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Over 2,000 members of the Ondo State Chapter of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle, Tricycle, Repairers, and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORON) have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the next year’s presidential election.

ACOMORON expressed their readiness to work for the second term of President Tinubu.

The state Chairman of the transport union, Comrade Akinlolu Olumonrin, said they decided to support Tinubu because of the development he has brought to the state through the construction of roads and the appointments of prominent indigenes of the state into his government.

Speaking at a rally organised by the Asiwaju Mandate Group (AMG), Olumorin said the union members believe that once Tinubu is reelected, the good jobs he has embarked upon in the state would not be abandoned.

According to him, ‘We look into everything. All he did in Nigeria, in every state, we discovered he is the only person who can continue the job so that the programme will continue. On our own ends in ACOMORAN, we tried a lot to make ACOMORAN visible in Ondo State. We wrote many letters and even sued the government, but we did not achieve anything. We discovered that if we go through the President, our union may come to reality.’

Ten states are participating in the ongoing National Darts Trial Competition aimed at ranking players and selecting the best talents for a national camp.

The Darts National Competition holding in Ikeja Club, Lagos, rounds off Saturday.

The states include Abia, Kwara, Imo, Delta, Bayelsa, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Rivers and Edo, with each state represented by two teams – the Police team and an Academy side.

A total of 62 players are taking part in the competition, made up of 38 males and 24 females, with selections determined through a chart system progressing from the quarter-finals to the semi-finals.

The competition is played using the 501 format, where the first player to reduce their score to zero emerges the winner.

In the men’s category, players who progressed to the quarter-finals include Pius Israel (Delta), Evans Oninikpo (Abia), Amadon Denyefa (Edo), Miracle Nwakobi(Abia), Lawal Sunday(Rivers), Mohammed Abdurauf(Edo), Jacob Chinecherem (Abia) and Nnamdi Ukaegbu (Abia).

In the women’s category, Conscience Ikponwobsa(Edo), Adodo Victoria (Police), Mayowa Ogunremi(Police), Favour Okehie (Imo), Bukola Hussein (Kwara), Grace Williams (Police), Felicia Idu (Bayelsa) and Osasu Ogbomwan (Edo) also made it to the quarter-finals.

Results from the quarter-final matches in the women’s category saw Adodo defeat Conscience 3-0, Favour beat Mayowa 3-0, and Grace overcame Bukola 3-1, while Felicia narrowly edged Osasu 3-2.

In the men’s category, Pius defeated Evans 3-0 and Amadon overcame Miracle 3-0, while Lawal beat Mohammed 3-1 and Nnamdi saw off Jacob 3-0.

The grand finale will hold on Saturday, with the semi-finalists battling for the title of the best darts player in the country.

Burundian Ambassador to Nigeria, Edward Nduwimana, has pleaded with Nigeria to resume the supply of crude oil to his country.

Burundi and Nigeria had signed an agreement leading to the supply of 45,000 barrels per day of crude oil between 2008 and 2014 before the agreement was suspended.

Nduwimana attributed the suspension to Nigeria’s desire to restructure the sector.

Nduwimana, however, disclosed that moves are ongoing to revive the agreement.

In a session with some selected journalists in Abuja, the envoy also reaffirmed Burundi’s commitment to further strengthening its cooperation with Nigeria.

He said: ‘Burundi wishes to express its gratitude to the Nigerian people, through their institutions, for the support provided since 2008 through the supply of crude oil. In return, Burundi has remained faithful to its diplomatic commitments toward Nigeria from that time to the present and is committed to strengthening this loyalty.

‘This support has helped mitigate the effects of the energy deficit in my country.

‘We understand that the suspension that occurred in 2014 took place in a particular context, driven by the government’s desire to restructure the sector.

‘However, Burundi remains convinced that Nigeria, true to its values of African solidarity and shared prosperity, will be able to consider resuming this cooperation in a spirit of mutually beneficial partnership.’

The Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum (NDSF) yesterday rose from an emergency meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to heed their counsel and decentralise the pipeline contracts across different states and influences that make up the region.

They, however, sounded a note of warning that they were on their final efforts to save the economy of the country from agitations over exclusion of stakeholders from the pipeline contracts as the present situation was threatening to erupt in protests and into violent actions.

The stakeholders, in a statement signed by Dr Tari Theophilus, condemned what they referred to as actions of the Presidential Amnesty Programme Coordinator, Dr Denis Burutu Otuaro, which they regretted threatens regional peace, national economic interests, and urgent reforms in pipeline / oil and gas infrastructure surveillance.

They regretted that their advocating for full decentralisation of surveillance contracts across the Niger Delta was misrepresented by Dr. Otuaro and his affiliates as an ‘assault’ on Tantita Security.

‘The Forum stresses, unequivocally, that our call is for the decentralisation of all surveillance contracts within the Niger Delta region to ensure local participation, equitable opportunities, and engagement of high-impact regional stakeholders, not to undermine any single operator.’

‘Reports indicate that some Phase 2 and Phase 3 leaders within the Amnesty Programme have been coerced and mobilised to participate in a protest tomorrow in support of Tantita Security and continued centralisation. The Forum warns these leaders not to allow themselves to be used by those who have vowed to subjugate the entire Niger Delta region.’

We urge you to act with wisdom and understand that the reforms we seek is full decentralisation of surveillance contracts that will be beneficial to you, your communities, and the region as a whole.

‘We are aware that some of you have been threatened with the suspension of your stipends and allowances should you fail to align. We assure you that the Forum will stand by you if you face any form of victimisation for supporting a vision of a prosperous, inclusive Niger Delta and a stronger nation.

The Presidential Amnesty Programme is not the property of any individual, group, or kingdom, but a national institution serving the entire Niger Delta region.

‘Dr Otuaro’s actions in leveraging his office to protect narrow interests will no longer be tolerated. Misusing the office jeopardises the peace the programme was designed to maintain and risks destabilising the fragile equilibrium of the region.

‘The Forum therefore demands that Dr Otuaro immediately separate Tantita Security from the Amnesty Office, or step aside for more competent management. Failure to act confirms obstruction of reform for personal or sectional gain, directly threatening regional stability and national economic interests.

The Forum restated its calls on President Tinubu to intervene to halt the misuse of the Presidential Amnesty Office by Dr Otuaro, to pursue and protect narrow interests at the expense of national and regional interests that threaten trust, peace, and effective governance.

‘His conduct undermines critical reforms aimed at decentralising pipeline / oil and gas infrastructure surveillance for the benefit of all Niger Delta communities.

We further urge Your Excellency to caution Dr Denis Otuaro against bullying or threatening Phase 2 and Phase 3 leaders to participate in protests defending centralised operations. The Amnesty Office was never established for such actions, and coercing its beneficiaries to serve narrow interests undermines the purpose of the office and the welfare of the region. These leaders must not be coerced into obstructing reforms that are designed for the long-term benefit of their communities and the entire Niger Delta’, they insisted.

According to them, ‘The Niger Delta will no longer tolerate narrow interests compromising national wealth and regional stability. Full decentralisation of all surveillance contracts is non-negotiable, urgent, and essential.’

The Egba people of Ogun State converged on the historic Ake Palace grounds in Abeokuta on Saturday for the grand finale of the 39th Lisabi Festival, bringing to a close a vibrant week-long celebration that kicked off on March 23.

The annual festival honours Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, the legendary Egba warrior who, in the 18th century, led a successful revolt against the Oyo Empire, securing independence and self-determination for his people.

Highlights of the event include traditional homage-paying rites, thrilling warrior-themed reenactments, pulsating drumming sessions, and colourful dance parades that showcase Egba heritage.

Under the authority of the Alake of Egbaland, the festival unites all Egba subgroups, Ake, Oke-Ona, Gbagura, and Owu in a powerful display of unity, cultural pride, and shared identity.

Saturday’s grand finale featured the Egbaliganza, a colourful cultural fashion showcase championed by the Aare of Egbaland, Chief Lai Labode.

The initiative spotlights traditional Egba attire and promotes local enterprise, with coordinated outfits dominated by Abeokuta’s iconic Adire fabric taking centre stage.

The Lisabi Festival Committee had earlier clarified in February that Egbaliganza is limited to a two-hour slot within the week-long programme and does not alter the festival’s core historical focus.

The occasion also served as a grand homecoming for Egba indigenes from the diaspora, drawing political leaders, prominent business figures, and cultural influencers.

Throughout the week, the city witnessed a surge in local trade and street activity, while security was beefed up around key venues to ensure a peaceful celebration.

The member representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency II in the House of Representatives, Akinlayo Kolawole, has said that he has attracted projects worth over N1 billion to his people since he was inaugurated in 2023.

He, however, dismissed speculations that federal lawmakers collect huge sums of money as constituency allowances.

He explained that lawmakers are only allowed to nominate projects that will be sited in their constituency, adding that he has attracted projects worth N1bn to his people to bring a facelift and development of Ekiti State in the last three years.

A statement issued by his media office stated that the APC lawmaker had offered quality representation and provided succour for his constituents in infrastructure, education and employment generations.

The federal lawmaker also said that he has effectively collaborated with Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration to uplift the standards of living of Ekiti residents.

He said his approach to governance is focused on tangible impact, rather than political patronage, adding that ‘although a total sum of ?200m was allocated as constituency project funds, we have been able to facilitate projects worth over ?1bn through a combination of federal interventions, capital projects, and partnerships with agencies such as the World Bank. This is to complement what our beloved governor is doing.

‘There is no constituency allowance as often misconstrued. What we have are constituency projects and zonal interventions, and I have maximised these opportunities for the benefit of my people,’ he said.

Speaking of his achievements in the area of infrastructure, Akinlayo cited road projects, including the Osan-Ora boundary road and several other interventions aimed at improving access and connectivity within rural communities. He also acknowledged that the Ikosu-Erinmope Road was executed by the administration of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji.

He said the health sector has received a significant boost, with the remodelling of general hospitals in Iye and Otun-Ekiti, alongside the renovation of health centres in Eda-Oniyo, Ikosun and other communities, and modern equipment has been procured to enhance service delivery in those health facilities.

He disclosed that solar street lights have been installed across parts of the constituency to boost security, while transformers have been provided to boost the electricity supply.

‘To enhance security, fencing was carried out to ensure the safety of pupils under the administration of Governor Oyebanji. Beyond infrastructure, over 750 students have benefitted from scholarships and financial support, while books and learning materials have been distributed to schools’.

The lawmaker also emphasised his commitment to human capital development, noting that skill acquisition programmes and training initiatives have been introduced to empower youths and women, with employment opportunities facilitated for constituents.

On employment, Akinlayo said over 30 individuals have been engaged in various roles, including recent placements for five beneficiaries. He added that coordinators have been appointed in each community to monitor projects and ensure accountability.

He also disclosed that he had sponsored bills to establish a Federal School of Nursing and Midwifery to support the Federal Teaching Hospital in Ido Ekiti.

He further pledged his loyalty to the ruling party and expressed confidence in securing the party’s ticket ahead of future elections. He stated his preference for direct primaries, describing consensus arrangements as often favouring weaker candidates.

The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has raised concerns over the growing threat of cryptocurrency-related crimes in the country.

Olukoyede made this known at the inauguration of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Programme for Nigeria 2026-2030 in Abuja yesterday.

The EFCC boss revealed that the world lost more than 160 billion dollars to illicit transactions involving digital currencies in 2025.

Olukoyede highlighted the risks posed by cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.

He noted that criminal networks were increasingly exploiting technological advancements, global financial systems and governance gaps to facilitate illicit activities.

‘Last year, the world lost over 160 billion dollars to illicit transactions in cryptocurrencies.

‘Tackling these challenges requires coordinated national responses, strong institutions and sustained intelligence-driven strategies,’ he said.

He said that the UNODC programme came at a time when Nigeria and the global community were grappling with evolving threats from transnational organised crime, financial crimes, illicit financial flows and cyber-enabled offences.

Olukoyede said the programme represented a strategic foundation for collective efforts to strengthen the rule of law.

This, he said, included enhancing the criminal justice system and protecting institutions and communities from violence, crime and financial corruption.

He noted that the programme’s focus on combating corruption and illicit financial flows was particularly significant to the EFCC, given the enormous economic and social costs of such crimes on Nigeria.

‘The imperative of sustained action to turn the tide cannot be overstated,’ he said.

The EFCC chairman expressed pride in the commission’s longstanding partnership with UNODC, stating that the collaboration had strengthened institutional capacity and improved Nigeria’s response to economic and financial crimes.

He said the partnership had supported reforms and operational frameworks that enhanced the agency’s effectiveness in tackling corruption and related offences.

Olukoyede expressed optimism that the programme would further improve national security and safeguard the future of Nigerians through strengthened collaboration and shared operational experiences.

He stressed the need to continuously refine frameworks and ensure that Nigeria’s institutions and citizens remain at the centre of all collaborative efforts.

The EFCC boss commended UNODC for initiating the programme and reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to supporting its implementation to achieve measurable outcomes for Nigeria and the wider region.

The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, in his remarks called for stronger collaboration among institutions to address Nigeria’s growing security and corruption challenges.

Aliyu said Nigerian society was currently grappling with multiple social ills, stressing that no single agency could effectively tackle the challenges alone.

According to him, the country faces complex and interconnected threats, including violent extremism, organised crime, illicit financial flows, smuggling and other serious offences.

‘There is a common point of truth, Nigerian society is entangled with many ills, and no agency can fight them alone,’ he said.

The ICPC boss noted that these challenges also posed significant threats to the nation’s criminal justice system, warning that no society could remain secure under such conditions.

He, however, expressed optimism that through strategic partnerships and collective efforts, Nigeria could overcome the challenges.

Aliyu described the UNODC Country Programme as timely and appropriate, given the scale and urgency of the issues confronting the nation.

He emphasised the importance of international support, noting that Nigeria’s progress in tackling crime and corruption had been strengthened by its collaboration with global partners, particularly the United Nations.

The ICPC chairman said the partnership between the commission and UNODC had been beneficial to Nigerian society, contributing to efforts aimed at strengthening institutions and improving governance.

He congratulated UNODC on what he described as a significant milestone and a ‘grand stride’ in supporting Nigeria’s fight against crime and corruption.

Aliyu reaffirmed ICPC’s commitment to continued collaboration, assuring stakeholders of the commission’s readiness to work with UNODC and other partners toward national development.

‘I assure you of our continued support and willingness to work together for the growth and betterment of Nigeria,’ he said.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi and the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Babatunde Adejumo, have advocate the enhanced deployment of non-custodial sentencing measures as a way of addressing congestion in prisons.

They noted that current reality dictates that it is no longer practicable for judges and magistrates to see custodial sentencing as the only option when determining criminal cases.

The CJN, AGF and Justice Adejumo spoke in Abuja on Friday at a ‘Roundtable on enhanced collaboration on alternatives to custody: Practical strategies for reducing prison congestion – an interactive collaboration between the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Justice and the justice sector in Nigeria,’ hosted by the NJI.

Justice Kekere-Ekun noted that while the power to deprive a person of his liberty remains one of the most profound responsibilities entrusted to judges, incarceration must not be viewed as the default response in all circumstances.

She states that the evolving realities of modern justice administration require the adoption of more balanced, proportionate, and forward-looking approaches to sentencing.

The 5-day Oracle Primavera P6 training program which ran from March 23 to 27, sponsored by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and executed by Mathnebi Nig Ltd, has come to a successful close in Uyo, capital of Akwa-Ibom State.

The training, which brought together 50 participants, aimed to equip them with practical skills in project management using Oracle Primavera P6. The program was designed to enhance the participants’ ability to schedule and manage projects effectively, and it achieved its objectives.

In his closing remarks, Company Secretary of Mathnebi Nig Ltd, expressed his appreciation to NCDMB for the opportunity given to the company to execute the training program on behalf of the board.

A late-night fire outbreak has destroyed a popular timber market in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, leaving goods and property worth millions of naira in ruins.

The incident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on March 27, 2026, at the timber market located beside the Police Barracks in Akim.

Preliminary reports suggested the fire may have been triggered by a spark from the public power supply within the market. Eyewitnesses, however, said the flames intensified because diesel was stored in one of the shops.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Cross River State Police Command, Sunday Eitokpah, said a coordinated emergency response was immediately activated.

According to him, police patrol and tactical teams were swiftly deployed to the scene, with the operation personally supervised by the Commissioner of Police, Rashid B Afegbua.

He added that the combined efforts of the police, the Cross River State Fire Service, and the University of Calabar Fire Service helped contain the inferno and prevent it from spreading to the nearby Police Barracks.

The fire was eventually brought under control at about 1:55 a.m. on March 28. No casualties were recorded, although extensive damage was done to timber and other materials.

Eitokpah said investigations into the cause of the fire have commenced and urged residents to adhere strictly to fire safety measures, particularly in markets and other public places.

The incident is reported to be one of the most severe in the state this year, coming days after a gas explosion destroyed a filling station in Calabar South.

An eyewitness, Tony Oyom, expressed concern over the state’s firefighting capacity, calling for improved emergency response systems to mitigate future incidents.