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Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has promised to storm the streets and campaign for Dr Moses Paul, African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the coming council election.

Obi spoke at the Merit House, Abuja, during a special Independent program organised by Dr Moses Paul and his councillorship candidates to sensitise AMAC residents ahead of the official flag off of their campaign.

The former Anambra State Governor said he supports Paul ‘s candidacy because he knows he would not disappoint the people, if elected to lead AMAC.

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The Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT is scheduled for February 2026.

In his remarks at the occasion, Dr Moses Paul declared that AMAC has failed the people and outlined a bold vision to restore dignity, prosperity, and service to the people of the area.

Speaking under the banner of ‘We Don’t Tire!’, Paul said Nigerians were weary of unfulfilled promises, neglect, and leaders who abandon the people once in power.

‘The bitter truth must be told: AMAC has failed,’ Paul stated. ‘Our markets are trapped in endless litigations, waste management has collapsed, schools were abandoned for months, our health centres are dead, insecurity is everywhere, businesses are strangled by multiple taxation, and infrastructure is practically non-existent. This is not governance. This is abandonment.’

Paul, however, emphasised that his campaign is not about lamentation but about building a new AMAC and pledged to restore dignity, prosperity, and service to governance in the Area Council.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after his diplomatic mission representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and some ‘strategic engagements’ in Germany.

On arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport, Abuja the Vice President was received by top government officials and some of his aides.

During the week-long international engagement, the Vice President delivered President Tinubu’s national statement at the United Nations calling for comprehensive UN reforms, championed Africa’s sovereignty over its $700 billion mineral resources, and strengthened strategic partnerships with the United Kingdom, Gates Foundation, and other international stakeholders. Later, Shettima met with the UN Secretary-General António Guterres and secured his commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent Security Council seat.

In another engagement, he showcased the country’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors.

The Vice President also assured the Nigerian diaspora community of robust engagement in the President Tinubu administration’s policies and programmes before his engagements in Germany.

Ima Niboro, former presidential spokesman, has responded to comments made by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, about ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Responding to Onanuga’s claim of Jonathan’s ‘dismal’ record in office, the former aide said while he respects Onanuga as a senior colleague, he disagrees with the assessment of Jonathan’s tenure.

‘Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s presidency was not perfect. No presidency is. None will ever be. But Jonathan’s was far from the caricature of ‘ruin’ and ‘cluelessness’ that Onanuga now paints,’ he said in a piece.

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He highlighted several achievements of the Jonathan administration, including the growth of Nigeria’s foreign reserves to $42 billion in 2015, the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund, the rebasing of Nigeria’s economy which made it Africa’s largest, reforms in agriculture, and the creation of new universities.

He also pointed to infrastructure projects such as the Abuja-Kaduna railway, the commencement of the Second Niger Bridge, and the modernisation of airports.

‘Whether Jonathan runs in 2027 or not, his record remains what it is: the economy’s expansion, agricultural reform, revived rail, modernized airports, new universities, governance innovation, health gains, and deepened democracy. These cannot be erased by the flourish of anyone’s pen. Nigerians lived them. Nigerians remember,’ the former spokesman said.

He added that Jonathan’s peaceful concession in 2015 strengthened Nigeria’s democracy and should not be overlooked.

‘I respect Bayo Onanuga as a senior colleague and compatriot. But to this statement of his. this premature assault on a man who has not declared for 2027. I respond firmly, respectfully, and unequivocally: No, Sir,’ he stated.

The once active Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State, has become a shadow of itself.

The school that has raised numerous champions came under spotlight following a Boko Haram attack in 2021.

At least 27 students and staff were abducted in the 2021 attack.

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Subsequently, the town recorded more attacks, which discouraged students from returning to school.

Presently, it has been converted to a military camp. Daily Trust’s Abubakar Akote recently visited the school and took the pictures below:

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has flagged off the Kaduna State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (KADSEMSAS), describing it as a landmark in his administration’s commitment to saving lives and ensuring no citizen is denied access to emergency healthcare.

Speaking at the official launch on Thursday, the governor said the initiative was not just about unveiling ambulances, but about guaranteeing the right to timely medical intervention for every resident of the state.

‘Today marks a transformative moment in the history of Kaduna State,’ Sani declared. ‘Our vision is simple but profound: no citizen of Kaduna State should be denied timely medical intervention because of distance, delay, or lack of access.’

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The new system features a fleet of ambulances fitted with life-saving equipment, a central dispatch center staffed with trained personnel, and emergency medical technicians and paramedics who will stabilize patients en route to hospitals. It will function across all 23 Local Government Areas, covering both urban centers and rural villages.

‘In times of crisis-whether a maternal complication, a road traffic accident, or a cardiac emergency-minutes can mean the difference between life and death,’ the governor explained. ‘This deliberate step underscores our resolve to leave no one behind-urban or rural, rich or poor-in our quest to save lives.’

Under the arrangement, citizens will be able to call a dedicated emergency line, after which the nearest ambulance will be dispatched. The state hopes the initiative will significantly reduce response times, particularly in maternal and neonatal emergencies where delays often prove fatal.

Governor Sani stressed that the program reflects his administration’s ‘people-first philosophy,’ noting that healthcare reforms since he assumed office have been anchored on the principle of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

‘We have consistently declared that access to healthcare is a right, not a privilege,’ he said. ‘We have strengthened the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA), revitalized our primary health centres, prioritized maternal and child health, and recently approved the 2024 CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures to motivate our healthcare workers.’

He highlighted that the system was designed to be equitable and inclusive. ‘This initiative is not for the privileged few. It is for the farmer in Ikara, the trader in Kachia, the student in Giwa, and the child in Kagarko. No one will be left behind,’ he assured.

Kaduna’s Commissioner for Health, Umma K. Ahmed, described the flag-off as ‘a giant leap forward’ for the state’s healthcare delivery, emphasizing that the integration of the Rural Emergency Medical and Maternal Transport Services (RESMAT) into KADSEMSAS would extend access to hard-to-reach areas.

‘Emergencies often come without warning, but what makes the difference between life and death is the speed and quality of response,’ Ahmed said. ‘With KADSEMSAS, Kaduna State is taking a decisive step toward ensuring that no citizen is left helpless in their hour of greatest need.’

She added that the program will provide free emergency treatment for the first 48 hours, particularly for pregnant women, children, and accident victims.

Governor Sani also emphasized sustainability, stating that the government was investing in upgrading health facilities, training health workers, and involving communities to keep the system effective beyond the launch.

‘To our citizens: this system belongs to you,’ he said. ‘We urge you to use it responsibly, report misuse, and provide feedback. Excellence is a continuous journey, not a destination.’

The flag-off follows Kaduna’s onboarding into the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), approved in 2024 by the Federal Ministry of Health. Officials believe Kaduna’s example could set a benchmark for other Nigerian states.

‘This is a bold step toward equity in healthcare access,’ Governor Sani concluded. ‘Kaduna is committed to leading the way in emergency medical innovation, and we will continue to prioritize the health and safety of our people.’

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the current Director of Finance at Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso, has extended his warm felicitations to Honorable Abubakar Kabir Abubakar, member representing Bichi Federal Constituency and the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation on the occasion of his 44th birthday.

In a goodwill message on Thursday, Kwankwaso described Honorable Bichi as a true patriot and a vibrant personality whose contributions to the development of the society particularly in education and human capital development continue to inspire many.

According Kwankwaso, Honorable Bichi has carved a niche for himself as a household name in Nigeria politics owing his unrelenting commitment to the progress and unity of the country, as exemplified in his passion for service, bridge-building efforts, and consistent advocacy for use participation in politics.

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He prayed to Allah’s continued guidance, wisdom and good health for Hourable Bichi, while wishing him greater successes ahead. Kwankwaso said, ‘On behalf of my family and associates, I join eminent Nigerians in celebrating a true patriot and a shining symbol of youth capability in politics, Honourable Abubakar Bichi, as he marks his 44th year on earth.

‘May Allah the Almighty continue to grant him many more years filled with health, prosperity and service to humanity.’

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the October 1 National broadcast of President Bola Tinubu as uninspiring and disappointing.

Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, on Thursday, Ologunagba said the President’s Independence Day speech was ‘uninspiring and disappointing.’

Ologunagba, who spoke on various other issues in the party, noted that the National convention of the party is sacrosanct.

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On the Independence Anniversary speech, the PDP spokesman said as usual, the speech was full of misleading claims and statistics that do not reflect the reality Nigerians face.

He said Independence Day should have been an opportunity to give a true account of the past year and highlight genuine progress, ‘instead, what we got was the same failed narratives and empty rhetoric.’

He said the President claimed that the economy is performing well, but Nigerians are asking: ‘which corner has the economy really turned? Is it the corner of insecurity, where violence has crippled farming and production? The corner of rising costs, where parents cannot pay school fees? Or the corner where families live in fear of kidnappers and bandits? Talk is cheap. What matters is what people feel in their daily lives, and the hardship on the streets tells a very different story.

‘The reality is that insecurity remains a serious threat. Just a few days ago, in Abuja, we saw the gruesome murder of a brilliant lawyer and journalist. That is only one of many incidents that show how unsafe people feel. Families live in constant fear, yet the government keeps insisting that things are improving. Independence should mean freedom from fear, but Nigerians do not feel free.

‘The government has taken us backwards compared to the past. Under the PDP administration, Nigeria paid off its debts and created real economic opportunities. Today, the APC has plunged the country into unsustainable debt, much of it without any clear link to development projects. Instead, borrowing has fuelled corruption and waste. That is not progress. It is dependence, not independence.

‘We are told that trillions have been saved through subsidy removal, but Nigerians cannot see where the money is going. We hear of trillions saved, but also of trillions borrowed. What projects have these funds been tied to? Where is the transparency? Without accountability, these so-called savings mean nothing to ordinary people.’

He said, ‘the independence speech by the President yesterday, which, to say the least was pathetic, it was boring, it was uninspiring, as true, as always, typical of the APC with their propaganda.

‘It was full of lies, false statistics that does not attune to the realities on ground. And some of them we have. We’ll go into that as we have this conversation. In specific terms, of course, you listen to this speech.

I don’t know how many Nigerians listen to it. From the body language of the President, even as he was reading those speeches, you know that he doesn’t even believe in it.

‘ When you prepare a speech as big as an independence speech, which you have a connection between the Person, which is the President who is actually making the presentation, and the body language should be able to show that.

‘Because the President knew, that the broadcast, that he was saying things that are completely not correct, it was false. Because it’s at variance, the whole content was at variance with the realities on ground that you and I and every Nigerian face today.’