The Independent National Electoral Commission has removed artificial intelligence-generated photographs uploaded to the national voters’ register and flagged officials involved in the practice across 10 states for disciplinary action.

INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this during a webinar titled ‘AI, Misinformation and Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Safeguarding the Truth, Protecting the Vote’, organised by the PUNCH Media Foundation on Wednesday.

Haruna, who is also the Chairman of INEC Information and Voter Education Committee, described the development as a major challenge.

He also noted that the commission faced limitations in preventing individuals from enhancing their photographs before uploading them to the voters’ register.

Haruna, however, said the commission had identified cases involving its own officials and was taking steps to address the violations.

We have already seen one of the challenges, which is that a lot of AI-generated photographs were posted onto the voters’ register, which, as we have said, we have had to take down,” he said.

Haruna explained that while it might be difficult to prevent members of the public from manipulating their photographs before uploading them, the commission had greater control over cases involving its personnel.

But the ones involving our own staff, where it is our own staff that did so, that one is within our control. We are in the process of addressing it. They have been flagged,” he said.

The commissioner disclosed that the officials had been identified in about 10 states and would face disciplinary action.

“We have their names across about 10 states, and obviously, they are going to face disciplinary action,” he added.

On the commission’s preparedness to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in the electoral process, Haruna said INEC had developed an AI policy but was still working to finalise it.

He noted that artificial intelligence presented new challenges that were still evolving, making it difficult for countries, including advanced democracies, to establish comprehensive regulatory frameworks.

“As you know very well, it is new territory out there. Even the most advanced countries don’t have what you might call concrete, specific policies about AI because these things are evolving,” he said.

Haruna, however, said the commission had outlined how it intended to deploy the technology and would soon finalise its policy for public consideration.

But we have at least some ideas of what we want to do and how we want to use that. We have that policy. Very soon, we will concretise it, and we will be able to share it with the media,” he said.

The Nigeria Police Force says newly acquired cybersecurity tools have the capacity to detect deepfake videos, voice cloning and other forms of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated manipulation with up to 99 per cent accuracy.

The police said the technology would strengthen its capacity to tackle the growing threat of AI-generated misinformation and disinformation ahead of the forthcoming elections.

A representative of the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police Bashir Abdullahi, disclosed this at a webinar organised PUNCH Media Foundation on Wednesday, themed “AI Misinformation and Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Safeguarding the Truth, Protecting the Vote,” while addressing concerns about the possible use of artificial intelligence to manipulate electoral information, impersonate political candidates and spread false reports capable of undermining election security.

He explained that AI-generated videos, photographs and audio recordings could falsely portray candidates, public officials and electoral authorities as making statements they never made.

According to him, voice cloning also presents a security concern, as individuals could imitate political opponents or other public figures to circulate false announcements, endorsements, threats and inflammatory messages.

He, however, assured Nigerians that the police had acquired technological solutions capable of identifying such manipulations

The cyber solutions that the police have procured of recent have the ability to verify this information 99 per cent,” he said.

He maintained that the police were prepared to provide the necessary security and protect citizens’ fundamental human rights, particularly their right to participate freely in the electoral process.

He said the police recognised the importance of ensuring a level playing field for citizens to exercise their democratic rights without intimidation or manipulation.

The police representative further explained that the emergence of AI-related threats had made it necessary for security agencies to strengthen their preparedness to address digital manipulation during elections.

He cited the circulation of allegedly manipulated photographs of a political rally in one of the southern states, where one image reportedly showed an empty stadium while another portrayed it as filled with a crowd exceeding its actual capacity.

According to him, the stadium could accommodate approximately 30,000 people, but another image was circulated suggesting that about 50,000 spectators had attended the event.

He said such content could distort public perception, provoke political disagreements and create security challenges if circulated without verification.

On the police response to such incidents, he identified attribution and verification as key responsibilities of the Police Cybercrime Centre.

He explained that investigators would establish who originated the information, determine its authenticity and investigate the circumstances surrounding its circulation.

He also disclosed that an individual had been taken into police custody over alleged false information concerning a political candidate from the South-South region.

He said the police would continue to investigate such incidents and ensure that anyone found to have committed an offence was dealt with in accordance with the law.

The police further emphasised the importance of collaboration among security agencies, the National Broadcasting Commission, media organisations, civil society groups and the National Orientation Agency in addressing election-related misinformation.

He urged citizens to verify information through credible platforms before sharing it, warning that the circulation of unverified reports could heighten political tension and threaten public safety.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the police to strengthening election security through technological innovation, intelligence gathering, investigation and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Yiaga Africa has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to strengthen the capacity of its personnel to detect and counter artificial intelligence-generated misinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The organisation’s Director of Programmes, Cynthia Mbamalu, said INEC needed to improve the digital literacy of staff managing its information technology departments and social media platforms to enable the commission to respond effectively to emerging threats.

Mbamalu spoke on Wednesday at a webinar organised by the PUNCH Media Foundation, titled ‘AI, Misinformation and Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Safeguarding the Truth, Protecting the Vote.’

She said the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence required electoral officials to acquire the technical knowledge needed to identify manipulated content and deploy appropriate tools to counter it.

We are working with an electoral commission that is existing in a space that is evolving fast. The artificial intelligence-based ecosystem is evolving really fast and so there is a need for internal capacity building, especially with respect to personnel managing the IT departments of the commission and even the social media platforms of the commission,” she said.

Mbamalu added that INEC needed to equip its personnel with the knowledge to use AI tools to detect and counter manipulated content.

Digital literacy is key, not just digital literacy to understand, even how to leverage AI tools to counter. Like I said, they use AI to find AI sometimes, and so that level of information is needed,” she said.

She also urged the commission to improve its response to misleading information, citing the controversy surrounding images purportedly taken from the voters’ register.

According to her, some people circulated images that were not from the register amid concerns about fictitious information, making it necessary for INEC to provide timely clarification.

“The other is also the response to issues as they come up. And I always give an example of the voter register. That was the most important issue that happened recently.

While there were issues of fictitious information, some people immediately started creating images that were not from the voter register, and we expected INEC to respond to those kinds of information because once you remain silent, those things become viral,” she said.

The Yiaga Africa director said INEC could engage additional technical personnel or external support to help manage the information space ahead of the elections.

She further advised the commission to provide clarification rather than issue outright denials whenever concerns arise, noting that delayed explanations could undermine public trust.

“If there is an issue, you respond and rather than deny, provide clarity. But if there is something that is clearly fake, you provide the alternative truth to it,” she said.

Cybercrimes Act must not suppress free speech

Mbamalu also raised concerns about the application of the Cybercrimes Act, warning that journalists and citizens expressing opinions could become victims when the law was applied unfairly.

She called on the police to protect freedom of expression and press freedom while enforcing the law.

“The call is for fairness in application of the rules and, most importantly, that even in applying the provisions of the Cybercrimes Act, there’s a focus on the fundamental rights of freedom of expression,” she said.

She added that some citizens had faced consequences for sharing information that was not misinformation but was considered offensive by its recipients.

A man arrested by the Federal Capital Territory Police Command has admitted to sexually assaulting and filming a woman naked after she defaulted on a N600,000 loan.

The suspect, identified as Ahmed Usman, was paraded by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, in a video posted on her Facebook page on Wednesday.

Adeh said the suspect specialised in lending money to widows and vulnerable women before demanding weekly interest payments.

She said the case that led to his arrest was reported to officers of the Lugbe Division on November 5 after the suspect allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted a woman, a nursing mother, who failed to meet her weekly repayment.

According to the police spokesperson, the suspect had lent the woman N600,000 and required her to pay N30,000 weekly as interest, in addition to the principal.

Adeh said the woman missed a payment because of poor sales and went to meet the suspect with the N24,000 she had available.

She alleged that the suspect pushed the woman into his vehicle, threatened her with a knife and drove her to a secluded location behind the chief’s palace in Lugbe, where he sexually assaulted her.

The police spokesperson added that the suspect threatened to kill the woman if she failed to pay him, prompting her to raise the money and transfer it to him before reporting the incident to the police.

Adeh said officers tracked and arrested the suspect, adding that he attempted to escape with a police officer in his vehicle before he was eventually apprehended

Speaking during the parade, Usman admitted lending the woman N600,000 and collecting weekly payments of N30,000.

He also admitted to asking her to remove her clothes, having canal knowledge, and recording her naked.

“I loan money to women. So this fateful woman, she took loan from me, 600,000. Normally she used to pay 30,000 weekly, and finally the day she defaulted to pay, I called her, invited her over. She came to my car, which is a Toyota car. And I asked her to take off her dress. So, after videoing her, I made love to her,” he said.

When Adeh asked how he recorded the woman, Usman said, “I video her. I asked her to take off her clothes, naked her and I video her, even ask her to open her vagina, I video her.”

He also admitted driving away with a police officer during the arrest operation, explaining that he later realised the officer was the Divisional Police Officer and returned to drop him off.

“When I find out that it was DPO, I have to go and make U-turn, and bring him back and drop him. That is what happened,” he said.

The suspect, who said he was from Nasarawa State, disclosed that he was married and had six children. He pleaded for forgiveness during the interview.

“I am very sorry to my children and my wife. Please, let me have a second chance. I will be the best father and the best citizen of this country. Please,” he said.

Adeh said the investigation was ongoing and that the command was working with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) on the case.

The Ogun State Government has approved major road construction and rehabilitation projects across the state, alongside the procurement of an advanced Siemens helium free 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine for the Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence.

The approvals are aimed at improving road connectivity, supporting economic activities and expanding access to quality diagnostic services.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the decisions were reached at the State Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday.

The approved road projects include the construction of the RCCG New Auditorium Road to One Million Junction in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area and the rehabilitation of two stretches of Old Ondo Road in Ijebu Ode Local Government Area: Lagos Garage to Epe Garage and Lagos Garage to Adeola Odutola College.

The Council also approved the construction of Saje Junction to Elega Road and the reconstruction of the corridor linking Ajitadun Roundabout, Mokola Underbridge and Elega Junction, both in Abeokuta North Local Government Area.

These projects are expected to ease travel, facilitate the movement of goods and services, and improve access to homes, businesses and economic centres within the benefiting communities.

In the health sector, the approved Siemens 1.5 Tesla MRI machine will strengthen the diagnostic capacity of the Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence, enabling more accurate and timely diagnosis of conditions requiring advanced medical imaging.

The equipment is also expected to reduce the need for residents to seek diagnostic services outside Ogun State, while complementing the government’s investment in modern healthcare facilities.

The approvals reflect the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON’s determination to translate infrastructure investment into practical improvements in people’s lives through better roads, stronger economic connections and greater access to quality healthcare.

An illustrious daughter of Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria, Madam Modupe died in the United Kingdom on September 16, 2026. She was laid to rest following a funeral service held on November 6, 2026, at Honour Oak Chapel, Brockley Way, London, SE4 2LJ.

Her death represents the loss of a woman whose life journey spanned nearly a century, crossed continents and touched generations. Yet, beyond the remarkable number of years she lived, it was the values she embodied and the sacrifices she made for her family that defined her legacy.

Born in Ode Remo, in the Sagamu area of Ogun State, Mrs Modupe belonged to a generation shaped by discipline, perseverance, dignity and a strong sense of family responsibility. These values would become the defining principles of her life, particularly following her migration to the United Kingdom some six decades ago.

Her journey in Britain was one of determination and relentless hard work. While building a new life in a foreign country, she combined her duties as a District Nurse at King's College Hospital and St Thomas' Hospital in London with two other jobs. Her overriding motivation was to provide her children with the necessities of life and, above all, a sound education.

Indeed, her story was not simply that of a woman who migrated in search of better opportunities; it was that of a mother who turned opportunity into sacrifice and sacrifice into a lasting family legacy.

She married Mr Joseph Popoola Modupe, and their union was blessed with four children; Manny, Tina, Ayo and Tosh. She was also a grandmother and great-grandmother, living long enough to witness successive generations grow and establish themselves.

She left a legacy of highly skilled professionals, including doctors and lawyers in the United Kingdom. The accomplishments of her children and the generations that followed form part of the enduring testimony to her commitment to motherhood, guidance and family development.

But perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of Mama London's life was her extraordinary work ethic. Even at an age when many would have long retired from active work, she remained remarkably industrious. According to tributes delivered at her funeral, she continued working at her stall at East Street Market in London until the age of 91.

That detail alone offers a compelling glimpse into the character of a woman whose determination was not diminished by age. It speaks of a lifetime of independence, resilience and an uncommon commitment to purposeful living.

* A LIFE OF SACRIFICE, SERVICE AND INSPIRATION

The funeral service brought together family, friends and well-wishers to celebrate a life that left an indelible impression on those who knew her. Tributes painted the picture of a devoted mother, a hardworking professional and a woman whose example inspired generations.

One of the tributes delivered in her honour captured the remarkable journey of the deceased, recalling her Nigerian roots, her years of service in Britain and her dedication to her children.

"We are gathered here today to pay our respect to a truly remarkable woman, Mrs Mercy Mojisola Modupe, who was born in Ode Remo, Sagamu, Nigeria. Up until the age of 91 years, she was still working on the stall at East Street Market in London. She would have been 94 on 11th October 2026 (just gone).

"She married Mr Joseph Popoola Modupe and their marriage was blessed with four wonderful children (Manny, Tina, Ayo and Tosh). She was a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother.

"She came to the UK some 60 years ago, doing two other jobs whilst working as a District Nurse at King's College Hospital and St Thomas' Hospital in London, so as to ensure that her children had food in their stomachs, clothes on their backs, a roof over their heads and a good sound education. Mama was indeed an inspiration to us all and an epitome of hard work."

The Issues Magazine reports that the tribute encapsulated the essence of her life; a woman who worked tirelessly, served others and placed the welfare and future of her children above personal comfort.

Her professional service as a District Nurse also deserves recognition. Beyond her responsibilities at home, she contributed to the care of others through her work in the health sector, demonstrating a commitment to service that extended beyond her immediate family.

* A LEGACY THAT TRANSCENDS GENERATIONS

At 94, Madam Mojisola Modupe had witnessed tremendous changes in society, experienced life across two countries and lived to see her family grow across generations. Her story is a reminder that the true measure of a life is not necessarily found in public acclaim or material possessions, but in the people nurtured, the values imparted and the positive influence left behind.

For her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her legacy will remain a source of pride and inspiration. Her life offers enduring lessons in perseverance, selflessness, discipline and the dignity of honest labour.

Although her passing leaves a void in the hearts of family members, friends and associates, the memories of her devotion and the example she set will continue to live on.

Madam Mercy Mojisola Modupe may have taken her final bow at 94, but the story of her life does not end with her funeral. It continues in the lives of the children she raised, the generations she nurtured and the values she bequeathed to those who came after her.

She lived for her family, worked with uncommon determination and left behind a legacy that time cannot erase. Mama London will be remembered.

- The Issues Magazine 

Applications are now invited for the 2027 Eric Bleumink Scholarship from international students.

The Eric Bleumink Scholarship covers tuition fee, costs of international travel, subsistence, books, and health insurance throughout the duration of the Master’s program.

This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to apply for the scholarship for all interested and qualified candidiates

2027 Eric Bleumink Scholarship Summary

• Host Country: Netherlands
• Study Abroad: Study in Europe 
• Category: Postgraduate Scholarships | Masters Scholarships
• Eligible Countries: All Countries 
• Reward: Full Scholarship | Travel Costs | Health Insurance
• Deadline: December 1, 2026

2027 Eric Bleumink Scholarship Details:

Eric Bleumink Scholarships For International Students aims to provide educational support for students who wish to proceed in their postgraduate career in any discipline at the university.

The University of Groningen is a research university with a global outlook, deeply rooted in Groningen, City of Talent. Quality has had top priority for four hundred years, and with success: the University is currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists.

If you’ve consistently excelled in your academics and achieved exceptional grades throughout your educational journey, you’re more likely to succeed in this opportunity. Make sure you seize it!

2027 Eric Bleumink Scholarship Requirements:

To apply for the 2027 Eric Bleumink Scholarship, interested candidates should:

• Have received provisional or unconditional admission for a master programme before February. Only then will applicants be considered for a grant from the Eric Bleumink Fund
• Have excellent academic performance, preferably to be confirmed by letters of recommendation
• Have excellent grades during their bachelor/undergraduate studies;
• Have excellent English language proficiency, in accordance with the admission requirements of the program of choice
• Be available for the whole period of the programme and be able to take part in the entire programme
• Be in good health, so that health insurance in the Hold the nationality of a country appearing in Appendix 1.
• Have no other means of financing the study in question

2027 Eric Bleumink Scholarship Duration and Reward

• The Eric Bleumink Scholarship covers tuition fee, costs of international travel, subsistence, books, and health insurance.  
• The grant is awarded for a 1 year or 2 years Master’s degree programme.

How To Apply for the 2027 Eric Bleumink Scholarship Fund (Step by Step)

READ HOW TO APPLY ON OUR NEW VERSION

Deadline: December 1, 2026

Available exchange rate reports indicate that the official market rate was around ₦1,350.36 per dollar on Tuesday, November 10, while parallel-market dealers quoted buying and selling rates of approximately ₦1,411 and ₦1,419, respectively.

At the parallel market, also known as the black market, the exchange rate varies depending on the location and the Bureau De Change (BDC) operator.

The latest reported parallel-market figures indicate that Nigerians selling $1 to currency dealers could receive approximately ₦1,411, while those purchasing $1 may pay about ₦1,419.

At the official market, the NFEM rate remains the benchmark for foreign exchange transactions in Nigeria.

The difference between the reported official rate of ₦1,350.36 and the parallel market selling rate of ₦1,419 is approximately ₦68.64 per dollar.

The exchange rate may change during the day depending on dollar supply, demand and trading activities across the foreign exchange market.

Nigerians are advised to confirm prevailing rates with their banks and licensed currency dealers before carrying out foreign exchange transactions.

Three people have been killed and at least three others, including the driver, hospitalised in critical condition after an SUV crashed into pedestrians near a Metro station in Los Angeles, United States.

The crash occurred at about 5:55 pm local time on Tuesday at the intersection of Lankershim Boulevard and Chandler Boulevard in North Hollywood, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The Los Angeles Police Department said the vehicle struck five people, killing three, while the driver was among those taken to hospital in critical condition.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the SUV mounted the sidewalk near the North Hollywood Metro Station, hitting a group of street vendors and pedestrians.

In a statement shared on social media, Bass expressed condolences to the victims’ families.

I’m heartbroken for the families of everyone impacted,” she said.

Authorities had yet to disclose further details about the circumstances surrounding the crash.

In a similar crash style, though ghastly, PUNCH had reported a total of seven people have been taken to hospital after a car struck several pedestrians on Hyndland Road in the west end of Glasgow, Scotland.

Police Scotland said the incident happened at about 3.45pm on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, prompting an emergency response involving police officers, firefighters and ambulance personnel 

Nigerian-born American lawyer, Shirley Emehelu, has been appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey in the United States, making her the first immigrant to occupy the position in the state’s history.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill announced Emehelu’s appointment on Monday, November 9, 2026, saying the selection marked the first time the state’s two highest executive offices would be occupied by women.

Emehelu, who also retains her position as Secretary of State, assumed office on Monday following the appointment.

She succeeds Dale Caldwell, who resigned in September.

In a statement shared by the New Jersey Governor’s Office announcing the appointment, Sherrill said Emehelu had demonstrated commitment to public service through her work in prosecuting financial fraud, tackling government waste and abuse, defending civil rights and protecting consumers.

Shirley embodies those values,” the governor said, describing her as a leader committed to accountability and serving New Jersey residents.

Emehelu said she was honoured by the appointment and pledged to bring her experience in public service to the new role

I’ve spent my career upholding the law, protecting families, and rooting out fraud, abuse, and corruption,” she said.

She added that she would focus on lowering costs, expanding opportunities and ensuring that government delivered for residents.

Emehelu was born in Nigeria and moved to the United States at the age of three.

She initially lived in Chicago before relocating to Pittsburgh.

She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School.

According to her profile, Emehelu worked as an Assistant United States Attorney from 2010 to 2019, prosecuting cases involving financial fraud.

She also served as Chief of Asset Recovery and Anti-Money Laundering at the US Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.

She joined New Jersey’s state government in 2022 as Executive Assistant Attorney General, the third-highest-ranking official in the state’s Attorney General’s Office.

In January 2026, she joined the Sherrill administration as Acting State Comptroller, where she led efforts to tackle fraud, waste and abuse and protect public funds.

She subsequently became Acting Secretary of State in September 2026, taking responsibility for overseeing the state’s electoral administration before her appointment as lieutenant governor.

Ogunyakin emerged at the organisation’s election held during the 18th edition of the Salon International de l’Artisanat de Ouagadougou, also known as the International Arts and Crafts Fair of Ouagadougou, in Burkina Faso, where delegates from several African countries participated in the electoral process.

He succeeds Ivorian Ali Cisse, founder and organiser of the Salon International des Arts et de l’Artisanat de Grand-Bassam, who had led the organisation since its establishment in 2020.

His emergence is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s role in the promotion and preservation of African arts, crafts and cultural heritage, with the new president pledging to expand the continent’s creative heritage and give its products greater international recognition.

Delegates and representatives from Ghana, The Gambia, Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, Togo, Cameroon, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire, among other countries, attended the event at Ouaga 2000 in Ouagadougou.

In his acceptance speech, Ogunyakin expressed gratitude to the delegates for electing him, describing his emergence as both an honour and a responsibility to the continent’s artists and craftspeople.

“To have been elected by you — my colleagues and fellow custodians of African craftsmanship — with 65 per cent of the vote, to lead this great continental organisation for the next five years, is an honour I do not take lightly,” he said.

He also commended the Burkinabe government for hosting the event and the organising committee, led by the President of ODEVAA Burkina Faso, Hachim Touré, for what he described as a transparent electoral process conducted both physically and online.

Cull from The Punch

The Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council has sued the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and members of the reconstituted Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council before the state High Court in Ijebu-Ode, challenging what it describes as an unlawful attempt to displace the traditional administrative structure of Ijebuland.

Other defendants in the suit include the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; and members of the recently reconstituted Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council, namely High Chief Rasheed Adesanya, the Olisa of Ijebu-Ode; Chief Chris Okunowo, the Bobasuwa; Prof. Jide Ajayi, the Jagun Aso; Chief Stephen Bakare, the Babalaje; and Chief Alade Shote, the Otun Balogun.

The suit, dated November 5, 2026, and marked HCJ/201/2026, seeks to establish the authority of the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council to oversee the traditional and administrative affairs of Ijebu-Ode during the interregnum following the death of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

According to a statement from the media office of the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council and accompanying court documents made available to journalists on Tuesday, the nine-member council, led by the Adele and Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, Dr Sonny Kuku, is asking the court to declare that the Adele system is the only legitimate traditional administrative authority recognised by the native law, customs and ancestral practices of the Ijebu people during the period between the reigns of successive Awujales.

The plaintiffs are also challenging the establishment and subsequent reconstitution of the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council, describing the arrangement as alien to Ijebu customary law and inconsistent with the Ogun State Chiefs Law.

In the substantive suit, they are seeking a declaration that neither the governor nor the relevant government authorities have the power to create or reconstitute an administrative council capable of displacing the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council during an interregnum.

They are further asking the court to set aside the purported reconstitution of the AIAC and the appointments of the fifth to eighth defendants, describing them as irregular, illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

The plaintiffs also want a perpetual injunction restraining the governor, the relevant ministries and other government officials from interfering with or bypassing the customary administrative functions of the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council.

Similarly, they are seeking an order restraining the reconstituted Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council from holding meetings, parading themselves or exercising traditional, civil or financial administrative authority over Ijebu-Ode under the disputed arrangement.

The statement read that the plaintiffs are seeking: “A declaration that under the native law, custom, tradition, and ancestral usages of the Ijebu-Ode people, the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council is the sole, valid, and historically recognised traditional administrative authority entitled to manage the interim traditional and local administrative affairs of Ijebu-Ode during an interregnum following the transition of the Awujale of Ijebuland.

“A declaration that the unilateral creation, establishment, or reconstitution of an administrative body known as the ‘Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council’ (AIAC) by the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Defendants is alien, unknown, and offensive to the native law, customs, traditions, and ancestral usages of the Ijebu-Ode people, and completely inconsistent with the provisions of the Chiefs Law of Ogun State.

“A declaration that neither the Chiefs Law of Ogun State nor any applicable customary law empowers the 1st to 3rd Defendants to arbitrarily invent, sustain, or reconstitute an ‘Interregnum Administrative Council’ to sideline, supplant, or replace the ancestral Adele system and traditional council structures during an interregnum.”

The plaintiffs are also seeking an order setting aside the purported reconstitution of the AIAC and the appointments of the fourth to eighth defendants by the first to third defendants, which they describe as irregular, illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

They further want a permanent injunction restraining the first to third defendants, their agents, officials, ministries or privies from interfering with, bypassing or disrupting their customary administrative functions during the interregnum.

Another relief sought is an order restraining the fourth to eighth defendants from holding meetings, parading themselves or attempting to exercise traditional, civil or financial administrative authority over Ijebu-Ode under the disputed AIAC arrangement.

Recall that traditional chiefs in Ijebu-Ode and members of the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council, constituted by the state government in August last year following the death of the Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona, recently resolved to dissolve the council and transition to the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council to oversee the affairs of the ancient town pending the emergence of a substantive Awujale.

The decision was reportedly reached at a meeting involving the Ilamuren, Pampa, Odi and other chiefs of Ijebu-Ode. The traditional leaders were said to have unanimously adopted a resolution mandating members of the AIAC to step down from their existing positions and become members of the newly constituted Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council.

According to the resolution signed by Kuku, the chiefs said the decision to transition from the interregnum administration to the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council was informed by their consideration of the existing traditional and statutory frameworks governing the Awujale chieftaincy institution.

The government, however, announced the reconstitution of the AIAC, reaffirming its legal authority to oversee the administrative and traditional affairs of Ijebuland pending the appointment and coronation of a new Awujale.

Responding to the emergence of the Adele Oba Awujale group, the government declared that the body had no legal or customary recognition under the Awujale Chieftaincy Declaration or the existing chieftaincy legislation in Ogun State.

It stated that neither the Awujale Chieftaincy Declaration nor the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State 2021 made provision for an Adele Oba Awujale group or assigned it any recognised responsibility in the management of the Awujale stool.

The government subsequently announced the reconstitution of the council, naming Adesanya, the Olisa of Ijebu-Ode, as chairman and Okunowo, the Bobasuwa, as secretary. Ajayi, Bakare and Shote were named as members.

It said the reconstituted council would continue to discharge the legally recognised administrative and traditional responsibilities of the AIAC until a new Awujale was appointed and crowned.

The Fusengbuwa ruling house had earlier sued Abiodun, the Awujale kingmakers and five others before the High Court in Ijebu-Ode, seeking orders compelling the completion of the process for selecting the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.

The Awujale stool became vacant in July 2025 following the death of Oba Adetona at the age of 91, after 65 years on the throne.

The Ogun State Government halted the selection process in January 2026, citing petitions from security agencies and stakeholders, following an earlier suspension in December 2025 over procedural concerns.

A total of 95 aspirants, comprising 94 princes and one princess, emerged from the ruling house nomination process held in Ijebu-Ode in December 2025 before the government halted the selection process.

Culled from The Punch 

The African Democratic Congress in Kebbi State has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to arrest some of its members, including the party’s spokesperson, accusing unnamed influential individuals of planning to use security agencies to intimidate opposition figures.

The party also alleged that the residence of one of its members, Mudasir Sani, was recently raided over his activities on social media, where he reportedly promotes the party’s policies and political messages.

The ADC made the allegations in a statement issued on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi and signed by its Deputy Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Musa.

It called on the Kebbi State Government, the Nigeria Police Force and human rights organisations to investigate the alleged incidents and ensure that opposition members were not subjected to intimidation or harassment because of their political affiliations.

The party said reports reaching it indicated that some influential individuals had allegedly discussed plans to use security agencies against members expressing political opinions and promoting the ADC on social media platforms.

“Of particular concern to the party is the allegation that even the ADC spokesperson is among those reportedly being targeted for arrest,” the statement said.

It added that any confirmed attempt to arrest opposition members for expressing political views would raise serious concerns about the protection of fundamental rights and democratic freedoms.

On the alleged raid on Sani’s residence, the party said it wanted the authorities to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The party calls on the relevant authorities to clarify the reasons behind the raid and ensure that his fundamental rights as a citizen are fully respected,” it said.

The ADC said the alleged developments were not isolated, recalling that its Maiyama Local Government Chairman was recently arrested and reportedly spent almost two weeks in prison before his eventual release.

It further disclosed that approximately eight members of its media team were currently facing court proceedings.
The party also accused the police of failing to provide adequate information about a complaint it submitted against a senior government official more than one month ago.

“In another separate incident, the party lodged a formal complaint at the Kebbi State Police Command Headquarters against a senior government official more than one month ago.

“However, according to the party, it has yet to receive any comprehensive information regarding the action taken or the current status of the investigation into the complaint,” the statement said.

The opposition party urged the police to provide an update on the complaint and ensure that investigations were conducted without political interference.

It said, “These developments have compelled the ADC to call on the relevant authorities to ensure that investigations are conducted and the law is enforced fairly and impartially, without political discrimination or favouritism based on an individual’s status or political affiliation.”

The party specifically called on the National Human Rights Commission to investigate reports of alleged human rights violations, intimidation and harassment involving its members.

It also urged judicial authorities to uphold due process and ensure that every citizen enjoyed equal protection under the law, irrespective of political affiliation.

Reaffirming its commitment to democratic participation, the ADC maintained that belonging to an opposition political party was not a criminal offence.

“We wish to reiterate that belonging to an opposition political party is not a crime.

“Expressing political opinions, criticising government policies, and disseminating political messages are fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, provided they are exercised within the confines of the law,” it said.

The party warned against using political power or state institutions to silence citizens and restrict their participation in legitimate political activities.

The ADC will not accept any attempt to use political power or state institutions to silence citizens, suppress their opinions, or deny them the freedom to participate in legitimate political activities,” the statement added.

However, the party urged its members to remain peaceful and law-abiding, advising them to report any cases of intimidation or harassment to the appropriate authorities rather than resorting to self-help.

It said, “Government has a responsibility to protect all citizens, not just those who support it. The law does not distinguish between those in government and those in opposition.

“Every complaint deserves proper investigation, and every individual accused of an offence is entitled to justice and a fair hearing.”

The ADC warned that intimidation and threats against opposition members could undermine democratic development, stressing that democracy depended on the protection of individual freedoms, respect for human rights and the consistent application of the rule of law.

Efforts to get a reaction from the state government were not successful, as the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the state police spokesman, SP Bashir Usman, told our correspondent in a telephone conversation on Tuesday that the command remained apolitical and would not serve the interests of any political party.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to providing adequate security for all political parties during their activities in the state.

“We are not for any political party, and we have assured all political parties in the state of maximum security cover during their programmes. All they need to do is inform us ahead,” he said.

A UK coroner has ruled that punitive school rules and a relationship breakdown contributed to the death of a 15-year-old pupil who struggled with his school’s disciplinary policies.

The pupil, identified as Taylor Lee, from Plymouth, died in November 2023 after repeatedly complaining that attending school had become an exhausting daily struggle.

An inquest at Devon Coroner’s Court in Exeter heard that Taylor had criticised the strict behaviour policies introduced by Ivybridge Community College, where he was a Year 11 student.

According to a report by the Daily Mail on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, the school had introduced an isolation policy under which pupils faced punishment for arriving late to lessons.

On one occasion, Taylor was reportedly sent for reflection after arriving 47 seconds late to class.

He also criticised the school’s disciplinary measures, describing its behaviour policies as “unlogical” and expressing concern about their emotional impact on other pupils.

Taylor was subsequently suspended after challenging the rules during a confrontation with his headteacher.

Following his return, he again raised concerns, prompting the school to allow pupils an additional minute to get to their lessons.

However, the teenager died three weeks later at his family’s home.

Area Coroner Alison Longhorn recorded a conclusion of suicide, identifying the school’s disciplinary approach and the breakdown of Taylor’s relationship with his girlfriend as contributing factors.

She said Taylor’s experience at school had “a most significant impact” which more than minimally contributed to his death.

The coroner also disclosed that the teenager had previously experienced mental health difficulties, including low mood and self-harm.

He had struggled with bullying, mock GCSE examinations and his relationships with some teachers.

Taylor’s family had raised concerns about the effect of the school’s stricter rules on him and other pupils.

During the inquest, the school’s principal, Rachel Hutchinson, described Taylor as a “charismatic, very creative” pupil who loved life and music.

However, she said he was “a complex character” who struggled with school routines and expectations.

She explained that the stricter disciplinary measures were introduced following increased school absences after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The measures included a bell system to prompt pupils to attend lessons, a six-minute window to move between classes and sanctions for lateness, mobile phone use and other breaches of school rules.

Hutchinson said the policies remained in place.

The coroner expressed concern that the same situation could arise again, noting that there had been no changes to the college’s policies since Taylor’s death.

She also highlighted a missed opportunity after a police officer who had dealt with Taylor warned the school about his fragile mental state but received no response.

The coroner said she would issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report to address the concerns raised during the inquest.

Youth worker Richard Brooks told the inquest that Taylor had been disengaged from education and unhappy with the school’s rules.

He recalled the teenager telling him: “Every day is a battle and exhausting.”

The principal also said investigations by Ofsted and Devon County Council following complaints about the school’s policies had concluded that no further action was necessary.

Indonesian police detained more than 150 people after protesters clashed with security forces in Yogyakarta city southeast of the capital overnight, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.

The violence followed demonstrations across several Indonesian cities on Tuesday over the government’s management of the economy, its handling of devastating wildfires and stagnant wages.

Around 100 people gathered near Yogyakarta’s parliament around 8:00 pm (1300 GMT), aiming firecrackers and hurling rocks and Molotov cocktails toward the building, police said in a statement Wednesday.

Authorities responded by deploying tactical vehicles to disperse the crowd. Police said they seized evidence including six Molotov cocktails and 12 firecrackers.

An AFP reporter saw police fire tear gas and water cannon as officers moved to disperse the protesters late Tuesday.

Yogyakarta police spokeswoman Novita Eka Sari said 154 people had been detained in connection with the unrest.

National Police Chief Suyudi Ario Seto, who inspected the scene early Wednesday, pledged a thorough investigation into the incident.

We will investigate whether… there were efforts to deliberately cause damage, whether there were other objectives,” Suyudi said.

Earlier on Tuesday, hundreds of people gathered near the governor’s office in Yogyakarta, calling for higher minimum wages. That crowd cleared out before the violence later in the day.

In Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, protesters also took to the streets, citing issues including wildfires and rising food prices.

AFP

Lagos market leaders have pledged to mobilise traders for bloc voting in support of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, ahead of the forthcoming elections.

The commitment was announced on Tuesday by the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Market Advisory Council, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, at a special prayer gathering organised by the council in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development.

The gathering, held at the Blue Roof Pavilion, Agidingbi, Ikeja, brought together market leaders, traders, religious and traditional leaders, and government officials to pray for the electoral success of the APC candidates.

Tinubu-Ojo said the meeting was convened to discuss the forthcoming elections and strengthen cooperation among market leaders.

She reiterated the market community’s commitment to bloc voting but urged the government to provide market leaders with the opportunities and support needed to mobilise traders and fulfil their electoral commitments.

She reiterated the market community’s commitment to bloc voting but urged the government to provide market leaders with the opportunities and support needed to mobilise traders and fulfil their electoral commitments.

The pledge places the organised market leadership at the centre of the APC’s grassroots mobilisation efforts, with traders representing a significant constituency in Lagos’ commercial and political landscape.

Hamzat, who was represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, welcomed the support and assured market leaders that their interests would receive attention under his proposed administration.

He said the commitment was reflected in the inclusion pillar of his manifesto, The Lagos Promise, unveiled on October 30, 2026, adding that he would build on the achievements of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The APC candidate described market leaders as important stakeholders in the state’s economic development and urged traders to sustain their engagement with government.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, Nurudeen Agbaje, also highlighted the political and economic importance of market leaders, urging them to maintain their relationship with the government.
Prayers were subsequently offered for Tinubu, Hamzat and other APC candidates ahead of the elections.

The Anambra State Government has approved the ‘Soludozie’ Anambra Framework, an organised and inclusive platform under the Public-Private-Community Partnership model, designed to provide a structured channel for residents at home and in the diaspora who wish to partner with the state government on development projects.

The state also urged communities to take action against erosion, reiterating that government intervention would continue to prioritise communities that demonstrate proactive environmental responsibility.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, the state Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Law Mefor, said communities that engage in sand excavation, indiscriminate felling of trees, deforestation, dumping of refuse in drainage channels, channelling of stormwater onto roads and other prohibited and prosecutable practices would not receive priority attention.

Mefor said the decision was taken at the 18th meeting of the Anambra State Executive Council, held at the Light House, Awka, on Monday, adding that perpetrators of environmental offences would be prosecuted.

He said the council directed that Ogbodi in Amichi Community, which has been cut off by erosion, be reconnected within two weeks through palliative measures, while work towards a permanent solution would commence immediately.

The statement read, “The state council reiterated that government intervention on erosion will continue to prioritise communities that demonstrate proactive environmental responsibility.

Communities that engage in sand excavation, indiscriminate felling of trees, deforestation, dumping of refuse in drainage channels, channeling of stormwater onto roads, and other prohibited and prosecutable practices will not receive priority attention. Perpetrators of such acts will be prosecuted.

Council directed that Ogbodi in Amichi Community, cut off by erosion, be reconnected within two weeks through palliative measures, while scoping for a permanent solution commences immediately.

“Council approved the ‘Soludozie’ Anambra Framework, an organised and inclusive platform under the Public-Private-Community Partnership model.

“The initiative is designed to provide a structured channel for Ndi Anambra at home and in the diaspora, and other well-meaning partners, who wish to partner with the state government for development.”

According to him, under the framework, the government’s involvement would generally be limited to documentation, recognition and support where requested, adding that donors and partners would directly manage their funds and projects.

“The initiative aims to position Anambra as a global model of collective governance and inclusive development and to accelerate the state’s development trajectory,” Mefor added.

Culled from The Punch

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday swore in four newly appointed permanent secretaries to fill vacancies in the state’s top civil service cadre, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to merit, fairness and inclusiveness in public service appointments.

The governor, who spoke at the swearing-in ceremony held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, said the appointments followed a transparent and competitive process designed to strengthen the leadership of the state civil service while ensuring equitable representation across Oyo State.

Speaking shortly after the appointees took their oaths of allegiance and office, Makinde said his administration would remain focused on governance and service delivery until its last day in office and would not abandon its responsibilities for politics.

According to a statement issued in Ibadan by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, the governor said, “When I said to the people of Oyo State that we will serve them until the last moment of the last day, this is exactly what we’re talking about. We won’t, because we’re campaigning all over the place, forget our responsibilities to the people of Oyo State.”

The governor explained that the selection process was based on a competitive examination, with 80 per cent of the appointments determined by merit and the remaining 20 per cent reserved for balancing considerations to ensure equity, inclusiveness and fair representation across the state.

According to him, “The process that produced the new permanent secretaries was fair and transparent.

“I can say boldly that the process of your becoming permanent secretaries has been fair. After taking 80 per cent based on merit, there is 20 per cent that we always use to balance things out.”

Makinde recalled that when he assumed office in 2019, there was no permanent secretary from the Ibarapa Zone, a situation his administration moved swiftly to address to ensure equitable representation across the state.

He noted that his administration was deliberate about ensuring that no zone was excluded from representation at the highest level of the civil service, stressing that the state’s common wealth belonged to all its people.

The governor further stated that the appointments were not influenced by personal sentiments, political considerations or external pressures but were made through a fair and transparent process designed to ensure that the leadership of the civil service reflected the diversity of Oyo State.

He added that his administration remained conscious of the need to make decisions for which it would one day be accountable to God and the people.

Makinde charged the newly appointed permanent secretaries to uphold their oaths of office by being fair and just in all their dealings and discharging their duties with diligence, integrity and professionalism.

He said, “You have taken an oath to be fair and just to all the people you interact with and in all the files that will pass through your tables. I give you the assurance that until the last day I leave this seat, we will give you all the support that you require to do your work effectively.”

The governor reiterated that the appointees had earned their positions through merit and due process, having successfully completed the prescribed requirements, including the qualifying examination.

Makinde said his administration would be remembered for appointing the highest number of permanent secretaries through a competitive examination process. He also disclosed that another examination would be conducted before the end of his tenure, with the incoming administration expected to act on the outcome.

“I will conduct another examination before I leave office and leave the outcome on the table for the incoming administration. On behalf of all of us, we congratulate you and wish you the very best in your new roles. We also ask for God’s guidance as you assume these new positions,” he said.

The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal; the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin; former Speaker of the House, Monsurat Sunmonu; the President of the Oyo State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice T. M. Abdulganiyu; and the Secretary to the State Government, Musibau Babatunde.

Others included the Chief of Staff, Akinwole Akinwale; the Head of Service, Adenike Fashina; the immediate past Head of Service, Olubunmi Oni; the Deputy Chief of Staff, Kazeem Adeniyi; the Alliance People’s Movement Deputy Governorship Candidate, Mufutau Open-Salawu; commissioners; the Senior Executive Assistant to the Governor on General Duties; the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in the state, Sikiru Sanda; permanent secretaries; labour union leaders; religious leaders and other stakeholders.

President Bola Tinubu has renewed his promise to provide Nigerians with reliable electricity.

Tinubu made the latest pledge on Tuesday at the All Progressives Congress rally at the Dutse Township Stadium in Jigawa State, where he outlined his administration’s priorities ahead of the 2027 general election.

The President said his government would adopt a different approach to addressing the country’s electricity challenges, criticising the existing privatisation model.

“We will provide reliable power, not the old privatisation that is not working,” he said.

We will provide you with reliable power in this Nigeria,” he added.

The latest promise echoes a commitment Tinubu made during a meeting with members of the Organised Private Sector in Lagos ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

At the meeting, he pledged to provide constant electricity and end estimated billing, warning Nigerians against re-electing him if he failed to fulfil the promise, unless he provided adequate reasons for his inability to deliver.

The President also outlined other priorities in the APC’s manifesto, including investment in healthcare, reducing the cost of living, strengthening security and expanding economic opportunities.

He said the government would invest in medical facilities and create opportunities in every local government.

Tinubu also promised to strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base and support businesses across different sizes.

“We will stimulate stronger industrial base of our country. We will help the nano, the small scale business and medium scale business,” he said.

He added that his administration would expand employment opportunities, improve incomes and develop the skills of Nigerians.

“We will expand the job opportunity across real income earners. We will develop their skills,” the President said.

Tinubu’s visit to Jigawa also included the commissioning of four development projects and participation in the APC rally as the party intensifies mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election.

Culled from Punch 

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Mr Peter Obi, on Tuesday unveiled a comprehensive governance agenda centred on national unity, security, economic productivity and accountable leadership, pledging to restore hope to Nigerians if elected president in 2027.

Obi articulated his vision in Jos, Plateau State, during a town hall meeting with supporters and other Nigerians, where he said his administration would be anchored on listening to citizens and responding to their needs.

He said national unity remained the foremost priority of his candidacy.

“Our number one commitment is to unite the Federal Republic of Nigeria because today we have no unity. We are divided along tribal and religious lines. That should not be. We are Nigerians,” Obi said.

He identified insecurity as the second pillar of his agenda, stressing that the primary duty of government was to guarantee the safety of lives and property.

“Number two is to secure Nigeria. It is our duty to ensure that Nigerians live in safety, in a country where people are no longer killed daily.

“I assure you that no mother will continue to cry over the loss of her children. No woman should experience the pain of losing her husband, and no father should suffer the agony of losing his wife,” he said.

On displaced persons, Obi said the continued existence of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps would constitute a failure of leadership, adding that his administration would prioritise the safe and dignified return of displaced Nigerians to their ancestral communities.

“If any Nigerian remains in an Internally Displaced Persons camp, we have failed. Once one Nigerian is in an IDP camp, the entire Nigeria is in an IDP camp. People must return to their homes,” he stated.

He further pledged to strengthen the nation’s security architecture and confront kidnapping and other violent crimes decisively.

“Nobody will kidnap two children and disappear into the bush. If you kidnap children and go into the bush, you will not be alone there. We will come after you,” he declared.

Obi explained that his decision to engage communities ahead of the commencement of campaigns was deliberate, noting that effective leadership must be demand-driven.

“When you want to serve, you must listen to the people. When we come for campaigns, we only talk and we don’t listen to the people. We have decided that leadership must be demand-driven,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor recalled his visits to Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Mangu and other conflict-affected communities in Plateau State, describing the security situation as unacceptable.

He said his presidential ambition was motivated by the plight of victims of insecurity, displaced persons and bereaved families.

“If I have one person in an IDP camp, it means we are all in an IDP camp. I am competing because I want to know how we talk to that mother whose child was killed, that husband who lost a wife and that woman who lost a husband. Who is going to listen to their cries?” he asked.

On the 2027 general election, Obi urged Nigerians to take active responsibility for safeguarding their votes.

“In the next election, every voter is an agent. Don’t vote and go home. Take that day as the one day you are giving to Nigeria as a patriotic Nigerian,” he said.

“Prepare yourself with your breakfast, lunch and dinner, and remain there. Your vote must be counted, recorded and transmitted. Nobody should give you any excuse. It is your vote, and we want this election to be about the future of Nigeria.”

Turning to the economy, Obi said his administration would transition Nigeria from a consumption-based economy to a production-driven one, arguing that increased local production would stimulate employment and improve living standards.

“Our determination is to unite Nigeria, secure Nigeria and pull people out of poverty. That is why we said we are going to move Nigeria from consumption to production,” he said.

By increasing production, we will increase employment. Today, farmers cannot go to their farms because of insecurity. Companies operating in Plateau State have collapsed because of insecurity. When we unite Nigeria and secure it, we will create opportunities.”

On access to finance for small businesses, Obi said his background in the financial sector had equipped him to implement reforms that would expand credit to entrepreneurs.

“I know what it means to access funding. I have been a director and chairman of a financial institution, and I understand how banks operate,” he said.

“We will ensure that a portion of credit available in the banking sector goes to small businesses to enable them to grow and create jobs.”

On corruption, Obi pledged that public resources would be deployed strictly for the public good, with accountability as a defining principle of his administration.

“I have managed public money, so when I say I am going to fight corruption, I know what I am talking about,” he said.

“I will fight corruption. Public money must be used for public good. Today, public money is wrongly being used, and that must change.”

He also promised substantial investment in education, expressing concern over Nigeria’s estimated 18 million out-of-school children.

“We want our children to go back to school. We want our schools to work. The more educated you are as a nation, the more developed you become,” Obi said.

“We will build new classrooms, employ teachers and ensure that our schools function properly. We cannot continue to allow millions of Nigerian children to remain outside the classroom.”

On healthcare, Obi said strengthening primary healthcare was critical to reducing maternal and infant mortality.

“Today, if you are sick in Nigeria, you go to church because there are no functional hospitals in many communities. The consequence is that people are dying. Pregnant mothers are dying, children are dying, and we have very high infant and maternal mortality rates,” he said.

“The foundation of access to healthcare is primary healthcare. We must strengthen our primary healthcare centres and ensure that every community has access to quality medical services.”

He further stressed the need for government to demonstrate compassion by prioritising vulnerable groups, including the poor, the elderly and persons living with disabilities.

For a government to exist, it must care for the vulnerable. It must care for the poor and those living with disabilities,” he said.

“If we don’t care for the poor, we are not caring for ourselves. That is why we are holding these town hall meetings. We want to listen to the people, take notes of their concerns and understand their expectations.”

Earlier, during a courtesy visit to the Plateau State Traditional Council in Jos, Obi said Nigeria could not make meaningful progress while citizens lived in fear. He said the country required competent, committed and compassionate leadership.

“We want a government that has the capacity to do the job. We want a government that has compassion, a government that hears the cries of mothers who have lost their children,” he said.

“We want a government that is committed to the future of Nigeria. Commitment is very important, and that is what we are going to offer Nigerians.”

In his response, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, urged politicians and Nigerians to ensure that political activities did not aggravate the country’s security challenges.

“We want to appeal to all politicians and all Nigerians that we should not allow politics to worsen our situation. We already have insecurity, and we must be determined to live with each other in peace and with respect for one another,” the monarch said.

He also prayed for divine guidance in the emergence of a leader who would govern effectively, restore the country’s greatness and promote peace throughout the electioneering period.

Culled From Punch

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved N30 billion for the third phase of the Meter Acquisition Fund to accelerate the installation of electricity meters for unmetered Band A customers and expand coverage among Band B consumers.

The regulator has also directed electricity distribution companies to complete all meter installations under the programme by May 31, 2027, warning that customers must not be charged for meters provided through the initiative.

The commission disclosed this in Order No. NERC/2026/121 on the operationalisation of Tranche C of the Meter Acquisition Fund, effective November 2, 2026.

It announced the order in a post on its official X handle on Tuesday.

The post read, “The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC or the Commission) hereby informs electricity consumers and stakeholders of the issuance of Order No. NERC/2026/121 on the Operationalisation of Tranche C of the Meter Acquisition Fund, effective 2 November 2026.

“The Commission has approved N30 billion for Tranche C, to be allocated among the eleven Distribution Companies (DisCos) in proportion to their respective contributions to the Fund.

“The funding is intended to meter all remaining unmetered Band A customers and accelerate the metering of Band B customers, with equitable distribution across states within the respective DisCo franchise areas.”

The latest funding is part of the Federal Government’s Presidential Metering Initiative, which seeks to close the country’s persistent electricity metering gap, protect consumers from estimated billing and improve accountability in the power distribution system.

Under the arrangement, the distribution companies are required to conduct transparent procurement exercises involving eligible Local Meter Manufacturers and Assemblers and Meter Asset Providers with verified meter stocks.

NERC said it had prescribed maximum procurement prices based on the median national bid prices submitted by Meter Asset Providers during the September 2026 bidding cycle.

The commission also introduced a two-stage payment arrangement to strengthen accountability and ensure that providers deliver the meters before receiving full payment.

Under the arrangement, 70 per cent of the contract payment will be released after verification of delivered meter stocks, while the remaining 30 per cent will be paid after the complete installation of the meters has been confirmed.

The regulator reiterated that all meters supplied and installed under the fund must be provided free of charge to electricity consumers, warning against attempts by distribution companies or their agents to sell them.

It further directed that every meter supplied under the programme must prominently display the name of the relevant distribution company, the applicable tranche of the Meter Acquisition Fund and the inscription, “NOT FOR SALE”.

The order also addressed situations where distribution companies relocate customers’ existing connection points for revenue protection purposes.

According to NERC, where a DisCo initiates such relocation, it must bear the associated cost rather than transfer the financial burden to the affected customer.

The commission also provided for sanctions where defaults by distribution companies obstruct or delay meter installations, reinforcing the responsibility of operators to ensure that the programme is implemented within the stipulated period.

To prevent diversion of funds and ensure proper implementation, the regulator prescribed monitoring, reporting and evaluation requirements for the Fund Manager, distribution companies and participating meter providers.

It also directed that all supply and installation contracts executed under Tranche C must be submitted to the commission.

The latest intervention comes amid persistent concerns over electricity consumers’ exposure to estimated billing because of inadequate metering across the country.

The metering gap has remained one of the major challenges in Nigeria’s electricity market, with consumers frequently disputing bills issued by distribution companies in the absence of functioning meters.

NERC said the new order was intended to accelerate the closure of the metering gap, strengthen revenue assurance for distribution companies, improve service delivery and protect consumers.

The commission urged all stakeholders to comply with the provisions of the order, particularly the procurement, installation, reporting and consumer protection requirements.

Culled From Punch

Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, has suspended lectures and other academic activities for two days following the death of a 200-level student in an accident.

The university announced the suspension in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Deputy Registrar, Corporate Affairs Division, Wale Balogun, on behalf of the management.

The statement said the student, who was in the Department of Business Administration, died in an accident on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

“The university community is in deep shock and mourning over this painful loss of a 200 level Student of the Business Administration Department,” the statement said.

It said the suspension of academic activities was “a mark of respect and solidarity with the bereaved family and the university community”.

According to the statement, lectures and other academic activities would remain suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday, with normal activities scheduled to resume on Thursday, November 12.

The Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of Council, Management, Staff and Students, extends heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, course mates and lecturers of the deceased student,” it added.

The management also prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and asked God to grant the family “the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.

It appealed to students to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified reports about the incident.

“Management appeals to students to remain calm, avoid speculations and spreading of unverified information or graphic images on social media, and to respect the privacy of the bereaved family at this difficult time,” the statement said.

The university also reiterated its commitment to the safety and welfare of students across its campuses.

“Management reiterates its commitment to the protection of lives and property, as well as the welfare of all students on all campuses of the institution, as adequate measures have been put in place for these purposes,” it added.

Culled From Punch 

The United Kingdom has backed plans by Nigeria’s pension industry to establish a $750m infrastructure investment fund aimed at mobilising retirement savings and development finance for energy, transport and digital infrastructure projects.

The initiative, which has attracted interest from 19 Nigerian pension funds, is expected to mobilise about $600m from domestic pension funds and at least $150m from development finance institutions.

The partnership was formalised through an agreement signed between the Pension Industry Leadership Council and UK-funded development agency FSD Africa, according to a statement issued on Tuesday.

Speaking on the partnership, the UK Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, said, “The UK is proud to partner with the Nigeria’s Pension Industry and the pensions regulator Pencom to progress this investment. Both our countries are prioritising tacking the challenge of attracting more domestic capital, including from pension funds, into the real economy.”

He added, “It is great to see Nigeria making concrete progress on its efforts and be a part of those opportunities to turn this ambition into investment, jobs, and economic growth.”

Under the agreement, FSD Africa will provide technical assistance and expert advice to support the establishment of the fund, including the competitive selection of a fund manager, engagement with prospective investors and development finance institutions, capacity building and necessary regulatory reforms.

The proposed investment platform, developed by Nigerian Pension Fund Administrators with support from the National Pension Commission and FSD Africa, is targeting an initial capital mobilisation of $350m by its first close in 2027, before expanding to $750m.

At its final target size, Nigerian pension funds are expected to provide approximately 80 per cent of the capital, while development finance institutions will contribute at least 20 per cent.

The Director-General of PenCom and Chair of the Pension Industry Leadership Council, Omolola Oloworaran, said the initiative would provide an opportunity to deploy long-term pension capital into productive infrastructure investments without compromising contributors’ retirement savings.

The pension industry holds the largest pool of long-term savings capital in the country, and we are committed to mobilising it to deepen infrastructure development, while safeguarding the retirement savings of contributors. This MoU is the first step we are taking as an industry, and it is just the beginning,” she said.

According to the statement, an initial assessment of Nigeria’s infrastructure pipeline identified 39 projects with potential relevance to the proposed investment platform, representing approximately $20bn in financing needs.

The fund, identified as PIIP, will focus on equity and quasi-equity investments, with at least 60 per cent of its portfolio allocated to Nigerian infrastructure projects, while the balance may be invested in selected regional markets.

The proposed structure will comprise a naira-denominated core investment fund and a separate co-investment vehicle, allowing participating pension funds to invest alongside the main fund in selected projects.

A parallel foreign-currency investment vehicle may also be established to accommodate international investors.

The Chief Executive Officer of FSD Africa, Mark Napier, said the initiative was intended to address the gap between Africa’s substantial institutional savings and its infrastructure financing requirements.

“We have observed for several years now the paradox of Africa having significant institutional capital while at the same time facing big infrastructure funding deficits,” Napier said.

He added, “We are keen to work with PenCom and the pension industry in Nigeria to address this and unlock the capital they manage towards Nigeria’s priority infrastructure.”

The partnership forms part of broader UK-Nigeria efforts to deepen capital markets, mobilise domestic investment and direct long-term financing towards infrastructure development and economic growth.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has declared solidarity with striking local government workers in Osun State, demanding that the Federal Government release funds withheld from the state’s councils.

The congress described the continued withholding of the funds as unjustified, accusing the Federal Government of disregarding court decisions and undermining democratic governance.

The NLC Acting General Secretary, Comrade Benson Upah, stated this in a statement issued on Tuesday, urging the Federal Government to release the funds without further delay.

“The non-release of these funds has caused considerable damage to governance at the local government council level, with collateral implications,” the statement read.

The labour union argued that there was no justification for the continued withholding of the allocations, alleging that the action amounted to an attempt by the Federal Government to demonstrate its superiority over the law.

There is no justification whatsoever for the continued seizure of these funds other than to prove the point that the Federal Government is above the law,” Upah said.

The congress added, “The Federal Government cannot cherry-pick which decisions of courts to obey and which it will not.”

The NLC warned against what it described as intimidation and arm-twisting in a democracy, insisting that government authorities must respect judicial decisions.

It also commended the striking workers for maintaining peaceful conduct during the industrial action, urging them to sustain the approach.

“We commend the Osun workers for conducting themselves with utmost decorum in prosecuting this action, and we urge them to keep it so… always peaceful,” the statement added.

The dispute over Osun State local government allocations is rooted in the political and legal crisis surrounding the control of the councils following the local government elections conducted in February 2025.

The crisis followed disagreements over the validity of the election and the tenure of the elected council officials, with competing legal positions over which administration was constitutionally entitled to control the councils and receive their allocations.

The dispute has also drawn attention to local government financial autonomy, particularly following the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment affirming the financial independence of local governments and directing that allocations should be paid directly to democratically elected councils.

The NLC’s intervention comes amid renewed labour pressure over the release of the withheld funds and the impact of the dispute on the administration of local government affairs in Osun State.

Culled from Punch

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday inaugurated the reconstructed Lagos Governors’ Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, saying public assets must outlive individual leaders.

Tinubu, represented by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, urged political leaders to preserve and improve public infrastructure for the benefit of future generations.

He said governance should be measured by the quality of infrastructure and institutions bequeathed to the people.

The President said Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial hub and centre of excellence, deserved infrastructure that reflected its status and aspirations.

He commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for delivering the facility, describing it as evidence of the state’s commitment to excellence and responsible management of public infrastructure.

Tinubu said public assets belonged to the people and must be preserved, improved and developed to serve generations yet unborn.

“Public assets belong to the people, and it is our responsibility as leaders to preserve what has been entrusted to us, improve it where necessary, and provide lasting infrastructure that future generations can inherit and benefit from,” he said.

He said the timely completion of the project demonstrated the Lagos State Government’s commitment and the efforts of those involved in its execution.

The President recalled that the old structure was demolished in October 2025 to pave the way for the new facility, describing it as a befitting official residence for the Lagos governor and his family in Abuja.

He prayed that the facility would remain a place of peace, comfort and hospitality for successive administrations and their families.

Sanwo-Olu described the commissioning as another historic milestone, saying the lodge was designed as an institutional centre for government business, strategic engagements and relations with the Federal Government.

He said Lagos continued to maintain significant economic and political interests in Abuja despite the relocation of Nigeria’s capital to the city in December 1991.

According to him, successive governors regularly visit Abuja for National Economic Council and Council of State meetings, as well as engagements with ministers, lawmakers, diplomats, governors and investors.

Sanwo-Olu said the old lodge had served the state for decades but no longer reflected its present status and growing responsibilities.

He disclosed that Julius Berger Nigeria Plc executed the reconstruction project, which commenced in July 2025 and was completed in September 2026.

The governor commended the construction company for delivering the project within schedule despite technical challenges, including excavation work approximately 10 metres deep.

He said the facility belonged to Lagos residents and would provide a suitable environment for official engagements, hospitality and the advancement of the state’s interests.

Sanwo-Olu, who is expected to leave office in May 2027, said the facility was built for successive administrations, stressing that governments should prioritise lasting legacies.

“I believe a government should build things, not stay long for itself to enjoy,” he said.

Earlier, Deputy Gov. Obafemi Hamzat described the reconstructed lodge as a renewed institutional presence of Lagos in Abuja and a strategic investment in government business, hospitality and official engagements.

In his project briefing, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc’s Managing Director, Dr Peer Lubasch, said the facility occupied approximately 2,700 square metres and comprised the main residence, a guest house and a utility building.

He said the project involved several subsidiaries of the Julius Berger Group, with PrimeTech handling the designs, while other subsidiaries supplied windows, façade components and furniture.

The inauguration attracted former Lagos governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers, state officials, captains of industry and other dignitaries. (NAN)

Culled from Punch

Fifteen nursing students of Madonna University, Nigeria, have apologised to the institution’s management and appealed for leniency following disciplinary action over a controversial TikTok video recorded during their community posting.

The students, in a letter dated November 2, 2026, and made available to PUNCH Online on Tuesday, admitted that they filmed and uploaded a video captioned “No Sick oo Na Gen Z full hospital”, saying it had brought disrepute to the nursing profession and the university community.

The video, which showed the students dancing in different locations, including a hospital waiting area, staircase and a bus on the university’s Elele campus in Rivers State, was part of a social media trend known as the “Gen Z nurses” challenge.

The clip attracted widespread attention and criticism, with some social media users questioning the appropriateness of recording dance content in a hospital environment, particularly by students undergoing clinical training.

The controversy prompted the university to expel one 500-level nursing student, identified as Mercy, and suspend 14 others.

The sanctions, however, triggered appeals from student groups and rights organisations.

The National Association of Nigerian Students called on the university to reconsider the punishment, acknowledging that the students’ conduct was inappropriate but arguing that expulsion could have lasting consequences for their academic and professional futures.

The Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association also said it had begun discussions with relevant stakeholders to seek a review of the decision.

Amnesty International subsequently urged the university to reverse the sanctions, describing them as disproportionate and calling for dialogue and mediation.

In their latest appeal addressed to the university management through the Registrar, the students said they had reflected on their actions and were genuinely remorseful.

“We sincerely regret our said actions and assure the university management and all relevant authorities that such an incident will not repeat itself again,” the letter jointly signed by the students read.

They appealed to the management to reconsider the disciplinary measures imposed on them and allow them to continue and complete their academic programmes.

“We humbly plead for leniency and mercy. We have worked hard and made several sacrifices, alongside our families, to reach this stage of our academic journey.

We therefore appeal to the university management to kindly reconsider the various disciplinary measures meted out against us and grant us the opportunity to continue and complete our studies,” they wrote.

The students also acknowledged the management’s engagement with their parents and guardians, expressing appreciation for allowing their families to be heard.

“We do not take this gesture for granted, and we remain grateful for your understanding and consideration,” the letter added.

The appeal was collectively signed by 15 nursing students, who urged the university management to reconsider their cases and give them another opportunity to pursue their academic and professional ambitions.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, announced the renaming on Tuesday during a ceremony attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Peter Odey, who represented Governor Bassey Otu; and the widow of the late army chief, Mrs Fatima Attahiru.

Shaibu said the decision was aimed at immortalising the late military officer, whose career was marked by courage, professionalism, discipline and commitment to national service.

He described Attahiru as an exemplary leader and patriot whose contributions to the Nigerian Army remained worthy of enduring recognition, despite his brief tenure as Chief of Army Staff.

According to him, the late general assumed leadership of the Nigerian Army at a challenging period in the country’s security history and pursued operational effectiveness, personnel welfare and professionalism with determination.

“Although his promising tenure and life were tragically cut short, his commitment to duty and the ideals he championed continue to resonate with the Nigerian Army,” Shaibu said.

The army chief said the renaming went beyond preserving the memory of the deceased officer, adding that it would serve as a reminder to serving and future generations of military personnel of the values of courage, integrity, discipline and selfless service.

He charged the Commander of the 13 Brigade and other personnel to ensure that the values associated with Attahiru’s name were reflected in their conduct, leadership and relationship with host communities.

Shaibu also urged military commanders to recognise that although appointments were transient, the standards they established and the examples they set could endure for generations.

In his remarks, Odey described the renaming as a national obligation of remembrance and recognition, saying the late army chief exemplified the finest traditions of military service.

“It is with this profound gratitude and deep sense of honour that I stand before you today at this historic military formation in Calabar, Cross River State, as we gather not merely to change the name of a military installation, but to fulfil a solemn national obligation of remembrance and recognition,” he said.

The deputy governor described Attahiru as a soldier’s soldier, noting that although his tenure as Chief of Army Staff was brief, his impact on the Nigerian Army was significant and enduring.

He said, “The late General Attahiru was a leader who believed in leading from the front, demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the welfare and operations of his men, and remained steadfast in the vision of a peaceful, secure and united Nigeria.”

Odey said naming the military installation after the late general would ensure that his exemplary life, remarkable service and ultimate sacrifice continued to inspire officers and soldiers serving in the barracks and beyond.

He charged personnel of the newly renamed Ibrahim Attahiru Barracks to uphold the values associated with the late military officer, particularly professionalism, discipline, loyalty, courage and selfless service.

“Let his memory inspire you daily as you discharge your constitutional responsibility of safeguarding our territorial integrity, combating terrorism and other criminal threats, as well as protecting lives, property and livelihoods of the people of Cross River State,” he added.

The deputy governor also assured the military of the state government’s commitment to supporting the welfare, training, equipment and operational readiness of the armed forces.

He commended the leadership of the Nigerian Army for the initiative, describing it as a fitting recognition of Attahiru’s contributions to the military and the country.

The widow of the late army chief, Fatima Attahiru, expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Army for honouring her husband, describing the gesture as a lasting recognition of his service and sacrifice to the nation.

“Renaming this barracks after my husband is a profound honour to our family. It is comforting to know that his service, sacrifices and dedication to Nigeria have not been forgotten. I sincerely appreciate the Nigerian Army and everyone who has made this recognition possible,” she said.

She added that her husband’s commitment to the Nigerian Army and the country would continue to inspire generations of military personnel.

Attahiru, who was Nigeria’s 21st Chief of Army Staff, died in a military aircraft crash in Kaduna State on May 21, 2021, alongside other military personnel.

The United States Department of State has warned its citizens against travelling to 23 countries classified under its highest travel advisory level, Level 4: Do Not Travel.

The department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs issued the warning in a post on its official Facebook page on Monday, explaining that the classification was based on local conditions and the US government’s limited ability to assist its citizens in the affected countries.

It said, “Level 4 means DO NOT TRAVEL. We assign Level 4 based on local conditions and/or our limited ability to help Americans there. These places are dangerous. Do not go for ANY reason.”

The 23 countries listed under the advisory are Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Burma, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Niger, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, Ukraine and Yemen.

The department operates a four-level travel advisory system, with Level 1 indicating that travellers should exercise normal precautions, while Level 2 advises increased caution.

Level 3 advises travellers to reconsider their trips, while Level 4 is the highest category and advises against all travel to the affected destinations.

The department urged Americans to check its travel advisory website for destination-specific information before making travel plans.

Travellers can access the advisories through travel.state.gov/destination.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has recounted why he ventured into farming after leaving the Nigerian Army and how he was later arrested and imprisoned under the regime of former military Head of State, late Gen. Sani Abacha.

Obasanjo also revealed that he rejected an offer of political asylum from the United States despite being warned that he would be arrested if he returned to Nigeria.

The Ogun State-born elder statesman disclosed this while recounting his experience under Abacha’s regime, according to a video published by BBC News Pidgin on Tuesday.

Following the assassination of Gen. Murtala Muhammed, Obasanjo became Nigeria’s military Head of State on February 13, 1976, at 38.

He served in that role until October 1, 1979, when he handed over power to Shehu Shagari.

In his recall, Obasanjo noted that upon attaining the rank of a four-star general at 42, and ruling as the head of state, he felt he had reached the zenith of his military career. Hence, the decision to venture into farming.

Obasanjo, now 89, further recounted that he was arrested and put in prison under Abacha’s regime.

Abacha’s tenure was from November 17, 1993, until his death on June 8, 1998.

The former military ruler had seized power in a bloodless military coup that overthrew the Interim National Government led by Ernest Shonekan.

Speaking on this experience, Obasanjo said, “When I was leaving government as military head of state, there was — I was leaving too early. I didn’t join the army to retire at the age of 42.

“Now I had to retire at the age of 42. At the age of 42, I had become a four-star general. There’s nothing else I can do in the army. I’ve become the military head of state. That’s the highest political office I could rise.

“So what can I do? I decided I would go into farming. It really was going well, and it went well until I was arrested.

“Abacha had decided that I must be liquidated; otherwise he would not be able to have his way. I didn’t know that. I was travelling and coming back, and the American ambassador in Nigeria called me and said his country had offered me political asylum because they knew that I would be arrested if I returned home.

“This was difficult for me. I don’t— I haven’t done anything. What do they want to arrest me for? Um, I don’t want political asylum.”

He stated that his passport was seized, after which he went to his farm

Upon his arrival, one of his security details informed him that the farm had been surrounded supposedly by government forces.

Obasanjo said that after some time,  a police officer, dressed in mufti, approached him at the farm and said he had been invited by an unnamed Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

He added that he later went to meet the AIG, who informed him of the directive to arrest him (Obasanjo).

“And when I arrived, they seized my passport; I made for my farm. At the gate of my farm was my security. He waved me down. He said that security had surrounded the farm. And within 15 minutes, this man came in mufti, not in uniform, a policeman, and he said, ‘Well, you have been invited by the AIG to come and help him.’ I said, ‘You are a fool.’

“‘If the AIG wants me to help him, he will not be inviting me. He will come here,” Obasanjo lamented, adding, “So it was my own car that I used to take myself to the police station. We saw the AIG, and the AIG said, ‘I have been instructed to arrest you.'”

Obasanjo also mentioned the assistance offered to him by a former United States President, Jimmy Carter, who helped plead with Abacha.

He said he was confined at an undisclosed location, but after Carter’s appeal, he was later placed under house arrest.

He added that on a particular day, in the dead of night, he was taken away and put in prison.

“I didn’t know that it was a decision of Abacha that some of us must not be kept free; otherwise, he would feel unsafe. I was put in a place.

“Then President Jimmy Carter came. He pleaded, and then they put me under house arrest. Then they came one day; I was playing squash at about 1 am.

“They came and said they were taking me away. And they took me away, and from there, I went to prison,” Obasanjo stated.

Following his release from prison after Abacha died in 1998, Obasanjo won the 1999 presidential election, becoming the first president of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic when he was inaugurated on May 29, 1999.

He served two terms in office before handing over power in May 2007.

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu, has said the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, could have stood at the airport and waved at the victorious Flamingos like other Nigerians.

Shaibu said this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, while reacting to the controversy over claims that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation prevented Obi from greeting the Nigeria Under-17 women’s team at the Abuja airport.

The former Edo State deputy governor said he did not consider waiting at the airport to greet the players necessary, arguing that the support given to the team before and during the competition was more important than celebrating its victory afterwards.

“You know, the President will not play to the gallery. And the First Lady will not play to the gallery. Going to the airport to want to see them is playing to the gallery, as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

Shaibu said President Bola Tinubu personally called the players before, during and after the tournament, adding that such gestures were more significant when the team faced difficult moments in the competition.

“I consistently tell Nigerians, the President makes personal calls before, during, and after. And those calls are more important than after the victory.

“Because when the spirit is down and you get a call from the President telling you, look, forget about the last match, focus on the next match, I think that is more important than after winning coming to do a popularity show of showing affection,” he said.

Shaibu said President Bola Tinubu personally called the players before, during and after the tournament, adding that such gestures were more significant when the team faced difficult moments in the competition.

“I consistently tell Nigerians, the President makes personal calls before, during, and after. And those calls are more important than after the victory.

“Because when the spirit is down and you get a call from the President telling you, look, forget about the last match, focus on the next match, I think that is more important than after winning coming to do a popularity show of showing affection,” he said.

He said the players deserved to be celebrated but stressed that attention should also be paid to the support and preparation that contributed to their success.

These girls deserve to be received, these girls deserve all the accolade that they need. But what is key is the foundation preparatory to that victory,” he added.

The NIS boss, who said he was a former player and had served as deputy governor in charge of sports in Edo State, described the President’s direct communication with athletes as an important source of encouragement.

He said it was often difficult to get governors to speak to players in dressing rooms, contrasting that experience with what he described as Tinubu’s willingness to call the Flamingos.

“To get a governor to even speak to players in the dressing room was difficult. And here you are not even compelling or appealing or begging the President to make a call. He’s on his own. Says, ‘I want to talk to the girls. How are they doing? Fine. I want to talk to them.’

And you know, you understand what it means? I was a player. You are in a dressing room and you are hearing from your President talking to you. That, for me, is more important. That’s what the President does,” Shaibu said.

When asked whether NFF officials did the right thing by preventing Obi from welcoming the players, Shaibu said, “Mr Obi can stand at the airport and wave to them like every other person did.”

Shaibu also recounted an encounter with Enyimba players at an airport, saying he waved at them and allowed them to continue their journey after being told they were travelling.

He explained that teams sometimes have instructions restricting players from interacting with people while travelling, adding that such arrangements should be respected.

“When I was actively involved in sports, there are times that our system will say, look, don’t talk to anybody, just wave. And so when such instructions come, we have to follow,” he said.

Shaibu added that teams had different ways of managing interactions with players, depending on the circumstances.

The controversy followed Obi’s allegation that NFF officials stopped him from greeting the Flamingos when they returned to Abuja on Monday after winning the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

Obi said he arrived at the airport at about 7 am to board a flight to Enugu and asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet the players. He alleged that he was told the officials had refused his request and warned that they could lose their jobs if he approached the team.

However, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, said officials who received the team reported that they did not see Obi near the players or around the international terminal where the team arrived.

Dikko said two individuals wearing Obi’s campaign face caps and other campaign attire approached officials to request a meeting and photographs with the players. He said the request was declined because the players had just arrived after a demanding competition and needed to be considered.

The NSC chairman also urged Obi to apologise to the players, saying their achievement should not be overshadowed by the controversy.

The Flamingos defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final in Morocco to win their first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title, becoming the first African country to win the competition.

The Noma Centre at the National Hospital, Abuja, has performed 457 complex reconstructive surgeries on children affected by the disease since its establishment, with all treatments provided free of charge.

The National Coordinator of the Noma Aid Nigeria Initiative, Dr Charles Ononiwu, disclosed this in Abuja during the 2026 Oral Health Week, Noma Day and Scientific Conference, according to a statement he issued on Tuesday.

Ononiwu said the centre had treated 321 patients and currently had more than 80 children receiving care, adding that 208 surgeries were performed in 2026 alone.

He said the facility attended to an average of 82 patients monthly, noting that its interventions had helped many children who would otherwise have struggled to access expensive reconstructive procedures.

The surgeon warned that noma, a rapidly progressing disease that destroys facial tissues, could cause devastating damage within a week if left untreated.

He urged parents to pay attention to complaints of mouth pain among children, particularly those aged between two and six years, and seek immediate medical attention.

“Make sure you maintain good oral hygiene for your children. If your child complains of pain in the mouth, please look for a hospital immediately,” he advised.

Ononiwu identified poor oral hygiene, severe malnutrition and weakened immunity as major factors that predisposed children to the disease, stressing that early diagnosis and treatment could prevent extensive tissue destruction.

He explained that treatment at the early stage could involve basic antibiotics and adequate feeding, while reconstructive surgery for advanced cases could cost between N7 million and N10 million.

The coordinator urged families, healthcare workers and members of the public to report suspected cases through the initiative’s toll-free line, assuring them that arrangements would be made to cover treatment, transportation and hospital bills.

He said the centre provided comprehensive care through a multidisciplinary team comprising plastic surgeons, ear, nose and throat specialists, paediatricians, clinical psychologists and other healthcare professionals.

Beyond medical interventions, Ononiwu said the facility offered basic education, psychological support and vocational training to affected children and their parents during treatment, which could last several months.

He added that the centre also received patients from other African countries, including Mozambique and Burundi.

According to him, the initiative provides economic support to vulnerable families through business equipment and resources to establish small enterprises, as part of efforts to address poverty and reduce the risk factors associated with noma.

The centre provided direct social assistance to 57 severe cases, enrolled 132 pupils in educational programmes, and empowered 143 participants through specialised skill acquisition classes during 2026,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has unveiled a N70bn five-year National Strategic Plan for Oral Health (2026–2030), aimed at improving access to oral healthcare, strengthening preventive services and tackling diseases, including noma.

The Minister of State for Health, Adekunle Salako, said the funding would be jointly provided by the three tiers of government and development partners, with state and local governments contributing 49 per cent, the Federal Government 30 per cent and development partners the remaining 21 per cent.

The plan is expected to strengthen the integration of oral healthcare into primary healthcare services, improve early diagnosis and expand access to treatment, particularly for vulnerable populations.

The World Health Organisation called for noma prevention, early detection and referral services to be integrated into primary healthcare, stressing the need to equip frontline health workers to recognise the disease before it causes irreversible damage.

Also speaking at the conference, the Director of Hospital Services at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Adebimpe Adebiyi, called for stronger community-based prevention and early detection to reduce the number of Nigerian children affected by noma.

Delivering a memorial lecture titled ‘A Legacy of Healing and Hope: Celebrating a Life of Dedication to Children Affected by Noma,’ Adebiyi urged the government to incorporate noma awareness into school curricula and called on Nigerians to stop discriminating against survivors.

She stressed that addressing the disease required sustained public education, community participation and improved access to healthcare.

Similarly, the President of the Nigerian Dental Association, Dr Tope Adeyemi, acknowledged the association’s contributions to efforts to strengthen oral healthcare delivery in the country.

The conference, organised by the Noma Centre Abuja in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals and development partners to examine progress in patient care, surgical interventions and public health advocacy.

The memorial lecture also honoured the late Mama Ute Winkler-Stumpf (1943–2020), founder of Hilfsaktion NOMA E.V., whose humanitarian work supported the treatment and rehabilitation of children affected by the disease.

Noma, also known as cancrum oris, is a rapidly progressing, non-communicable gangrenous disease that primarily affects children aged between two and six years, particularly those living in extreme poverty and suffering from malnutrition and poor oral hygiene.

The disease begins as an infection of the gums and can rapidly spread, destroying the soft and hard tissues of the mouth and face, leaving survivors with severe facial disfigurement, difficulties with eating and speaking, and lasting psychological and social consequences.

The World Health Organisation added noma to its list of neglected tropical diseases in December 2023, following advocacy led by Nigeria and supported by 32 member states. The recognition was intended to increase international attention, research, funding and access to interventions.

A July 2026 study published in The Lancet Global Health, which examined the geographical distribution of noma in Nigeria between 1999 and 2024, estimated 50,782 cases across 296 local government areas in 12 states, highlighting the need for stronger surveillance and targeted community interventions.

WHO says early detection is critical because the disease can be stopped with basic treatment, including antibiotics, improved nutrition and oral hygiene, before it progresses to extensive facial destruction.

The Nigerian Correctional Service has said that two inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Okene, Kogi State, on Sunday, November 8, 2026.

In a statement on Tuesday by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections Jane Osuji, said the NCos had begun action with other security agencies to recapture the fugitives.

She said, “The NCoS confirms that two inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Okene, Kogi State, on Sunday, 8th November, 2026.

“The Service has commenced necessary actions in collaboration with relevant security agencies to ensure the prompt recapture of the fleeing inmates.”

Osuji said a full report on the incident was being awaited to establish how the inmates got out.

“A comprehensive report on the incident is being awaited to establish the circumstances surrounding the escape,” he said.

Osuji said the Controller-General of Corrections has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.

According to her, the directive is aimed at identifying any lapses and taking appropriate action where necessary.

The Controller-General of Corrections has also directed that the incident be thoroughly investigated, with a view to identifying any lapses and taking appropriate action where necessary, ” she said.

Osuji assured the public that the matter was receiving attention and that all appropriate measures were being taken to rearrest the inmates.

“The Service assures members of the public that the situation is being given the necessary attention and that all appropriate measures are being taken to rearrest the fleeing inmates,” Osuji said.

He added that the Service would provide updates once verified information became available, and thanked the public for its understanding and cooperation.

The Okene escape follows that of an awaiting-trial inmate from the Auchi centre in Edo State in October 2026.

The Edo State Command of the NCoS confirmed that the inmate, identified as Thomas, escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Auchi, where he was being held over conspiracy and stealing.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Aminu Suleman, said efforts were ongoing to apprehend him.

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has drawn attention after joining worshippers on stage to sing Christian gospel songs at an annual concert in Minna, including one with the refrain, “I’m a new creation, I’m born again.”

Bago, a Muslim, participated in the eighth edition of SHOUT, a Christian gospel music concert organised by House On The Rock Minna at the Trade Fair Complex on Friday.

In a video from the event which has since gone viral, the governor sang three songs, including “I’m a New Creation”, “May the Spirit of the Lord Come Down” and the hymn “Hold the Fort”.

Bago sang, “I’m a new creation, I’m born again. All things have passed away. I’m born again. That’s who I am. I’m a new creation. I’m a brand new man.”

During his appearance on stage, Bago told the congregation that the occasion was a time for celebration.

“You know the season is a season we must rejoice. It’s a season we should be happy because this is the day my Lord has made for me today,” he said.

The event, convened by Pastor Peterock Sadiq, featured guest ministers, including Apostle Joshua Selman.

The governor’s participation was not his first appearance at the Christian gathering.

House On The Rock Minna said in a Facebook post that Bago had supported the Christian community and attended SHOUT for four years, with the seventh edition being the only one he missed.

The church described his presence at the latest edition as a continuation of his relationship with the Christian community, rather than a political campaign appearance.

Bago has previously spoken about religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in Niger State.

Bago has attended previous editions of the concert and used them to advocate religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence among residents of the state.

At the 2024 edition, he urged residents to live in unity irrespective of their religious backgrounds, describing unity as essential to peace and development. He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving the lives of residents.

At the 2023 edition, Bago said he attended the gathering to give thanks to God for his victory in the governorship election. He also urged Christian and Muslim clerics to use their platforms to promote peace rather than division.

The governor has also spoken about his own exposure to Christianity through education.

At a public lecture in Abuja in May 2024, he recalled attending a missionary school and said his experience had not changed his Islamic faith.

He argued that religion should not be forced on anyone and called for respect for people regardless of their religious beliefs.

His latest appearance at SHOUT 8 continued a pattern of participation in Christian gatherings, with the governor joining worshippers in singing gospel songs while reiterating his message of religious coexistence.

Bago, who was elected governor in March 2023 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, assumed office on May 29, 2023.

A former member of the House of Representatives representing Chanchaga Federal Constituency, he has made agricultural development, road construction and urban renewal major priorities of his administration.

He is popularly known as the “Farmer Governor” because of his emphasis on agriculture.

Canada has made its Rural Community Immigration Pilot a permanent programme, creating a continuing pathway to attract and retain skilled foreign workers in smaller communities facing persistent labour shortages.

The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lena Metlege Diab, announced the decision on Monday, November 9, 2026, in Pictou County, Nova Scotia.

According to a release on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, the programme will initially continue with the 14 communities currently participating in the pilot, with plans to expand to additional communities in the future.

The employer- and community-led initiative is designed to address the distinct workforce needs of rural Canada by connecting newcomers and their families with local employers and community support systems to encourage long-term settlement.

Announcing the decision, Diab said the government recognised the importance of rural communities to the country’s economy and the challenges they face in finding workers.

“Our government understands that rural communities play a critical role in powering Canada’s economy. At the same time, many face real challenges finding the workers they need.

“That’s why we’re transitioning our successful rural immigration pilot into a permanent program—helping smaller communities attract and retain essential workers who deliver services and drive economic growth.

We appreciate that a one-size-fits-all approach to immigration doesn’t work for rural Canada, and this permanent pathway is one part of our work to ensure that communities of all sizes can share in the benefits of responsible, sustainable immigration,” she said.

Under Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, 5,500 admission spaces have been allocated to the permanent Rural Community Immigration Program.

The government said the programme would complement its efforts to stabilise immigration admissions, reduce the temporary resident population and retain skilled workers already living and contributing to communities across the country.

What the programme has achieved

IRCC said the permanent programme builds on the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, which ran from 2019 to 2024, and the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, introduced in 2025.

More than 2,800 employers participated in the earlier Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, resulting in over 12,500 candidates and their family members being admitted to smaller and rural communities across Canada.

The department said early results from the current programme showed that newcomers had helped address labour shortages in key sectors, including healthcare, education, sales and services, in 2025 and 2026.

Between January 2025 and August 2026, participating communities vetted and designated more than 1,950 trusted employers facing persistent labour shortages that could not be filled locally.

The employers subsequently issued more than 4,700 job offers and community recommendations.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Sean Fraser, said the programme had helped businesses in Pictou County retain workers and encouraged newcomers to establish permanent roots in the community.

“We’ve seen the difference this program makes here in Pictou County. It’s helping local businesses keep workers they need, people who’ve become our neighbours and friends, and want to build their lives here.

“We’re one of 14 communities that have helped make this pilot work.

“Now we’re making it permanent, so businesses can count on it when they can’t fill jobs locally, and these families can keep calling our community home,” Fraser said.

Similarly, the Secretary of State for Rural Development, Buckley Belanger, said the programme recognised the different labour needs of rural, northern and remote communities.

He said strategic immigration pathways could help address workforce shortages where locally available Canadian workers could not fill vacancies.

The Chief Executive Officer of Pictou County Partnership, Jason Guidry, also said the programme had strengthened the local workforce, supported business growth and helped welcome new residents.

Meanwhile, IRCC said eligibility criteria for additional communities that may join the programme in future would be communicated through a separate announcement.

The department also identified the Provincial Nominee Program and federal economic immigration programmes managed through Express Entry as other pathways available to skilled workers seeking permanent residence in Canada.

The Senator representing Abia North, Orji Kalu, has disclosed that he previously traded in heavy weapons internationally, saying he sold arms to buyers who could afford them before abandoning the business at his parents’ insistence.

Kalu made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, while discussing his longstanding relationships with former and current South African leaders.

The former Abia State governor said his business interests previously extended beyond Nigeria, adding that he dealt in heavy weapons sold from one country to another.

When asked by the interviewer whether he was an arms dealer, Kalu responded, “Yes, so I stopped because my…”

Explaining why he abandoned the business, he said his parents asked him to quit.

“But my parents, my mother, my father came and said I must stop, and I stopped,” he said.

Asked whether he sold weapons to people who intended to use them to kill others, Kalu dismissed the suggestion, insisting that his interest was making money.

No, no, no, no, no, no. I was selling guns to make money, whether they blow up it’s not my business,” he said.

The interviewer subsequently asked whether he supplied weapons to the African National Congress during the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.

Kalu denied selling exclusively to the ANC, saying his customers included anyone willing to pay for the weapons.

“No, I was selling to anybody who wants to buy. If you have the money, you want to buy in D.R.C, I sell to you, you want to buy in Namibia, you want to buy…” he said.

When asked where he sourced the weapons, the senator declined to disclose the details, responding, “It’s only my business.”

The interviewer also raised concerns about the proliferation of small arms in Nigeria, questioning how Kalu’s description of his former business fitted into the country’s security challenges.

However, Kalu maintained that the weapons he dealt in were not small arms, explaining that they were heavy weapons traded between countries.

No, no, these are heavy arms that were sold country to country,” he said.

Asked specifically whether he sold weapons to Libya under its late leader, Muammar Gaddafi, Kalu responded, “To anybody that had money to buy.”

When the interviewer suggested that this meant he had sold arms to Gaddafi, the senator replied, “May his soul rest in peace. He was a good man. If you have money to buy, when I was selling, I would sell to you.”

During the interview, Kalu also spoke about his relationships with successive South African leaders, tracing them to his friendship with the country’s former President, Nelson Mandela.

He said Mandela introduced him to several South African presidents, including Thabo Mbeki and current President Cyril Ramaphosa.

According to Kalu, Mandela once explained that Mbeki’s father had contributed more to the anti-apartheid struggle than Ramaphosa’s father, a factor he said influenced the African National Congress’s decision to choose Mbeki over Ramaphosa as his running mate.

Kalu said Mbeki subsequently introduced him to former President Jacob Zuma, with the relationships continuing through successive administrations.

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has reiterated his pledge to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, saying the policy would make life easier and more affordable for Nigerians.

Atiku restated his position in a post on X on Monday, accompanying a campaign video explaining his proposed approach to petrol subsidy.

“My position stands! I will restore subsidy to make life easier and more affordable for Nigerians,” the former Vice-President wrote.

In the video, a female narrator said petrol was selling for more than ₦1,300 per litre in Nigeria and argued that citizens of other crude oil-producing countries, including Libya, Iran, Venezuela, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, enjoyed cheaper fuel.

The narrator said Atiku’s proposed intervention would be limited to supporting petrol produced by local refineries rather than imported products.

The video also quoted Atiku as saying, “My position has not changed and will not change. I will restore it.”

It added that the proposed arrangement would support domestic refining until the industry could operate without government assistance.

Atiku’s latest statement comes amid the debate over the removal of petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration in May 2023.

Tinubu announced the policy during his inauguration, saying the government could no longer sustain the rising cost of subsidy and would redirect the savings to infrastructure, education, healthcare and job creation.

Atiku has repeatedly criticised the impact of the policy and made its restoration part of his 2027 campaign promises.

At the ADC presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto on November 4, he pledged to restore fuel subsidy, reopen the country’s land borders for legitimate trade and tackle insecurity if elected.

The 2027 presidential election is scheduled for January 16, with the Independent National Electoral Commission fixing February 6 for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

Atiku secured the ADC presidential ticket in May for his seventh bid for the presidency.

However, a Federal High Court in Abuja on November 5 nullified his nomination alongside decisions taken by the party’s David Mark-led leadership.

The ADC has appealed the judgment and applied for a stay of execution.

A Kwara-based non-governmental organisation, the Abibakr As-Sidiq Philanthropic Home, has disclosed that it completed five solar-powered borehole projects to reduce the difficulties the residents face in accessing water.

Our correspondent reports that each borehole is equipped with a solar-powered pumping system, water-storage tanks, distribution taps, perimeter fencing, livestock drinking troughs and solar lighting.

The intervention, it was further gathered is expected to reduce the difficulties residents face in accessing water, particularly in communities where households previously travelled long distances to obtain water for domestic use.

Residents of the beneficiary communities welcomed the projects, expressing appreciation to the NGO and KSrelief for the intervention.

They said the facilities would make clean water more accessible and reduce the hardship associated with water collection, describing the projects as an important contribution to improving living conditions.

The projects, executed with support from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre under Project OP-660, in communities across the Togolese Republic and designed to improve access to clean water.

were completed on October 9, 2026.

The facilities were installed in Moumento, Kalgora, Atchavédo, Adoglové and N’Tifafa Kome communities.

Speaking to Arewa PUNCH in Ilorin on the completion of the projects, ASPH’s Chief Operating Officer and Project Manager, Barrister Abdulrazzaq Farid, said the initiative was aimed at improving access to water and strengthening community welfare.

He said, “The project is aimed at improving access to water and strengthening the welfare of beneficiary communities.”

Farid stressed the importance of community participation, regular maintenance and continuous monitoring to ensure the facilities remained functional and served their intended purpose over the long term.

He said, “Community involvement, regular maintenance and continuous monitoring are essential to ensuring that these facilities remain functional and sustainable.”

The ASPH chief also acknowledged the support of KSrelief, as well as the cooperation of the beneficiary communities and personnel involved in implementing the projects.

Arewa PUNCH reports that the completion of the five boreholes forms part of the organisation’s broader humanitarian commitment to providing essential services and promoting sustainable community development among vulnerable populations across Africa.

Makinde made the call at a rally in Jos on Monday, monitored by our correspondent on television, where he accused the Tinubu administration of running a country that favours a privileged few at the expense of ordinary Nigerians.

He also accused the APC of borrowing ideas from his RESET Agenda, citing its recent adoption of the slogan, ‘Reform to Prosperity’.

APM Presidential stated, “I would have preferred this rally to have been held in the evening because, since I arrived, I have enjoyed the cool weather in Jos every evening. This tells us that if we get security right, people will come to Plateau State for tourism.

Security is a major pillar of the Reset Agenda. Once we start attracting tourists, our economy on the Plateau will expand, and we will create jobs for our teeming youths.

“So, please, go back to your various units and spread the Reset message. Elections are won at the unit level. Go back to your units with the Reset message. If Nigeria is not working for you, then let us reset it. When we reset Nigeria, we will have a country that works for everybody.”

The APM candidate alleged that the APC had governed in the interest of a privileged few rather than the general population.

He stated, “Let me quickly say this: when we unveiled our Reset Agenda, I said in Abuja that they would soon start stealing our ideas. Now they have started. They say theirs is ‘Reform to Prosperity’. They now say they want a Nigeria that will work for everybody. What have they been doing over the past three years?

“They have built a Nigeria that works only for them. Send the oppressors packing. Send them back to Lagos, and let us bring in the team that will reset Nigeria. So, join me in building a Nigeria that will work for you, work for me and work for our children.”

The vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Daura, appealed to voters in Plateau State to support the party, expressing confidence that the state would give it massive backing in the 2027 general election.

Daura, who described Plateau as a once-peaceful tourism destination, said the APM was committed to restoring peace and improving the state’s fortunes through its policy agenda.

He stated, “We are here on the Plateau to appreciate you, solicit your support and express our understanding, which we believe you are likely to give more than any other state in the North-Central.

“Plateau has been a state of peace and tranquillity, a home of tourism where anything good used to be found. Personally, years back, I used to visit the Plateau at least three times a year.

“Unfortunately, some people have tried to spoil the Plateau. But we are here with our Reset agenda to set things right for the Plateau and for Nigeria.”

In his remarks, APM National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, criticised the Federal Government over the removal of the petrol subsidy, questioning whether the policy has improved Nigerians’ living conditions.

He said citizens were still struggling with high food prices, insecurity and difficulties accessing their farms.

Dantalle described the APM as a party on a rescue mission, urging Nigerians to spread its message and support its commitment to equitable distribution of resources, constitutional governance and improved living conditions.

He stated, “Subsidy has been withdrawn, according to the Federal Government, for one purpose: to give Nigerians a better life. But are we better off after that? We are paying through our noses. Food is not available. We cannot go to our farms. We cannot do anything.

“We are here on a rescue mission, all of us. When you go back home, talk to somebody who will talk to another person, and spread the message that there is a new party composed of people who fear God and have made a covenant with the people to ensure that what belongs to them is equitably returned to them. And that is the APM.

“We are not here to lie to you or deceive you. We are here as messengers of God and humane people who work within the confines of the Constitution, provided by all of us for all of us. And that is what democracy stands for.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential election.

The Lagos State Government is seeking to strengthen regulation of traditional medicine through institutional collaboration with Ogun State, drawing on its registration of 9,645 practitioners and regulatory framework to improve oversight of the sector.

The move followed a working visit by a delegation from the Ogun State Alternative Medicine Board to the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, where the visiting officials sought to study Lagos’ regulatory structure, administrative processes and strategies for monitoring practitioners.

The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos board, Babatunde Adele, said the agency was ready to share its experience with its Ogun counterpart to promote professional standards and responsible traditional medicine practice.

Adele disclosed that the board, established in 1980, had registered 9,645 active traditional medicine practitioners, adding that its responsibilities included registration, professional development, monitoring and the promotion of safe healthcare practices

He said the board had introduced regular training programmes and a code of conduct for practitioners as part of efforts to improve professional standards, strengthen accountability and address the activities of unregulated operators.

The collaboration also comes as Lagos pursues institutional and infrastructure development to support research, documentation and the standardisation of traditional medicine.

Adele identified a botanical garden being established in Epe, plans for additional traditional medicine clinics and laboratories, and the proposed creation of zonal offices to bring the board’s regulatory services closer to practitioners and members of the public

He said the initiatives were part of efforts to modernise the sector while preserving indigenous medical knowledge and ensuring that its practice met acceptable standards of safety and professionalism.

The Ogun delegation, led by the board’s Executive Secretary and Registrar, Charles Erinle, said it was seeking practical lessons from Lagos’ regulatory experience to strengthen alternative medicine administration in the state.

Erinle said the visit was designed to familiarise his team with the Lagos board’s operational structure, administrative processes and regulatory strategies, while identifying areas of cooperation between the two institutions.

He expressed confidence that the experience gained would provide useful models for improving regulation and developing traditional medicine practice in Ogun.

A former member of the Lagos board and the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Holistic College of Traditional Medicine, Tajudeen Olusesi, said the agency had also supported the development of institutions and facilities for organised traditional medicine practice.

He identified training institutions, clinics, botanical gardens, herbal centres and drug manufacturing facilities among the areas encouraged by the board.

Olusesi said the introduction of a data management system, alongside practitioner registration and periodic licence renewal, had helped the board identify active practitioners and address inactive registrations.

He said the measures would strengthen the agency’s database and provide a more reliable basis for monitoring practitioners and improving regulatory oversight.

A member of the Ogun delegation, Olufunke Adu, thanked the Lagos board for sharing its institutional experience and operational insights, saying the lessons would be useful in strengthening regulation in Ogun.

She expressed optimism that the engagement would lead to sustained cooperation between the two states.

The proposed collaboration highlights the growing importance of institutional capacity in regulating traditional medicine, particularly in ensuring that practitioners operate within established standards while indigenous medical knowledge is preserved and developed through research and proper documentation.

Diego Simeone’s faith in Ademola Lookman appears to be wavering after the Atlético Madrid coach, who had publicly backed the Nigerian to rediscover his best form, left him on the bench throughout their defeat to Barcelona despite having another substitution available.

Simeone had previously urged the forward not to become frustrated by his dip in form, insisting that hard work and belief would help him rediscover his confidence.

“I don’t want him to get frustrated because he’s not going through his best moment. This is work, this is believing in what you do,” the Argentine said.

But his decision to overlook Lookman in the Barcelona encounter has raised questions about whether that confidence is beginning to diminish.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Simeone made only four substitutions despite Atlético chasing the game, leaving the Nigerian unused even with an additional change available.

The coach kept Julian Alvarez on the pitch for the entire match despite the jeers directed at the forward, while Alexander Sørloth, David Hancko, Johnny Cardoso and Jonathan David were introduced in three separate phases.

David came on in the 78th minute, but Lookman was not considered for the remaining minutes as Atlético sought a way back into the contest.

The decision represents a frustrating development for the Nigerian, who had featured in all 11 of Atlético’s LaLiga matches before the Barcelona game but managed just one goal, scored in their 3-1 victory over Sevilla in August.

He has also recorded one goal and one assist in four Champions League appearances this season.

However, despite the growing concerns over his playing time, Spanish newspaper Marca reports that Atlético have not lost faith in the 28-year-old.

“No one at Atlético Madrid has lost faith in Ademola Lookman.

“Both the coaching staff and the dressing room are united in their determination to help him rediscover his best form and, above all, regain his confidence and morale. Nobody doubts his ability, and his attitude has never been called into question,” the publication reported.

Some Atlético supporters have also rallied behind the Nigerian, with one fan suggesting that Simeone, rather than Lookman, should shoulder the blame for the team’s struggles.

“The thing is Lookman was great last season because he was new and hadn’t been coached by Simeone yet, similar situation with Kang in even all the players, you should only lose faith in Simeone not anyone,” Kensuke Qiang wrote.

Another supporter questioned why Lookman was not afforded the same patience as Alvarez, who has also endured difficult moments at the club.

“Julian wanted a new club a few months ago, started and played like shit. Why can’t Lookman get the same grace?” the fan queried.

Lookman is back in Nigeria for the international break and will hope to inspire the Super Eagles to victories in their crucial 2027 AFCON qualifiers double-header 2027 against Tanzania.

The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement and the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, have renewed their disagreement over the lawmaker’s distribution of millions of naira to constituents, with the group insisting that the exercise raises questions about electoral integrity.

The latest exchange followed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s criticism of the movement for calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate her cash empowerment programme, which she said was funded through a Federal Government budgetary provision.

The senator had also maintained that she would honour any invitation from the anti-graft agency and explain the circumstances surrounding the distribution.

However, in a fresh interview with The PUNCH, the Director-General of OK Movement, John Ughulu, said the senator’s position did not address the concerns raised by the group.

Ughulu argued that elected public officials should be subjected to continuous orientation on their constitutional responsibilities, ethical standards and accountability.

The politician said the circumstances surrounding the public distribution of money to constituents raised questions about the possible abuse of public office and the integrity of the electoral process.

He said, “What Nigerians witnessed in the widely discussed money distribution incident raises serious questions about the abuse of public office and the integrity of our electoral process.

“If the circumstances establish that the money was distributed to influence voters ahead of an election, the matter could amount to advance vote buying and should be investigated under the relevant provisions of Nigerian electoral law.”

Ughulu challenged the senator to explain whether similar cash distributions featured in her electoral campaigns, insisting that the circumstances surrounding her emergence into the National Assembly also deserved scrutiny.

“The election that brought Senator Natasha into the National Assembly was decided by the people. Therefore, an important question must be asked: Was the same practice of distributing money to influence voters involved in securing her electoral victory?

“That question deserves a factual answer, not an emotional reaction,” he said.

The movement also dismissed suggestions that its criticism was politically motivated, saying its position on electoral accountability would apply to candidates across party lines, including those of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

We cannot condemn alleged electoral malpractice under the present administration while appearing to tolerate similar conduct from individuals within our own political space. The same standards of integrity, transparency and accountability must apply to everyone.

“The OK Movement will not make exceptions for anyone. This applies equally to NDC candidates and candidates of every other political party. Anyone involved in electoral manipulation, vote buying, result falsification or any attempt to undermine the will of the electorate should expect lawful scrutiny and accountability,” he stated.

Ughulu further warned that the group would explore lawful means of seeking accountability if the EFCC or other relevant agencies failed to investigate credible allegations.

He said the 2027 elections should be determined by voters at polling units, adding that the movement was committed to transparency, proper documentation of results and protection of voters’ rights.

The latest exchange comes days after Akpoti-Uduaghan defended her cash empowerment programme in a video circulating on social media.

The senator insisted that the money was provided through a Federal Government budgetary allocation and that she personally brought it before beneficiaries to ensure transparency.

She said, “Well, I have not been invited by the EFCC. But, of course, if I’m invited, I will turn up and explain the following things. Number one, the cash empowerment was money from the Federal Government. It’s budgeted by the Federal Government, okay? And I, in my typical fashion, do things transparently.

“I brought the money personally before the people. The money was all placed on a platform. There was no money abuse. And you saw the hall was full to its brim. We had about 600 beneficiaries.

“But the Obi-Kwankwaso group, please, I don’t know how authentic you are. But if you are, you have NDC senators in the Senate. And they’re also able to bring these same opportunities to you. So rather than using your efforts to call on EFCC to investigate why I am giving such an amount of money to my constituents, I think you should channel that energy to your senators and tell them to do the same for you.”

The controversy followed the circulation of photographs and videos showing bundles of cash at an empowerment programme organised by the senator to mark her third anniversary in the 10th National Assembly.

Her action attracted criticism on social media, with some Nigerians questioning the propriety of publicly displaying large sums of money during a constituency empowerment programme.

Akpoti-Uduaghan subsequently defended the decision to distribute cash rather than business equipment, explaining through her media aide, Mike Idoko, that previous empowerment exercises showed that some beneficiaries preferred direct financial assistance to equipment because of their immediate business needs.

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct an urgent, independent forensic audit of the preliminary voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections, following allegations of AI-generated photographs, duplicate entries, and suspicious voter records.

The forum also condemned reported attacks on presidential candidates and political figures, including Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi and African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, warning that political violence could undermine the credibility of the forthcoming elections.

The SMBLF, in a statement issued on Monday in Kaduna and jointly signed by its leaders, expressed concern over what it described as an increasingly tense political atmosphere as the country approaches the January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.

The statement was signed by the Chairman of the SMBLF and Afenifere leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan; President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu; President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, John Azuta-Mbata; and National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Amb Godknows Igali.

The leaders said the alleged irregularities in the preliminary voters’ register had raised serious questions about the preparedness of INEC and the credibility of the electoral process.

“Our most urgent concern is the disturbing discovery of suspected Artificial Intelligence-generated photographs, duplicate entries and records reportedly belonging to unknown persons in the preliminary voters’ register published by the Independent National Electoral Commission,” the statement said

The forum said the revelations had generated widespread anxiety among Nigerians, insisting that the credibility of the voters’ register was fundamental to conducting free, fair and transparent elections.

It, therefore, demanded an independent forensic examination of the register by electoral technology experts, civil society organisations and other qualified stakeholders.

Beyond the voters’ register, the SMBLF urged INEC to demonstrate its preparedness to deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System effectively, protect election infrastructure, adequately train electoral personnel and ensure transparent collation and prompt publication of polling-unit results.

The statement added, “INEC must learn from previous controversies over its use of technology in result transmission and restore public trust.”

On political violence, the forum expressed alarm over reports and video footage of attacks on political figures, including Obi in Makurdi and Calabar, as well as Sowore in Ekiti State.

It insisted that no politician or supporter should be attacked or intimidated because of political affiliation or participation in democratic activities.

“Whatever their political affiliations, no candidate or supporter should face violence for participating in democratic activities,” the leaders declared.

They called on security agencies to investigate the reported attacks impartially, identify those responsible and prosecute perpetrators and their sponsors wherever sufficient evidence was established.

The forum also condemned the destruction of campaign billboards, posters and other political materials, describing such actions as unacceptable and capable of escalating political tensions.

According to the statement, “Such conduct violates the spirit of political competition and could escalate into avoidable violence.”

The SMBLF further urged the judiciary and other electoral institutions to discharge their responsibilities independently and without unnecessary delay, particularly on disputes involving party leadership and candidates’ eligibility.

It warned that prolonged uncertainty over such matters close to election day could deny voters meaningful choices and weaken public confidence in the democratic system.

The leaders, however, clarified that the forum had not endorsed any presidential candidate or political party ahead of the 2027 elections.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the SMBLF has not adopted any presidential candidate or political party as the collective choice of the forum,” the statement said.

They reaffirmed their commitment to a peaceful, credible and inclusive electoral process, stressing that every eligible Nigerian must be allowed to exercise their voting rights freely without coercion, inducement or fear

The United Kingdom government is moving to stop schools from routinely starting General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) teaching in Year 7.

This, according to the government, is part of plans to overhaul the national curriculum and make the first three years of secondary education more engaging for pupils.

Under the proposed changes, “schools will be expected to protect Key Stage 3 (KS3) as a distinct three-year phase, rather than using it primarily to prepare pupils for GCSE examinations.”

The Department for Education announced the plans in a press release published on November 8, 2026, saying the curriculum overhaul was aimed at addressing growing disengagement among pupils in their early teenage years, as well as improving attendance and educational outcomes

The government said “some schools were increasingly encroaching on Key Stage 3 by introducing GCSE content before Year 10, with some beginning as early as Year 7.”

It cited research by Public First Global for the International Baccalaureate, which found that more than half of teachers said GCSE courses were dominating the first three years of secondary school, despite the content not being intended to begin until Year 10.

Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, said the pressure to prepare pupils for examinations early was depriving them of a broader learning experience.

What’s more, the pressures of GCSEs and an overcrowded curriculum are resulting in too many children receiving a narrower offer during Key Stage 3 and being rushed towards exams without grasping the fundamentals or developing deeper understanding. I’m putting a stop to that,” she said.

Powell said the early years of secondary education should allow children to explore different subjects, develop their interests and build a lasting enthusiasm for learning.

The early years of secondary school should be a time when children are excited to go to school and engage in the specialist and much broader teaching on offer, and where they find their passion and develop a love of learning,” she said.

The proposed curriculum changes will also reduce overcrowded content and improve the sequencing of subjects to allow pupils more time to develop a deeper understanding of what they are taught.

The government said there would be greater emphasis on core knowledge and skills, including confident speaking, fluent reading, reading for pleasure and numeracy.

Pupils would also have a more engaging offer in subjects such as drama, physical education, music and modern foreign languages, alongside technical and digital skills.

According to the department, the changes are also intended to “address persistent school absence, which almost doubles between Years 7 and 9, reaching one in four children.”

It said persistent absence rates among white working-class children were 75 per cent higher in secondary school than in primary school.

The government said the new curriculum would discourage schools from starting GCSE specifications early for large groups of pupils or routinely requiring them to narrow their subject choices earlier or sit examinations ahead of schedule.

However, teachers would retain the flexibility to stretch high-achieving pupils or groups considered ready to progress further without restricting their options.

The full National Curriculum is expected to be published later in 2026, according to the release.

Babcock University has confirmed that a student involved in a viral incident at one of its hostels is alive and responding to treatment at the university’s teaching hospital.

The institution made this known in a Monday statement signed by its Associate Vice-President, Communication, Media and Branding, Johnson B. Akintayo, following reports suggesting that the student had died.

The university said the incident was brought under control through the prompt intervention of the student’s roommates, whose actions prevented what could have been a more tragic outcome.

“Contrary to reports suggesting that the student may have died, we wish to assure the public that he is responding positively to treatment and is receiving the necessary medical care,” the statement said.

It added that the student and one of his rescuers sustained injuries during the incident and were immediately taken for medical attention.

The student’s parents have been contacted and are on campus to be with their ward as he receives treatment.

“The other student who sustained injury while rescuing his roommate, has been treated and discharged,” the university said

The incident, which occurred on November 8, 2026, involved a 400-level student and attracted attention after videos showing the student near a window ledge at a hostel circulated on social media.

The footage showed some of his roommates attempting to restrain and pull him away from the ledge.

The university said it had commenced an investigation to establish the immediate and underlying circumstances surrounding the incident.

“This process will help us understand what happened, identify any factors that may have contributed to the situation, and determine appropriate measures to prevent a recurrence,” it said.

It urged members of the public and media organisations to refrain from circulating unverified information or attributing causes to the incident while investigations were ongoing.

The institution also said it was committed to supporting the student’s recovery and would provide appropriate guidance and other necessary assistance.

“We particularly acknowledge and commend the courage and prompt action of his roommates who came to his rescue. We appeal for sensitivity and restraint in discussing this incident, particularly out of respect for the student and his family at this difficult time,” the statement added.

The university reiterated its commitment to the safety, health and welfare of its students and employees.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Edo State Command, arrested 75 suspected drug traffickers in connection with 16,818.17kg of illicit drugs in October 2026.

The statistics were released in a statement on Monday by the Commander of Narcotics, Mitchell Ofoyeju, who described the visit of the agency’s Chairman, Mohammed Buba Marwa, as a catalyst for the command’s fight against drug traffickers.

According to Ofoyeju, the command seized a total of 2,496.11791kg of illicit substances and identified and destroyed eight cannabis farms measuring 5.728819 hectares, with an estimated yield of 14,322.0475kg.

“The October arrests comprised 54 males and 21 females, while the seizures included 2,492.6973kilograms of Cannabis Sativa and 14,322.04kg of cannabis destroyed in the farms. Others are 3.2169kg of psychotropic substances, 0.20371 kilograms of methamphetamine, 35 cylinders of nitrous oxide (laughing gas), six cups of brownies and 4.1 litres of codeine syrup.

The Chairman’s visit is a moral booster to us, and I am glad to do more,” Ofoyeju added.

He said one of the major seizures recorded during the month was the impoundment of a black Toyota Camry at Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, conveying 1,049 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 702.83kg.

He said three suspected traffickers, two males and a female, were arrested. They were identified as Monday Orji, 52; Monday Lawal, 40; and Precious Uduegele, 20.

The cannabis farms destroyed were located in Uzebba Forest and Ukhuise-Osi Community in Owan West Local Government Area; Ugbada Forest, also in Owan West; Ugboshi Ele Forest in Akoko Edo; and Eco Camp, Illushi, in Esan South-East Local Government Area.

On the prosecution front, Ofoyeju said the command secured six convictions and charged 14 cases to court, while 103 cases were pending.

He said the Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation, as well as Prevention and Sensitisation units, counselled 47 clients, comprising 33 males and 14 females. The clients who had received counselling were released to their families, while 12 others were undergoing rehabilitation and vocational training in tailoring, embroidery, perfume-making and liquid soap-making.

He noted that the command also carried out 10 sensitisation programmes at six schools, places of worship, markets and public places in Benin City, reaching 5,293 participants, comprising 2,324 males and 2,969 females.

Ofoyeju said the command would continue to work hard to rid Edo State of illicit drugs, adding that a drug-abuse-free society was priceless.

A British civil servant who secretly held multiple government jobs simultaneously and fraudulently earned more than £284,000 in taxpayers’ money has been found guilty of nine counts of fraud.

Kashim Chowdhury, 56, from east London, was convicted after a jury found him guilty of eight counts of fraud by false representation and one count of fraud by failing to disclose information.

According to a BBC report published on Monday, the jury reached its unanimous verdict after seven hours of deliberation.

Chowdhury held five government jobs at the same time in the spring of 2023, although he had secured eight overlapping full-time public sector roles between 2020 and 2023, earning a total of £350,000.

The prosecution accused him of “deliberate, intentional dishonesty” and “exploiting the system”.

The court heard that Chowdhury provided inaccurate information about his employment status on job application forms and failed to disclose to government departments that he was already employed elsewhere.

After securing the positions, he also failed to inform his employers that he was working for other organisations.

Among the organisations where he worked were the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department of Health and Social Care, the UK Health Security Agency, the Department for Business and Trade, the Food Standards Agency and the Home Office.

During the spring of 2023, he was contracted to work 183 hours weekly, exceeding the total number of hours in a seven-day week.

The report said Chowdhury was allowed to work entirely from home after telling his employers that he was caring for his mother, with whom he lived in east London.

His mother had dementia and was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2023.

However, rather than reduce his workload to care for her, he continued taking on additional jobs.

Chowdhury told the court that he accepted multiple roles because he feared losing his livelihood after experiencing insecure

He said he had been made redundant from a job at the Department for Education in 2013 and was subsequently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Explaining his actions, he said he had not been thinking clearly when applying for jobs “because of my stress, distress and trauma and due to my panic at the time”.

However, prosecuting barrister Lucy Organ accused him of lying during the trial.

“He’s lied to you in evidence, he’s lied to you under oath, which demonstrates the level of deceit he has descended to,” she told the jury.

The court also heard evidence from several of Chowdhury’s former managers about his performance at work.

One of them, Dan McCartney, who managed him at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said he had to “effectively tell him what to do the whole time”.

McCartney told the court that Chowdhury frequently switched off his camera during video calls, citing technical problems, and that the situation continued for four to five months.

However, because he was not subjected to formal performance measures at the department, Chowdhury was offered a permanent position and remained there for two years.

The prosecution also alleged that he used sick notes to manage his overlapping work commitments.

In March 2023, he was on sick leave from four organisations but continued working at the Home Office without informing the department that he was ill.

His line manager at the UK Health Security Agency, Aleesha Adams, also told the court about a video call she arranged with him in May 2023, after he had been off sick for three months.

Adams said she wanted to discuss a plan for his return to work.

She told the jury that Chowdhury was coughing repeatedly and waving tissues towards the camera at the beginning of the meeting.

She further alleged that he had applied white make-up to his face to make himself appear ill.

According to Adams, the make-up began coming off his forehead as the meeting progressed.

“He was sweating, it was like rubbing off so it was darker underneath and darker on the neck,” she told the court.

Chowdhury denied the allegation, describing it as a smear and insisting that he had not worn make-up.

After the meeting, Adams discovered that he had joined the video call using an email address belonging to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

When challenged, he blamed the incident on a technical error.

Adams said she became suspicious and escalated her concerns to senior officials at the agency.

“I believed he was lying,” she told the jury.

However, his activities continued for several more months until he left the civil service in September 2023.

Chowdhury was eventually identified in 2024 through the government’s National Fraud Initiative, which conducts checks of civil service databases, including payroll records, every two years to identify anomalies.

Canada has made its Rural Community Immigration Pilot a permanent programme, creating a continuing pathway to attract and retain skilled foreign workers in smaller communities facing persistent labour shortages.

The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lena Metlege Diab, announced the decision on Monday, November 9, 2026, in Pictou County, Nova Scotia.

According to a release on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, the programme will initially continue with the 14 communities currently participating in the pilot, with plans to expand to additional communities in the future.

The employer- and community-led initiative is designed to address the distinct workforce needs of rural Canada by connecting newcomers and their families with local employers and community support systems to encourage long-term settlement.

Announcing the decision, Diab said the government recognised the importance of rural communities to the country’s economy and the challenges they face in finding workers.

“Our government understands that rural communities play a critical role in powering Canada’s economy. At the same time, many face real challenges finding the workers they need. That’s why we’re transitioning our successful rural immigration pilot into a permanent program—helping smaller communities attract and retain essential workers who deliver services and drive economic growth.

“We appreciate that a one-size-fits-all approach to immigration doesn’t work for rural Canada, and this permanent pathway is one part of our work to ensure that communities of all sizes can share in the benefits of responsible, sustainable immigration,” she said.

Under Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, 5,500 admission spaces have been allocated to the permanent Rural Community Immigration Program.

The government said the programme would complement its efforts to stabilise immigration admissions, reduce the temporary resident population and retain skilled workers already living and contributing to communities across the country.

What the programme has achieved

IRCC said the permanent programme builds on the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, which ran from 2019 to 2024, and the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, introduced in 2025.

More than 2,800 employers participated in the earlier Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, resulting in over 12,500 candidates and their family members being admitted to smaller and rural communities across Canada.

The department said early results from the current programme showed that newcomers had helped address labour shortages in key sectors, including healthcare, education, sales and services, in 2025 and 2026.

Between January 2025 and August 2026, participating communities vetted and designated more than 1,950 trusted employers facing persistent labour shortages that could not be filled locally.

The employers subsequently issued more than 4,700 job offers and community recommendations.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Sean Fraser, said the programme had helped businesses in Pictou County retain workers and encouraged newcomers to establish permanent roots in the community.

“We’ve seen the difference this program makes here in Pictou County. It’s helping local businesses keep workers they need, people who’ve become our neighbours and friends, and want to build their lives here.

“We’re one of 14 communities that have helped make this pilot work. Now we’re making it permanent, so businesses can count on it when they can’t fill jobs locally, and these families can keep calling our community home,” Fraser said.

Similarly, the Secretary of State for Rural Development, Buckley Belanger, said the programme recognised the different labour needs of rural, northern and remote communities.

He said strategic immigration pathways could help address workforce shortages where locally available Canadian workers could not fill vacancies.

The Chief Executive Officer of Pictou County Partnership, Jason Guidry, also said the programme had strengthened the local workforce, supported business growth and helped welcome new residents.

Meanwhile, IRCC said eligibility criteria for additional communities that may join the programme in future would be communicated through a separate announcement.

The department also identified the Provincial Nominee Program and federal economic immigration programmes managed through Express Entry as other pathways available to skilled workers seeking permanent residence in Canada.a

The Nigeria LNG has announced entries for the 2027 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts with a call to filmmakers to show audiences a Nigeria they rarely see on screen.

The cycle, themed “Nigeria Unseen”, invites documentaries that bring lesser-known stories of Nigerian life to wider attention and examine familiar subjects through perspectives that have been overlooked, including everyday experiences that rarely feature on screen.

This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harrcourt on Monday by NLNG’s
Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku.

The statement reads, “Following its inaugural edition in 2026, the competition returns with a prize of US$20,000 and is open to Nigerian filmmakers aged 18 to 35, irrespective of their country of residence.

A three-member Advisory Board has also been appointed to guide the Prize’s development and uphold its standards of excellence.

“Award-winning filmmaker and producer Femi Odugbemi will chair the Board, with journalist and broadcaster Kadaria Ahmed and documentary filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson will serve as members as well.”

The board, according to the statement, will provide strategic direction, oversee the administration of the Prize and safeguard the integrity of its adjudication process.

“Its mandate will emphasise originality, artistic quality and compelling storytelling, while supporting a transparent and independent competition that remains responsive to Nigeria’s evolving creative sector,” it added.

Speaking on the call for entries, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said the new edition would build on the company’s support for Nigerian creative talent.

She noted that the Prize seeks to recognise the quality of Nigerian filmmaking and encourage work that broadens public understanding of the country and its people.

“Our support for The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts reflects our confidence in Nigerian talent and our recognition of the work that goes into making good, structured content.

“Documentary filmmaking demands time, research and the patience to understand a subject before presenting it to an audience. With ‘Nigeria Unseen’, we are encouraging filmmakers to pursue stories that deserve closer attention and tell them with care.

We want the Prize to give outstanding work the recognition it deserves and introduce audiences to aspects of Nigeria they may not otherwise encounter,” Horsfall said.

Chairperson of the Prize’s Advisory Board, Femi Odugbemi, said the theme offered considerable freedom in the choice of subject.

Odugbemi encouraged entrants to consider not only what their films would reveal, but also how their treatment of a subject could deepen an audience’s understanding of it.

“Nigeria Unseen’ does not necessarily mean travelling to a remote place or finding a subject that has never been filmed. It may mean looking again at something we pass every day and asking questions we have never thought to ask.

“An unfamiliar subject is a starting point, but the filmmaker still has to find the story and establish why it matters. That requires research, access and the trust of the people whose lives are being documented.

“We encourage filmmakers to test their assumptions and give the people in their films room to speak for themselves,” Odugbemi said

The statement further said the Board brings together experience in filmmaking, journalism, creative education and media leadership.

“The submission portal for the 2027 competition will open on 1 February 2027, and entries must be submitted through www.filmfreeway.com before 11:59 p.m. WAT on 30 April 2027.

“Eligible films must have been produced between January 2026 and April 2027 and must not exceed 20 minutes in running time

The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts recognises Nigerian filmmaking talent and the role of documentary film in recording the country’s stories and bringing them to wider audiences.

“Alongside The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation, the Prize reflects NLNG’s commitment to recognising and rewarding excellence in the arts and sciences,” the statement added.

The Federal High Court will begin its 2026 Christmas vacation on December 21, with regular court sittings scheduled to resume on January 6, 2027.

The court’s Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, approved the vacation, which will end on January 5, 2027, in a notice issued by the court’s Director of Information, Dr Catherine Christopher, on Monday.

“Pursuant to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil ) Procedure Rules, 2019, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, KSS, OFR, FCIArb. (UK), has approved the Christmas Vacation of the Court for the year 2026 and the roster of Judges designated to sit during the vacation period.

“The Christmas Vacation shall commence on Monday, 21st December 2026, and end on Tuesday, 5th January, 2027,” the notice read.

According to Christopher, “only the designated Judicial Divisions shall remain operational to provide judicial services to the litigating public.”

The court said vacation judges would entertain only matters relating to the enforcement of fundamental rights, the arrest or release of vessels and other urgent matters of national importance, including pre-election cases.

For the Abuja Judicial Division, Justices I.E. Ekwo and O.A. Egwuatu were designated as vacation judges.

The Lagos Judicial Division will be served by Justices Akintayo Aluko and Ogazi F. Nkemakonam, while Justices P.M. Ayua and A.T. Mohammed will sit in Port Harcourt.

In Enugu, Justices F.O.G. Ogunbanjo and M.T. Segun-Bello were designated to handle cases during the vacation.

The Chief Judge wished judges and members of the court a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Electricity distribution companies have apologised to Nigerians over persistent power shortages across the country, acknowledging the hardship caused by weeks of prolonged blackouts.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Sunday Oduntan, tendered the apology on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

“I’d like to first of all start by apologising to Nigerians. Apology is needed; it is essential because Nigerians have been taken through this problem over the past few weeks,” he said.

Oduntan also criticised what he described as a return to the blame game among operators in the electricity sector, recalling that similar disagreements between stakeholders had characterised the industry between 2016 and 2019.

He said distribution companies, transmission operators, generation companies and gas suppliers had previously blamed one another for poor electricity supply instead of addressing the underlying problems.

“Our major problem is that we have started that very wrong route that we went through between 2016 and 2019. What is that? Blame game.

“Part of what happened at that time is that people will blame the DisCos, DisCos will blame TCN, TCN will blame GenCos, GenCos will blame the gas suppliers, and gas suppliers will blame payment issues. We have returned to that, and I think there is a need to arrest that,” he said.

Oduntan questions conflicting explanations

The ANED chief also expressed concern over statements issued by the Nigerian Independent System Operator and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited regarding the causes of the electricity shortages.

He said NISO had attributed the supply challenges partly to low water levels and inadequate gas supply, while the NNPC subsequently issued a statement indicating that gas was available.

Oduntan, however, questioned the information provided by the national oil company, insisting that it should clarify whether outstanding payments were affecting gas supply to power generation companies.

“From the NNPC statement, it is very clear that they came to tell us half-truths. What I would have expected NNPC to do is to go ahead and talk to us whether there are payment issues. We need to know whether gas was paid for and delivered, who did, who didn’t,” he said.

He urged the Minister of Power to intervene by bringing the relevant stakeholders together to establish the actual causes of the shortages.

“This back and forth blame game between gas suppliers, NNPC and, of course, TCN or NISO, I think the Minister of Power needs to take charge. There is a need for this leadership because, at the end of the day, they need to call them together,” he said.

Prolonged blackouts

The apology comes amid growing frustration over inadequate electricity supply, with households and businesses struggling to cope with prolonged outages in recent weeks.

The shortages have raised questions about the effectiveness of the Band A, B and C electricity tariff classification, which links the amount customers pay to the level of electricity supply they are expected to receive.

Customers, including those on Band A, who are entitled to a minimum of 20 hours of electricity daily, have continued to complain about inadequate supply.

The situation has been compounded by intense dry-season heat and El Niño conditions, leaving many residents struggling to cope without electricity to operate fans and air conditioners.

The outages have also prompted protests and criticism from public figures.

Veteran actress Kate Henshaw questioned why Nigerians continued to struggle with reliable electricity, lamenting that households had effectively become “mini-factories” because they had to generate their own power.

Content creator Cute Abiola also appealed to President Bola Tinubu in a video, expressing frustration over the unbearable heat and the difficulties Nigerians face in accessing alternative electricity sources.

Meanwhile, the rising cost of petrol and diesel has made running generators increasingly expensive, while installing solar panels, batteries and inverters remains unaffordable for many households and small businesses.

Tinubu’s electricity promise

The power crisis has renewed attention to President Tinubu’s campaign promise to address Nigeria’s electricity challenges.

During his 2023 presidential campaign, Tinubu pledged to improve electricity supply and end estimated billing, telling members of the Organised Private Sector in Lagos that Nigerians should hold him accountable if he failed to deliver.

“Whichever way, by all means necessary, you will have electricity, and you will not pay for estimated bills anymore. A promise made will be a promise kept.

“If I don’t keep the promise and I come for a second term, don’t vote for me, unless I give you adequate reasons why I couldn’t deliver,” he said.

Tegbe’s intervention

Recall that some Nigerians, including civil society organisations, have called for the resignation of the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, over what they described as persistent electricity outages across the country.

They accused him of incompetence and failure to address the worsening power situation.

This came after the minister’s appeal for calm on Saturday and promise that power supply will improve in 72 hours.

Meanwhile, Tegbe said Monday that electricity supply had been restored to several areas in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Kwara states, and the Federal Capital Territory, following disruptions caused partly by the vandalism of a critical 330-kilovolt transmission line.

The minister disclosed this in an update posted on social media, saying the affected Benin-Egbin transmission line had been repaired and returned to service.

The restoration has increased electricity supply to the Lagos Complex to more than 1,000 megawatts, bringing the system back to the level recorded before the disruption.