The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced that it will release the results of the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal on Thursday, September 24. According to information from the examination body, the official announcement of the results will take place at 11:00 a.m. at the Council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State, where the Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO is expected to provide details of candidates’ performance and other key statistics relating to the examination. The release of the results comes weeks after the conduct of the nationwide

June/July SSCE Internal examination, which attracted candidates from public and private secondary schools across Nigeria. Education stakeholders, parents, and candidates have been eagerly awaiting the outcome of the examination, as the results remain a major requirement for admission into tertiary institutions and other academic pursuits. NECO is expected to disclose the total number of candidates who sat for the examination, the percentage of those who obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics, as well as cases of examination malpractice recorded during the exercise. Similar announcements have traditionally

been made during official result releases at the council’s headquarters in Minna. Candidates will be able to access their results through NECO’s official result-checking portal after purchasing the required result-checking token. The National Examinations Council, established in 1999, conducts several examinations in Nigeria, including the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), and the National Common Entrance Examination.

MADRID, Spain — LaLiga president Javier Tebas has publicly rebuked Real Madrid following the club’s complaints over refereeing decisions in their 2–1 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the Madrid derby on September 20, 2026. Tebas responded on Tuesday to criticism surrounding the officiating during the derby, rejecting the suggestion that referees are deliberately targeting Real Madrid. The controversy intensified after Real Madrid manager José Mourinho publicly highlighted two incidents involving Atlético players during his post-match press conference. Mourinho questioned why Atlético defender Cristian Romero and winger Lee Kang-in were not

sent off for challenges involving Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde respectively. Real Madrid subsequently published a match report describing the officiating as a decisive factor in the defeat, arguing that the referee, Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias, failed to issue red cards in the two incidents. Tebas, however, dismissed the broader conspiracy argument. In a social-media response, the LaLiga chief described the claims as the “permanent conspiracy” narrative and argued that an individual refereeing error does not establish evidence of an organised conspiracy. He also questioned the idea that referees should

treat clubs differently because of their commercial importance, stressing that all teams should compete under the same refereeing standards. “None has the right to refereeing à la carte,” Tebas argued, according to EFE. Tebas acknowledged Real Madrid’s importance to the Spanish top flight but rejected the suggestion that LaLiga’s value depends entirely on the club. He said the competition belongs to all participating clubs, their supporters and their history, rather than to any single team. The dispute follows a particularly heated derby in which Real Madrid were reduced to 10

men after defender Dean Huijsen was sent off for a challenge on Giuliano Simeone. Atlético eventually secured the victory, while Real Madrid continued to voice concerns about earlier refereeing decisions. Tebas had already addressed the controversy on Monday, saying he understood Real Madrid’s complaints but disagreed with the manner in which they were expressed. He also argued that the refereeing decisions did not ultimately determine the result. Regarding the disputed incidents, Tebas said Huijsen’s red card was justified. He considered Romero’s challenge on Bellingham insufficient for a red card, while

acknowledging that Lee Kang-in’s challenge on Valverde could reasonably have resulted in a dismissal. The Valverde incident has added further attention to the controversy. Real Madrid later confirmed that the Uruguay midfielder suffered a serious left-ankle sprain during the match following the challenge by Lee Kang-in. Tebas nevertheless maintained that allegations of referees being directed against Real Madrid were unfounded, arguing that focusing on conspiracy claims could divert attention from the team’s performances on the pitch. The latest clash further highlights the long-running tension between Real Madrid and the LaLiga

president, with disagreements over refereeing, league governance and the treatment of the competition’s major clubs repeatedly becoming subjects of public debate. For now, the dispute remains centred on two competing positions: Real Madrid’s public criticism of the derby officiating and Tebas’ rejection of the suggestion that those decisions demonstrate a systematic campaign against the club.

Governor Peter Mbah approves immediate appointment of seven Special Advisers, six Senior Special Assistants and 88 Special Assistants to oversee various areas of governance in Enugu State. Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has approved the appointment of 101 political and administrative aides as part of efforts to strengthen the machinery of his administration. The appointments, which take immediate effect, were announced in a public service statement signed by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, on Monday, September 21, 2026. The new appointees comprise seven Special

Advisers, six Senior Special Assistants and 88 Special Assistants, with responsibilities covering governance, economic development, security, environmental management, youth affairs, community relations, communication and other areas. Among those appointed as Special Advisers are Chief S.N.C. Nwagu, who will oversee Conflict Resolution and Mediation; Dr Fidelis Odo, Inter-Governmental Affairs and Coordination; Augustine Okoli, Policy Affairs and Analysis; and Pedro Nwankwo, Stakeholders Relations and Community Affairs. Others include Chimezie Nkwuo, Economic Development; Chief Vitalis Okonkwo, Grassroots Coordination; and Peter Andy Omeje, Commerce and Business Development. The six Senior Special Advisers were also

assigned specific portfolios. They include Rachael Okonkwo, Film and Creative Industry Development; Barr. Okey Ude, Inter-Party and Mobilisation; Chinedu Chukwunwike, Party Monitoring; Barr. Peter Chukwujekwu Ogbe, Legal and Regulatory Compliance; Chukwudi Ozoeluba, Boundary and Land Dispute Resolution; and Frank Udemezue, Small and Medium Enterprise Development. The larger group of 88 Special Assistants will handle a wide range of responsibilities across the state. Their portfolios include forest protection and conservation, market sanitation and decongestion, health facility maintenance, environmental protection, road infrastructure maintenance, grassroots development, youth engagement, women mobilisation, civic education, voter

awareness, security intelligence and community development. Other areas covered by the appointments include technology and digital innovation, social media, government communication, public enlightenment, rural development, gender advocacy, sports development, project monitoring, inter-party relations and stakeholder engagement. The appointments also include aides responsible for youth empowerment and skills development, environmental sanitation, public utilities, social welfare, political liaison, community mobilisation and national re-orientation. A political scientist based in Enugu, Dr Ifeanyi Nnamani, told PUNCH that the range of portfolios, particularly those relating to inter-party affairs, voter awareness and grassroots mobilisation, could have

implications for the political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections. Nnamani said the inclusion of portfolios focused on youth engagement, women mobilisation and inter-party relations could strengthen the administration's grassroots structures and communication with residents. His assessment was presented as an analysis of the appointments, rather than an official explanation by the Enugu State Government. The government statement did not indicate that the appointments were temporary, stating instead that all 101 appointments take effect immediately. The appointments bring additional personnel into the state government's political and administrative structure, with

the various aides expected to work within their assigned areas of responsibility. The development comes as political parties and political actors across Nigeria intensify preparations and organisational activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, although the government's announcement primarily details the new appointees and their official portfolios.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, has uncovered an illegal fruit-juice production facility in the Badagry area of Lagos State and arrested two women allegedly connected with the operation. The suspects, whose identities were withheld, are aged 48 and 50. They were arrested following surveillance by NSCDC operatives, who worked with a Nigerian Army formation in the area. According to the Corps, the operation took place between Saturday night, September 19, and the early hours of Sunday, September 20, 2026, after intelligence gathered through community

engagement pointed to suspected illicit production activities. The NSCDC said the facility was allegedly producing and distributing fake “Barkas Juice” without the use of genuine fruit. Preliminary investigations reportedly showed that the beverage was made from water, high levels of sugar, synthetic flavourings, industrial sweeteners, artificial colourants, dyes and chemical preservatives. The Corps also alleged that the production was carried out in an unhygienic environment, creating concerns about the safety of products reaching consumers. The alleged owner of the business reportedly told investigators that the enterprise had been inherited from

her grandmother about 20 years ago. According to the NSCDC, the business initially involved water production before it was later expanded into fruit-juice production. The Corps further alleged that the products were distributed to markets in Lagos, Benin City in Edo State and other parts of the country. Authorities also raised concerns over the use of a purportedly fake National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration number, identified as 01-2166L. During the operation, NSCDC operatives reportedly recovered cartons of the suspected adulterated juice, a truck, production

machinery, chemicals, drums and gas cylinders. The Lagos State Commandant of the NSCDC, Commandant Adedotun Keshinro, ordered the immediate closure of the unregistered facility to prevent further production and distribution of the suspected adulterated beverage. Keshinro said the suspects would undergo further investigation and be prosecuted in accordance with the law. The Command also said it would collaborate with NAFDAC and other relevant regulatory authorities on laboratory testing, further investigation and possible prosecution. The NSCDC urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of illegal manufacturing

and distribution of adulterated consumer products to relevant authorities. The Corps said cooperation between residents and security agencies through community intelligence-sharing remained important in detecting and disrupting activities capable of threatening public health and safety.