Dr Sam Amadi, a University teacher and former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, has alleged that corrupt leaders in the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, are exploiting politicians aspiring for different positions.

Amadi made the allegation in an X post on Wednesday while congratulating the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on his clearance.

According to him, the terrible leaders in the opposition party will not “make it a great vehicle of change”.

He wrote, “Congrats to @PeterObi and Seriaki Dickson, two great leaders. But NDC has a lot of terrible people in leadership that will not make it a great vehicle of change.

“These corrupt guys are just exploiting aspirants and behaving no different from rotten leaders of the discredited parties.

“These guys either shape up or move out if they want Nigerians to take the party seriously.”

Muslims in Bamako have been prevented from travelling home to meet their families for this year’s Eid celebration as terrorists have cut off Milan capital from the rest of the country.

Originally from the central city of Mopti, Alpha Amadou, 40, has had to give up his usual journey home for the major holiday, known locally as Tabaski.

“For the first time in 30 years living in Bamako, I’ll be celebrating Eid here this year,” he told AFP.

Since late April, fighters from Al-Qaeda’s Sahel branch have imposed a road blockade on the main routes into Bamako, torching dozens of buses and freight trucks.

Though the blockade is only partial, images of charred vehicles have deterred many transport services from operating and travellers from heading back to their villages.

In Mali, Tabaski goes far beyond religion. It is a major social tradition, one of the few times when families, often scattered by work for months, come together.

But in Bamako’s bus stations, the usual pre-holiday rush has given way to an eerie calm. Alongside insecurity, fuel shortages have also hit the transport sector.

“Not only do we lack diesel to keep running, but we’ve also lost buses in recent incidents. It’s a huge economic blow,” said the owner of a local travel agency, speaking anonymously.

“Normally, we could transport more than 50,000 people from Bamako to other regions in a week for Tabaski. This year, we’re not planning any trips,” added a manager at another transport company.

For Wara Bagayoko, the ritual has always been the same: pack up the family car and head to Segou in central Mali to celebrate together.

But this time, he will stay behind, as even private cars have become targets.

“It will be the first time in 30 years I won’t celebrate in my village. The road is too dangerous,” he said.

“Before, about 20 of us would travel together on motorbikes to Sikasso (in the south) to celebrate,” added Oumar Diarra. “This year, we’ll stay in Bamako.”

A few minibuses still slip into the city, taking backroads or travelling with a military escort.

• Sheep in short supply –

The disruption to transport is also choking the livestock trade, which is essential for the traditional Tabaski sacrifice.

Applications are now open for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarship Scheme, offering fully funded postgraduate scholarships for Nigerians pursuing studies in Nigeria and selected overseas institutions. African business resources

The PTDF scholarship programme is designed to develop indigenous capacity and expertise for Nigeria’s oil, gas, and energy industries through advanced academic training. According to the official guidelines, successful candidates will receive full tuition support, living stipends, and additional educational support packages. (scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng)

The scholarship covers MSc and PhD programmes in priority fields related to engineering, geosciences, energy studies, environmental sciences, and technology development. (ptdf.gov.ng)

Scholarship Benefits
Selected scholars will receive: Laptops

Full tuition fees
Living and accommodation stipends
Research and study support
Health insurance coverage
Flight tickets for overseas scholars
Access to learning resources and academic support
Laptop provision for eligible scholars
Annual stipends reportedly valued around ₦700,000 for local scholars depending on programme structure and category
Available Scholarship Categories
The PTDF scholarship scheme includes: Nigeria market insights

Overseas MSc Scholarships
Overseas PhD Scholarships
Local MSc Scholarships
Local PhD Scholarships (scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng)
According to PTDF, overseas scholarships are available in selected partner institutions in countries such as:

United Kingdom
Germany
France
Malaysia (ptdf.gov.ng)
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants are expected to: Educational Resources

Be Nigerian citizens
Possess a minimum of Second Class Upper degree for MSc applications
Possess a good postgraduate degree for PhD applications
Have completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
Demonstrate strong academic performance
Meet programme-specific admission requirements
Additional requirements may vary depending on the scholarship category and study destination. Science

Priority Areas of Study
Eligible fields generally include:

Petroleum Engineering
Energy Studies
Geosciences
Environmental Technology
Renewable Energy
Mechanical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Computer Science
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
Offshore and Marine Engineering
Why This Matters
The PTDF scholarship remains one of Nigeria’s major government-funded academic support programmes aimed at building technical expertise within the energy sector. Over the years, the initiative has supported thousands of Nigerian scholars in local and international universities. Laptops

The programme also aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen local capacity in energy innovation, research, engineering, and industrial development.

Application Deadline
The deadline for applications is 5 June 2026. (scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng)