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Otu mourns as Cross River commissioner dies in Abuja

Gov. Bassey Otu said the death of the Cross River Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, Mr Eka Williams has cast ‘a dark shadow of grief’ over the state.

Williams reportedly died on Saturday, Sept. 12, at a hospital in Abuja, throwing the state’s political and administrative circles into mourning.

In reaction, Otu ???????? in a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Linus Obogo, on Sunday in Calabar described his passing as an ‘irreparable loss’ to the government and people of the state.

The governor said the suddenness of his death made the loss particularly painful.

‘His passing, so sudden and poignant, is a painful reminder of the fragility of life and the solemnity of public service,’ Otu said.

He noted that William’s death was particularly devastating because he had participated in the Ikom New Yam Festival barely a week earlier, when he (governor) visited his country home in Ikom to celebrate the cultural festival.

Otu said Williams’ final public engagement in an atmosphere of cultural fellowship made his sudden departure ‘particularly depressing and heartbreaking.’

He said he brought ‘uncommon loyalty, courage and fidelity’ to every assignment entrusted to him.

He described Williams as a patriot whose memory would remain indelibly etched in the history of Cross River’s public service.

‘Williams demonstrated dedication and forthrightness both as a political leader and as a member of the State Executive Council,’ he said.

He recalled his leadership role in the Forum of Commissioners for Power and Energy in Nigeria, saying his contributions to the power sector extended beyond Cross River.

‘Williams is a purposeful public servant whose stewardship of the power and renewable energy portfolio reflected his determination to contribute to the development of the state and the country.

‘He will be remembered for his dedication, forthrightness, and abiding commitment to Cross River.

‘As a valued member of my administration and a brother in service, his footprints in governance, politics, and public service will endure,’ he said.

Otu extended his condolences to Williams’ family, the Akparabong community, the people of Ikom, his political associates, and professional colleagues.

He prayed that God would grant the family and all those mourning the fortitude to bear the loss and receive the soul of the deceased in eternal peace.

‘May Almighty God grant us fortitude, receive his soul in eternal peace, and comfort all who mourn this irreparable loss,’ Otu said.

Until his appointment as commissioner, Williams served as Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River and was regarded as a committed political associate and public servant.

Lagos Commissioner, others, monitor school resumption, checks teachers’ attendance

The Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, and the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, have led monitoring visits to schools across the state to assess compliance and readiness for the 2026/2027 academic session.

The exercise was aimed at ensuring a smooth start to academic activities, while assessing staff and students’ attendance, school preparedness and compliance with the state government’s resumption directives.

Alli-Balogun visited Keke Senior High School, Agege, where he inspected the school environment and engaged school administrators and teachers on the commencement of the new term.

The commissioner stressed the need for punctuality, discipline and effective teaching and learning, while urging students to remain focused on their studies and take advantage of the opportunities provided by education.

‘It is very important for you to be focused, read ahead of the class, engage your teachers by asking questions and participating in all positive things that happen in school. Learn to build a good foundation and better future for yourselves,’ he told the students.

He also urged teachers and other school personnel to remain committed to their responsibilities and ensure that learners receive the attention and support needed to excel.

A major part of the visit was a roll call of teachers at Keke Senior High School conducted by the commissioner to assess staff attendance and compliance with expected standards of discipline.

Meanwhile, Dokunmu-Adegbite, accompanied by the Senior Special Assistant on Basic and Secondary Education, Eniola Opeyemi, monitored activities at Technical and Vocational School, Agidingbi, and Babs Fafunwa Grammar School, Ojodu.

At the schools, the permanent secretary reviewed the preparedness of the institutions, checked staff and student attendance and interacted with school management and parents on the commencement of academic activities.

She commended teachers and school administrators for their commitment and urged them to maintain professionalism and remain focused on their responsibilities.

Dokunmu-Adegbite also advised students to avoid negative peer influences, make good use of their time and pursue skills and areas of interest with commitment.

‘Don’t join any bad group, learn from your mates that know better than you. Never stop learning, any skill you like to acquire, give it your best. I wish you the best and want the best for you,’ she said.

The permanent secretary further urged parents to take greater responsibility for their children’s upbringing and remain actively involved in their lives and education.

Beyond the visits by the commissioner and permanent secretary, directors from Grade Level 15 and above in the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education were deployed to schools across Lagos to monitor the resumption exercise.

According to the ministry, the deployment was intended to provide wider coverage and enable officials to assess school readiness, staff and student attendance and the commencement of teaching and learning across the state.

The monitoring exercise forms part of the Lagos State Government’s efforts to ensure that public schools operate effectively and that academic activities begin smoothly at the start of each term.

The ministry said it would continue to strengthen standards, support teachers and school administrators and promote a conducive environment for quality teaching and learning across the state.

Build institutions that outlive your tenure, Shettima urges Nigerian leaders

Shettima made the call on Monday at the presentation of a book on the life and legacy of Brigadier Musa Usman, pioneer military governor of the former North-Eastern state.

He was represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Aliyu Modibbo.

‘We must build beyond the next elections and think beyond political boundaries. Leadership is measured by what continues to serve the people after the leader has left office,’ Shettima said.

He described the book presentation as an opportunity to remember a generation of public servants who saw public office as an honourable duty and a chance to build institutions.

The Vice President commended the authors, Mallam Mahmud Jega and Dr. Theophilus Aba, for documenting the story of Musa Usman, whose contributions he said remain visible across the North-East.

He noted that the former North-Eastern State, created in 1967, covered a vast and diverse territory that now comprises six states – Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe.

Shettima said the region’s diversity in ethnicity, faith, ecology and traditions required fair and credible institutions that give all communities a sense of belonging.

He said Musa Usman’s legacy is particularly visible in Maiduguri, where the Musa Usman Secretariat remains an enduring monument to his administration.

Shettima said successive administrations built on the foundations laid by predecessors and urged that development in the North-East must continue despite current challenges.

He called on leaders to recover the spirit of purposeful public service and apply it to contemporary issues including reconstruction, agriculture, education, transportation, energy, industrialisation, employment, environmental restoration, peace and security.

Former National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), said Musa Usman’s contributions remain relevant more than five decades after his tenure.

Monguno said the territory administered by Musa Usman covered about 289,421 square kilometres and shared international boundaries with Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

He said Musa Usman assumed office at 27 and inherited a region with limited infrastructure, but devoted eight years to transforming it into a centre of national development.

‘The eight years he served as military governor were exemplified by a commitment to duty, a sense of purpose, and a relentlessness, fired by a desire to transform the North-East into one of the nerve centres for national development,’ Monguno said.

He listed projects associated with the administration to include the Ashaka Cement Company, Savannah Sugar Factory, North-East College of Arts and Science, Maiduguri Specialist Hospital and the National Kidney Centre.

He described the establishment of the Chad Basin Development Authority as one of Musa Usman’s most significant contributions, noting that it demonstrated foresight on irrigation, agriculture, economic development and the future of the Lake Chad Basin.

According to Monguno, Musa Usman recognised the threat to the Lake Chad Basin and warned of the consequences of failing to sustain development initiatives.

He said subsequent administrations failed to sustain the initiative, creating a vacuum that contributed to ungoverned spaces and vulnerability to criminal groups and violent conflict.

Kingibe praises collegiate leadership

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babagana Kingibe, who presented the book, described Musa Usman’s style as collegiate.

‘He had humility to know that he didn’t know everything. He had humility to run a collegiate administration, to debate, to relate to everyone in the government as a colleague, as a friend, and not as some kind of a military czar,’ Kingibe said.

He said Musa Usman achieved significant development because he listened to colleagues and valued contributions from experienced civil servants and commissioners.

Kingibe also highlighted the role of Musa Usman’s wife, Hajiya Jummai Usman, describing her as a model of humility and integrity who continued working as a civil servant while her husband was governor.

He said the book offers Nigerians an opportunity to reflect on the country’s development trajectory and draw lessons from Musa Usman’s leadership.

ADC Leadership Crisis: Court adjourns suit against Mark, Aregbesola

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned a suit seeking to stop former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola from acting as leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) until September 28.

The case, filed by an aggrieved ADC member, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, could not proceed on Monday as scheduled because the presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, did not sit.

The matter, which was fixed for the hearing of pending applications, was consequently adjourned to September 28.

Gombe is asking the court to restrain Mark, Aregbesola and members of the party’s interim National Working Committee (NWC) from presenting themselves as leaders of the ADC, arguing that their emergence violated provisions of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Ralph Nwosu as the first to fifth defendants respectively.

Justice Lifu had earlier fixed the matter for hearing after dismissing an application by the ADC and Aregbesola seeking his withdrawal from the case over allegations of bias.

The judge ruled that the motions lacked merit and ordered ADC and Aregbesola to pay N1 million each to Gombe.

The dispute followed the emergence of Mark as the leader of the ADC’s interim leadership structure after Nwosu stepped aside as the party’s National Chairman.

While the new leadership has positioned itself as part of efforts to reposition the party ahead of future political contests, Gombe has challenged the process, insisting it breached existing legal and constitutional provisions.

NSCDC arrests 13 suspects for human trafficking, vandalism

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.

Ogun Exco okays new roads, hospitals, power investment, MSME Agency

Ogun State Executive Council has approved a fresh package of infrastructure and economic development projects, including new road constructions, two general hospitals, a power-generation investment and establishment of an agency to drive the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

The decisions, approved at the weekend, further reinforce the administration’s drive to expand infrastructure, strengthen health care delivery, support businesses and provide the energy required to sustain Ogun’s rapidly growing industrial economy.

Briefing reporters on the outcome of the Exco meeting yesterday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, said the Council approved the reconstruction of the 4.87-kilometre Siun Junction-Iperu Junction Road, linking Obafemi Owode and Ikenne local government areas.

It also approved the reconstruction of the 4.87-kilometre Simawa-Lukosi/Ogijo Road in Sagamu Local Government.

Akinmade said the Council further approved variations for the reconstruction of the Sango-Ota-Ijoko-Agbado-Oke-Aro-Akute Road (Phase I) in Ifo Local Government Area and the 69.2-kilometre Abeokuta-Abule Egba Road.

He said the projects would improve connectivity, ease the movement of people and goods and open up more opportunities for economic activities across the state.

In the health sector, the Council approved the building of new General Hospitals at Itori in Ewekoro Local Government and Aiyepe in Odogbolu Local Government.

According to Akinmade, the projects would expand the state’s health care infrastructure and bring medical services closer to residents, particularly in communities where demand for health care services continues to increase.

In a major boost to enterprise development, the Exco also approved the establishment of Ogun State Enterprise Development Agency, with a mandate to coordinate and strengthen support for MSMEs across the state.

The agency is expected to promote entrepreneurship, facilitate access to business opportunities and strengthen the capacity of small and medium-sized businesses to expand, create jobs and contribute more to the state’s economy.

The Council also approved Ogun State’s participation in power generation through the adoption of Gateway Power Limited, in furtherance of the administration’s plan to provide more reliable electricity for the state’s expanding industrial and commercial base.

Akinmade said the power initiative was particularly important to Ogun’s economic development, given the state’s growing concentration of industries and businesses, adding that a more dependable electricity supply would enhance productivity and strengthen the environment for investment.

The Council approved the appointment of Otunba Osunsina Olumide John as the new Olu of Ifo in Ifo Local Government.

The latest approvals cut across critical areas of Ogun’s development agenda-transport infrastructure, health care, enterprise development and energy-reflecting the administration’s strategy of building the infrastructure and economic ecosystem required to support sustained growth across the state.

2027: Tinubu deserves second term in interest of fairness – Gov Buni

Yobe Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has called for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, saying allowing him to serve a second term would uphold justice and fairness in the country’s rotational presidency arrangement.

Buni said this on Sunday in Kaduna at the Muslim Intellectual Stakeholders Forum organised by Islamic Women Intellectuals in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Kabiru Masari.

He argued that the North had enjoyed eight years under a two-term presidency and that it was therefore fair to allow Tinubu, who is from the South, to complete two terms.

‘If the North enjoyed eight years of two-term tenure, it is only fair and just to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a second term of office,’ Buni said.

He urged the stakeholders to stand for justice and fairness and support Tinubu to consolidate the policies, programmes and projects of his administration.

‘The law of justice and fairness should be applicable in all ramifications, and I am glad with the involvement of the Islamic intellectuals into the political programmes to stand on the path of justice and to enrich Nigeria’s politics,’ he said.

Buni urged the Islamic scholars to take the message to their respective states, saying their knowledge and influence could help promote fairness and peaceful coexistence.

‘We need to benefit from your knowledge. And as Islamic scholars, you have great roles to play to promote fairness and peaceful coexistence at the family, community, local, state and federal levels to give Nigeria the desired peaceful atmosphere to grow and develop,’ he said.

The Special Adviser to the President on Political and Other Matters and co-convener of the forum, Kabiru Masari, commended the Islamic intellectuals for their interest in the country’s political development.

Masari urged them to use their knowledge to support the administration’s development efforts and called on them to back Tinubu for a second term.

‘You should support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consolidate the policies and programmes of his administration by voting him for a second term of office,’ he said.

Also speaking, Gombe State Governor and Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Inuwa Yahaya, described the participation of Islamic women scholars in politics as a welcome development.

Yahaya said their roles in family upbringing, institutionalisation of social and moral values and promotion of peaceful coexistence made their involvement in political affairs important.

Stakeholders warn of imminent election crisis in NBBF

Fresh concerns have emerged over whether the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) can conduct its elective congress as scheduled, with the October 16 deadline fast approaching for a new board to assume control of Nigerian basketball administration.

Stakeholders say the electoral timeline is under severe pressure, pointing out that several constitutionally mandated pre-election steps remain unfulfilled with barely a month left.

Under the NBBF constitution, the transition process requires the current board to first convene an official meeting to determine the date and venue for an Extraordinary Congress, review audited financial statements, and propose members for the Electoral and Appeals Committees.

Following that meeting, administrative instructions and formal notice of the Extraordinary Congress must be circulated to state associations and key stakeholders at least 21 days in advance.

The Extraordinary Congress-attended by delegates as well as observers from the National Sports Commission (NSC), Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), and international governing body FIBA-must then formally approve the election date, venue, and electoral committees. Only after this step can the Electoral Committee issue guidelines, open nominations, screen candidates, and publish delegate lists.

The elective congress itself is scheduled to conclude with zonal elections, followed by polls for the vice presidency and presidency, before the newly elected board is sworn in to deliver its inaugural address.

However, basketball observers and administrative stakeholders question whether these procedural steps can be compressed into the remaining timeframe before the October 16 handover.

The delay has drawn criticism toward the National Sports Commission, with critics pointing to a lack of decisive coordination in expediting the process.

Following years of governance disputes, FIBA mandated in March that elections must take place between the end of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup and October 15, with the new board taking over on October 16. Stakeholders warn that missing this deadline risks plunging Nigerian basketball back into administrative uncertainty and potential international sanctions.

Stakeholders are now calling on the NBBF board and sports authorities to immediately issue a clear electoral timetable that complies with the federation’s statutory requirements.

Emir Ajagungbade: Police deepen probe as another corpse recovered at Ile-Ife park

The police investigation into the violence at Mayfair Motor Park, Ile-Ife, Osun State, took a fresh turn on Monday with the recovery of another corpse from the troubled transport facility.

The discovery came barely a day after the shooting of an Accord Party member and transport stakeholder, Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Ajagungbade Emir, at the park.

The latest corpse, whose identity has not been made public, was recovered by policemen who visited the park to enforce the state government’s directive suspending activities at the facility.

The Osun State Police Command said the body had been deposited at a morgue, while the circumstances surrounding the death were being investigated.

The command also disclosed that the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for detailed investigation.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, who confirmed the recovery, said the motor park remained closed in line with the state government’s directive following the violence that erupted there.

He said the police were determined to establish what happened at the park and bring anyone found culpable to justice.

Ojelabi urged individuals whose names had been mentioned in connection with the violence to report to the police rather than attempting to defend themselves through social media.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police had directed that all those found to have participated in the violence should be apprehended and prosecuted, regardless of their status or political affiliation.

The development has added a new dimension to the police investigation into the crisis at the motor park, which had reportedly been linked to a dispute over the leadership and control of transport operations in Ile-Ife.

Oyeyemi, who was regarded as a prominent figure in the Accord Party, was also active in the transport sector and had reportedly been involved in efforts to resolve the lingering leadership crisis within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state.

Following the incident, tension spread to parts of Osun, including the state capital, Osogbo, where sporadic shootings were reported in the aftermath of the killing.

The state government subsequently directed that activities at the affected motor park be suspended, while security agencies moved to restore order and investigate the circumstances surrounding the violence.

Fed Govt expands poverty reduction programme to Oyo, Enugu, Kebbi

The Federal Government has expanded its National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) to Oyo, Enugu and Kebbi states, targeting 1,200 young Nigerians in the initial nationwide phase of its skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programme.

The initiative, a flagship Federal Government intervention aimed at lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within 10 years through economic growth and targeted social protection, is being implemented by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE).

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Dr Abiola Arogundade, who announced the expansion in a statement on Monday, said the programme was being extended across the country’s geopolitical zones following the success of its pilot phase in Abuja.

Arogundade described the NPRGS as a central pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, anchored on the administration’s belief that Nigerian youths are ‘not the problem facing the country but the solution to its challenges’.

According to her, the programme is designed to equip young Nigerians with practical and marketable skills, reduce unemployment and underemployment, encourage entrepreneurship and self-reliance, and advance the government’s target of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within a decade.

The NPRGS commenced with its pioneer cohort in Abuja on June 30, 2025, where beneficiaries underwent an intensive 10-day training programme in cybersecurity and web development alongside a solar energy installation upscaling track.

Arogundade described the Abuja phase as a ‘resounding success’, saying participants who initially arrived sceptical completed the programme with practical and marketable skills.

Participants in the digital training built their first websites and acquired knowledge of digital security fundamentals, while graduates received laptops and certificates of completion.

The Presidency said the Abuja pilot attracted more than 7,000 applications, which it described as an indication of the strong public demand for the intervention.

Building on the Abuja experience, the programme is now being expanded across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, with each zone expected to host 200 trainees for intensive training sessions lasting between 10 days and two weeks.

A total of 1,200 Nigerian youths are expected to benefit from the initial nationwide phase, while the particular skills offered in each participating state are being selected on the basis of local market demand, relevance and the preferences of trainees.

In Oyo State, representing the South-West zone, training is scheduled to commence on September 28, 2026, and run daily from 9am to 5pm for two weeks.

Beneficiaries in the state will be trained in graphics and Artificial Intelligence design, makeup and fashion designing.

Enugu State, representing the South-East and serving as one of the six designated training hubs, will offer training in makeup, solar energy installation and fashion designing.

The solar energy component will expose participants to panel installation and maintenance as well as the development of off-grid energy solutions.

In Kebbi State, representing the North-West, beneficiaries will undergo training in graphics and Artificial Intelligence design, fashion design and agriculture, with the agricultural component focusing on yoghurt making.

Participants in the yoghurt production programme will be trained in dairy processing, packaging and small-scale agribusiness as part of efforts to enable beneficiaries turn acquired skills into viable economic ventures.

Beyond the training, the Federal Government said every participant would receive a complete training kit during the programme and would be allowed to take the equipment home upon completion.

Graphics and AI design trainees will receive laptops, while those trained in makeup will get fully equipped makeup kits.

Fashion design trainees will receive sewing machines and starter kits, while beneficiaries of the agriculture and yoghurt-making programme will be provided with fermentation kits.

Arogundade said the intervention was structured not merely to provide training but to give beneficiaries the tools required to immediately put their newly acquired skills to productive use.

She said the programme’s objectives include efforts to ‘equip Nigerian youths with practical, marketable skills’, ‘reduce unemployment and underemployment’ and ‘promote entrepreneurship and self-reliance’.

According to her, these objectives are ultimately tied to the broader national ambition to ‘lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within 10 years’.

OSSAP-TVEE said the expansion to the three states was part of a broader national rollout and appealed to state governments and other stakeholders to support the programme as it moves into additional states.

The office specifically called on state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders and the private sector to partner with the Federal Government in expanding the reach and impact of the initiative.

It said such collaboration would be important in ensuring that more young Nigerians acquire practical skills that respond to local economic needs and provide pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.