NewsRoundUp | 090725

Nigeria at a Crossways: Education Reforms, Health Warnings, Political Alliances, and Solar Power Gains

As Nigeria edges into the second half of 2025, the country finds itself at a pivotal intersection of reform, reckoning, and renewal, from sweeping policy changes in the education sector to bold moves in healthcare, politics, and renewable energy.

Government Cracks Down on Illegal University Admissions

In a decisive move to restore order and transparency in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, the Federal Government has set the minimum admission age at 16 years and warned that any admissions outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) will now be deemed illegal.

The announcement, made during the 2025 JAMB Policy Meeting, spells serious consequences for violators, including license revocation and prosecution. With over 120 universities receiving fewer than 50 applications this year, the crackdown has ignited a broader conversation around access, relevance, and regulation in the country’s rapidly expanding academic landscape.

Nigeria’s Sugary Drink Dilemma: A ₦200 Billion Health Crisis

Meanwhile, Nigeria is facing a less visible,  but equally urgent, public health crisis. The excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has led to a spike in non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, particularly among young Nigerians.

Advocacy groups like CAPPA are now calling for a steep increase in the SSB tax, from ₦10 to ₦130 per litre, to curb the trend. Backed by the World Health Organization, proponents argue that a stronger tax could save lives and fund the fragile healthcare sector. But industry leaders are pushing back, citing economic concerns.

With over 54 billion litres of sugary drinks consumed in 2024, the policy debate is intensifying,  putting health, economics, and consumer behavior under the spotlight.

A New Opposition Front for 2027?

In the political arena, winds of change are stirring. Prominent opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and David Mark,  have formed a strategic coalition aimed at unseating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential elections.

Rallying under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) banner, the coalition is still ironing out who will emerge as the consensus presidential candidate. Simultaneously, a new party, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), is being proposed, with a 15-member committee spearheading INEC registration.

While supporters call it a “rescue mission,” critics see it as a fragmented front with too many competing egos. Whether this alliance can present a compelling alternative to APC remains to be seen.

Powering Ahead: Nigeria’s Solar Surge

On the energy front, Nigeria is making real progress with its solar power expansion. In 2024 alone, the country added 73 MW of solar capacity, a jump that brings the total to 438 MW, with a 2025 target of 500 MW in sight.

Programs like Solar Power Naija are driving rural electrification and job creation, aiming to deliver 5 million new solar connections and create 250,000 jobs. Government agencies like NASENI are backing the effort through local solar panel manufacturing and technician training.

However, barriers like financing, awareness, and substandard equipment still pose challenges. Yet with persistent power outages and soaring fuel costs, solar is no longer niche, it’s becoming a national necessity.

From classrooms to health clinics, ballot boxes to solar fields, Nigeria is stepping into a period of uncomfortable but necessary transformation. Whether these efforts translate into long-term change will depend on the political will, civic participation, and technological investment that follow.

A World in Motion: From Conflict Talks to Climate Crisis and Tech Shifts

The globe is humming with tension, breakthrough, and transformation as nations grapple with mounting conflicts, historic milestones, and nature’s growing unpredictability. Here’s a panoramic view of the defining stories shaping global discourse in mid-2025.

Ceasefire Talks Offer Glimmer of Hope in Gaza Conflict

After months of bloodshed, there are signs of progress in the long-running conflict between Israel and Hamas. Multiple international mediators have backed a new ceasefire proposal that includes:

• Phased prisoner exchanges
• An immediate halt to hostilities in northern Gaza
• Increased humanitarian aid into the enclave
• Preliminary steps toward a long-term peace framework

While fragile and far from assured, the talks represent the closest brush with truce since major escalations began last year. Analysts warn that implementation remains the real challenge, especially amid political divisions in both camps.

Putin–Trump Phone Call Sends Diplomatic Shockwaves

In a surprise diplomatic development, Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump held a rare, unannounced call discussing major global hotspots:

• Ukraine war: Sources say Trump floated an off-ramp proposal involving frozen conflict zones.
• Iran’s nuclear activity: Both leaders reportedly expressed concern over Tehran’s uranium enrichment.
• 2024 U.S. election aftermath: Speculation abounds over how the call may influence American politics.

While the White House dismissed the call as “private and unofficial,” it has reignited debate about foreign influence, diplomacy, and legacy in the age of post-presidential power.

Europe Battles Wildfires Amid Record Heat

Southern Europe is once again under siege from climate-fueled wildfires, with France and Greece experiencing:

• Mass evacuations in coastal towns and tourist zones
• Airport closures, including Marseille’s temporary shutdown
• Over 30,000 hectares of forest and farmland burned

The UN Climate Office issued a warning that without dramatic emissions cuts, heatwaves like this could become the summer norm. This year marks Europe’s hottest June on record, and meteorologists expect similar conditions to persist into August.

Tragedy in Zambia Sparks Wildlife Safety Debate

An otherwise dream safari turned tragic when an elephant charged a group of tourists in Zambia’s Kafue National Park, leading to the deaths of two visitors from the UK and New Zealand. The incident has prompted:

• A nationwide review of tourist safety protocols
• Renewed discussions about human-wildlife coexistence
• Greater investment in non-invasive animal tracking tech

Authorities emphasize that while tragic, such incidents remain exceedingly rare and should not deter eco-tourism when proper precautions are taken.

Ethiopia’s GERD Dam Completion Raises Tensions on the Nile

In a highly symbolic announcement, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) complete, a project more than a decade in the making. Reactions have been sharply divided:

• Ethiopia: Celebrates the dam as a triumph of sovereignty and economic promise
• Egypt and Sudan: Warn that unilateral action could disrupt vital water flows
• Regional experts are urging the African Union to mediate a final-use agreement to prevent escalation

At stake are the livelihoods of over 280 million people who rely on the Nile’s basin for water, agriculture, and electricity.

From geopolitical rumbles to climate urgency and human tragedy, the global stage is alight with developments demanding thoughtful attention and collective action. As diplomacy wrestles with division and humanity wrestles with nature, the road ahead remains both fraught and full of possibility.