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Arepo, a sprawling community of over 20 estates in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, has petitioned Ikeja Electric (IE) over what it called prolonged outage.

The community said it had been experiencing prolonged outage for over four months, with all efforts to get IE to remedy the situation not yielding results

Rather, the community said, IE had become fond of restoring and cutting supply for an hour or two on days it liked, without consideration for the consequences of such actions on residents’ electrical appliances.

Arepo is off the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and has a population of over 850,000. The Journalists’ Estate is within the community

Threatening to seek legal redress for damages the residents have suffered so far, the petitioners said the power problem had made life miserable and ruined businesses that could not afford the high cost of fuel.

The community brought the petition under the aegis of the Concerned Residents of Arepo (CRA). The petition was signed by Kehinde Adeyemo, Friday Erhabor and 26 other residents from all the estates in the community.

In the petition addressed to IE Managing Director, the community said it was not reaping the benefits of its recent upgrade from Band C to B under which it was expected to enjoy a minimum of 16 to 18 hours supply daily.

Complaining that the community had been receiving far less than the stipulated

supply in the past four months, the petitioners said: ‘In the last four months, the residents barely enjoy two hours of light cumulatively per day. Things got so bad that some residents staged a peaceful protest at IE’s corporate headquarters in Ikeja on May 8 to call attention to the situation, but nothing was done by the company’.

The petitioners recalled that attempts in the past to get IE to address the problem yielded nothing.

They lamented IE’s failure to address the issue as promised, saying: ‘All promises of immediate redress by your company have yielded no fruits, as residents continue to groan under perpetual darkness, sometimes running into weeks,’ they stated.

Moreover, they added that many consumers have not been metered and were still getting estimated billings.

The petitioners said: ‘We wish to inform and remind your company that contrary to the key mandates under the enabling law, so many residents in Arepo are yet to be metered by Ikeja Electric and are therefore still operating under the old arbitrary estimated billing of the distribution company. This is not only unfair but unjust to the consumers’.

The community asked for immediate improved power supply in line with the service-based tariff arrangement, and the provision of meters to consumers with none.

To address the root cause of the problem, the petitioners also sought the upgrading of the supply feeders, including the Akute feeder and Oke Aro stations, and the rehabilitation of obsolete equipment and transformers known to ‘trip’ frequently, thereby leading to outages.

The petitioners demanded compensation for all lost hours of electricity supply in the last four months, in line with the provisions of the law.

They served IE of legal notice if something meaningful was not done about their complaints.

The petition was copied the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Forum in Osogbo, Osun State; Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said on Monday that 13 have been arrested for acts of cable vandalism, armed robbery, car theft, and human trafficking.

The National Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, said the suspects were arrested at various locations while committing the crimes.

He said while parading the suspects at the Service Headquarters of the Corps that the arrests were made by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS).

The operations leading to the arrests were carried out in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Benue, Niger, and Kaduna States.

He disclosed that one suspect, Isaac Zegbe, a former employee of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), alongside his accomplices, vandalized over 15 kilometers of aluminum conductors running from Yangoji to Abaji, valued at over ?350 million. He said the suspect was arrested alongside Chijioke Christian who confessed that he purchased the equipments.

‘Intelligence-driven operations also dismantled a four-man car theft syndicate specializing in Toyota vehicles across the FCT and neighboring states. The suspects were identified as Adamu Yusuf, Hassan Bukar, Adamu Musa (aka ‘Yellow’), and Abdulsalam Isa (aka ‘Kada’),’ Babawale said.

He said the team also apprehended an armed robbery gang comprising Nuhu Ndam, Ponbin Lamkur, Yilcwat Sohdan, and Ganpyal Dul while operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle, 16 rounds of 7.62x39mm live ammunition, and ?70,000 in cash were recovered from them.

Babawale disclosed that in the case of human trafficking, investigators intercepted and picked up Micaiah Nana, the last of 16 children trafficked by Archibong Anderson on January 15, 2026.

He added that the individuals who purchased the child have been arrested and detained and are assisting investigators. He listed the names of other suspects arrested by the team, saying that they would be charged to court as soon as possible.

Ugo Ugochukwu is an American driver, born on April 23rd, 2007 in New York, USA.

He recently won the FIA Formula 3 Championship for Campos.

The 19-year-old Campos Racing driver secured the title at the Madring circuit on Sunday, September 13, 2026, becoming the first Nigerian-American driver to win the FIA Formula 3 championship.

Ugochukwu entered the final race tied on points with British driver Freddie Slater after a dramatic championship battle throughout the season.

His victory at Madring also gives the United States its first FIA Formula 3 champion, adding another milestone to the teenager’s rapidly developing motorsport career.

He now joins a list of former Formula 3 champions who have progressed to Formula 1, including Oscar Piastri and Gabriel Bortoleto.

His championship also represents another significant step in a career that could eventually take him to the highest level of motorsport.

Formula 3 is regarded as an important pathway to Formula 2 and, ultimately, Formula 1.

Following the landmark achievement, Ugochukwu reflected on his Nigerian heritage, which comes through his mother, Oluchi Onweagba.

‘I’m super proud of my Nigerian roots, on my mom’s side,’ he said, while speaking about the significance of his Nigerian connection.

The young driver also expressed pride in having his name recognised by supporters in Africa as his motorsport career continues to gain international attention.

Born and raised in New York City, Ugochukwu is the son of Nigerian fashion model Oluchi Onweagba and her Italian husband, Luca Orlandi. Orlandi is an Italian fashion designer.

Ugochukwu got signed to the McLaren Driver Development Programme at age 13.

Noted for his tall height since his single-seater debut in 2022, Ugochukwu finished third in British F4 for Carlin and second in Italian F4 for Prema.

Ugochukwu graduated to Formula Regional in 2024, and became the first American victor of the Macau Grand Prix in 43 years.

He moved up to FIA Formula 3 with Prema in 2025 and was dropped by McLaren after a winless season; he won the title the following year.

Ugochukwu also began his karting career in USA, winning the Micro ROK Cup USA in 2014 and the Florida Winter Tour in 2015 before moving to Italy to compete in European championships.

He went on to win the X30 Mini category of the IAME International Open in 2017 and the Junior ROK category of the Challenge of the Americas in 2018.

In 2020 he took victory in the FIA OK-Junior European Karting Championship.

Ugochukwu remained with Prema for 2023 competing in the Formula 4 UAE Championship and Italian F4 Championship.

In the UAE championship, he took five wins en route to third in the standings.

In the Italian championship he became vice-champion after fighting Kacper Sztuka for the title until the final round at Vallelunga Circuit.

In 2023 Ugochukwu also became the first champion of the new Euro 4 Championship.

Ugochukwu moved to reigning champions’ Campos Racing for the 2026 season, alongside Théophile Naël and Ernesto Rivera.

Ugochukwu completed the F3 Feature Race at the Madring, P2 to win the F3 drivers championship, defeating Trident Motorsport driver Freddie Slater by 14 points.

Following his victory in the FIA OK-Junior European Karting Championship with the Sauber Karting Team in 2020, Ugochukwu signed a long-term deal with the McLaren Driver Development Programme in 2021 to facilitate his transition from junior motorsport to professional racing driver.

Ugochukwu departed McLaren in November 2025 amidst a major shakeup in the roster.

In June 2026, he tested a Formula One car for the first time, driving the Alpine A524 during a private test session in Monza.

Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is entering a defining new chapter. As international oil companies adjust their portfolios and indigenous energy companies assume ownership and operation of the country’s oil and gas assets, the conversation around local participation must evolve. Increasing indigenous participation in this manner is important, but ownership alone is not enough. The industry must also build the depth of technical expertise required to operate those assets safely, efficiently, and sustainably for decades to come.

At the heart of this transition are the people. The engineers, technicians, and professionals who will lead the next era of Nigeria’s energy industry must be identified, trained, and given meaningful exposure today. For indigenous operators, investing in this next generation is therefore more than a Nigerian Content obligation; it is an investment in the long-term resilience of the industry and the communities in which they operate.

It is against this backdrop that on September 4, 2026, Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited (OERNL), a subsidiary of Oando PLC, in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Hilong Oil Service and Engineering Nigeria Limited, commenced a 12-month Human Capacity Development Programme in Port-Harcourt, to equip young Nigerians with specialised drilling engineering skills and practical industry experience.

The programme reflects Oando’s commitment to developing Nigeria’s technical talent and creating pathways for Nigerians, particularly those from its host communities, to gain industry-relevant knowledge, technical competence, and practical experience.

Over 12 months, participants will move from intensive classroom learning to structured on-the-job training, bridging a gap that remains critical to technical capacity development: the ability to translate theoretical knowledge into competence in real operational environments.

Their training will cover Basic Drilling Engineering Operations, Well Planning and Design, Measurement While Drilling (MWD), Logging While Drilling (LWD), drilling rig operations and well-log data analytics. Beyond technical competence, participants will also receive training in entrepreneurship, business management, and digital skills, broadening their ability to create and participate in opportunities across the energy value chain.

The programme is linked to the Provision of Turnkey Joint Venture (JV) Services for Workover and Recompletion of the Obiafu 44 Well, providing an opportunity to connect capacity development to the realities of industry operations.

For Oando, this investment comes at a particularly important point in the evolution of Nigeria’s energy sector. As indigenous companies take on larger operational roles, building a sustainable talent pipeline becomes increasingly critical. Experienced professionals will eventually exit the workforce, making deliberate knowledge transfer and succession planning crucial to preserving and expanding Nigeria’s technical capability.

Speaking to the participants, Manager, Nigerian Content Division, Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited, Deji Agboola, underscored the responsibility that comes with the opportunity. ‘Oando, NCDMB, and Hilong have given you an opportunity of a lifetime, to play a role in the development of Nigeria. Being here equips you with the capacity to contribute meaningfully to the future of the oil and gas industry, as well as the country.’

The Nigerian government’s approach to local participation recognises that capacity building must go hand in hand with creating opportunities for host communities. The objective is not only to develop energy professionals capable of eventually leading complex operations and to retain critical knowledge within the industry, but also to ensure that communities around these assets are positioned to benefit from the economic opportunities they generate.

Representing the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Board’s General Manager, Human Capacity Development, Mrs Alexis Emelle, described the programme as an investment not only in its participants but in the future of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. That future will ultimately depend on how deliberately the industry prepares people for it.

Developing the capacity of the Nigerian energy sector is a long-term commitment of guaranteeing that its energy resources create value beyond production. By investing in skills, knowledge, and opportunity, Oando is building a pipeline of Nigerian talent capable of sustaining the industry, strengthening host communities, and taking on increasingly complex roles across the energy value chain.

The company is ensuring that as a new generation of indigenous companies take on the responsibility of building Nigeria’s energy future, a new generation of Nigerians are equipped to lead it.

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori will on Tuesday, September 22, swear in Mr Emasogbe Matthew Oghene as the state’s new Auditor-General and inaugurate the Governing Councils of three state-owned universities.

The ceremonies, scheduled for 10 am at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, will formally usher in the Governing Councils of the University of Delta (UNIDEL), Agbor; Dennis Osadebay University (DOU), Asaba; and Southern Delta University (SDU), Ozoro.

Oghene’s appointment as Auditor-General followed his recent screening and confirmation by the Delta State House of Assembly.

The Assembly charged him to deploy his experience to strengthen accountability, transparency, and sound financial management in the state.

The inauguration of the university councils is expected to strengthen governance, oversight and institutional administration across the three institutions.

For the University of Delta, Agbor, Professor Victor Peretomode will serve as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council. Other members are Rear Admiral Peter I. Eluma, Professor Mrs Ebele Egwunyega, Dr Roland Oritsejafor, Mrs Joy Enwa, Professor Ben Oghojafor and Professor Patrick Oromareghake.

At Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Professor Patrick Muoboghare is the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman. Council members are Dr Christopher Onyemenam, Chief Elmina V. Namah, Professor Jacob Oboreh, Dr Mrs Josephine Konyeme, Dr Mrs Philomena Imonivewerha, and Professor Rowell Ubogu.

For Southern Delta University, Ozoro, Chief Godson Echegile will serve as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman. Other members of the council are Professor Benedict Binebai, Surveyor Mrs Felicia Omatsola, Professor Stella Chiemeke, Dr Tosan Luck Popo, Professor William Ehwarieme and Professor Mrs Regina Arisi.

Governor Oborevwori earlier approved the constitution of the three governing councils, and the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Eze Emu, announced it.

According to a fresh notice signed by the SSG, the swearing-in and inauguration ceremonies will take place at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, and are scheduled to commence at 10am.

The appointees and invited guests are expected to be seated by 9:30 am.

Real estate is often described as one of the safest forms of investment because land and buildings generally retain significant economic value over time. Nigerians invest billions of naira in residential houses, commercial buildings, shopping complexes, office spaces, estates and other forms of property with the expectation that these assets will generate rental income, appreciate in value and provide financial security for their owners. Yet, while considerable attention is paid to acquiring and developing properties, surprisingly little attention is given to what happens after construction is completed. This is where property management becomes critical. A well-designed and beautifully constructed building can gradually lose its attractiveness, functionality and market value when it is poorly managed. Conversely, a properly managed property can remain productive and valuable for many years. Unfortunately, poor property management has become one of the silent factors undermining the performance of real estate investments in Nigeria. Many property owners regard maintenance as an unnecessary expense and only respond when something has broken down completely. A leaking roof is ignored until the ceiling collapses; faulty electrical installations are tolerated until they become dangerous; blocked drainage systems are neglected until flooding occurs; damaged plumbing systems are left unattended until water damage affects other parts of the building. By the time attention is finally given to the problem, what could have been a relatively inexpensive repair has become a major financial liability.

The problem is not simply that some Nigerian properties are old. Even relatively new buildings can deteriorate rapidly when there is no effective management system in place. Buildings are living assets in the sense that they are continuously exposed to weather, human use, mechanical stress, environmental conditions and changing occupancy patterns. Every building therefore requires regular inspection, preventive maintenance, repairs and periodic improvements. Unfortunately, the prevailing approach among many property owners is reactive rather than preventive. The owner waits for the tenant to complain before calling a technician. The facility manager, where one exists, is often provided with funds only after a serious problem has occurred. This approach may appear economical in the short term, but it is expensive in the long run. A property with recurring plumbing problems, unreliable electricity, broken doors and windows, poor drainage, deteriorating walls, inadequate security or malfunctioning elevators will gradually develop a negative reputation. Prospective tenants become reluctant to occupy it, existing tenants begin to look for alternatives and rental income may decline. In commercial properties, poor maintenance can directly affect the businesses operating within the building because customers generally associate the physical condition of a business environment with the quality of the services provided there. Property management is therefore not merely about collecting rent. It is about protecting the physical asset, preserving its functionality, maintaining tenant satisfaction and ensuring that the property continues to produce an acceptable return on investment.

One of the most significant consequences of poor property management is the gradual erosion of property value. Property value is not determined solely by the amount of money originally spent on construction. Location, building quality, condition, functionality, income-generating capacity, neighbourhood characteristics, infrastructure and prevailing market conditions all influence what a property is worth. Two buildings located on the same street and constructed with similar materials may therefore command significantly different values because one has been properly maintained while the other has been allowed to deteriorate. This distinction is particularly important in Nigeria’s increasingly competitive property market. Tenants today are becoming more conscious of their environment and are willing to move when a property consistently fails to meet their expectations. A property with poor sanitation, inadequate water supply, unreliable power infrastructure, damaged common areas or persistent maintenance problems may eventually experience higher vacancy rates. For investment properties, vacancy means lost income, while declining income can itself negatively affect investment value. In income-producing properties, therefore, poor management can create a vicious cycle: inadequate maintenance reduces tenant satisfaction, poor tenant satisfaction contributes to vacancies, vacancies reduce income, reduced income makes maintenance more difficult to finance, and the property deteriorates even further.

Another major challenge is the absence of proper maintenance planning and sinking-fund arrangements among many property owners and residential developments. Property owners should not wait until major components of a building fail before making financial provision for their replacement or rehabilitation. Roofs, pumps, generators, transformers, elevators, air-conditioning systems, water-treatment facilities, drainage infrastructure and other building services have useful lives and predictable maintenance requirements. Professional property management should therefore involve preparing maintenance schedules, estimating future expenditure and making appropriate financial provisions. In multi-unit developments, this becomes even more important because common facilities are shared by several occupants. Where there is no transparent system for collecting and managing service charges, disputes frequently arise between landlords, tenants, residents’ associations and facility managers. The result can be delayed repairs and declining common facilities. A professionally managed property should have clear responsibilities, documented maintenance procedures, transparent financial arrangements and regular inspections. The objective should be to identify problems before they become emergencies. Preventive maintenance may require regular expenditure, but it is usually far less costly than emergency repairs and major rehabilitation. The old saying that prevention is better than cure applies just as strongly to buildings as it does to human health.

Technology is also changing the way properties can be managed, and Nigerian property owners need to take advantage of these opportunities. Digital platforms can assist property managers in monitoring rent payments, service charges, maintenance requests, utility consumption and tenant complaints. Building management systems can help monitor energy use and equipment performance, while digital records can provide useful information about recurring faults and maintenance costs. Even where sophisticated technology is not available, simple digital maintenance registers, inspection schedules and property databases can significantly improve management efficiency. More importantly, property owners should recognise that professional property management is an investment rather than an avoidable cost. Estate surveyors and valuers, facility managers, engineers, architects and other built-environment professionals each have specialised roles to play in ensuring that buildings remain functional and economically productive. The involvement of professionals is particularly important in large estates, commercial properties, shopping centres, office complexes and other properties where poor management can result in substantial financial losses. The property owner should also establish clear performance expectations for managing agents and facility managers, including maintenance response times, financial reporting, inspection procedures, tenant communication and compliance with safety requirements.

Ultimately, Nigeria needs to change the way it thinks about property ownership. Acquiring or developing a building is only the beginning of the investment process. The real test of a property investment is whether the asset can remain productive, functional and valuable throughout its economic life. Property owners who spend heavily on construction but little on maintenance are effectively allowing part of their investment to disappear gradually. Government and private developers should therefore place greater emphasis on whole-life property management from the design and construction stages. Developers should consider maintainability when choosing building materials, installing building services and designing common areas. Property owners should establish preventive maintenance programmes and appropriate financial reserves. Tenants, on their part, must also recognise their responsibilities in protecting the properties they occupy. Residents’ associations should promote transparent service-charge administration rather than allowing disputes to paralyse maintenance activities. Professional property managers should provide accurate records and regular reports that enable owners to understand the condition and performance of their assets. The Nigerian real estate industry has spent considerable energy discussing housing supply, land prices, construction costs and property acquisition. These issues remain important, but equal attention must now be given to what happens after the keys are handed over. A building is not a successful investment simply because it has been completed. It becomes a successful investment when it is properly occupied, maintained, managed and preserved so that it continues to provide economic and social value. In the final analysis, poor property management is not merely a problem of untidy buildings or delayed repairs; it is a direct threat to investment value. For Nigerian property owners who want their assets to survive economic uncertainty and remain profitable for decades, professional management and preventive maintenance should no longer be considered optional-they should be treated as fundamental components of the investment itself.

Investment platform Bamboo has experienced login difficulties after a surge in users trying to access the app following the launch of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE public offer.

The disruption left some users unable to log in as investors sought to participate in the Dangote initial public offering (IPO).

Bamboo confirmed the issue in a statement on its official X account, attributing it to higher-than-expected traffic driven by interest in the public offer.

‘Hey everyone, we’re getting much higher-than-expected traffic trying to get into the Dangote IPO, and it’s making it difficult for some users to log into the Bamboo app.

‘We’re working on a fix, and it will be up and running shortly,’ the platform said.

Bamboo assured affected users that its technical team was working to restore normal access to the app.

However, the platform did not provide a specific timeframe for resolving the login difficulties.

The disruption comes amid heightened investor interest in the Dangote Refinery public offer, with Nigerians seeking access to the platform to participate in the share offering.

APM Terminals Apapa has announced plans to move 60 per cent of its export containers by rail and commence round-the-clock barge operations in the Q4 of 2026 as part of efforts to ease bottlenecks in Nigeria’s export logistics chain.

The terminal disclosed this at the third edition of its Exporters Forum, themed ‘Exports – Voice of Customers Forum’, which brought together exporters, shipping lines, logistics operators, regulators, industry stakeholders and academia.

Head of Commercial, APM Terminals Apapa, Kayode Olufemi-Daniel, said the terminal was adopting a collaborative approach to addressing challenges affecting the movement of export cargo.

He said the forum was designed to identify the causes of delays in the export process and develop practical measures with stakeholders to improve cargo flow.

‘We want to understand the pain points with the export process end to end. From there, we look at the root causes of those pain points, identify those root causes, then collectively come up with an action plan on how we can address those issues to increase the export flow,’ he said.

Olufemi-Daniel said the terminal would also expand its barging operations through its dedicated Finger Jetty, which is expected to begin 24-hour operations in the fourth quarter.

He said the facility would handle both incoming and outgoing containers, allowing exporters to move cargo into the terminal, while importers could evacuate containers and bring in empty containers around the clock.

‘This gives us the capacity to handle more barges unlike the past when we had to do barging on our main quay

‘We now have additional barging capacity which will be operated on our Finger Jetty,’ he said.

He said the terminal was also strengthening communication with shipping lines, exporters, importers and regulatory agencies to improve cargo visibility and streamline operations.

Olufemi-Daniel said the goal was to attract more exporters back to Apapa and position the terminal as a major gateway for Nigeria’s exports.

‘We want exporters to come back to Apapa. We want the volumes to come back, which is why we want to ensure the ease of doing business.

‘We want Apapa to become Nigeria’s export gateway, particularly as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to diversify the economy and increase non-oil exports,’ he said.

On rail evacuation, Key Client Manager, APM Terminals Apapa, Adesoji Olaniyan, said the terminal had set a target of moving 60 per cent of its export containers by rail.

He said the terminal currently operates rail evacuation arrangements through two locations, where customers can collect empty containers, stuff them and return laden export containers to the terminal by rail.

According to him, each location records about three weekly rail calls, depending on demand, with each train capable of carrying approximately 60 TEUs.

Olaniyan said the terminal’s assessment showed that rail remained the most cost-effective option for cargo evacuation.

Participants at the forum commended APM Terminals for providing a platform for stakeholders to discuss operational challenges and monitor the implementation of previous recommendations.

COSCO Shipping Lines Nigeria Customer Service Manager, Precious Idika, said the terminal’s Team View portal had simplified some processes for customers, particularly the gating process.

She said the platform enabled customers to complete payment advice while shipping lines could update relevant information, helping to facilitate access to the terminal.

A Lagos Business School faculty member, Prof. Frank Ojadi, described the forum as an important channel for sustained engagement between the terminal and its stakeholders.

Ojadi, however, urged APM Terminals to extend the initiative beyond Lagos to major commercial and export-producing centres such as Kano and Port Harcourt.

Federal Unity Colleges in some parts of the country were yesterday shut by teachers’ unions over the concession of King’s College, Lagos and other colleges across the country.

Parents and pupils of some Unity Colleges were left stranded as members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) shut the gates of the colleges in defiance of the Federal Government’s directive for schools to reopen for the academic session.

The ASCSN had directed workers in Unity Colleges across the country not to resume duties yesterday over the planned concession.

The association, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, announced the directive in a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency virtual meeting of its zonal coordinators held on Thursday.

The ASCSN and the Joint Congress of Unions of the Federal Ministry of Education vowed to sustain their total boycott of resumption across the 115 Federal Unity Colleges in the country.

The meeting was convened in response to the alleged unilateral decision of the Federal Ministry of Education to transfer King’s College, Lagos, to the school’s Old Boys Association without involving other stakeholders.

The association described the move as an ‘assault and an affront’ to the unity of Nigeria, arguing that the Unity Colleges were established to provide a model of secondary education where children from different backgrounds could interact, learn tolerance and promote national cohesion.

The Federal Ministry of Education had, in a circular dated September 11 and signed by the Director, Senior Secondary Education Department, Adeniji Ibrahim, directed principals of Federal Unity Colleges to comply with the minister’s order for schools to reopen.

The ministry described the communiqué suspending resumption as ‘illegal, unauthorised’ and directed principals to disregard it.

It ordered that college gates, hostels, classrooms and administrative blocks be opened yesterday to receive returning students, with full academic activities commencing today.

It also directed all academic and non-academic staff to report for duty and instructed principals to liaise with the police and Department of State Services (DSS) to ensure security at the colleges.

But most of the colleges earlier scheduled to resume yesterday were under lock and key when reporters visited the institutions.

Some of the schools had notices pasted on their gates, indicating that academic activities would not resume as earlier scheduled.

Parents and students of the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Ezzamgbo, Ebonyi State, were left stranded as members of the ASCSN shut the gates in defiance of the Federal Government’s directive for schools to reopen for the academic session.

The unions’ directive was enforced yesterday, leaving parents and returning pupils who had travelled to the school unable to gain access to the premises.

A notice signed by the Unit Chairman of ASCSN, Dr Rachael Benson-Ogbu, stated: ‘No resumption till further notice.’

It urged parents to ‘remain calm, keep your wards with you at home and avoid making unnecessary trips to the school on Sunday, 13th September 2026, pending further clarification and official directives’.

One of the affected parents, Mr Obinna Uchendu, said the contradictory directives had left parents uncertain about what to do.

At the Federal Government Boys’ College, Apo, Abuja, the school premises were deserted, with no teachers available to receive students.

Speaking in an interview, the Chairperson of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Federal Government Boys’ College, Apo, Mrs Amina Abdullahi, confirmed that the school did not open as scheduled.

Abdullahi said the development was in compliance with the directive of the teachers’ union.

She added that the school was also awaiting further directives from the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) on the matter.

Also, many parents who took their children and wards to the Federal Technical College, Uromi, and the Federal Government Girls’ College, Benin, were not allowed to enter the school premises.

Both colleges were placed under lock and key despite the deployment of security agencies to the schools.

Some parents who had already booked transportation to convey their children from Benin City to the FTC, Uromi, cancelled the trip.

One of the parents said they were not sure if the school would be opened as assured by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.

The presence of security personnel did not deter the protesting staff from locking the school entrance.

Members of the ASCSN at the FGGC, Benin, carried placards with various inscriptions, vowing not to relent until the Federal Government rescinded its decision on the concession of King’s College, Lagos.

Meanwhile, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Audu Amba, backed the suspension of resumption in Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.

Amba urged the Federal Government to suspend the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, and consult relevant stakeholders on the policy.

He said the leadership of the union’s Federal Wing would meet today to deliberate on the development and determine the next line of action.

Amba described the situation as avoidable, saying all stakeholders ought to have been consulted before the government took such a decision.

He said teachers, who were central to the running of schools, should have been carried along before the proposed concession was introduced.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday warned that developing countries risk surrendering control of their future unless they move from merely consuming technology to producing it, creating knowledge and owning intellectual property.

Tinubu, who declared that ‘a nation that owns no technology risks renting its future’, challenged BRICS countries to deepen cooperation with developing economies in artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, fintech, telecommunications, cybersecurity, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing.

The President spoke at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India, in an address delivered on his behalf by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

BRICS is an intergovernmental organisation comprising 11 major emerging market and developing countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Tinubu said Nigeria was determined to leverage its youthful population and growing innovation ecosystem to become a producer rather than merely a consumer of emerging technologies.

‘We welcome deeper BRICS cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, fintech, telecommunications, cybersecurity, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing, because developing countries must produce technology, create knowledge and own intellectual property. A nation that owns no technology risks renting its future,’ Tinubu said.

The President identified Nigeria’s young and dynamic population as one of its greatest assets, saying its creativity and enterprise were already driving the country’s innovation agenda.

He said his administration was investing in digital skills, entrepreneurship, research, artificial intelligence and technology-enabled businesses through initiatives such as 3MTT, Project BRIDGE and national AI programmes.

‘As Project BRIDGE expands broadband, fibre and digital public services, we seek an open, secure, and inclusive digital ecosystem that advances innovation, digital trade, responsible artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity,’ he said.

Tinubu said Nigeria viewed its relationship with BRICS as a practical platform for securing investment, technology transfer and human-capital development rather than merely another forum for diplomatic dialogue.

‘Nigeria sees cooperation with BRICS as a practical opportunity for trade, investment, technology transfer, and human-capital development. We support partnerships in infrastructure, connectivity, energy, agriculture, healthcare, education, and industrialisation, backed by development finance’, he said.

Beyond technology, the President called for an urgent overhaul of global governance structures and international financial institutions, arguing that the international system must better reflect contemporary economic and demographic realities.

He said the transformation championed by BRICS should extend to the international system, particularly the United Nations Security Council and global financial architecture.

‘Nigeria supports a more representative, equitable and responsive global governance architecture, including reform of the United Nations Security Council and the international financial system.

‘BRICS amplifies the voice of the Global South and advances a more inclusive international order, consistent with Nigeria’s call for institutions that reflect contemporary economic and demographic realities,’ he said.

Tinubu consequently made a case for ‘a BRICS partnership that moves from dialogue to delivery, from commitments to implementation, and from cooperation to measurable development outcomes’.

The President also invited foreign investors to take advantage of opportunities in Nigeria, urging them to see the country as a gateway to Africa’s expanding market under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He defined economic resilience for Nigeria as building an economy capable of withstanding global shocks while creating sustainable opportunities for citizens.

Tinubu said the objective was embedded in his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda through reforms aimed at strengthening macroeconomic stability, diversifying production, raising productivity, expanding infrastructure and human capital, attracting investment, promoting private-sector-led growth and deepening climate resilience.

‘We welcome BRICS cooperation in trade, agriculture, food security, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare and critical minerals, especially partnerships that advance technology transfer, local value addition, industrial capacity and employment’, he said.

On climate change, Tinubu said Nigeria’s sustainability model sought to balance climate action with the development aspirations of emerging economies.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for affordable climate finance, technology transfer and capacity-building for Africa, while seeking greater cooperation in renewable energy, gas, clean technologies, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable infrastructure and responsible critical-mineral development.

The President said climate responsibility should contribute to broader economic growth rather than become an obstacle to the development ambitions of emerging economies.

Tinubu expressed Nigeria’s readiness to contribute to a BRICS partnership resilient enough to withstand global shocks, innovative enough to embrace the future and cooperative enough to advance shared prosperity while protecting future generations.

‘Our partnerships must create jobs, expand trade, transfer technology, and strengthen our nations’ productive capacity. We must build a future in which Africa moves from the margins of global development to the frontiers of global growth and innovation,’ he said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said confidence in BRICS among countries of the Global South had grown because their voices were being heard, their experiences respected and solutions developed with them rather than for them.

Modi said the strength of BRICS lay in its diversity and cooperation, noting that the bloc was expanding participation beyond governments to entrepreneurs, farmers, researchers, women and young people.

‘We may be rooted in different realities, but together, we rise through cooperation and blossom for humanity,’ he said.

The Indian Prime Minister said initiatives such as BRICS CONNECT, the BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal and the BRICS Urban Mobility Hub were designed to promote skills, employment, enterprise development and knowledge-sharing among member and partner countries.

Modi also stressed the need to balance development with environmental responsibility, saying sustainability must remain central to BRICS cooperation and the interests of future generations.