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The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, says construction of Arterial Road S1 from Ring Road II to FCT Fire Service Station in Kaura District, will significantly improve emergency response time.

Wike stated this during the inauguration of the project in Abuja on Tuesday.

The minister said ‘We have always talked about fire incidents and the response is not usually timely.

‘It’s not only the fact that maybe they may be lacking some basic amenities, but also they don’t have a good network of roads that will enable them to move quickly to resolve fire incidents.

‘By the time this road is constructed with a three-span bridge, of course anywhere there is any fire incident and they are called upon, they will respond immediately,

‘Again, this is also to contribute to the efficiency in their job delivery.” he said (NAN).

Wike said that the road would be slightly above two kilometres but a very important road that would open up the Kaura District.

The battle for control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of its November 15-16 national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, has deepened, with a fresh rift emerging in the National Working Committee (NWC).

Daily Trust gathered that the committee has again split between PDP governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who has openly vowed to support the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

While acting National Chairman Umar Damagum is aligned with most governors, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu is leading the Wike camp within the NWC. Sources said Wike’s loyalists have boycotted recent NWC meetings called by Damagum, as tensions over the convention escalate.

A party insider said Wike, having pledged to work for President Bola Tinubu and frustrate the convention, has continued to issue conditions. ‘If they meet those conditions, he will come up with new ones. The governors have decided to move on and are daring him to do his worst,’ the source said.

The crisis worsened on September 30 when PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba announced the dissolution of the Akwa Ibom State executive committee and the appointment of a caretaker committee.

He added that the caretaker committee will run the chapter for three months or until a new executive is elected. Members include Igwat Umoren as chairman, Harrison Ekpo as deputy chairman, and Borono Bassey as secretary, among others.

But in a counter-letter dated October 1, Anyanwu dismissed the move as invalid, insisting no formal NWC meeting approved the dissolution. He described the statement as ‘null and void and of no effect,’ stressing that the Akwa Ibom executive ‘stands undissolved.’

He further directed the state executive to continue in office in line with the PDP constitution. When contacted, Anyanwu confirmed he authored the letter but offered no further details.

As the convention draws nearer, leaders and stakeholders remain divided. Wike has continued to issue conditions for a hitch-free exercise, but many governors are no longer willing to concede.

Earlier in the week, Ologunagba admitted that some members were working with the APC to sabotage the PDP but vowed they would soon face sanctions. He insisted preparations for the convention were already concluded, declaring that ‘enough is enough.’

Violence erupted at Ilugun High School, Elega, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, following students’ protests over the alleged collection of illegal fees by teachers, resulting in the death of one person and the destruction of school property.

Daily Trust learned that trouble began last Friday when the school’s management invited operatives of the Amotekun Corps to disperse students who were protesting the unauthorized fees.

Witnesses told our correspondent that upon the arrival of the local security operatives, students ran in different directions to avoid being caught.

In the process, some reportedly jumped into a river near the school, leading to the death of one individual, according to the witnesses.

Miffed by the development, aggrieved students on Monday returned to school and reportedly went berserk.

They allegedly beat a teacher and vandalized school property.

A viral video surfaced on Monday showing groups of students vandalizing school property in broad daylight.

The clip captured students throwing stones at classroom windows until the glass shattered.

In some instances, they pulled out entire aluminum window slides from their frames, leaving the classrooms badly damaged.

Government confirms incident, suspends principals

The state government on Tuesday confirmed the incident, but said only one person died.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, confirmed that teachers of the school engaged in the collection of illegal fees, which led to the protest.

Addressing the media, Arigbabu announced the indefinite suspension of the school’s principals: Mrs. Olukoga Adeyemi Alaba (Junior) and Mrs. Ladipo Olabisi Temitope (Senior).

He stated that the suspension was necessary following the principals’ roles in the incident.

‘In addition, we also discovered that the Principal of Ilugun High School (Junior) had been involved in the collection of illegal fees. In light of these findings, the government has decided to place both the Junior and Senior Principals of Ilugun High School on suspension while we conduct a thorough investigation into the immediate and remote causes of this unfortunate incident,’ he said.

Regarding the casualty, Arigbabu said the young man who lost his life could not be confirmed as a student of the school.

He explained: ‘However, our preliminary investigations have revealed a very disturbing twist. The young man who lost his life could not be confirmed as a bona fide student of the school.

‘He was identified by three different names – Babalola Ayornide, Salako Jimoh, and Afolabi Babalola. Yet, none of these names appear in our official state education database, the OGSERA platform, which authenticates all school enrollments. This points to the likelihood of an illegal enrollment.’

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its strike over a rift between the union and the Dangote Refinery.

The union, however, cautioned the management of Dangote Refinery against reneging on the agreement they both signed during a marathon meeting that was held at the Office of the National Security Adviser.

President of PENGASSAN, Festus Osifo, announced the strike suspension at a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja.

Daily Trust reports that both PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery have been at loggerheads following the unionisation of some employees working with the refinery.

The company had sacked over 800 of its employees, a development the union frowned at.

While the company premised its decision on alleged sabotage, the union maintained that Dangote Refinery flouted Labour laws, International Labour Organizations (ILO) conventions and the Nigerian constitution.

Specifically, the development triggered a rapid response from PENGASSAN, whose members shut down export terminals, blocked vessel loading, and locked offices across oil and gas facilities.

After marathon negotiations involving the federal government, labour leaders, and security agencies, a communique was signed on Wednesday where Dangote Group agreed to re-fix sacked employees.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment, in a statement on the outcome of the reconciliation meetings, said the parties agreed that the disengaged workers will be absorbed by other subsidiaries in Dangote Group without loss of pay.

The statement said, ‘The Minister of Labour informed the meeting that unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and that this right should be respected.

‘After examining the procedure used in the disengagement of workers, the meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately start the process of taking the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay.

‘No worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN.’

Osifo, at the press briefing, dismissed claims that the union’s action was motivated by dues or levies.

The labour leader explained that by the fundamental principle of defending workers’ rights, the association had no choice but to act after the mass sack, saying they’ve not violated any law of the land.

He said, ‘About two weeks ago, over 800 Nigerians voluntarily subscribed to join PENGASSAN. Within days of notifying management, all of them were dismissed with a single letter.

‘When these people were hired, they were given individual letters, but when it came to termination, one single letter was used to throw all of them out. We found that unacceptable.

Continuing, he said, ‘We laugh when people say we went on strike because of dues. The total salary of those 800 members put together is less than what just 20 of our members earn in some international oil firms.

‘This was never about money. It was about their freedom of association, their right to join a union, and their right to fight for better conditions of service. That is why they came to us.’

The union leader also highlighted the broader danger of the accusations levelled against the sacked workers.

He said, ‘Once such allegations are made public, these workers may never get another job again.’

He further noted that PENGASSAN is sceptical about the company’s promises to reinstate the workers but said it decided to suspend the strike out of respect for the government and the mediation process.

‘Let it be clear, this suspension is in good faith, not because we fully trust the process. The moment we see any breach, we will return to the trenches without notice,’ he added.

A man identified as David Fasasi Azeez has fled his home in the Ushafa community of Bwari Area Council, FCT, after allegedly beating and injuring his wife, Mrs. Charity Olotu Fasasi.

The assault reportedly occurred after she allegedly aborted a pregnancy.

According to a neighbour of the victim, Mrs. Grace Benjamin, the incident happened on Friday night at the couple’s residence.

Mrs. Benjamin, who spoke to our reporter on Monday, said the man beat his wife-a mother of four-after discovering she had taken drugs to terminate the pregnancy.

The neighbour explained that a misunderstanding arose because the husband had asked his wife to keep the pregnancy.

‘You know the woman is my close neighbour, and before she aborted the pregnancy, the husband had even before now supported her, but along [the] line, the man later changed his mind and asked her not to abort the pregnancy,’ she said.

Mrs. Benjamin added that, ‘Until on Friday night when I started hearing screaming from the house and i rushed over to discover that the man was beating his wife with blood all over her face.’

According to her, the beating reportedly led to bleeding from the wife’s mouth.

”Upon hearing about the incident, the woman’s parents rushed her to a health centre in the community,” she added,

According to Mrs. Benjamin, the husband, a furniture maker in Ushafa, fled the house after receiving information that the police were coming to arrest him.

Abuja Metro gathered that the couple had been arguing about the pregnancy for over two weeks. The man is reportedly yet to return home since Friday night, and the police are said to be tracking him.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the FCT police command, SP Adeh Josephine, said the incident has not been reported at the command.

‘You know anything that has to do with domestic violence, they hardly report it to the police, but let me find out from the DPO, and I will get back to you later,’ she stated.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly exploring a move for Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, whose future at the Santiago Bernabéu has come under fresh scrutiny.

According to reports from Fichajes, Spurs have identified the Uruguay international as a potential transfer target as they look to bolster their midfield options.

Valverde, who has made over 300 career appearances for the Spanish giants, is said to be facing an uncertain situation in Madrid, with sections of the Spanish media critical of his recent performances.

Thomas Frank’s side are understood to be among the clubs monitoring the situation closely, viewing the 26-year-old as a high-profile reinforcement who could bring energy, versatility, and experience to the North London club.

The President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Directors (CiOD) Nigeria, Otunda Adetunji Oyebanji, has called on Nigerians to embrace responsibility, unity, and ethical leadership as the country marks its 65th independence anniversary.

Oyebanji, in his independence message, said the anniversary should not only be about counting years but should serve as a turning point for national renewal.

He urged leaders and citizens alike to ‘choose governance over impunity, accountability over corruption, and unity over division.’

Highlighting Nigeria’s progress over the years, he noted that the country has earned global recognition in arts, sports, technology, and entertainment, with young entrepreneurs and diaspora communities making significant contributions to its development.

The CiOD president commended the current administration for reform initiatives since 2023, including the removal of petroleum subsidies, efforts to unify the foreign exchange market, electricity sector reforms, and other interventions aimed at repositioning the economy.

He, however, warned that despite positive GDP growth, many Nigerians have yet to feel the impact due to inflation, rising living costs, insecurity, and infrastructure gaps.

These challenges, he said, can only be overcome through deliberate action rooted in transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership.

Reaffirming the commitment of the institute to national development, Oyebanji said the CiOD will continue to promote good governance and corporate leadership ideals in both public and private sectors.

‘Our institute remains a partner in the Nigerian project, working alongside government, the private sector, and civil society to build a nation worthy of its potential,’ he stated.

Oyebanji congratulated Nigerians on the independence celebration and urged all citizens to rise to the challenge of positioning the country on a path to greatness.

‘Let us not only celebrate independence; let us live it every day, in our values, in our choices, and in our leadership,’ he said.

At least four people have been killed and nine others abducted following renewed bandit attacks on communities in Magama Local Government Area of Niger State, including Ibeto town.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, told our correspondent that four residents were killed, eleven sustained injuries, while nine others were kidnapped during the latest raid.

Among those abducted is Barrister Isyaku Muhammad Danjuma, who was reportedly kidnapped just hours after posting on Facebook to alert residents about the movement of bandits from Uccu towards Ibeto with a large herd of stolen cattle.

Sources believe his abduction may have been facilitated by informants who revealed his location to the attackers.

Residents said the heavily armed bandits, who spent the night in Ibeto, went from house to house, shooting sporadically and abducting people.

Many farmers have since fled their homes as the assaults spread across other communities in Magama LGA.

The assailants also rustled dozens of cattle belonging to locals between Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon. In a video shared with our correspondent, the bandits were seen herding a large number of cattle out of Ibeto town.

Efforts to reach the Niger State Police Command spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, were unsuccessful as he neither took calls nor responded to messages sent to his phone.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has expressed dismay over the inhuman treatment of Nigerian girls in India, calling for an immediate probe into the situation by authorities.

A statement by the spokesman of the organisation, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Tuesday, said NiDCOM ‘received with deep distress and utter dismay reports alleging the rape, assault, and forced administration of unknown substances on Nigerian girls held in deportation camps in New Delhi, India.’

According to disturbing accounts and videos shared by some of the victims, these young women are subjected to inhumane treatment and grave violations of their dignity and fundamental human rights.

The alleged acts of sexual violence, physical abuse, and intimidation are both heartbreaking and unacceptable.

Balogun said Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, strongly condemned these reported abuses in the strongest possible terms, insisting that ‘Nigerian citizens, wherever they are in the world, must not be treated as less than human, nor should their vulnerability be exploited under the guise of immigration procedures.’

‘We are further alarmed by claims that corrupt practices involving middlemen and certain groups are worsening the plight of our citizens through exploitation and extortion. If verified, such actions not only endanger lives but also undermine justice and due process.’

While reassuring the victims and their families that these disturbing reports will not be ignored, NiDCOM said it was already engaging with the Nigerian High Commission in India, relevant Indian authorities, and international human rights organisations to ascertain the veracity of these claims and ensure that immediate and urgent steps are taken to protect the victims, provide them with medical and psychological support, and bring perpetrators to justice.

‘We call on the Government of India to urgently investigate these allegations, close down any channels of exploitation, and ensure the safety and dignity of Nigerians within its borders,’ the statement said.

For years, Mondays in the Southeast have been reduced to ghost towns. Streets lie empty, shops remain shut, schools are locked, and the hum of economic life is silenced. The so-called ‘sit-at-home’ order has crippled business, strangled education, and eroded confidence in government’s ability to guarantee normal life.

Yet, in public, leaders insist there is no sit-at-home. Governors say citizens are free to go about their businesses, but their own actions tell a different story. They avoid scheduling important events on Mondays, quietly conceding to the very fear they deny.

Even at the highest level of power, this contradiction is glaring. When late President Muhammadu Buhari visited Imo State in September 2022, it was on a Tuesday, not a Monday. The calculation was obvious: avoid the optics of empty streets and deserted markets that define Southeast Mondays.

By avoiding Monday, the President has, knowingly, reinforced the silent admission that sit-at-home is still real. Leaders dodge Mondays because they fear the photographs of ghostly roads, thin crowds, and absent fanfare. But what they avoid is precisely what true leadership should confront.

Imagine if President Tinubu had chosen Monday. Imagine the symbolism of a President landing in Owerri on a Monday morning, cutting ribbons in front of cheering crowds, walking confidently on streets that have for years been surrendered to silence. That single act could have gone beyond just cutting ribbons to cutting through fears that has for long griped our people, given ordinary citizens the courage to step out, to open their shops, to send their children to school, and to reclaim their Mondays. It would have been remembered as the turning point that broke the psychological chains of fear.

Instead, another opportunity has been lost. Another Monday has been conceded to emptiness. Another chance to restore dignity and courage to a people has slipped away.

Leadership is not only about commissioning flyovers, decorating cities or digital learning centers. It is also about building confidence in the hearts of citizens. If Tinubu truly wants to be remembered as a friend of ndi Igbo, he must move beyond staged ceremonies and confront the deeper realities that keep the Southeast shackled.

The empty streets our leaders avoid are not just empty, they are symbols of a shutdown. And history will not be kind to those who had the power to end it but chose convenience instead.