Turaki Submits Chairmanship Nomination Form, Lamido Still Unable To Purchase

Former Minister of Special Duties and PDP National Chairmanship Aspirant, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has submitted his Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to contest for the position of National Chairman of the party.

The party has slated November 15, 16, 2025 for its Elective National Convention for Ibadan, Oyo State.

Turaki, who has been adopted as consensus candidate for the position by majority of stakeholders of the party, submitted his forms to the National Convention Organizing Committee (NCOC)’s Secretariat, Legacy House, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, Abuja, on Monday.

The former minister was accompanied to legacy House by friends and political associates. Earlier, Alhaji Sule Lamido, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is also seeking to contest for the position, stormed the PDP headquarters in Abuja to purchase the form but there were no officials to attend to him.

Aggrieved, Lamido had told journalists that he may head to court if he is unable to purchase the forms.

The National Convention Organizing Committee (NCOC) of the PDP had earlier put the screening of aspirants on hold.

The screening exercise which had earlier been scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, 2025, was said to be postponed ‘due to unforeseen circumstances’.

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri Chairman, NCOC, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

According to Fintiri, a new date will be communicated once it agreed and fixed.

The statement said the NCOC regrets any inconveniences caused by the postponement.

All Aspirants and members of our party should note the foregoing and be guided accordingly.

The Adamawa Governor said the NCOC remained committed to delivering a credible, hitch-free convention.

UK Announces Zero, Reduced Tariffs On 3,000 Nigerian Products

The United Kingdom (UK) has announced that nearly 3,000 Nigerian products are now eligible for zero and reduced tariffs under its Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), launched in 2023.

The UK Head of Trade Policy for Nigeria, Ms. Mujina Kaindama, disclosed this during the UK DCTS Roadshow held in Kano.

According to her, the initiative was designed to simplify rules of origin for smoother compliance and ease of access to UK markets.

Kaindama noted that the engagement goes beyond theory, as exporters are being equipped with practical knowledge on how to leverage the scheme to grow their businesses, with support from trade experts. In her remarks, Dr. Adiya Ode of Propcon+ highlighted Northern Nigeria’s vast agricultural potential, saying the region produces variety of crops that are not only vital to local livelihoods but also hold great export value for international markets.

She emphasized that agriculture in the region remains a foundation for inclusive growth, job creation, and economic transformation.

According to her, the DCTS provides a practical pathway for Nigerian agribusinesses to expand exports and compete globally.

Similarly, the Director of the Investment Promotion Department, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Mrs. Orji Gertrude, disclosed that both countries have been working closely through the ministry since the inception of the scheme to ensure Nigerian business owners have access to relevant information and can successfully take advantage of the opportunities from the programme.

The event was organized by Propcon+, in collaboration with the Kano State Government and the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.

Unmet Demands: Courts Shutdown As Kaduna Judiciary Workers Begin Strike

Courts across Kaduna State have been shut down as the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) commenced an indefinite strike over what it described as the state government’s failure to meet its longstanding demands.

In a statement issued after an emergency meeting, the union said it had been left with ‘no option than to explore all available channels and avenues for an indefinite strike action,’ following a series of unheeded correspondences, including letters dated September 1, 2025, and October 9, 2025.

Daily Trust correspondent observed that most courts visited within the metropolis were closed by JUSUN members as early as 8:00 a.m. on Monday.

Union officials were seen moving around the city to ensure total compliance with the strike directive. At the State High Court along Bida Road, the main entrance was chained, with some JUSUN workers keeping watch. Similarly, Sharia Court 1, Magajin Gari, and Sharia Court 2, Magajin Gari, remained closed and deserted.

Speaking to Daily Trust at the exit gate of the State High Court, JUSUN Vice Chairman, Donatus Adamu, said the union had commenced full industrial action until its demands were met.

‘We are supportive of this government; it’s our government and we are for the government. But unfortunately, we had to embark on the strike today (Monday).

‘The reason for the strike is not to witch-hunt or go against anybody, but it’s for the betterment of the system itself. Our demands include financial autonomy, which will go a long way to solve most of the problems, and consequential adjustment for the minimum wage,’ he said.

Other demands, according to the union, included nine-month leave grants, among others.

‘As soon as the demands are met, the strike will end,’ he declared.

Also speaking, the union’s Organizing Secretary, Aminu S. Wada, lamented that judiciary workers in the state were suffering.

According to him, workers from levels 1 to 6 have yet to receive the full ?72,000 minimum wage, describing the situation as unhealthy for the system.

Resident Doctors List 19 Demands To Avert Indefinite Strike

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has listed 19 demands which it described as the minimum expectations required to avert a total and indefinite nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Saturday.

The President, Dr Muhammad Suleiman, stated this on Monday in Abuja at a media conference while presenting the resolutions of NARD’s Extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

The meeting followed the expiration of its 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.

He said the association had exercised patience for too long in the face of government’s inaction, warning that doctors have already begun ward rounds and patient handover ahead of the planned industrial action. According to him, the outstanding payments and welfare issues affect not only resident doctors but all categories of health professionals, including administrative staff.

Suleiman said the government currently owes doctors and other health workers across the country an estimated N38 billion in accumulated allowances, some dating back more than 10 years.

He said, ‘There are allowances of over two years, some for 18 months, seven months, four months and even 10 years.

‘There has also been a failure to review the basic salary of doctors in this country for 16 years.’

He noted that the association had suspended a five-day warning strike in September and extended its earlier ultimatum by 30 days to allow government address the demands, but the grace period had since elapsed without meaningful action.

‘The Federal Government has failed to demonstrate the political will necessary to address the legitimate concerns of Nigerian resident doctors,’ he said.

Suleiman explained that the 19-point demand presented by NARD represents the minimum action expected from government to prevent a total collapse of service delivery in the country’s public health system.

Among the demands, he said, are the immediate payment of outstanding 25-35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears and 2024 accoutrement allowance to doctors, as well as other pending financial entitlements owed to health workers.

The NEC also demanded the immediate reinstatement of five resident doctors unjustly terminated from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, with full payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances for the period of their disengagement.

He said the association further called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to develop and implement a humane ‘working-hours policy’ for doctors in line with international best practices, to safeguard both physician well being and patient safety.

The NEC urged government to grant Chief Executives of hospitals greater autonomy to employ and replace doctors who exit the system through immediate implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy, to reduce excessive workload and burnout.

It also demanded urgent upgrade and maintenance of infrastructure and medical equipment in all healthcare facilities nationwide to improve the quality of service delivery and training for resident doctors.

Suleiman said NARD demanded the immediate commencement of specialist allowance payments to all doctors, inclusion of medical and dental house officers in the civil service scheme with full entitlements, and correction of all entry-level placements of doctors.

He said the NEC also called for decentralisation of promotion processes, payment of arrears resulting from those corrections, and expedited conclusion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement Committee’s work on the long-overdue review of CONMESS and other professional allowances.

‘The NEC further demands the immediate release and implementation of corrected tables of professional allowances and clear enforcement of relativity between CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures,’ he added.

Other issues highlighted include the payment of accrued promotion arrears owed to medical officers, reversal of the practice of creating consultant cadres for non-medical personnel, and the abolition of casualisation of doctors, insisting that all locum staff must be regularised in accordance with public service rules.

Suleiman also noted that the association is demanding uniform implementation of all CONMESS circulars across federal, state, and private health institutions, and the immediate clearance of outstanding salary arrears owed to doctors in several centres.

He said NARD was also insisting on the immediate implementation of special pension benefits as earlier agreed between the Federal Government and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

Banditry: Kaduna Communities Decry Renewed Attacks, Demand Gov’t Action

The Adara Development Association (ADA) has called on the Nigerian government to address what it described as ‘renewed banditry and coordinated attacks’ on Adara communities in Kaduna State.

In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the Association, Comrade Livinus Paul Jatau, the ADA said the situation in Kachia and Kajuru Local Government Areas had deteriorated into a ‘full-blown humanitarian crisis,’ with hundreds of lives lost and entire communities displaced.

According to the ADA, the wave of violence began in 2016 and continued intermittently despite peace efforts.

The group claimed that between 2016 and 2023, more than 200 communities were attacked and displaced. It also recalled the kidnapping and murder of the Adara Paramount Ruler, His Royal Highness Dr. Raphael Maiwada Galadima, and the detention of Adara elders who protested what they termed ‘injustice and marginalisation.’

‘The situation has now escalated beyond a security problem, it is a full-blown humanitarian emergency,’ ADA warned. ‘Thousands of displaced persons now live under trees or in overcrowded host communities without access to farmlands.’

The group acknowledged that the assumption of office by Governor Uba Sani initially brought ‘some relief’ as displaced villagers began returning home.

However, it said, ‘violence has returned in a highly coordinated manner, threatening to undermine the progress made.’

The association appealed to the Federal and Kaduna State Governments to restore the Adara First-Class Chiefdom, establish permanent security outposts, provide emergency relief, and launch an independent investigation into the atrocities.

It also urged humanitarian agencies to conduct needs assessments and deliver food, water, medical supplies, and trauma counselling.

‘Every life lost is not just a statistics, it is a human tragedy that demands attention and action,’ the Association said.

The statement further noted that Adara people are peace-loving and law-abiding who only seek to live peacefully on their ancestral land to farm, raise children, worship freely, and build a future with dignity.

4 Killed As Violence Breaks Out Ahead Final Result Of Cameroon Presidential Election

At least four people have been killed in Cameroon’s commercial capital, Douala, following violent clashes between security forces and opposition supporters ahead of the announcement of the country’s presidential election results.

The unrest broke out as hundreds of protesters barricaded roads, burned tyres, and clashed with police in several parts of the city, including areas near Douala Airport and the New Bell district.

Tensions have been rising since the October 12 election, with opposition supporters alleging plans to manipulate the results in favour of incumbent President Paul Biya, who is seeking to extend his more than four-decade rule.

Issa Tchiroma, the main opposition candidate, has already declared himself the winner, claiming he secured 54.8 percent of the vote against Biya’s 31.3 percent. He urged citizens to ‘stand firm’ and reject what he described as ‘falsified and distorted results’ if announced by the Constitutional Council. Authorities, however, dismissed his claims.

Regional governor Samuel Diboua said several police posts were attacked during the unrest and that security forces acted in self-defence.

‘Four people unfortunately lost their lives,’ Diboua confirmed, calling for calm as the nation awaits the official declaration.

The Constitutional Council is expected to announce the final results on Monday, amid heightened security and growing fears of wider unrest.

Tinubu In Closed Door Meeting With Service Chiefs

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently meeting with the newly appointed Service Chiefs.

The meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday afternoon.

Daily Trust could not immediately verify the agenda of the meeting, but it might not be unconnected with ongoing efforts to strengthen the Country’s security architecture.

The Presidency had described their appointment as a strategic move to enhance professionalism, efficiency within the force.

Daily Trust gathered that those attending the meeting were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu, Air Vice Marshall Kennedy Aneke, the Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, Chief of Naval Staff

Two Cousins Gunned Down In South Africa

Two cousins have been shot dead by unknown gunmen in Mamelodi East, Tshwane, sparking shock and grief in the local community.

The victims, identified as Tshiamo Moramaga (22) and Baleseng Moramaga (21), were discovered with gunshot wounds to the head on Sompisi Street, Extension 17, early Sunday morning, October 26, 2025.

According to Captain Johan van Dyk, spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mamelodi East, officers responded to a distress call at about 6:15 a.m. and found the two women lying lifeless at the scene.

‘The victims were both wearing similar clothing, indicating they were together before the incident. A double murder case has been opened, and investigations are ongoing,’ van Dyk said.

The motive for the killings remains unclear. Authorities have appealed to the public for any information that could help identify the assailants.

Family members of the victims are devastated. Itumeleng Moramaga, mother of Tshiamo, described the loss as unbearable.

‘I’m so hurt. I’m shattered because she was the only daughter I had. I’m now left with two sons,’ she said tearfully.

Neighbors reportedly heard arguments and gunshots around 4 a.m. before the bodies were discovered.

A message found on Baleseng’s phone suggested the cousins had been in contact shortly before the shooting, while Tshiamo’s phone was missing, possibly stolen.

Police have urged anyone with relevant information to contact the nearest SAPS office or call the national Crime Stop number.

Kigali, ADHI group win global public-private collaboration award at WEF summit

In a historic milestone for Africa, the City of Kigali and ADHI Group have received the Global Public-Private Collaboration Award from the World Economic Forum (WEF) at the Urban Transformation Summit in San Francisco.

The recognition celebrates a groundbreaking partnership between the City of Kigali, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and ADHI Group, which created an industrialized, sustainable, and inclusive housing model that connects innovation, economic growth, and climate resilience.

With this honor, Kigali joins a select circle of cities recognized by the WEF – including Singapore, Helsinki, Bristol, and Pittsburgh – positioning Africa as not just a beneficiary of innovation, but a global contributor to it.

The flagship project, Bwiza Riverside Estate, developed by ADHI Group, exemplifies this achievement.

Certified EDGE Advanced by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the project has cut over 500,000 tons of CO2 emissions through light concrete technology, recycled materials, and sponge-city water systems.

These environmental gains are now convertible into carbon credits, linking urban housing directly to climate finance.

‘We have demonstrated that sustainable housing can finance itself,’ said Soleman Abdi Idd, Chairman of ADHI Group. ‘Our model combines technological innovation, local manufacturing, youth training, and carbon monetization – the circular economy applied to city building.’

The project’s success reflects robust collaboration between public and private sectors.

Kigali integrated the project into its urban plan and provided land, while the RDB attracted investors and financial guarantees, aligning the initiative with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy.

ADHI’s model also incorporates strong social impact. An on-site TVET campus trains young Rwandans in modular construction, renewable energy, and advanced fabrication, ensuring that every home built contributes to job creation and skills development.

‘Each house is also a classroom,’ noted Sadiya A. Hassan, Vice President of ADHI Group. ‘Our youth are not watching the green transition – they are building it.’

Following Kigali’s success, several African countries are now exploring ways to replicate the ADHI model as a path toward climate-smart, self-financing urban development rooted in local manufacturing and inclusive growth.

For the World Economic Forum, Kigali’s recognition signals a paradigm shift – proving that industrialization and sustainability are not conflicting goals but complementary pillars of Africa’s development.

In under a decade, Rwanda has evolved from a policy pioneer into a global benchmark for sustainable urban transformation, offering the world a new model of inclusive, circular, and self-sustaining growth.

’How Blonde is rewriting rules of cocktail culture’

Johnnie Walker Blonde, the latest addition to the iconic whisky brand’s portfolio, made a standout appearance at the 2025 Lagos Cocktail Week, held at the Balmoral Convention Centre.

The seven-day event brought together mixologists, cocktail enthusiasts, and lifestyle influencers for a celebration of creativity and flavour.

Johnnie Walker Blonde, known for its smooth and light profile, featured prominently in highballs and long drinks that highlighted its playful and modern character.

According to Oyetola Akereledolu, Brand Manager for Johnnie Walker – South, West and Central Africa, the new expression represents a fresh approach to whisky culture.

‘Blonde is rewriting the rules of cocktail culture, and we at Diageo are here for that.

‘Johnnie Walker Blonde is all about reimagining whisky for a new generation, one that’s disruptive, curious, and knows how to have a good time, Akereledolu said.

Throughout the week, guests participated in live mixology sessions led by award-winning bartenders, interactive whisky tastings, and influencer-led engagements.

The activation highlighted Johnnie Walker’s effort to make whisky more approachable and relevant to younger, social audiences.

From the first pour to the final photo, Johnnie Walker Blonde’s presence captured the energy and vibrancy of Lagos, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to innovation and connection within contemporary drinking culture.