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Infrastructure, investment and public-private collaboration took centre stage at the 2026 Julius Berger Luminary Soirée as Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Lagos State Government articulated a shared vision for unlocking value in Africa’s second-largest city economy, and positioning Lagos on the path to becoming a trillion-dollar economy by 2052.

Hosted at the Alliance Française de Lagos, Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, the annual gathering brought together leading developers, architects, consultants, financiers, investors, policymakers and business leaders for discussions on the theme, The Lagos Proposition: Unlocking value in a city in transformation.

In his opening address, the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Engr. Dr Peer Lubasch, described the Luminary Soirée as a platform that facilitates meaningful dialogue amongst individuals and organisations shaping the future of Nigeria’s economy and built environment.

According to him, the theme encapsulated the opportunities and responsibilities that came with Lagos’ rapid growth.

‘We chose the word proposition deliberately because transforming potential into tangible value requires intention, strategy and execution. Potential alone does not build a city; execution does,’ Lubasch said.

He noted that Lagos remains one of Africa’s most important urban economies, with a growing population, growing housing demand, and significant infrastructure requirements, presenting both challenges and opportunities.

The Julius Berger chief executive observed that the city’s development was no longer confined to traditional commercial centres but was increasingly extending along the Lekki-Epe corridor, the Lagos-Ibadan axis, and emerging growth locations across the state.

‘The question is no longer whether Lagos will grow, but where growth is concentrated, how it can be sustained, and whether what is being built today will stand the test of time,’ he said.

Delivering the keynote address, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, described Julius Berger as an integral part of Nigeria’s development story and natural partner in Lagos’ transformation agenda.

She told participants that transformation occurs at the intersection of vision, leadership, infrastructure, investment and execution.

‘Julius Berger brings decades of engineering excellence and the capacity to turn bold ideas into tangible infrastructure, while Lagos State brings scale, ambition, enterprise, talent, and an extraordinary pipeline of opportunity,’ she said.

According to the commissioner, the true Lagos proposition was contained in what became possible when the right capital, infrastructure and leadership converged at Africa’s most dynamic commercial centre.

Three years ago a medical outreach featuring some Indian doctors was held at Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, Nassarawa, Kano. It took place on August 15 and 16, 2023.

The outreach offered treatment and simple surgery to scores of less-privileged individuals (male and female, young and old) who could not afford costs of treatments for themselves.

Organized by Kano-based Al-Sadal Services Limited, in partnership with Aakash Healthcare from India, the patients were offered free consultation, drugs and surgical services for orthopedic, urology and spinal cord cases.

By the end of the exercise about 40 of them were identified by the doctors as having serious cases which required special surgical operations that would cost millions of Naira.

As the patients could not pay for such expensive operations it was decided that a passionate appeal for sponsorship/assistance be made to the state governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, through the state Commissioner for Health.

The patients welcomed the idea and happily applied individually, through the organisers, with high hope and confidence that the governor, generally considered by Kano people as compassionate, sympathetic and kind, would approve their requests.

Among those chosen, I must admit, is my son who had a surgery earlier resulting in deformity in his right kneecap after fixation by Elizarov of a ‘wedge fracture of the upper tibia.’ This caused the left leg to outgrow the right one after some years, making him to limp as he walks.

However, after a long wait for response from the state government I learned after calling one of the organisers recently that the requests were unfortunately not approved.

Thus, I hereby wish to humbly appeal to Governor Abba Kabir to please revisit the case with a view to possibly approving release of the required funds for the treatment of the patients.

This is because doing so under the prevailing economic circumstances would save them from having to continue to suffer from their respective ailments for the rest of their lives.

Alternatively, however, the government should at least consider footing the bill for a few of the 40 indigent patients, as half a loaf – or even one-quarter – is better than none.

The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and ordered a boycott of legislative activities hosted or organised by the country until further notice.

This is as a result of recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals.

The decision followed concerns by the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives over reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other properties in South Africa.

In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the leadership said the attacks had continued despite repeated appeals by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to South African authorities to take decisive measures to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals.

Electrical fault sparks fire at Abuja-Kaduna train station

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has warned state governments against registering intending pilgrims with acute health conditions for the 2027 Hajj, following the introduction of stricter medical requirements by Saudi Arabia.

The commission said only pilgrims who meet the prescribed medical standards would be allowed to participate in next year’s pilgrimage.

The Commissioner representing the North-East in NAHCON, Alhaji Abba Jatau, disclosed this when he led a delegation of the commission to the Yobe State Government House in Damaturu.

Jatau urged the Yobe State Government and its pilgrims commission to ensure that intending pilgrims undergo the required medical checks before registration.

He said the new health requirements were part of measures by the Saudi authorities to safeguard pilgrims and protect Nigeria’s image in the Kingdom.

The commissioner also disclosed that states were expected to provide 1.5 doctors and 1.7 nurses for every 1,000 pilgrims, urging Yobe to comply with the requirement and make adequate medical preparations.

Jatau further warned that September 26, 2026, had been fixed as the deadline for uploading pilgrims’ information and passports for the 2027 Hajj.

He urged the state government to prioritise early registration, documentation and payment to ensure that its pilgrims were not left out.

He said visa issuance for the 2027 Hajj would commence on January 28, 2027.

On wider reforms to Hajj operations, Jatau said NAHCON had secured a three-year transition period for Nigeria to move from the traditional government-to-government arrangement to a business-to-business model.

He said the transition would begin with the 2027 Hajj following negotiations between Nigerian authorities and the Saudi Arabian government, which had initially proposed an immediate migration to the new system.

According to him, Saudi Arabia had introduced ‘radical reforms’ aimed at transferring several aspects of Hajj management from government institutions to business operators.

He said the Saudi authorities were seeking about 98 per cent migration from government-to-government to business-to-business operations.

Jatau said NAHCON resisted the immediate implementation of the new arrangement because of the peculiar challenges facing Nigerian pilgrims and engaged the Saudi authorities to secure enough time for Nigeria to adjust.

He said Yobe had been proposed as a pilot state for the new arrangement, expressing confidence that the state could successfully demonstrate the model before its wider adoption.

The commissioner appealed to the state government to direct the Yobe State Pilgrims Commission to give priority to registration, documentation and payment ahead of the September deadline.

Responding, Deputy Governor Idi Barde Gubana said Yobe was the first state in the Maiduguri Hajj zone to complete the airlift of its pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj.

Gubana attributed the achievement to the commitment of the state government, the Yobe State Pilgrims Commission, religious leaders, officials and other stakeholders to the welfare and orderly conduct of pilgrims.

He assured the NAHCON delegation of the state government’s continued support for the commission and its commitment to strengthening the operations and institutional capacity of the Yobe State Pilgrims Commission.

Building collapse with attendant consequences, are wholly man-made adversities that are completely preventable. The responsibility for the prevention is firstly on the developer before the regulatory authority and other stakeholders in the built industry.

What are always responsible are the violations of development guidelines and regulations, quackery, and compromise by the public officials charged with the responsibility for regulating the activities. For the developers they are prompted by the naked desire to maximise returns on investment.

We must accept that multi-storey buildings are very expensive ventures. Those who don’t have enough resources must not try to use lean resources to cut corners. Otherwise, the expected gains would turn out to be heavily outweighed by the loss of the entire investments, at times with the lives of innocent citizens including the investor, as witnessed in one of the most devastating building collapse in Lagos.

From the previous experience at a neighbouhood center in Garki II District, a four-floor structure, being used as a hotel, wholly collapsed in a single swoop, from the top to the bottom, and in the night. Fortunately prior to the collapse the hotel had stopped operation, and all the staff maintaining the structure had been evacuated, including the security, such that when the disaster occurred no single life was lost and no injury was incurred by anybody.

That was because as soon as the distress sign on the building was noticed, a proactive measure was taken by the developer and the Development Control Department, to ensure the safety of lives, although the property was not saved. Multiple experiences from previous incidences continue to improve the efficiency of the regulating authority in saving lives and ensuring orderly development of the Nation’s Capital City.

Physical development commenced in Abuja in 1982 with the developments of Garki I and Wuse I Districts. Hence, the Cadastral Zone Numbers of A01 and A02 for Garki I and Wuse I Districts respectively. This made the buildings in these two districts to be the oldest in the city. Buildings were first commenced by the FCDA before the private sector made its debut. Thus the age of the earliest buildings in Abuja would not be more than 44 years.

Plot Number 1392 Cadastral Zone A02 Wuse I District is located in Wuse Zone 3 District, not Zone 4 as wrongly reported earlier. It is a three floor structure with estimated age of 33 years. Even being among the earliest buildings in the city, if the development requirements were strictly complied with, it is not old enough to show any sign of distress due to its age.

However, during a regular monitoring of sites and surveillance, officers of the Control Department noticed a strange construction activity. There was no any report or request from the developer to undertake any construction work on the building. Usually whenever a developer wants to undertake a remedial work it must be reported to the appropriate authority, for the purpose of monitoring and professional advice.

The building has already exhibited signs of defects, with a column collapse. Glaringly, there was a lukewarm concern to safety of lives, if any remedial construction activity that was a subject of column failure should be ongoing in a building with occupants. More so there was no formal complaint on the status of the structure. The immediate action would first be measures to save the lives of those within and were not aware of the looming danger.

The developer was immediately ordered by the district officer to stop the work and the building marked for demolition. All the occupants were immediately ordered to evacuate the building with all their belongings under supervision. Not sooner than the completion of the evacuation, the building gave way that same evening. No life was lost. This was similar to the Garki II District incident of 2019.

We can imagine what would have occurred and the lives that would have been trapped in the collapsed building, if the staff of the authority were not vigilant enough, or late by one day in the discovery of the unauthorised remedial construction, stopped the work and evacuated the building. However, to ensure that no life was buried underneath, the Emergency Management Agency did not take things for granted, the rubbles were properly combed.

The spirit of collaboration between the relevant departments and the construction companies in the city is highly commendable. The public agency lacks adequate operation equipment. Anytime there is an emergency situation the multinational companies, that have earth moving machines to assist in rescue operations, are very prompt in responding. This was not exception.

Beyond the contemporary monitoring, the process of the building distress did not happen overnight. The actual reasons will be uncovered when proper investigation is conducted. Some of the contributing factors could be deficiency in the quality of reinforcements, poor foundation, poor soil analysis and concreate mixing when the building was being constructed more 30 years ago. The consequences could take this long before it materialises.

Some of the proactive measures which need to be continuously emphasised are regular conduct of integrity test on buildings. These types of buildings can be identified by adequately trained enforcement officers. It is mandatory for any building that fails the test to be brought down before it gives way and claim lives.

The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has been conferred with the traditional title of Ugo Eze Anambra by traditional rulers representing the 179 communities in Anambra State.

The title, meaning ‘the glory of the king’ or ‘a Royal Eagle’, was conferred on her by the Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, at the Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, on Thursday.

Tinubu was in the state for a one-day working visit, during which she launched the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South-East Zone.

She also commissioned an ICT centre at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, and attended the launch of the food bank programme at the Old Government House, Amawbia.

The First Lady later joined the flag-off of a statewide empowerment programme organised by the wife of the Anambra State Governor, Nonye Soludo, at the Ekwueme Square.

The programme is expected to provide 5,000 beneficiaries across the state’s 21 local government areas with business grants, vocational tools and equipment for agriculture, agro-processing, beauty care and small-scale enterprises.

Speaking at the event, Iweka said the traditional rulers conferred the title on Tinubu in recognition of her activities across the country.

He said, ‘This is a title from all the royal fathers in the 179 communities of Anambra State. The title is called ‘Ugo Eze Anambra’, meaning ‘The glory of the king’ or a ‘Royal Eagle’, and it is in recognition of your compassionate works across the country.’

Responding, Tinubu thanked the traditional rulers for the honour.

‘I feel deeply honoured by the conferment of a chieftaincy title by the royal fathers of this state. Igbo are very nice people,’ she said.

The event was attended by the first ladies of Abia, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Kebbi and Imo states, among others.

The honour came a day after Tinubu received another traditional title in Imo State. She was conferred with Oso Di Eme I of Imo State, meaning ‘She who supports her husband’, during her visit to the state on Wednesday.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested four suspects over the alleged theft of photographic equipment worth N21 million from studios in the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Uyo, saying one of the suspects, identified as Nicholas Olamide, confessed to his involvement in the theft and led investigators to other suspects and locations where some of the stolen items were recovered.

John said the owner of one of the affected studios, identified as Aniekan, reported that his photo studio was burgled by unknown persons who gained access through the roof.

She said the stolen items included a Canon 6D Mark II camera, Nikon D850 camera, Sony A7 Mark II camera, AD200 studio light, AD600 studio light, Shaker studio light and a box of memory cards, valued at N13.14 million.

‘Acting swiftly on the complaint, Police operatives commenced discreet investigation and intelligence-led follow-up, which culminated in the arrest, on 7th September 2026, of one Nicholas Olamide, ‘M’, a native of Ibogi, Ile-Ife, Osun State, who resides in Eket, Akwa Ibom State,’ she stated.

According to her, Olamide allegedly confessed during interrogation and subsequently led investigators to Abasiakan Ikpembe of Abak Local Government Area and Edward Francis, ‘M’, of Afaha Ube Street, Uyo.

‘His disclosures led the operatives to Abasiakan Ikpembe of Abak Local Government Area and Edward Francis, ‘M’, of Afaha Ube Street, Uyo, where several of the stolen items, alongside other articles reasonably suspected to have been stolen, were recovered,’ John stated.

The police spokesperson said further investigation showed that Olamide was allegedly involved in other burglary and stealing incidents in Uyo and other parts of Akwa Ibom.

She said he allegedly burgled a photo studio at No. 135 Aka Road, Uyo, between July 28 and August 5, 2026, and stole photographic equipment and accessories estimated at N8 million.

The stolen items included an Itel A80 mobile phone, tripods, LED light tripod, bracket, Godox AD200 and AD600 studio lights, Godox speedlight, Godox triggers, Sony A7 camera, Sony 50mm lens, Gimbal R3 Mini, photo lights, make-up bag, AD600 bag, speedlight bag, 700GB drive and AD600 chargers.

John added that the suspect allegedly stole a Canon camera and lens belonging to one Richard from a photo studio at Aka Estate, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, on August 25.

Governor Uba Sani has appointed three new Commissioners, 45 aides and 40 members of different boards, in a bid to accelerate his administration’s development agenda and deepen institutional reforms.

In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Malam Ibraheem Musa, the Governor said that the appointees will help to accelerate ”the administration’s transformational agenda, optimizing public service delivery, and fostering sustainable economic growth.”

The statement disclosed that Ben Kure, the Managing Director of Kaduna State Media Corporation(KSMC), will be Commissioner of Sports Development.

Governor Uba Sani has also appointed Amina Akilu Dalhat as Commissioner of Special Duties I while Abdullahi Garba Abbas will be Commissioner of Special Duties II.

According to the Chief Press Secretary, Dr Haliru Soba who is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, will be Deputy Chief of Staff Administration.

Governor Uba Sani also appointed Chairmen and members of key boards, the statement said, adding that ”those appointed include Alhaji Munir Jafaru, Board Chairman, Kaduna State Health Care Board and AVM Bashir Gamagira Saidu, Board Chairman, Kaduna Vigilance Service Board.

Other Chairmen are Hon. Justice Gideon Isa Kurada (Rtd), Board Chairman, College of Education, Gidan Waya, Esther Bago, Board Chairman, Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development.

The rest appointees include Dr. Yusuf Aliyu Bature, Board Chairman, Kaduna Hospital Supply Management Agency, and Engr. Namadi Musa, Board Chairman, Kaduna Rural Access Roads Authority.

The statement noted that ”while congratulating the new appointees, Governor Uba Sani stated that they have been carefully selected based on their proven track record of excellence, integrity, and dedication.”

He charged them to bring fresh perspectives, reject complacency, and align completely with his administration’s vision of a transformed, resilient state. He wished them God’s guidance in their new assignments.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara Area Command, said it has intercepted 3,396 packets of 100mg tramadol valued at N50.946 million in the state.

The consignment was intercepted along the Okuta axis during an operation driven by actionable intelligence and sustained patrols.

The Acting Area Controller of the command, Deputy Comptroller Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi, disclosed this on Thursday in Il?rin.

Ogundeyi said the seizure underscored the command’s resolve to prevent Kwara from becoming a transit corridor for illicit cross-border trade.

He said the movement of controlled pharmaceutical substances through unapproved routes posed serious risks to public health and national security.

According to him, the latest operation also showed how smugglers were ‘diversifying their activities beyond conventional goods to include controlled drugs, petroleum products, foreign food items and uncustomed vehicles’.

The Tramadol seizure formed part of eight major interceptions recorded across different operational corridors of the command, with a combined Duty Paid Value of N604.33 million.

Other seizures included 6,705 cartons of foreign spaghetti valued at N201.15 million, 270 bags of foreign parboiled rice worth N25.245 million and 6,875 litres of Premium Motor Spirit valued at N2.75 million.

Customs also intercepted a 2025 Toyota Highlander with a DPV of N214 million and a 2018 Dodge Charger SXT valued at N77.59 million, alongside used clothing and 14 bags of Basmati rice.

Ogundeyi, who assumed duty on December 17, 2025, said the enforcement of cross-border trade laws should not be interpreted as opposition to food availability or legitimate commerce.