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President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, was among top government officials who attended the burial of Mama Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe, mother of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Mama Lydia died in August at the age of 83.

In his remarks at the burial service on Saturday, Akpabio extended his condolences to the grieving family, urging the APC National Chairman to take solace in the knowledge that his mother had chosen the right time to depart.

He said, ‘To our dear Mama, goodbye from all of us. Goodbye from Nigeria. To our National Chairman, be consoled in the knowledge that your mother chose the right time to depart – a time when her legacy continues to speak through you and through all the lives she touched.’

The Senate President also used the occasion to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for unifying and bringing together people fom different faiths, regions and political divides.

‘All former Governors of Plateau State are here today, irrespective of political party. The Governor of Plateau State, working closely with our National Chairman, has received you warmly, and the people of Plateau have shown tremendous affection and excitement at your visit.

‘As a politician, I observed the turnout from the airport to this venue – thousands of Plateau citizens lined the streets, waving and cheering. That alone speaks louder than any words: Mr. President, you have touched the hearts of the people of the Plateau.

‘This service today is a powerful reflection of unity, faith, and leadership – and it shows that God has truly registered your presence.’ Akpabio added.

Leading smartphone brand Infinix Nigeria has once again proven its commitment to Nigerians, as over 15 winners emerge from the summer sales promo across Nigeria.

The summer sales promo, which ran from August to September 6, 2025, offered customers lots of benefits, including massive discounts, instant gifts, a chance to win household appliances like washing machines, refrigerators, gas cookers, and the ultimate grand prize of a fully loaded solar system worth ?2.9 million in a nationwide raffle draw. In addition, Infinix hosted live sales events across its social media platforms, where exclusive discount codes were made available to participants, providing them with added savings on flagship devices such as the HOT 60 Pro and HOT 60 Pro+.

Beyond the discounts, Infinix ensured that customers went home with instant gifts like the Infinix Smart Watch, Infinix Xe33 Earbud and Infinix-branded gift items on purchases of the NOTE 50 series, HOT 60 Pro, HOT 60 Pro+, SMART 10, HOT 60i, and other models. In the end, the promo recorded winners from multiple regions in Nigeria, ensuring that customers nationwide felt the impact. From Lagos to Abuja, Ibadan to Kano, Kaduna to Onitsha, and Port Harcourt.

Reflecting on the success of the promo, Oluwayemisi Ode, Integrated Marketing Communications and PR Manager at Infinix Nigeria, said: ”The Summer Sales Promo was designed to show appreciation for our customers nationwide, and the response was overwhelming. We are excited to keep delivering value in innovative ways, creating shared experiences, rewarding loyalty, and building stronger connections with our customers’.

The promo encouraged Nigerians to shop smart, save big, and enjoy exclusive gifts across both physical stores and online platforms. It was more than just a sales promo, but a nationwide experience that blended entertainment, shopping, and community.

For more information and exciting news, follow @infinixnigeria on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok.

The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), in partnership with Sterling One Foundation and with support from Agence Française de Développement (AFD), has launched the Women Investment Readiness Accelerator (WIRA) programme to strengthen women-led enterprises across the country.

The initiative, unveiled in Lagos, is aimed at helping women entrepreneurs overcome barriers, such as difficulty accessing finance, limited mentorship and inadequate business support services. It will provide training, guidance on accessing institutional funding, and market linkages to enable women-owned businesses to scale and compete effectively.

The managing director/chief executive officer of DBN, Dr Tony Okpanachi, said the bank remained committed to fostering inclusive economic growth through support for women entrepreneurs.

‘At DBN, we believe that empowering women entrepreneurs is not just the right thing to do, it is smart economics. With the support of Agence Française de Développement, programmes like WIRA can provide the guidance, mentorship and access to capital that women-led businesses need to thrive, scale and create lasting impact across Nigeria’s economy,’ he said.

The chief executive officer of Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe, stressed ‘Women are a powerful force in Nigeria’s economy, yet across the continent they face a $42 billion annual financing gap, receive less than 10 per cent of total investment despite owning nearly 60 per cent of small and medium enterprises and secure only around 5 per cent of venture capital when led by female chief executive officers. With WIRA, we are going beyond just helping them stay afloat, we are giving them the tools, connections and confidence they need to grow, compete and succeed on a bigger stage.’

The programme, which combines training, mentorship and market linkages, is expected to equip more women-led businesses with the capacity to expand and contribute more significantly to Nigeria’s economic development.

President Bola Tinubu has said what God has ordained cannot be changed by any man.

The president said this at the funeral service of Lydia Yilwatda, mother of the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof Nentawe Yilwatda,

The event, which held on Saturday, was attended by Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, alongside other governors, legislators, government functionaries and other dignitaries.

In his remarks, the President said the turnout of dignitaries showed the high regard people had for mama.

‘This gathering should remind us of the values that matter-unity, contentment, satisfaction, and productive leadership for our nation.’

‘To the clergy, I say thank you for your solemn message, for promoting peace, stability, and friendship. Hate is not an option for us. Love is what we must continue to preach-love for one another.

‘No one can change what God has ordained. His will and His promises are what truly matter. I was raised in a Muslim family, and my wife is a pastor who prays for me always. I believe deeply in the freedom of religion. We may differ in faith, but we pray to the same Almighty God, to whom we are all answerable.’

On his part, Mutfwang said the presence of the president meant so much not only to the Yilwatda family, but to the people of Plateau in general.

‘We are truly touched by this fatherly gesture. I must place on record that we, as a people, have enjoyed the love of the First Family. The Mother of the Nation, Her Excellency, Senator Remi Tinubu, has spread her motherly wings of love over us twice both to commiserate with us and to encourage us as leaders to continue doing our best to restore peace to Plateau State, in keeping with our name as the Home of Peace and Tourism.’

‘Your Excellency, the visits that our dear mother of the Nation has paid to Plateau State have deeply touched the hearts of our people. At the appropriate time, we shall express our gratitude in a special way.

‘While we are grateful for the honour of your presence at this solemn occasion, we also look forward to welcoming you again soon, Mr. President. We would be delighted if you could visit Plateau State again in the near future to see for yourself the extent to which we have keyed into your Renewed Hope Agenda with the resources available to us,’ he said.

The funeral programme of Mama Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe, mother of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has turned political jamboree in Jos, the Plateau State capital, where the Church service is taking place at COCIN Headquarters.

This is in anticipation of President Bola Tinubu’s expected attendance at the Church service.

The situation has led to traffic restrictions due to political procession on the streets.

Earlier, the Plateau State Government had announced traffic diversions in Jos and Bukuru ahead of the President’s visit for the burial.

Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, in a statement on Friday, said the diversion was to allow smooth movement of the presidential convoy.

Party differences have also collapsed as supporters of both APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are having fanfare side by side, carrying banners with different inscriptions.

Women groups, youth groups and other party faithful are seen wearing party T-shirts, face caps, among others, and the Boys’ Brigade is also on hand with a street march backed by the band section.

At the church, the security is tight, with attendees required to show special passes earlier distributed to gain entry.

Some pastors were turned back at the door, with a few seen scuffling with security personnel.

Meanwhile, a throng of guests has already gathered at the Jos International Airport in Heipang to welcome President Tinubu, who is expected to touch down from Lagos.

A tanker inferno in the wee-hours of Friday left one person injured and three vehicles burnt along the Abeokuta-Sagamu expressway in Ogun State.

It was gathered that the tanker carrying 30,000 litres of fuel fell on its side and spilled its content at the Abeokuta-Kobape-Siun-Sagamu/Interchange stretch of the highway.

The spokesman of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, in a traffic alert, said the development resulted into a fire outbreak.

He blamed the crash on speeding and loss of control on the part of the driver.

Akinbiyi said, ‘The effect of the unfortunate incident also extended to the burning of a truck and tow vehicle along the roadside, as well as the destruction of a cable supplying electricity to Mowe and environs.’

Speaking with our correspondent, Akinbiyi confirmed that one woman sustained injury while trying to rescue her children near the inferno.

He said some properties were lost to the incident, but no one died.

Also, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun command, said no casualty was recorded in the incident.

The command, however, said the three vehicles involved in the incident were ‘burnt beyond recognition.’

Residents across several communities in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State have raised concern over a surge in deadly bandit attacks, which have led to killings, abductions, displacement and widespread fear.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, the leaders of the communities, led by Alhaji Adamu Haruna from Kebbe town, described the deteriorating security situation as dire, warning that lack of government intervention might push citizens to take the law into their own hands.

‘Our lives are in danger. They have taken our property, our livestock, and now they have started abducting people,’ Haruna lamented.

He added, ‘We’re no longer allowed to farm, and our belongings are being confiscated. People are getting desperate.’

According to residents, the attacks have become increasingly coordinated. In Dukura, a man was reportedly killed for resisting abduction.

‘In Dalijan, bandits drove away with herds of cattle, and later ambushed animals at a local watering point. The attackers moved through multiple communities including, Ingushi and Gwalli, leaving destruction in their wake before security forces could respond.

‘People are living in fear. These criminals are threatening to stop us from harvesting our crops.

‘There are another group called Lakurawa who everyone fears – their grip on the region is growing.’ Haruna added.

Tukur Muhammadu, a resident of Fakku, said the town was previously untouched, but that changed when bandits stormed the area, killing several and abducting over 30 residents.

‘They’ve scattered our communities and are demanding a ransom of tens of million naira,’ he said.

He added, ‘Seventeen towns in the Fakku axis are now deserted. We’ve appealed to the state government for help, but there has been no response.’

‘Farmers in Kucchi and surrounding villages are reportedly afraid to return to their fields, despite the fact that it is a harvesting season. Shops have been looted, and some owners remain in captivity.

‘So far, over ten people have been confirmed dead, and more than 500 livestock rustled in the ongoing attacks. With seventeen towns emptied of their residents, communities are calling urgently on state authorities to act.

‘If the government cannot provide food or money, the least we ask for is security,’ Muhammadu said.

When contacted, the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman (rtd), acknowledged the growing insecurity in the affected areas and assured residents that the government is taking the situation seriously.

‘We are fully aware of the developments, and the government is doing everything possible to restore peace in communities affected by banditry and other forms of security challenges,’ he said.

Col. Usman emphasized that efforts are ongoing to strengthen security operations and bring lasting stability to the region.

A Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has ordered the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police to suspend the enforcement of tinted glass permit against vehicle owners.

The judge also asked the police and the IGP to maintain the status quo and ‘respect judicial processes pending further proceedings in the matter.’

The court issued the interim order in the suit no: FHC/WR/CS/103/2025 brought by Delta lawyer, John Aikpokpo-Martins against the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force.

Aikpokpo-Martins approached the court to challenge the legality of the new tinted permit enforcement with an interim order to forestall the enforcement.

The lead counsel to the applicant, Kunle Edun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who led the legal team for the petitioner, confirmed the development to journalists and noted that ‘the directive is a major step in ensuring that the rule of law is upheld while the substantive issues in the case are being determined.’

Before the order by the court, there were reports of police enforcement of the permit in different parts of the country. In Lagos, the police command had begun full enforcement of laws regulating the use of tinted glass on vehicles across the state.

The Lagos State police command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, announced the commencement of the exercise, adding that it is in line with directives of Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun aimed to boost public safety, curb crime and ensure compliance with traffic laws.

Iconic Open University officially announce the setting up of the Proposed University’s Study Campus in the heart of Lagos, as its southern headquarters in the Nigeria’s economic capital and the most vibrant commercial-hub city in Africa.

This is a testament to the university’s unwavering commitment to bringing education closer to people – right where they are. As one of the fastest-growing universities, Lagos is indeed a melting pot of innovation, knowledge, and economy, and It is only befitting that Iconic University joins its landscape to offer quality, flexible, and nationally recognized education to people across the region and beyond.

Iconic Tower stands fit alongside other Nigeria’s famous business towers in the Lagos Island where the likes Union, UBA, WEMA and banks are headquartered. The Lagos Study Campus located within the Lagos Island, a central region that strategically link the mainland and other parts of islands. The facility stand still as an elegant tower, painted in the blue and white color signatures of the Iconic University as a beacon of knowledge, excellence, and innovation. This reflects focus on modernity, accessibility, and a streamlined academic experience to our students and prospective enrollees.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Plateau State.

President Tinubu was in Jos, Plateau State capital, on Saturday for the burial of Mama Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe, mother of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.

Reacting in a post on his official X handle on Saturday, Atiku described the visit as a political funeral which afforded the President an opportunity to ‘celebrate and make merry with his party elite.’

He said, ‘With large swathes of the country still under siege from unrelenting insecurity and thousands of innocent lives lost, it is deeply unfortunate that President Bola Tinubu has not, for once, found it worthy to visit any of the affected states to commiserate with the grieving citizens.

‘Today, however, the President suddenly remembered Plateau State, one of the most terrorized parts of the North Central, not to share in the people’s pain, but to attend a social event under the auspices of his party’s national chairman.’

Atiku also noted that the President’s decision to attend the event showed his lack of empathy for the victims of insecurity in some regions of the country.

‘It is a sad reflection of priorities and a glaring mockery of leadership that while families in Plateau continue to bury their loved ones, President Tinubu chose to grace a political funeral rather than stand with the people in their darkest hour.

‘Between the APC National Chairman and his President, what we witnessed today is a heartless exhibition of disregard for empathy, compassion, and the dignity of human life.

‘From Benue to Niger and most recently Kwara, the entire North Central region has endured some of the most horrific waves of violence in recent history. Yet, not once has the APC-led government deemed it necessary to physically stand by the victims or console their families.

‘Even when Tinubu made a symbolic visit to Benue State in June, he never bothered to set foot in Yelewata, the epicentre of the massacre. Instead, he ended his trip comfortably in Makurdi, turning his back on the people whose tears and blood still stain the soil.

‘Now again, he is in Plateau State, not to console the bereaved or reassure the broken, but to celebrate and make merry with his party elite while the people mourn.

‘The message could not be clearer: this is a President who would rather feast than feel-a leader who finds pleasure where the people find pain.

‘The Nigerian people are watching, and they will remember. -AA’