News on the Go: 5 things that should matter to you today

• Senate advances bill to establish National Rice Development Council
• EFCC clears Ellie Bitar, intensifies hunt for CBEX fraud suspects
• ASUU-UNN threatens to sue JAMB over UTME mass failure

We have highlighted the five most important developments in the news today, Tuesday, May 13, and present them below.

5 issues in the news that should matter to you today

1. Senate advances bill to establish national rice development council: The Senate has passed the second reading of a bill aimed at creating the National Rice Development Council to foster the growth of Nigeria’s rice industry.

Titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish the National Rice Development Council of Nigeria to Provide Guidance on Rice Research, Comprehensive Development of the Rice Sector, and the Organization of Rice Stakeholders to Enhance Local Production of Rice in Nigeria and for Related Matters, 2025 (SB. 541),” the bill proposes coordinated efforts among rice farmers, processors, millers, marketers, and researchers to boost the sector’s productivity.

2. EFCC clears Ellie Bitar, intensifies hunt for CBEX fraud suspects: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has removed Ellie Bitar, a representative of CBEX Solutions Ltd., from its wanted list, following new findings that cleared him of involvement in a large-scale crypto-related fraud.

In a statement released on Wednesday, May 14, the Commission noted: “Ellie Bitar of CBEX Solutions Ltd., who was earlier declared wanted, has since been removed from the list owing to new information that does not support his inclusion in the wanted persons’ list.”

Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing as the EFCC intensifies efforts to track down other suspects involved in the alleged digital asset scheme.

3. UTME mass failure: ASUU-UNN threatens to sue JAMB: The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened legal action against the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over the widespread failure in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Speaking during a press briefing in Nsukka on Wednesday, ASUU-UNN Chairman, Dr. Oyibo Eze, accused JAMB of deliberately targeting candidates from the South East to deny them university admission opportunities.

4. World Bank: NNPCL withheld N500bn in 2024 revenues: The World Bank has accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of failing to remit N500 billion to the Federation Account in 2024.

According to the latest Nigeria Development Update report, only N600 billion of the N1.1 trillion generated from crude oil sales and other sources was remitted by the NNPCL, while the remaining N500 billion was allegedly used to settle debt obligations.

The report, titled “Building Momentum for Inclusive Growth,” raised concerns about transparency and fiscal accountability in the wake of the fuel subsidy removal and downstream deregulation.

5. Nigerians constitute 10% of UK’s annual visitors, says UK envoy: The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has revealed that Nigerians make up around 10% of the United Kingdom’s annual visitors.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on UK-Nigeria Economic Growth, Montgomery highlighted the strong bilateral ties and growing travel exchange between the two countries.