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Transcorp Power Plc has won the Power Generation Excellence Company of the Year award at the Business Times Awards 2026 for its operational performance and contribution to Nigeria’s power generation sector.

The company received the award at the Grand Gala Award Ceremony on Thursday at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, where it received a golden plaque and an Award Certificate of Recognition.

The Business Times Awards Editorial Board cited Transcorp Power’s leadership, innovation and impact on the power sector as reasons for the recognition.

Speaking on the award, the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Peter Ikenga, said the recognition reflected the commitment of the company’s board and employees to maintaining reliable power generation.

‘This award belongs to the board and every member of the Transcorp Power team whose commitment keeps our turbines running and power flowing to homes and businesses across Nigeria,’ he said.

Ikenga said the company would continue to focus on improving generation reliability, strengthening relationships across the power value chain and creating sustainable value for shareholders and the country.

Transcorp Power Plc is a power generation subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group), with investments across the power, hospitality and energy sectors.

The race for promotion in the NWFL Nationwide 2026 will enter the decisive semi-final stage today with four teams battling for places in the final at the Enyimba Stadium, Aba.

Kwara United Queens will take on C2E Sports Academy in the first semi-final at 9am, while Onimarg FC will face Obosa FA in the second match at 11am.

Kwara United Queens topped Group A with four points from two matches after recording one win and a draw. They secured top spot following a 1-0 victory over Solo Wonders Babes.

C2E Sports Academy emerged as the dominant side in Group B, winning both matches to finish with six points. They scored 15 goals and conceded just one, including a 5-0 victory over Lakeside Queens.

Onimarg FC also finished with a perfect six points from two matches in Group C. They scored seven goals and conceded three, with a 4-2 victory over Ubakala Babes sealing their position at the top.

In Group D, Obosa Queens finished ahead of Osklean FA after both sides ended on four points with the same goal difference. Obosa took the group on goals scored.

With the group stage now completed, attention shifts to the two semi-finals as the four surviving teams fight for places in the NWFL Nationwide 2026 final.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of a suspected promoter of a fictitious Federal Government agency and the suspension of three permanent secretaries following fresh findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The directive followed the discovery by the anti-graft agency of another alleged fake government establishment, the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, which reportedly secured office accommodation within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) without presidential authorisation.

ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed the development on Friday after briefing President Tinubu on the commission’s widening investigation into fictitious government agencies and apparent vulnerabilities in public sector administrative processes.

Aliyu identified the alleged promoter of the purported agency as Prince George Buchi Nwabueze, who, according to the commission, operated under different variations of his name.

He said the names included George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Buchi Nwabueze.

According to the ICPC chairman, President Tinubu, after receiving a comprehensive briefing on the findings, directed the immediate arrest of Nwabueze and the suspension of three permanent secretaries pending further investigation.

Aliyu named the affected permanent secretaries as M. S. Danjuma, Engr. Nadungu Gagare and Richard Pheelangwah.

The ICPC is expected to establish the roles, if any, played by the suspended officials and other individuals in the creation, accommodation and operation of the purported government agency.

The commission is also engaging relevant officials in the OSGF to determine how an unauthorised organisation obtained accommodation within government premises and operated in an environment capable of lending it an appearance of official legitimacy.

‘I have briefed Mr President comprehensively on these new developments. ICPC will continue with its investigation’, Aliyu said.

The fresh discovery emerged from the ICPC’s investigation into the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), which had earlier prompted Tinubu to order a wider probe into how unauthorised bodies could present themselves as agencies of the Federal Government.

The PFIPC controversy broke in July after the Presidency disowned the organisation, warning Nigerians and the international community that it had no connection whatsoever with the Federal Government.

The Presidency had said the body, which presented itself as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and claimed to operate under the Nigerian Presidency, was fictitious and had not been created or authorised by President Tinubu.

The organisation had reportedly paraded individuals as officials of the purported council, using titles and structures designed to create an impression of presidential authority.

Following the discovery, Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the circumstances surrounding the emergence of the PFIPC, identify those behind it and establish whether serving or former public officials facilitated its operations.

The President also ordered a broader examination of the administrative processes through which entities are established within government, as concerns mounted that loopholes in the system could be exploited to create fictitious agencies or confer an appearance of official recognition on unauthorised organisations.

The PFIPC investigation subsequently expanded beyond identifying its promoters to examining institutional and administrative weaknesses that might have enabled the organisation to operate and portray itself as a government body.

It was in the course of that wider investigation that the ICPC uncovered the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, deepening concerns over the possible proliferation of unauthorised entities exploiting government structures and nomenclature.

The significance of the latest discovery, it was gathered, is that the purported office was allegedly able to secure physical accommodation within the OSGF premises despite having no authorisation from the President.

The ICPC is consequently probing the processes through which the office gained access to the government facility, those who approved or facilitated the arrangement and whether other officials were involved.

Aliyu said the development had reinforced the need for tighter administrative controls and closer scrutiny of government institutions and internal processes.

He also commended Tinubu for directing a policy audit of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and internal government procedures, saying the exercise would help expose weaknesses capable of being exploited by individuals seeking to operate outside established government structures.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, must be commended for the proactive step of directing the policy audit of MDAs and internal government processes towards strengthening government governance system’, the ICPC chairman said.

The latest discovery has significantly broadened the anti-graft commission’s investigation from the activities of one fictitious organisation to the processes within the Federal Government that could allow unauthorised entities to acquire the trappings of official agencies.

Investigators are expected to determine not only those behind the two purported bodies but also whether lapses, complicity or abuse of administrative procedures by public officials enabled their operations.

The suspension of the three permanent secretaries is expected to allow the ICPC to investigate their possible roles without interference while the search for Nwabueze and the examination of other individuals linked to the alleged scheme continue.

The commission said its investigation would continue as it seeks to unravel the circumstances surrounding the establishment and operation of the purported agencies and identify any further weaknesses within the public service that may have facilitated them.

The Oyo State chapter of the National Prayer Support Group for Good Governance (NPSGGG) has urged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the party’s governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, and other APC candidates in the 2027 general election.

The group also called on aggrieved APC members across the country to set aside their differences and unite ahead of the elections.

The Director-General of NPSGGG, Abdul-Hakeem Atilade, made the call in Ibadan during an interdenominational prayer summit for Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Alli and other APC candidates.

Atilade said while prayer was central to the event, members of the party must complement it with active participation and mobilisation.

He said the group was committed to mobilising APC members at ward, local government, state and federal levels to improve participation in elections and support candidates endorsed by the party.

Atilade urged APC members in Oyo State to rally behind Alli and other party candidates, saying the APC should end its status as an opposition party in the state after the 2027 election.

> ‘Our loyalty should be for the party and not just for the candidate. The party has given us a reputable, reliable and qualified candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli. So, let us work for them so that we can get a good result,’ he said.

Earlier, the Oyo State Coordinator of the group, Mariam Abiola, said the prayer summit was an opportunity to seek divine guidance for the country and its leaders.

She said the group would pray for wisdom, peace, stability and good governance ahead of the 2027 elections.

She said, ‘We particularly committed the leadership of our nation into the hands of Almighty God, praying for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Vice President Kasshim Shettima, as well as all elected leaders at the federal, state, and local government levels for God to grant them wisdom to lead with justice, courage, compassion, and the fear of God.

‘As we look forward to the future, we also pray for peace, unity, credible leadership, and responsible participation in our democratic process. May God order our affairs as individuals, as a state, and as a nation, and may He continue to bless Oyo State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

George Ilenikhena has opened his goal scoring account in Saudi Arabia in impressive fashion, but the young Nigerian striker could still leave Al-Ittihad before the end of the transfer window.

Ilenikhena scored twice as Al-Ittihad defeated Al Najma 3-0 in a King’s Cup tie, finding the net in the 16th and 39th minutes.

The 20-year-old striker joined Al-Ittihad from AS Monaco in February 2026 for a reported pound 30 million plus pound 3 million in bonuses.

Despite his recent brace, Ilenikhena is reportedly interested in returning to Europe, with several clubs showing interest in signing him.

Bologna submitted a loan proposal with a pound 22 million option to buy, but Al-Ittihad immediately rejected the offer.

Turkish club Trabzonspor also made a loan proposal containing a pound 15 million purchase option, which was similarly rejected.

Al-Ittihad are open to selling the striker but reportedly want around pound 20 million.

Spanish side Sevilla have also made an oral offer of pound 10 million, with a further pound 3 million in bonuses and a significant sell-on percentage.

Ilenikhena, who has chosen to represent Nigeria at senior international level after previously playing for France’s age-grade teams, initially struggled after joining the Saudi club.

His two-goal performance has, however, provided a timely reminder of his goal scoring ability as the transfer speculation surrounding his future continues.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government and regulatory agencies to ensure policy stability, faster approvals and predictable regulations to attract more investment into the oil and gas sector.

PENGASSAN also urged the government to submit recent executive orders on the petroleum industry to the National Assembly as an executive bill seeking amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act, stressing that the process should be transparent and involve all stakeholders.

The union made the demands in a communiqué signed by PENGASSAN President, Comrade Festus Osifo, and its General Secretary, Comrade Jerry Amah, at the end of its three-day 5th PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit in Abuja, from August 19 to 21, 2026.

The summit, with the theme, ‘Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks as a Catalyst for Stability and Growth in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry,’ brought together government representatives, regulators, oil and gas companies, investors, organised labour, industry professionals and other stakeholders.

The association said Nigeria needed a stable and competitive fiscal and regulatory environment to attract the long-term capital required to develop its oil and gas resources.

It urged the government and regulatory institutions to minimise abrupt policy changes and ensure adequate consultation with stakeholders before introducing major changes in the industry.

PENGASSAN also called for improved coordination among regulatory and government agencies to eliminate overlapping mandates, repetitive approvals and conflicting directives which, it said, increased the cost of doing business and weakened Nigeria’s competitiveness for global energy capital.

The union said regulation should protect national interests, workers, host communities, investors, safety and the environment while enabling legitimate businesses to operate efficiently.

It urged regulators to embrace digitalisation, set clear approval timelines, and adopt transparent processes, arguing that regulatory effectiveness should be measured by its impact on investment, production, revenue generation, worker protection, and national value creation.

On investment and production, PENGASSAN said Nigeria could not rely solely on its large hydrocarbon reserves to attract investors, noting that the country was competing with other oil-producing jurisdictions for limited global capital.

It therefore urged the government to consolidate recent reforms and incentives that had encouraged fresh investments and Final Investment Decisions in the sector.

The association also identified gas as a key driver of industrialisation, noting that Nigeria had more than 215 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves but had yet to fully convert the resource into reliable energy and economic growth.

It called for an integrated national gas development strategy covering upstream supply, processing, pipelines, storage, LNG, LPG and CNG infrastructure.

PENGASSAN further urged the government to accelerate the use of gas for electricity generation, manufacturing, transportation, fertiliser, petrochemicals and domestic cooking, while reducing routine gas flaring and methane emissions.

The union also called for sustained policies and investments to expand domestic refining capacity and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

It stressed the need to protect refineries operating within Nigeria, including the Dangote and Waltersmith refineries, saying greater domestic refining and processing would create jobs, conserve foreign exchange and promote industrial development.

On labour issues, PENGASSAN said capital and labour were complementary rather than competing interests, stressing that sustainable investment required skilled, motivated and fairly treated workers.

It called for stronger protection of jobs, accrued benefits, pensions, collective bargaining agreements and other established workers’ rights, particularly during mergers, acquisitions, divestments and asset transfers.

The association also warned that increased production must not come at the expense of workers’ lives and well-being, insisting that occupational health and safety remain non-negotiable.

On Nigerian content, the union called for a shift from procurement targets to developing Nigerian companies and professionals capable of competing globally on competence, quality, governance, and cost.

It also demanded stronger enforcement of expatriate quota requirements to ensure that foreign expertise was deployed only where genuine skills gaps existed and accompanied by measurable knowledge transfer and succession plans for qualified Nigerians.

PENGASSAN urged the government to sustain collaboration with security agencies, operators and host communities to consolidate recent gains in the fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

It also called for effective implementation of the Host Communities Development Trust framework under the PIA, saying host communities must become genuine partners in petroleum development.

The association said Nigeria’s major challenge was no longer a lack of resources, laws, institutions or human capacity but the failure to translate them into bankable projects and measurable outcomes.

It therefore called for stronger execution discipline, measurable targets, clearly assigned responsibilities and transparent monitoring of commitments.

The union said, ‘Policies must translate into implementation; resources into projects; projects into production; production into value; and investment into sustainable jobs and national prosperity.’

PENGASSAN called for deeper collaboration among the Federal Government, regulators, NNPC Limited, operators, investors, organised labour and host communities to resolve bottlenecks and accelerate investment and production.

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) said yesterday that Nigeria recorded about 45,000 new HIV infections in 2025.

The agency attributed the development partly to inadequate prevention information among young people.

Its Director-General, Dr Temitope Ilori, said during the opening of a two-day workshop for media executives on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Lagos that although new infections had been on the decline, recent figures indicated the need to intensify prevention efforts, particularly among young Nigerians.

The workshop, organised by NACA in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), was designed to strengthen media professionals’ capacity to accurately report and communicate information on HIV prevention.

Ilori said:’Last year we had about 45,000 new infections because it’s reported across the federation.

”I’m happy to say that it is declining but recent times, we’re beginning to see some new figures popping up, and it’s because, particularly among our young people, they do not have the right information about HIV.’

She said NACA decided to engage journalists, social media influencers and other media officials to improve HIV information available to the public.

‘We’re still gathering information regarding this year, and therefore AIDS is real, HIV is real, people come down with HIV, but the good news is that it’s not a death sentence,’ Ilori said.

She stressed that HIV has no cure but can be effectively treated and prevented through several options, including PrEP, condoms, abstinence and mutual faithfulness.

‘We don’t want to emphasise medicalisation of PrEP,’ Ilori said

Ilori said PrEP, intended for HIV-negative people at higher risk of infection ,is not a universal medication.

‘We are not saying every Nigerian should use PREP, but we’re saying those that are most at risk, most vulnerable to contracting HIV will have this option of using PREP and staying safe,’ she said.

She said LEN-PrEP remained in pilot implementation in selected states and was not yet commercially available.

‘It is not available on the market because, as we said, it’s still a pilot study. We are working together with partners, donor partners, international partners, to bring in these injections into the country,’ Ilori added.

According to her, the injectable PrEP, provided under the pilot programme, is free.

WHO Technical Officer for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STI, Dr Oluwafunke Odunlade, said PrEP uses antiretroviral drugs to prevent HIV from establishing infection when taken correctly by an HIV-negative person.

She stressed that people must test for HIV before starting PrEP because those already living with the virus require treatment rather than PrEP.

The Ondo and Edo Police commands have begun a ‘joint clearance operation’ on the border communities of the two states to dislodge criminal elements and destroy their hideouts in the flashpoints area.

The operation, which started yesterday, is being led by the Police Commissioner in Ondo,.Felix Ohagwu, in collaboration with his Edo State counterpart, Patrick Daaor.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo, Jimoh Abayomi, the exercise involves tactical teams drawn from both commands and would be sustained.

Abayomi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the operation is focused on the Ondo-Edo border axis, particularly Ala, Ifon, Okelusi and other identified flashpoints and adjoining communities believed to be vulnerable to criminal activities.

He also said the operation comprised intelligence-led patrols, coordinated raids, surveillance and targeted clearance of identified criminal flashpoints and suspected hideouts.

Abayomi added that the exercise is also aimed at disrupting the movement and infiltration of criminal elements across the two states while curbing cross-border criminal activities and also strengthening security.

‘The operation was in line with the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, which emphasises intelligence-driven policing, inter-command collaboration, proactive crime prevention and sustained efforts to rid communities of criminal activities,’ the statement added.

Ohagwu assured residents of the border communities of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

He urged community leaders, residents and other stakeholders to remain vigilant and provide credible and timely information that could assist the police in identifying, tracking and apprehending criminals.

‘The fight against crime is a collective responsibility,’ Ohagwu said.

He assured the residents that the joint operation would be sustained with the objective of making the Ondo-Edo border corridor safer and increasingly hostile to criminals and their activities.

Ohagwu, however, called for continued cooperation from residents and other stakeholders to ensure the success of the operation.

The Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) Stakeholders Forum has called for a comprehensive review of the remote and immediate causes of the party’s defeat in the August 15, 2026 governorship election, and has proposed a broad restructuring of the state chapter to restore unity and rebuild party members’ confidence.

In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu dated August 18, the group identified internal divisions, concerns over candidate selection, and the distribution of political appointments as factors that contributed to the party’s defeat.

The forum, coordinated by Professor Akin Adeyanju and Secretary Sola Ajayi, said that the concentration of political appointments and electoral decisions around the immediate past governor of the state and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, had raised concerns among certain sections of the party.

It said that the limited involvement of some party elders and stakeholders in key decisions affecting the state chapter had also weakened internal cohesion and may have contributed to the loss of support among critical stakeholders and communities across the three senatorial districts.

To address the situation, the stakeholders urged President Tinubu to facilitate an independent review of the Osun APC leadership structure and candidate-selection process, alongside measures to reconcile the various interests within the party.

As part of its proposed way forward, the group called for the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to convene a state congress to produce what it described as a genuinely representative state executive.

It also proposed a stakeholders’ reconciliation summit bringing together all factions, party elders and interest groups within the state chapter.

The forum urged the APC to establish a transparent and inclusive framework for future candidate selection, based on broader consultation rather than the preference of any individual leader.

It also called for a more equitable distribution of federal appointments and future electoral opportunities across the three senatorial districts and the party’s various interest groups.

The stakeholders said the proposed measures were necessary to reposition the APC and improve its prospects in Osun ahead of future elections.

They expressed confidence that timely intervention by President Tinubu would help reunite the party, restore members’ confidence and position the APC for stronger performance in subsequent elections.

The forum commended Tinubu for what it described as his leadership and commitment to the party before and after the August 15 election, while expressing regret over the APC’s defeat despite his support.

Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, was captured in a light-hearted moment with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, jokingly claiming victory for his side in a video that went viral on Friday.

The clip, shared on Instagram by OfficialPrinceNwauzor, was recorded on Thursday during a visit by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to Wike’s office.

In the video, Davido, dressed in brown traditional attire, stood and repeatedly told the minister, ‘I won. I beat you guys.’

Wike, seated in a white shirt, responded with a smile, ‘No, no.’

‘I won! I beat you,’ Davido insisted.

‘You beat us?’ Wike asked.

‘I beat you,’ Davido replied, as laughter and shouts of ‘I beg o’ filled the background.

The exchange ended with Davido prostrating before Wike and embracing him, drawing cheers and applause from those present.

Governor Adeleke had earlier met President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa before proceeding to visit the FCT Minister.

Adeleke won the Osun governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party with 511,067 votes, defeating the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.

He won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas.