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How GITEX Lagos is championing Lagos as Africa’s technology hub

Lagos State strengthened its push to position itself as Africa’s leading innovation hub as the Lagos State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (MIST), led by Olatunbosun Alake, its commissioner, took a big role at GITEX Nigeria 2026, using the two-day technology gathering to showcase the state’s growing startup ecosystem, connect innovators with investors and deepen conversations around digital transformation across Nigeria.

Held at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, the Lagos leg of GITEX Nigeria brought together government officials, technology companies, startups, investors and international ecosystem players as the Tech Expo, Future Economy Conference and Startup Festival provided a broad platform for conversations around the continent’s digital future.

The programme followed a Welcome Dinner attended by representatives of several state governments, founders, investors and diplomatic guests.

Representing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the opening,

Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Deputy Governor, described Lagos as a ‘consequential city’, stressing that the decision to bring GITEX to the state reflected its growing importance within Africa’s technology landscape.

He reiterated the administration’s ambition to move Lagos beyond its traditional identity as Nigeria’s commercial capital towards becoming Africa’s innovation capital, pointing to the state’s nearly 1,000 active startups as evidence of the depth of its technology ecosystem.

More than two dozen startups and technology companies, spanning artificial intelligence, fintech, cybersecurity, edtech, agritech and logistics, were visible on the exhibition floor.

Among them were Sidebrief, DawnAI, RollaPay, Hyperspace Technologies, Sowota and Climatrix AI, which used the platform to engage investors, government representatives and potential international partners.

A major highlight of Lagos’ participation came on the second day with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) Pitch Programme, organised in partnership with TechQuest STEM Academy and MIST. The initiative provided selected founders with an opportunity to present their businesses, solutions and growth plans directly to investors and other ecosystem stakeholders.

Beyond serving as a conventional startup showcase, the pitch programme offered a direct link between Lagos’ innovation pipeline and the capital required to scale it, allowing founders to demonstrate the problems they are solving, their products and the markets they are targeting.

Ganiyu Oseni, MIST’s Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation, Technology and Broadband Development, who is also the Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC), also used the gathering to make a broader case for Lagos and Nigeria to move from being consumers of imported technologies to becoming producers of solutions capable of competing across Africa and the global market.

According to Oseni, connectivity, power, digital identity and talent remain critical foundations for a functioning digital economy, while infrastructure and policy must be developed together rather than treated as separate issues. He also challenged investors to look beyond Lagos as simply a large market, urging companies to establish operational presence in the state and build, operate and grow from within the ecosystem.

The conversations extended into financial technology through FDX Nigeria by GITEX, which examined digital payments, banking, financial inclusion, digital assets and cross-border finance. The launch of MINT Africa by GITEX, a platform focused on the future of finance on the continent, further aligned with Lagos’ interest in fintech, digital assets, tokenisation and cross-border financial innovation.

Beyond GITEX itself, MIST’s convening role was also evident in the Commissioners’ Roundtable on Digital Transformation and Innovation, which Lagos hosted for the second consecutive time. The closed-door meeting brought together commissioners, directors-general and technology chiefs from Katsina, Ogun, Jigawa, Ondo, Kwara, Delta and Borno states, alongside representatives of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and senior Lagos officials.

The Roundtable focused on the institutional, infrastructural, human-capital and policy conditions required to move digital government beyond isolated pilot projects towards sustainable, citizen-centred systems. Participants identified political will, digital literacy, standardised data, cybersecurity, strategic infrastructure, innovation-to-government pipelines, measurable digital-economy outcomes and stronger inter-state collaboration as key requirements.

For Lagos, Alake highlighted the state’s implementation policy framework, enterprise architecture and IT education, alongside efforts to standardise data, audit systems holding state information, operate an Oracle-based Applicant Resourcing Platform and maintain a fully digital payroll system.

Other states also presented their own digital initiatives and challenges, including Katsina’s Resident ID and iKatsina platform, Delta’s ICT youth training programme and digital agency, and technology delivery challenges in Kwara, while representatives from Jigawa, Ondo, Borno and Ogun outlined their respective infrastructure and digital-government gaps.

Sanwo-Olu: Hamzat Stepped Down for Me in 2018 without grudges

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has recounted how his deputy, Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, abandoned his governorship ambition in 2018 and agreed to run alongside him, describing the decision as a demonstration of loyalty and selflessness.

Sanwo-Olu said Hamzat, who had spent 13 years in public service under former governors Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola, had the experience, political backing and credentials to contest the governorship before party leaders asked him to step aside.

Speaking on Friday at the unveiling of Hamzat’s manifesto, titled The Lagos Promise, ahead of the 2027 governorship election, Sanwo-Olu said his deputy accepted the decision without bitterness and agreed to become his running mate five weeks later.

‘Most of you know this story, but none of you have heard it from me,’ the governor said, recalling the events of September 2018.

‘It takes a rare man to put down what he wants without nursing a grudge. Femi shook my hand and five weeks later, agreed to run beside me. I have never forgotten that.’

Sanwo-Olu said his seven years working closely with Hamzat had reinforced his confidence in the deputy governor’s character, commitment and capacity to lead Lagos.

He described their relationship as one built on trust, shared responsibility and a common vision, adding that there had never been a day he questioned Hamzat’s loyalty.

‘For 2,711 days, I have been in that room with him. In seven years, there has not been a single day I wondered whose side he was on. We have had one government, one direction, and one voice,’ he said.

The governor cited their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the development of the Lagos Blue and Red rail lines and the opening of the Lekki Deep Sea Port as examples of their partnership.

He said Hamzat’s engineering background and experience in government had made him an active participant in major infrastructure projects, even before their official commissioning.

Sanwo-Olu also highlighted Hamzat’s previous contributions to Lagos, including the construction of the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge under Fashola and the digitisation of government operations under Tinubu.

Describing Lagos governance as a relay race, the governor said successive administrations since 1999 had sustained development by building on the achievements of their predecessors.

‘Lagos runs on a relay system. The baton is never passed to a runner standing still. You run at full speed inside the exchange zone, together, before the pass,’ he said.

He argued that Hamzat’s emergence as the APC’s governorship candidate represented continuity in the state’s development trajectory rather than an experiment with an inexperienced leader.

‘Critics say Lagos keeps choosing from the same pool. I say Lagos trains its people,’ Sanwo-Olu said, adding that the state’s long-term master plan, which extends to 2052, required experienced leadership to sustain ongoing projects.

The governor, who said he had seven months left in office, urged Hamzat to preserve existing initiatives, address outstanding challenges and introduce new policies where necessary.

‘The greatest gift a governor can leave his people is to hand over to someone who will not break the house,’ he said.

Hamzat, who unveiled 100 campaign pledges, said 87 were firm commitments within the state government’s powers, while 13 were aspirations dependent on wider consultations, federal authorities and judicial processes.

He pledged to establish a public accountability framework within his first 100 days, including a service delivery office to publish baseline figures and track progress on campaign promises.

The manifesto also outlined priorities in child protection, nutrition, education, healthcare, public service reform and economic development.

Sanwo-Olu urged APC members to take the manifesto to residents across Lagos, expressing confidence that Hamzat would sustain the state’s development while building on the achievements of successive administrations.

A former Deputy Governor Sarah Sosan, speaking on behalf of the party’s Governance Advisory Council (GAC), described Hamzat as cerebral, hardworking and committed to the development of Lagos.

She maintained that the state’s progress was built on purposeful planning and sustained policies, arguing that continuity should not be mistaken for resistance to change but should involve learning from past experiences and improving on existing achievements.

The Lagos APC chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, said the party was confident in Hamzat’s capacity to lead the state, citing his experience in both the public and private sectors.

He said the party remained committed to inclusive governance, economic growth and consolidating the achievements of successive administrations, adding that Lagos could not afford to stagnate or reverse its development.

The ‘resurrection’ of ‘senior man’ Kelechi Iheanacho in Turkiye

Few expected the present outcome when the news broke in July 2026. Kelechi Iheanacho, a former FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball winner, a proven FA Cup winner with Leicester City, and a one time reliable English Premier League marksman, had packed his bags for north-western Turkiye. Even more surprising was the Super Eagles star’s destination: Bursaspor, an ambitious club fighting its way back from the doldrums in the TFF 1. Lig (the Turkish second division). Indeed, nobody saw this move coming.

Therefore, skeptics on social media were quick to write him off. At 29, many claimed ‘Senior Man’ was choosing an early retirement. His contract talks with Scottish giants Celtic had broken down after a domestic double, and a quiet move to Turkey’s second tier felt, to the outside world, like the fading twilight of a once-brilliant career.

They couldn’t have been more wrong because what followed wasn’t a quiet exit-it was a footballing resurrection, leading to the rebound that has seen him create records upon records in his new destination.

Iheanacho didn’t just adapt to Turkish football; he completely conquered it from his very first month. Playing in Bursaspor’s iconic green and white, the Nigerian forward ignited a scoring streak that shattered decades-old national records.

By late October 2026, Iheanacho achieved what no player in the entire history of Turkish football had ever done: he scored in 12 consecutive league matches. This is no mean feat even when one is playing in the lowest division of football.

His historic run eclipsed legendary milestones, including the long-standing streaks of Galatasaray icon Metin Oktay from 1963 and Kocaelispor’s Saffet Sancakli from 1995. Week after week, opponents like Istanbulspor, Manisa, and Fatih Karagmrk tried to stop him. Week after week, Iheanacho found the back of the net as he rolled back the years with Bursas.

The climax of this extraordinary run came at the Aktepe Stadium against Ankara Keçiörengc. With the match tied at a tense 2-2 just after halftime, Iheanacho stepped up in the 50th minute to slot home a crucial goal. Bursaspor went on to win 4-2, a victory that fired them straight to the top of the league table.

For Iheanacho, this career revival was entirely by design. ‘I heard about their project, that they wanted to climb up to the Sper Lig and also play in Europe,’ he revealed to Bursaspor TV. ‘I said this is a big project and it is very good for me to come and be involved and help the team. I asked my agent to make sure he does everything possible to make sure I come to Bursaspor.’

Interestingly, the gamble by both the club and player paid off handsomely. Bursa has embraced the Nigerian forward as a returning king, and his explosive form has caught the eye of the football world far beyond Turkiye. The resurgence is reminiscent of his early days when he scored goals for fun for the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria at the 2013 FIFA U-17 Championship in the United Arab Emirates.

Flying high with the Super Eagles again

The ultimate validation of Iheanacho’s Turkish resurrection came from the national team selectors. For over a year, ‘Senior Man’ had been cast into the international wilderness. He had been completely left out of the squad that claimed bronze at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, and his days in the iconic green and white of Nigeria looked numbered. His starting role in the team had been taken by younger players who showed the potential to fill the big shoes he once wore in the Super Eagles.

However, his historic, record-breaking scoring exploit at Bursaspor made it mathematically impossible for Super Eagles’ head coach Eric Chelle to look away. Faced with a mounting selection headache-compounded by a sidelined Victor Osimhen and a struggling Paul Onuachu-Chelle handed Iheanacho a dramatic lifeline with a recall for October’s high-profile international friendly against Russia.

‘Senior man grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Iheanacho didn’t just show up to make numbers; he dominated from the moment he stepped onto the grass in training. Reports filtering out of the Super Eagles camp in Moscow revealed that Chelle was instantly ‘stunned’ by the 29-year-old’s razor-sharp fitness, clinical shooting drills, and natural leadership in motivating the squad’s younger debutants.

That training sharpness translated into pure magic on matchday at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. Handed the starting role and the responsibility of leading an experimental, highly youthful Nigerian line alongside another senior player Moses Simon who captained the team, Iheanacho needed just ten minutes to make his statement. Collecting a crisp layoff from Abdullahi Bewene, Iheanacho unleashed an absolute rocket from 21 yards out, leaving the Russian goalkeeper completely stranded and opening the scoring in what would finish as a thrilling 3-3 draw.

By the time he was substituted at halftime to rotate the experimental squad, the point was proven. Iheanacho was back to where he had taken a recess. His vintage performance, combined with his unparalleled ability to drop deep as a second striker or pull strings as an attacking midfielder, has given Chelle an invaluable tactical weapon. Now officially shortlisted for November’s crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania, Iheanacho is no longer just fighting for a spot on the plane-he is once again positioned to be the heartbeat of the Super Eagles’ attack.

Thus, in the green of Nigeria and the green of Bursa, the narrative surrounding Iheanacho has completely transformed. He is no longer the player whose potential stalled in the UK or Spain. It will be recalled that he once struggled in the Spanish LaLiga when playing for Sevilla along with compatriots Chidera Ejuke and Akor Adams, who is now with Venezia FC in Italy’s Serie A. In the passionate football heartland of Turkiye, ‘Senior Man’ has risen again-more lethal, more historic, and more vital than ever before.

Managing chronic pain in cold weather

Every year as the amihan sets in and the cooler breeze rolls across the country, senior citizens complain of joints that ache more than they did a few weeks ago during the humid months.

In the West, every autumn, the same thing happens: elderly patients arrive in clinics describing joints that ache more than they did a month ago. Their hands are stiffer in the morning. Their knees complain on the stairs. They are not imagining it, and they are not being dramatic.

Dr. Christopher Murawski, an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at Duke University, said: ‘Warm weather, cold weather, changes in humidity, changes in pressure- they can all contribute to joint and muscle pain.’

Here’s a look at the mechanisms behind cold-weather flare-ups, the movement and warmth strategies that genuinely help, and the signals that mean it’s time to call a doctor.

Why stiffness climbs as the temperature falls

The best-supported explanation involves barometric pressure-the weight of the air pressing on the body, roughly 15 pounds per square inch. When cold wind approaches, that pressure falls, and the tissues around joints respond.

‘While the science isn’t perfect, physiologically it makes some sense,’ Murawski says. ‘Changes in pressure can cause muscles and ligaments to expand. Fluid shifts can happen. That can lead to swelling and pain.’ He adds that the reports line up with what patients describe, ‘even anecdotally.’

Dr. Andrew Bang, a chiropractor at Cleveland Clinic, puts the same idea in blunter terms. ‘If you have arthritis, the space in your joint is already reduced. Add in an expansion of tissues because of the pressure change and you can see why people might hurt more.’ A large UK study of 13,000 people with arthritis found aches rose on days with high humidity, low barometric pressure and strong wind-though other studies find only a mild link, which is why researchers still describe the relationship as real but incompletely explained.

Cold adds its own layer. Synovial fluid, the lubricant inside every joint, thickens. ‘When the weather gets cooler, the synovial fluid that acts like motor oil in our joints becomes more like sludge,’ says Dr. Mariko Ishimori, a rheumatologist at Cedars-Sinai. Muscles guard and tighten, restricting blood flow and shortening the tissues that cross the joint. Cartilage, which has no blood supply of its own, tolerates temperature swings poorly.

Then there’s behavior. Cold days mean fewer walks, longer sits, and a house that suddenly feels worth hibernating in. Joints that don’t move get stiffer, and the Arthritis Foundation notes that people may also fixate more on pain when outdoor distractions disappear.

Gentle stretching that earns its keep

Motion is the single most reliable antidote to stiffness, and it costs nothing. ‘Motion is lotion,’ Bang says. ‘If you keep moving, you’re less likely to get some of these aches.’

The rules are simple: warm the tissue first, move slowly, never bounce, and stop at the edge of discomfort rather than pushing through it. Ishimori recommends prioritizing stretching before exercise, when muscles are cold and most vulnerable.

Start in bed, before your feet hit the floor. The Arthritis Foundation’s ‘Good Morning Moves’ routine is a safe template: lie on your back and reach arms and legs wide (Morning Star), hug your knees to your chest, then perform a gentle supine spinal twist-each held for three to five slow breaths. If hip or back arthritis makes double knee hugs hard, do one leg at a time.

For a guided follow-along, Arthritis UK’s physiotherapist-led series is excellent and free. The morning routine, daytime routine and evening routine each run 20 minutes and are built specifically for people with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. Many movements can be done seated. The Arthritis Foundation also offers a short 16-move morning bed stretch video for days when 20 minutes is too much.

Aim for range of motion rather than a deep stretch: slow circles at the shoulders, wrist and ankle pumps, gentle knee extensions, seated torso rotations. Ten minutes daily beats an ambitious hour once a week.

Warmth, used deliberately

Heat raises blood flow and relaxes the guarding that makes joints feel locked. ‘If you can get heat to penetrate areas where you have pain, you increase blood flow and can loosen up tight ligaments, tendons and connective tissue,’ Bang says.

Practical version during the amihan season: layer up even when staying indoors, because a chilly, drafty room stiffens muscles just as effectively as the cool morning air outside. Keep a cozy blanket or kumot close by, or use a heating pad before getting out of bed so your joints are already loosened when you wake.

For targeted relief, use moist heat-a warm damp towel or a microwave-heated wet washcloth inside a sealed bag-for 15 to 20 minutes per session, with a cloth barrier between heat and skin. Don’t fall asleep on a pad, and check the skin periodically for excessive redness. If you have reduced sensation from diabetes or neuropathy, lower the setting.

Protect the extremities. Dr. Linda Russell, a rheumatologist at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery, recommends long underwear-particularly important because cold can trigger blood vessel spasms in the roughly 12 percent of the elderly with rheumatoid arthritis who also have Raynaud’s phenomenon. Warm water is also the friendliest environment for exercise: a heated pool lets you move through full range with almost no load on the joints.

Two supporting habits matter more than most people expect. Drink water-dehydration thickens everything, including joint fluid.

When to stop self-managing and call someone

Weather-related aches follow a pattern: worse in the cold, better with warmth and movement, and no worse than usual once you’re going. Pain that breaks the pattern deserves attention.

Mayo Clinic advises booking an appointment for joint pain accompanied by swelling, redness, tenderness and warmth around the joint, or fever. Get seen promptly if an injury leaves the joint misshapen, unusable, severely painful or suddenly swollen. Morning stiffness lasting longer than 30 to 60 minutes is a recognized flag for inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, as is pain that wakes you at night, pain in several joints at once, or unexplained weight loss and fatigue.

Ishimori’s advice: discuss symptoms with a physician, ‘especially if the symptoms are new or haven’t been evaluated.’ Cold weather aggravates existing disease; it doesn’t create it.

The season is not something you can negotiate with. But the stiffness is-partly. Warm the joint, move it gently, and keep moving it. And when the pattern changes, let someone with a stethoscope look at it.

Mouktar Mohammed congratulates Samson Adamu on confirmation as CAF General Secretary

The Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Football Association (FA), Alhaji Adam Mouktar Mohammed, has congratulated Mr. Samson Adamu on his confirmation as the substantive General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

According to available records, the confirmation makes Adamu, who joined the Cairo-based supreme football-governing body as Director of Competitions, the first-ever Nigerian to serve as the body’s Chief Operating Officer in its 70-year history.

After serving as CAF’s Director of Competitions, Samson-who is the son of Nigeria’s foremost football administrator, Dr. Amos Adamu-was appointed as CAF’s Director of Tournaments and Events.

On Sunday, March 29, 2026, he was named CAF’s Acting General Secretary following the resignation of Swiss-Congolese Veron Mosengo-Omba.

In his congratulatory message, the FCT FA Chairman described Adamu’s confirmation as a proud moment for Nigerian football. He maintained that the development is a testament to the capacity of Nigerians to provide visionary leadership at both the continental and global stages.

‘This is a proud and significant moment not only for Mr. Adamu personally, but for Nigeria and Nigerian football as a whole. His elevation to such an important position within African football reflects the quality, experience, and leadership capacity that Nigerians continue to demonstrate on the continental and global stage.

‘At a time when African football is experiencing tremendous growth and transformation, this appointment presents another opportunity for Nigeria to contribute meaningfully to the development, professionalism, and global competitiveness of the game across our continent,’ said Mohammed.

He also wished the CAF General Secretary a successful tenure and prayed for his reign to be distinguished by integrity, innovation, collaboration, and a lasting commitment to the advancement of African football.

‘Congratulations, Mr. Samson Adamu. Congratulations to Nigeria. This is indeed a proud moment for our football family and our nation,’ said Mohammed.

Nebbi evicts heavy trucks off streets over traffic hazards, infrastructure damage

Authorities in Nebbi Municipality have launched a joint enforcement operation with the police to clear heavy trucks and taxis parked along the Nebbi-Pakwach highway and major central business streets, citing severe traffic congestion, safety hazards, and infrastructure damage.

The operation, which commenced on Thursday and extended into Saturday morning, was led by the Nebbi Municipality Mayor, Ms Jackline Opar. The crackdown seeks to restore order in the urban center, where more than 30 heavy vehicles-including fuel tankers bound for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)-frequently park on both sides of the thoroughfare, restricting lanes meant for motorists and pedestrians.

Ms Opar explained on Saturday that while construction of the Shs 16.5 billion hybrid USMID Nebbi Taxi Park and Bus Terminal project is underway, municipal authorities established temporary parking facilities to ease street congestion and curb road accidents within the town center. She noted that law enforcement officers have already served roadside notices and distributed official circulars banning truck parking and loading along key commercial corridors.

The initiative follows a previously issued three-month ultimatum given to taxi operators and truck drivers to vacate public roads. That order had been temporarily suspended after the municipal council delayed in designating alternative parking grounds.

According to Nebbi Municipality Town Clerk Mr Samson Natsambwa, heavy vehicles-including Fuso trucks, Sino-trucks, and long-distance trailers-utilizing road shoulders and reserves must immediately relocate to the designated municipal parking space along Arua Road or to the private parking lot situated on Pakwach Road. He warned that enforcement teams working alongside police will impound any heavy vehicle found violating the directive.

The crackdown covers key transit arteries including Arua Road, Paidha Road, the Nebbi-Pakwach highway, and precincts around the central market, where upwards of 30 taxis and 50 heavy trucks park on road margins daily. Local councilors pushed for the eviction following mounting complaints from residents that heavy transit trucks were breaking newly installed drainage channels and causing severe road blockages, particularly at night.

Mr Alfred Okwairwoth, the councilor representing Nyarwodho Ward, noted that while the council currently collects local revenues from these vehicles, providing dedicated parking hubs remains essential to preventing accidents and managing traffic density.

However, the decision has drawn mixed reactions from affected stakeholders. Heavy truck drivers cautioned municipal leaders that pushing transit operators out of commercial zones could jeopardize local council collections. Mr Allan Mugenyi, a Fuso driver who transports produce from Mbale through Nebbi to Paidha and Arua City, argued that drivers pay a fee of Shs 10,000 per parking session, warning that a strict ban without adequate roadside facilities could force drivers to bypass the town entirely.

Similarly, local traders expressed concern over potential financial fallout. Ms Gloria Alifua, a representative from the Association of Food Handlers, remarked that while members support general urban planning efforts, moving the trucks away from main thoroughfares will significantly drop sales for roadside food vendors who rely directly on long-distance drivers for their daily livelihood.

Despite these concerns, municipal officials maintain that roadside parking will no longer be tolerated, urging all freight handlers and long-distance operators to utilize the newly gazetted temporary lorry parks as permanent infrastructure development continues.

2027: Plot to stop Uzodimma could weaken Tinubu’s chances in South East

The Renewed Hope Foot Soldiers for Tinubu has expressed concern that the Federal High Court’s ruling recognising Rochas Okorocha as the duly elected APC candidate for Imo West could deepen political tensions in the Southeast and complicate efforts to sustain unity within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Group said Governor Hope Uzodinma, an experienced politician who served in the Senate before becoming governor, should be allowed to pursue his political ambitions in accordance with the rules.

In a statement by Hon. Gbenga Owojori, National President, Renewed Hope Foot Soldiers for Tinubu (RHFST), the group said Uzodimma’s supporters regard him as a credible contender for the Senate presidency, adding that his potential candidacy has received support from political leaders across party lines.

‘The dispute over the Imo West ticket has consequences beyond the constituency. It has altered the political calculations surrounding the Senate presidency and raised concern that a leading Southeast contender could be shut out of the contest before the next Senate is constituted,’ the group said.

The group noted allegations by critics that Senate President Godswill Akpabio has an interest in preventing Uzodinma from emerging as a potential rival, and that former Rivers State Governor and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, was involved in efforts to pursue a legal challenge against him.

Critics have linked those claims to Akpabio’s past support for Wike during his dispute with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

‘These are serious claims and should not be treated as established facts. The judgment must be assessed on its legal merits, and the statements attributed to Wike require clarification. Given the political consequences of the ruling, the public deserves confidence that no political pressure has influenced the judicial process,’ the Group said.

The Group added that Uzodimma should be judged on his record, experience and support, and should not be denied a fair opportunity to compete.

The Group warned that the dispute could affect President Tinubu’s political fortunes if Southeast leaders conclude that their support for the administration is not matched by fair representation.

It said dissatisfaction in the region could weaken party unity, reduce grassroots mobilisation and make it harder for the President to broaden support for his second-term bid.

‘The President needs a united party and the confidence of political allies across the country. If the Southeast believes its support is welcome only when votes are needed, but its candidates are obstructed when power is being shared, the consequences could extend well beyond Imo State,’ the Group said.

The Group further noted claims that political actors had boasted of installing Ifeanyi Ararume as governor, as well as allegations involving Ade Tinubu, described as the President’s daughter’s fiancé and personal physician to the President. It said those claims require substantiation and a response from the individuals named.

The Renewed Hope Foot Soldiers for Tinubu urged the APC leadership to address the concerns through transparent processes and inclusive dialogue.

‘President Tinubu’s second-term prospects will depend in part on the unity of the party and the trust of its regional partners. A fair opportunity for Governor Uzodinma would help preserve confidence in the APC. Further marginalisation of the Southeast could deepen regional disaffection and weaken the coalition the President will need in 2027.’

Tinubu hails NBET chief over ?728.979bn power sector bond debt settlements

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Managing Director of Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) Akin Odeyemi for his role in resolving longstanding financial obligations in Nigeria’s electricity industry particularly the successful issuance of ?728.979 billion in bonds to settle debts owed to participating power generation and gas companies.

The President said the intervention undertaken under the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme was helping to restore investor confidence strengthen stakeholder relationships and lay the foundation for a more stable and sustainable electricity market.

Tinubu gave the commendation in a goodwill message to Odeyemi on his birthday contained in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga.

He specifically applauded the NBET chief’s commitment to implementing the debt reduction initiative which recorded a major milestone with the issuance and signing of the ?728.979 billion Series 2 Bonds under the Federal Government’s ?4 trillion Power Sector Multi-Instrument Issuance Programme.

According to the President the intervention has helped settle participating Generation Companies (GenCos) and their associated gas companies addressing longstanding financial disputes that have undermined confidence among critical operators in the electricity value chain.

‘I commend your commitment to the meticulous implementation of the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme following the successful issuance and signing of the N728.979 billion Series 2 Bonds under the ?4 trillion Power Sector Multi-Instrument Issuance Programme.

‘This has resulted in the settlement of participating Generation Companies and their associated Gas Companies’ Tinubu stated.

The President noted that Odeyemi’s leadership had helped address one of the electricity industry’s most persistent challenges particularly the accumulation of disputed financial obligations that had strained relationships among operators and weakened confidence in the sector.

He attributed the progress to constructive engagement financial discipline and effective collaboration among stakeholders.

‘Within a short time and through constructive engagement financial discipline and purposeful stakeholder collaboration you have helped restore confidence and strengthened the basis for a more stable and sustainable power sector’ the President said.

Tinubu described Odeyemi as an accomplished technocrat whose extensive experience in energy infrastructure development and financial services had contributed to his proactive and purposeful leadership at NBET.

He praised the NBET chief’s dedication to strengthening the financial foundations of Nigeria’s power industry and advancing efforts to address challenges affecting the sector’s sustainability.

The President wished Odeyemi continued good health wisdom and greater accomplishments in his service to the country.

‘As you celebrate today may the years ahead bring good health wisdom and greater accomplishments in service to Nigeria and humanity’ Tinubu added.

Shs3.8b AI X-ray project set to drive TB diagnosis in private health facilities

The Ministry of Health has launched 10 portable, artificial intelligence-powered digital X-ray machines to strengthen tuberculosis (TB) screening and diagnosis across private health facilities, a move aimed at expanding access to early diagnostic services nationwide.

The US$1 million (about Shs3.8 billion) initiative, supported by the United States Department of State, targets private not-for-profit and private-for-profit health centers. Tuberculosis remains a significant public health challenge in Uganda, where thousands of cases go undetected annually due to limited diagnostic equipment in community and lower-level healthcare settings.

Unveiled at the Joint Medical Store (JMS) headquarters in Nsambya, Kampala, the solar-powered equipment was manufactured by US-based MinXray Inc., with artificial intelligence software provided by Qure.ai. Speaking at the launch, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine noted that the machines would ease the workload of health workers and improve access to screening in facilities with constrained diagnostic capacity. Dr. Atwine explained that the technology accelerates screening significantly, taking about three minutes per scan to generate diagnostic results, which allows health workers to identify suspected cases and initiate treatment promptly.

JMS Executive Director Dr. Bildard Baguma highlighted that high acquisition, maintenance, and servicing costs have long prevented many health facilities from acquiring modern diagnostic equipment. He emphasized that timely and accurate diagnosis relies heavily on having proper equipment operated by qualified personnel, adding that the new program will also build local technical capacity to maintain the infrastructure.

To ensure long-term sustainability, the program introduces a revolving fund structure. Acting US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Jessica Healey explained that modest fees charged for screening services will be recycled to finance the procurement of additional X-ray machines. She described the arrangement as trade over aid in practice, intended to expand diagnostic reach while reducing reliance on continuous US foreign assistance.

Ms. Healey revealed that 14 similar machines have already been deployed in Uganda’s public health sector, screening roughly 14,000 people and leading to an 83 per cent treatment initiation rate among identified TB patients. She added that the US has committed to procuring an additional 110 mobile X-ray units, which will be deployed under Ministry of Health guidance to target high-priority areas across the country.

Chelsea deepen Manchester United crisis with 2-0 win

Chelsea scored two second half goals to claim a 2-0 win over ten-man Manchester United in the English Premier League.

Goals from Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer sent Man United back empty handed in a match that swung in the hosts favour after the break.

The Blues came into the encounter on the back of defeats in their last two matches, with Man United in worse shape. The Red Devils are winless in seven matches and came here in crisis mode that was exacerbated at the Bridge.

Man United had the better chances in the first half but goalkeeper Mike Penders denied Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo. Re-instated captain Bruno Fernandes fluffed his lines when well-placed, while Matheus Cunha’s goal was ruled out by VAR for offside.

The momentum of the troubled visitors changed in the second half as Chelsea took over proceeding, and netted the first goal five minutes after the restart.

Rogers collected a pass after Chelsea won possessions, and the attacker surged forward unchallenged into the penalty area and produced a chipped finish.

The second came from a penalty kick awarded for dangerous foul by Lisandro Martinez. The Argentine defender was sent off for a second yellow card, and Palmer squeezed home his kick for 2-0.

Estevao’s third strike was cancelled by VAR, but Chelsea returned to winning ways and fourth place on the log.

Man United are winless in last seven EPL matches, the club’s worst run since 1991. They are also winless in nine matches in all competition to equal the club’s worst run in the post-Alex Ferguson era.

The Old Trafford side are in 16th place with seven points, and could the day in relegation places.