose to remain abroad after completing their studies, rather than coming back to contribute to national development. “It is disheartening that after investing heavily in their #education, many of our scholars refuse to return,” the minister said during a policy dialogue on educational development. “This undermines the purpose of these #scholarship schemes, which is to build capacity for national growth.” The government, he said, is reviewing its scholarship policies to include stricter post-study return clauses and monitoring mechanisms. Discussions are also underway to introduce agreements that would mandate beneficiaries to serve in Nigeria for a specified period after completing their programs. The revelation has sparked debate among education stakeholders and policymakers, with calls for improved local opportunities to encourage #brainGain rather than #brainDrain. Some analysts argue that the lack of adequate infrastructure, employment opportunities, and research funding at home makes it difficult for returning scholars to thrive. The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reversing the trend, noting that building a strong and sustainable educational system requires the contributions of well-trained professionals who understand the country’s unique challenges. #fobaminews #gallerynigeria #nigeriamews

Nigeria's inflation rate eased to 23.71% Nigeria #inflation in April 2025, down from 24.23% in March, according to the #National #Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This marks a continued decline from the 34.80% peak recorded in December 2024, following a rebasing of the Consumer Price #Index (CPI) that updated the base year and adjusted the inflation basket. The #moderation in #inflation is largely attributed to a decrease in food prices, with food inflation dropping to 21.26% in April from 21.79% in March. This decline is linked to reduced prices of staple food items such as #maize flour, wheat grain, dried okro, yam flour, soya beans, rice, bambara beans, and brown beans. Core inflation, which excludes volatile #agricultural produce and energy, also declined to 23.39% year-on-year in April, down from 26.84% in April 2024. On a month-on-month basis, core inflation stood at 1.34%, a decrease from 3.73% in March. #Urban inflation was reported at 24.29% year-on-year in April, a significant drop from 36.00% in April 2024. Month-on-month, urban inflation decreased to 1.18% in April from 3.96% in March. #Rural inflation also saw a decline, standing at 22.83% year-on-year in April compared to 31.64% in April 2024. On a month-on-month basis, rural inflation was 3.56% in April, down from 3.73% in March. The easing of inflation rates is seen as a positive #development for Nigeria's #economy, suggesting that recent #policy measures and favorable base effects are contributing to stabilizing prices. However, sustained efforts are required to maintain this trend and address underlying economic challenges. #fobaminews #nigerianews #

Breaking: Chris Brown Got Arrested The 36-year-old American R\&B singer, was arrested in #Manchester, England, on May 15, 2025, in connection with an alleged #assault that took place in February 2023 at Tape #nightclub in London's Mayfair district. The incident involved music producer Abe Diaw, who claims that Brown struck him multiple times on the head with a Don Julio 1942 tequila bottle, followed by punching and kicking, rendering him unconscious and causing lasting injuries. The Metropolitan #Police confirmed that a 36-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Manchester shortly after 2:00 a.m. on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. Brown remains in custody as the #investigation continues. In October 2023, Diaw filed a lawsuit against Brown, alleging severe injury and assault, and seeking $16 million (£12 million) in damages. This arrest comes just weeks before Brown was scheduled to begin his Breezy Bowl XX Tour, celebrating 20 years in the #music #industry, with performances planned in Manchester and other UK cities. Brown has a history of #legal issues, including a 2009 felony assault conviction involving then-girlfriend #Rihanna and a 2017 restraining order obtained by ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran. As of now, Brown's representatives have not publicly commented on the arrest. #globalnews #chrisbrown #fobaminews

Nigeria to Phase Out Electricity Subsidies, Signals Tariff Hike Amid N4 Trillion Debt Crisis Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has announced that the country’s economy can no longer sustain #electricitysubsidies, urging citizens to brace for #costreflectivetariffs. Speaking at a meeting with chairmen of #GeneratingCompanies (GenCos) in Abuja, Adelabu emphasized the need for consumers to pay the true cost of electricity to ensure the sustainability of the #powersector. The Federal Government currently owes GenCos over #N4trillion in unpaid subsidies, a debt that has crippled the sector and threatened nationwide blackouts. “We have to understand that our economy cannot sustain subsidies indefinitely,” Adelabu stated, highlighting the urgency of addressing the liquidity crisis. The debt, comprising N2 trillion in legacy arrears and N1.9 trillion for 2024, has left GenCos struggling to maintain infrastructure and secure loans. According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the real tariff for February 2025 was N116.18 per kilowatt-hour, while consumers paid N88.2 per kilowatt-hour, resulting in a subsidy gap of N27.97 per kilowatt-hour. All customers, except the 15% classified as #BandA, currently benefit from subsidies. Adelabu assured that the government remains committed to providing #targetedsubsidies for economically disadvantaged Nigerians but stressed that “citizens must pay the appropriate price for the energy consumed.” To address the N4 trillion debt, the government plans to pay a substantial portion in cash immediately, with the balance settled through financial instruments like #promissorynotes within six months. “We recognize the urgency of this matter,” Adelabu said, noting that a meeting with President Bola Tinubu and GenCos’ leadership is planned to finalize the payment strategy. The minister also called for #powersectorliberalization and collaboration with GenCos to educate Nigerians on efficient electricity use and tariff realities. However, the proposed tariff hike has sparked concerns among consumers, especially following recent grid collapses, with many questioning the reliability of supply amidst rising costs. This move follows a 35% reduction in electricity subsidies in 2024 after a tariff increase for high-usage consumers, which reduced the government’s tariff shortfall from N3 trillion to N1.9 trillion. As Nigeria grapples with economic challenges, the shift to cost-reflective tariffs aims to stabilize the power sector but may place additional financial strain on households. #Nigeria #ElectricityTariffs #PowerSector #N4TrillionDebt #GenCos #EnergyCrisis #nigerianews #fobaminews

JUST IN: Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has said that the country's #economy can no longer afford to maintain electricity subsidies. He advised #Nigerians to prepare for the introduction of tariffs that reflect the true costs of electricity. #nigerianews #fobaminews

⚡️BREAKING #Iran unveiled the Qassem Basir ballistic #missile with pinpoint accuracy The missile is specifically designed to bypass the US #Thaad defence system ▪️Range: 1,300 km ▪️No use of GPS and immune to electronic warfare ▪️Carbon composite body ▪️Maneuverable warhead ▪️Equipped with optical seeker to sink #warships #globalnews #fobaminews #fobami #viralnews

🚨🏆 OFFICIAL: Harry Kane wins his first major trophy! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #sport #footballnews #fobaminews

Online Romance Scam: A Nigerian-Canadian man Suspect Arrested in $610,382 Fraud Case In May 4, 2025 – A man identified as Nwabueze has been arrested in connection with a sophisticated #romancescam that defrauded victims of $610,382 between June 2021 and July 2023. Police allege Nwabueze posed as an oil rig owner in the #MiddleEast, targeting victims through a #datingplatform. He convinced them to send funds for urgent needs, promising repayment and in-person meetings that never materialized. Investigators revealed that all interactions occurred #online, with no face-to-face contact. Once suspicions arose, Nwabueze reportedly cut off communication. The total amount defrauded reached $610,382. On Monday, he was arrested and now faces charges including two counts of #fraud over $5,000, uttering forged documents, #laundering proceeds of crime, and participating in a #criminalorganization. Police suspect Nwabueze is part of a broader #criminalnetwork targeting #olderadults on dating websites. This is not his first arrest; in November 2023, he was linked to a similar $250,000 #romancescam, which is still before the courts. Nwabueze has been released and is scheduled to appear in court. Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues. #fobaminews #fraudnews #scamnews #scammersburst

#BREAKING NEWS: Meta Parent of Facebook and Instagram among others, threatening to shut down Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria over $290 million fines by the Nigeria FCCPC and what it calls "unrealistic" regulatory demands from #Nigerian authorities. #facebook #instagram #fobaminews

Canada Mark Carney Secured a Victory in Canada Prime Minister Election On April 29, 2025, Canadian Prime Minister Mark #Carney secured a decisive victory for the #LiberalParty in a snap #election, solidifying his mandate to lead #Canada amid escalating tensions with the United States. Carney, who assumed the role of prime minister in March 2025 following Justin #Trudeau’s resignation, leveraged public backlash against U.S. President Donald #Trump’s provocative #tariffs and controversial remarks about annexing Canada as the “51st state” to rally voters. The Liberals’ triumph, reported by ABC News, marks a significant political comeback, extending their decade-long grip on power and thwarting Conservative leader Pierre #Poilievre’s bid for leadership. Carney’s campaign capitalized on economic and nationalistic sentiments, promising to double #Canada’s home-building rate, reduce certain #taxes, and bolster domestic #manufacturing through an “all-in-Canada” network for vehicle parts. This strategy, outlined by the BBC, aims to reduce reliance on U.S. #imports, particularly in the #automotive sector, as a direct counter to Trump’s 25% #tariffs on Canadian vehicles not compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Carney described these tariffs as a “tragedy for global trade” during an April 3 press conference, announcing limited countermeasures, including reciprocal 25% tariffs on non-compliant U.S. vehicle imports worth C$35.6 billion ($25.3 billion). These measures, he emphasized, spare #auto parts and Mexican content to minimize disruption. The #election outcome reflects widespread Canadian frustration with Trump’s trade policies, which have rattled #markets and strained bilateral relations. Posts on X highlight Carney’s victory as a rejection of Poilievre, whom some labeled a “fascist,” underscoring the polarized sentiment surrounding the campaign. Carney’s ability to frame the election as a stand against external pressures resonated with voters, with polls showing the Liberals moving “deeper into majority territory” by April 9, erasing Poilievre’s earlier 25-point lead. The CBC News Poll Tracker reported a seven-point Liberal lead just weeks before the vote, driven by concerns over #trade and #affordability. Economically, Carney faces a daunting landscape. Trump’s 10% baseline #tariff on all U.S. #imports, with higher duties on specific countries, has sparked fears of a broader #trade-war. Canada’s countermeasures, while targeted, are seen as insufficient to fully offset the damage. Carney warned on April 3 that the U.S. approach could harm American consumers and take “a long time” to reverse, urging patience while signaling openness to further action if needed. His government’s focus on #housing and #cost-of-living issues, including plans to address soaring grocery and housing costs, aims to alleviate domestic pressures exacerbated by trade disruptions. Internationally, Carney’s leadership is under scrutiny as he navigates #Canada’s role in a shifting global order. His administration has engaged with allies like the #UK, #China, and Gulf states to counterbalance U.S. pressures, particularly after Trump’s tariff announcements soured relations with major trading partners. The New York Times noted Carney’s description of the U.S.-Canada trade deal as “the best of a series of bad deals,” reflecting a pragmatic approach to preserving economic ties despite political friction. His victory speech in #Ottawa emphasized unity and resilience, with Carney waving to supporters and pledging to protect Canadian #sovereignty and prosperity. As Carney settles into his strengthened mandate, analysts expect his government to prioritize #trade negotiations and domestic #economic reforms. The #LiberalParty’s majority ensures legislative flexibility, but challenges loom, including managing #inflation, securing #supply-chains, and addressing voter concerns about affordability. With Trump’s administration showing no signs of easing its protectionist stance, Carney’s ability to balance diplomacy and economic strategy will define his tenure. For now, his election win signals a robust Canadian rebuke to external threats, setting the stage for a pivotal chapter in #Canada-US relations. #PMCarney #CanadianPolitics #fobaminews #latestnews #globalnews