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Five rescued from Otedola Bridge multiple accidents

Five persons were rescued yesterday from a multiple-vehicle accidents on Otedola Bridge in Lagos.

The Permanent Secretary(PS), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said the victims were trapped in the crash.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the agency deployed its rescue team after receiving a distress call.

He said the LRT Tiger Squad stationed at C3 was dispatched at 1:18 p.m. and arrived at the scene at 10 minutes later.

‘On arrival, first responders observed a multiple-vehicle crash involving five vehicles, including a truck laden with a generator, a containerised truck with registration number ENU 135ZG, a loaded trailer with an unknown registration number, a white Honda with registration number LSR 870BF, and a Lexus car with registration number KTU 682HX,’ he said.

Oke-Osanyintolu explained that the crash occurred after the containerised truck developed a fault while in motion, lost control before ramming into three other vehicles.

He added that another truck rammed into the vehicles from behind, resulting in the multiple collision.

The agency’s LRT, in collaboration with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Nigeria Police Force, implemented traffic control and safety measures to prevent secondary incidents and protect road users. Nigeria News Subscription

According to the PS, the victims were given medical attention at the scene by Lagos Response Unit paramedics before being transferred to the Trauma Centre for further treatment.

Recovery operations are ongoing with the support of private towing trucks and a private crane to evacuate the affected vehicles from the roadway and restore free flow of traffic.

Oke-Osanyintolu commended the response team, LASTMA, police and private partners for their prompt intervention and coordination.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to protecting lives and property through continuous investment in emergency response capacity, modern equipment and strategic decentralisation of response units for rapid intervention across the state.

The Permanent Secretary urged motorists, particularly drivers of heavy-duty and articulated vehicles, to maintain their vehicles regularly, comply with road safety regulations and exercise caution on major highways.

He also urged the public to report emergencies promptly through the 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines for swift intervention.

FAKE! PM NEWS never published ‘Peter Obi Cured of Madness’ story

PM NEWS has dismissed as fake a newspaper front page currently circulating on social media purporting to show a 2006 edition of the newspaper with a lead story about former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi.

The purported front page, which has been widely shared online, is not an authentic publication of PM NEWS.

The image has been digitally altered. The photograph of the actual subject of the original story was replaced with a photograph of Peter Obi, while the original name on the newspaper’s rider was also replaced with Peter Obi’s name.

Most importantly, PM NEWS never published the purported story titled ‘How I Was Cured of Madness – Peter Obi, Anambra’s Gov Gives Testimony in Church’.

The publication being circulated should therefore not be attributed to PM NEWS under any circumstance.

The manipulation appears designed to make the fabricated material look like an authentic historical edition of the newspaper. The use of the PM NEWS masthead, date and page design does not make the altered material genuine.

We urge members of the public, journalists, media organisations and social media users to disregard the fabricated image and refrain from presenting it as a genuine PM NEWS publication.

PM NEWS stands by the authenticity of its published records and takes exception to the deliberate alteration of its archival material and the false attribution of fabricated content to the newspaper.

Any publication claiming that PM NEWS reported the purported Peter Obi story in that edition is false.

Kazeem Ugbodaga

Editor, PM NEWS

2027 Hajj: Saudi Arabia declines Nigeria’s request for additional slots

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has declined Nigeria’s request for an upward review of its 2027 Hajj allocation.

The decline, according to the management of the Hajj commission, meant Nigeria’s earlier quota of 50,000 slots remained unchanged despite growing demand from intending pilgrims across the country.

The management disclosed, through a press release issued Thursday night, that it had formally engaged the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, seeking additional pilgrimage slots to accommodate the increasing number of Nigerian Muslims desirous of undertaking the sacred journey and to address appeals from several state pilgrims’ welfare boards for enhanced allocations.

However, Saudi authorities communicated their inability to grant additional slots, citing capacity limitations, structural constraints within the holy sites, and the Kingdom’s policy of strict adherence to approved country quotas under the current operational framework.

‘Consequently, Nigeria’s allocation for the 2027 Hajj exercise remains fixed at 35,000 slots for government pilgrims and 15,000 slots for licensed tour operators, bringing the country’s total approved allocation to 50,000 pilgrims,’ the commission stated.

Reacting to the development, NAHCON Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, said the Commission fully understood the disappointment the decision might cause many aspiring pilgrims and state pilgrim boards that had hoped for additional allocations.

According to him, the Commission explored all available diplomatic and operational channels in pursuit of an increased quota but respects the final decision of the Saudi authorities.

‘We appreciate the deep spiritual desire of many Nigerian Muslims to perform Hajj and understand the expectations of states and stakeholders seeking additional slots.

‘While every effort was made to secure an upward review, the Saudi authorities have communicated their final position based on operational realities and capacity considerations,’ Ambassador Yusuf said.

The NAHCON boss urged state pilgrims’ welfare boards, agencies and licensed tour operators to make judicious and transparent use of their approved allocations as well as ensure strict compliance with all timelines established by the Commission and the Saudi Nusuk platform.

While emphasising that the deadline for uploading the data of all prospective pilgrims for the 2027 Hajj exercise remains September 26, Yusuf warned that no extensions would be granted under any circumstance.

‘Kindly note that the deadline for uploading prospective pilgrims’ data remains September 26, 2026. We urge all partners, state pilgrim boards, tour operators and representatives to ensure that all required information is submitted before this date, as no extensions will be granted,’ he said.

Ambassador Yusuf further advised intending pilgrims who may not secure a slot under the approved 2027 allocation not to lose hope, revealing that preparations for the subsequent pilgrimage season have already commenced.

According to him, NAHCON had officially opened the registration portal for the 2028 pilgrimage and applications were now being accepted.

‘Individuals who were unable to secure a slot for the upcoming Hajj are encouraged to register for the 2028 Hajj. The Commission has officially opened the registration portal for this period, and applications are now being accepted,’ he added.

The NAHCON CEO then reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to transparency, equity and the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims, assuring stakeholders that preparations for the 2027 pilgrimage are progressing steadily.

He also disclosed that further updates regarding operational guidelines and the implementation of the new business-to-business framework for the 2027 Hajj exercise would be communicated through official NAHCON channels.

Meanwhile, the Commission appealed for understanding and cooperation from all stakeholders, emphasising that adherence to the Saudi-approved quota system remains a global requirement affecting all participating countries and is essential to ensuring a smooth and successful pilgrimage operation.

’No way for prisoner to escape by drone’

THE Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Thursday said it would be impossible for a prisoner or person deprived of liberty (PDL) to escape from correctional facilities through the use of drones.

Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said the noise produced by the drones aside from the extensive closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems installed in prisons would easily detect any plan or attempt to escape through unmanned aerial vehicles.

Catapang issued the statement following reports that South Korean national Park Wang-yeol plotted to escape from the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City before he was repatriated to South Korea last March to face trial for a criminal case.

Park was found guilty by a Philippine court in 2022 for the killing of his three compatriots in Bacolod City.

He was serving his 60-year prison sentence at the NBP before he was handed over to South Korean authorities.

Reports said Park planned to strap himself to the drone and be flown out of the prison compound.

Several test flights were allegedly conducted near the facility in preparation for the attempt.

‘All our Operating Prison and Penal Farms are no fly zones, and we have watchtowers manned 24/7 which immediately alert our guards if there will be attempts to escape through drones aside from maingay ang drone at equipped naman ang ating facilities ng mga CCTV, so we can detect it at once,’ Catapang said.

Catapang stressed that drones cannot operate near correctional facilities without attracting the attention of prison personnel and security systems.

‘Their audible motors, especially when flying at low altitudes, could immediately alert guards and other authorities,’ he noted.

Likewise, the BuCor chief said the presence of CCTV cameras throughout correctional facilities further strengthens the bureau’s ability to detect suspicious activity.

‘These cameras allow security personnel to monitor prison grounds, perimeters, buildings, and other restricted areas. Any drone spotted within or near a facility could be recorded and tracked, enabling authorities to respond quickly,’ Catapang pointed out.

Imara’s big splash

When coach Ezra Kalali sat down for an interview ahead of the July 2-5 Uganda Aquatics National Swimming Championships, he refused to talk about winning.

“Winning will be a bonus. Our focus is on seeing the swimmers compete favourably and improve,” he said.

Four days later at Kampala International School of Uganda in Naguru, his new club Imara Aquatics Sports Club were crowned overall national champions after amassing 3,124 points to end Gators’ four-year dominance. Gators finished second with 3,091.5 points, just 32.5 points behind. Altona was third with 2,966.

For a club making its maiden appearance at the Nationals, it was a bold statement. But as captain Ampaire Namanya put it, it was a new team but with familiar faces.

“After the split it was tough. We did not know what was going to happen or where we were headed but we were the same people,” Namanya said after lifting the trophy.

Imara consists of the larger group that broke away from Silverfin Academy and rebranded. Same swimmers, same coaches, new name, new philosophy.

“I think we are building well. It was more like a branding of new name, then starting afresh,” Kalali explained.

A partnership that pays

Part of Imara’s rise can be attributed to their partnership with Hill Preparatory School. The club has a memorandum of understanding with the school where it provides swimming support to the pupils.

“There is a big number from the school and they are part of our core team. More importantly, integrating them was one of the major reasons we decided to start Imara,” Imara chairman Michael Bwisho, said.

“I mean, the like minded people, who wanted to make a difference in the lives of these children thought we could have an organisation where decision making is easy and swift.

“We believe this can be a legacy project that we must continue to push. It can have a lasting impact in the lives of these swimmers and those who will come after if they can get the right support,” Bwisho added.

Hill Prep runs a programme for children with special needs and Imara has deliberately opened doors for everyone at the school.

This direction was partly inspired by the rise of special needs swimmer Larry Graig Feni to the historic double-gold performance at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany in 2019.

Diagnosed early in childhood with speech and hearing impairments alongside autism, Feni faced a local athletic landscape with sparse specialized resources. His life trajectory shifted dramatically when he entered the water at Naguru Hill Preparatory School, showing immediate competitive instinct by age eight. Inclusive swimming provided an environment where physical and cognitive communication barriers faded, replaced by stroke efficiency and raw speed.

Since discovering Feni, Kalali has never looked back at the need for inclusion. He is now working with more special needs swimmers. He took Christian Kansiime Arinitwe, Patrick Kalemba, and Jotham Timbiti to the Nationals as part of Imara’s team.

“Sometimes Christian (the most famous among the trio) doesn’t want to swim, he will come and do land work. But he listens. When you tell him do this, he will try his best. So we put him in a lower group where he can manage. Sometimes we give him one-on-one coaching when he’s having his own lane,” Kalali says.

Talent development

The model is a talent pathway producing swimmers with huge potential like Raan Batuk, Alba Ihunde, Arthur Nsubuga, Sebastian Luke Lule among others.

Raymond Mugaga, the head of swimming at Hill Preparatory says “we have the dream to produce the best swimmers in Uganda but we cannot afford to have the best coaches to attain that.

“A child pays maybe an average of Shs250,000 to Shs350,000 per month to a swim club. Imara gives us this service at no cost. It is a great opportunity for children who couldn’t afford to achieve the best coaching.

“And theh support both our regular and special needs swimmers. We have about 10 special needs swimmers, but some are dyslexic so you cannot tell who they are physically. We have the pool for training but they (Imara) still pay for it. Their (Imara) coaches provide that extra touch for those children who can be around after classes.

“Many of these children, around 25, participated in Nationals and seven have qualified to represent Uganda at the Africa Aquatics Zone III (due October 21-25 in Kampala). Imara also goes the extra step of providing meals and support during galas.

“And we are seeing resultes because of how they have polished our swimmers. Around 10 students from previous years are on scholarship in secondary,” Mugaga shares.

For Kalali, who is tasked with bringing out the best of swimmers at Imara, 2018 was when it started. First as head coach at Marines, then assistant at Silverfin before taking over as head coach. His own swimming started late – in his Senior Six vacation. He was a karateka who went to the pool for recovery and power work, then joined Makerere University swimming in his first year, second semester. He balanced karate and swimming before swimming took over. He captained Makerere for three years, made the national team for Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships held in Uganda in 2018 and also raced at the East African University Games and African University Games.

“I didn’t get a chance to specialize. I was doing all events. Starting out, I was more like a breaststroker, then distance freestyle, then I tried 200m fly. So we trained for everything,” he recalls.

Given how his teams perform in breaststroke events, Kalali is called a breaststroke coach but he laughs it off: “This stroke chooses them. I found a few of them, I just polished them.”

In the 11-12 boys’ 50m breaststroke, Kristian Mugumya Bwisho touched first in 34.16 for gold, and right behind him Raan Batuk took silver in 35.69. Ibrahim Lule, Sebastian Luke Ssimbwa and Brian Lule were all inside the points. It was a statement: we are not just winning, we are dominating.

That pattern repeated all week. In the same 50m, 15-16 boys, Isaiah Kuc won gold in 31.84. His brother Elijah Polo was 10th, Mahad Tariq Kayiira, Elisha Kato and Elijah Walusimbi behind him, all scoring. In 17 and Over, Feni tied for silver in 29.74, with Trevor John Kimuli fifth and Namanya 10th. Even in 10 and Under, Mathew Tendo Ssaka was 11th, Josephine Wanyana 8th for the girls.

Kalemba won special needs’ gold in 41.08, with Arinitwe third.

In the grueling 200m. The 11-12 boys again showed why they were the engine of this team. Bwisho won gold in 2:44.60, Batuk bronze in 2:57.00, Lule fourth, Ssimbwa seventh. Four boys in the top seven. For the girls, Ihunde took silver in 3:06.42. In 13-14, Nsubuga grabbed silver in 2:49.16. In 15-16, Kuc added another gold in 2:36.30. In 17 and Over, Feni closed the day with bronze in 2:32.06.

In the 100m breaststroke Ihunde, who had bronze in the 50m, won the 11-12 girls in 1:25.87. Bwisho again beat the boys in 1:15.90, with Lule taking bronze and Batuk fourth. Kuc won the 15-16 boys in 1:10.96. Karla Mugisha, who had been fourth in the 50m, stepped onto the podium with bronze in the 17 and Over girls in 1:25.93. Feni was touched out for gold by a fingertip in the senior boys, taking silver in 1:05.85.

The only blemish came in 13-14 boys where Nsubuga and Samuel Kakuru were disqualified, and in 10 and Under girls where Rahmah Namata Namutebi was disqualifed after Wanyana had finished 5th. At that point Imara had seven DQs on Day Two, and it looked like the breaststroke bank might start leaking.

But that’s the point. Even when Imara made mistakes, they had enough swimmers in the race to still score.

How the title was won

Kuc was the lead perfomer in 15-16 boys and overall for the team; 11 individual golds, two silvers, plus two relay golds and a bronze, and even two individual bronzes in the open 15 and Over 800m and 400m freestyle.

He was closely followed by Bwisho with 10 golds, a silver and two bronzes, plus four relay golds in 11-12 boys, where Sebastian Luke Ssimbwa, Ibrahim Lule and Raan Batuk added depth. Elijah Polo backed Kuc in 15-16.

Among the girls, Alba Ihunde and Gabriella Eleanor Nakimuli each had a gold in 11-12, with Ihunde adding five silvers and three bronzes. Imara topped both 11-12 and 15-16 age groups.

They were not perfect everywhere. They struggled in 15-16 girls where Penina Namirimu, Mary Genevieve Murungi, Jemimah Nakintu and Immaculate Atim grinded for points in middle distance, finishing fifth. In 13-14 girls, Victoria Ssaka, Fairuz Mamun, Manuella Ashana and Shona Mugisha finished 12th. But captain Karla Mugisha and Kayla Elisha Arinda ensured fourth in 17 and Over girls. In 10 and Unders, Mathew Tendo Ssaka inspired the boys to fifth, while Josephine Wanyana and Abishai Walusimbi carried the girls with Rahmah Namata Namutebi, Emily Bulya and Gianna Musiimenta.

Arthur Nsubuga inspired 13-14 boys to third. Imara knew where to fight. They scored zero in the expanded 11-14 and 15 and Over girls’ open categories and minimal in the boys’ open – but there were few points there anyway.

The mental battle was real. On Day Two, under pressure to dethrone an establishment, Imara suffered seven disqualifications (DQs) and some scratches. In the final two days, just two DQs.

“It has been teamwork and I want to thank my fellow coaches,” Kalali said after the win. He also shared that Vincent Kibira, Jacob Mugisha, and Nancy Atukwatse each run their own workouts and he just plays the supervisory and oversight role.

“We sit down at the beginning of a season, we go through what the season will look like, but day-to-day it’s up to them. I give them freedom to develop their own coaching philosophy in regard to the club’s philosophy. And we have open communication,” Kalali shared.

That philosophy was forged after Covid through clinics with ASCA (American Swimming Coaches Association) and World Aquatics, books and conferences.

“Before Covid I was different. Now it’s about being passionate and about getting the kids better from where they were yesterday,” he says.

Club chairman Bwisho told the team to own the tag: “Everyone everywhere will look at you as champions now. You worked hard for it. Get used to it, it is what you are.”

For Imara, a club that started to advance a community project built on inclusion, social responsibility, sacrifice, and focused on improvement over winning, winning came anyway. And you get the feeling it is only the beginning.

Shanaia Gomez recalls male celeb making a move on her at 14

Shanaia Gomez piqued the curiosity of netizens after revealing messages from an unnamed male celebrity who seemingly tried to hit on her when she was still a minor.

Through her TikTok page on Monday, Sept. 14, the actress shared screenshots of some of the ‘most interesting direct messages’ she received on Instagram.

One of the messages she revealed was from a Filipino celebrity ‘much older’ than her, who first reached out to her in 2016 when she was just 14 years old.

The unnamed celebrity first asked where Gomez was staying, then asked her to message him. Gomez said she initially welcomed the conversation, thinking the celebrity simply wanted to be friends.

However, the celebrity soon began asking Gomez to meet up, which made her suspicious of his intentions. He also asked about her age and whether she had a boyfriend at the time. Gomez said the unnamed celebrity continued to persistently message her until 2019.

‘I’m not going to name drop kung sino ito but let’s just say happy siya at birthday niya pa,’ Gomez hinted.

Exposing some of my dms ??

? original sound – Shanaia Gomez

Some netizens then surmised that Gomez was referring to actor Carlos Agassi, whose song ‘Happy Birthday’ features a line ‘Happy na, birthday mo pa.’

While Gomez did not confirm nor deny the speculations, she responded to one TikTok user who made a mention of Agassi in the comments section.

‘It was indeed Carlos Agassi. Check his IG story,’ the netizen wrote, to which the actress replied, ‘I’m blocked.’

Coincidentally, Agassi and his wife Sarina addressed on Tuesday, Sept. 15 the apparent allegations of certain women against the actor.

‘Madami kaming videos na napanood na mga babae na sinisiraan ‘yung asawa ko,’ Sarina said. ‘Imagine, eight, nine, 10 years ago pa ‘yun, talagang tinago nila ‘yung mag screenshots. Like what? Hindi ba kayo maka-move on? Wala na bang bago?’

Without naming who he was addressing, Agassi said, ‘Wala ka bang talent? Hindi ka maka-move on. Wala ka bang jowa?’

Agassi further stressed that the timeline of the accusations against him was from when he was still single. ‘Tsaka ang nakakatawa, message pa lang ‘yun. Hindi pa kami nagkikita or nagde-date. Na-in love na?’

While the couple did not name names, they urged fellow content creators to think twice about what they publish and ensure their content does not harm others. The pair also underscored that they are happily married and that their marriage remains strong.

Meanwhile, back in 2018, Agassi came under fire after several women claimed that the actor hit on them at the same time.

Cooperative Credit Intervention Revives Farming In Benue

In Benue State, women’s cooperatives are revitalising agriculture through financial support, farm inputs, and training, which are enhancing their farming and processing activities, and improving livelihoods.

The beneficiaries said the interventions made possible by Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) had reduced the cost and drudgery of farming while improving their ability to cultivate larger areas, process farm produce and generate income for their families.

No fewer than 8,950 farmers in Benue have been reached through the step-down agricultural extension training in 2025 under the intervention aimed at transforming smallholder farming into a commercial, market-oriented enterprise.

The intervention, implemented by SAA in collaboration with the Benue State Bureau of Agricultural Development and Mechanization under The Nippon Foundation project, also mobilised and sensitised 1,366 farmers across eight local government areas.

Ngufan Blessing Chichi of Mbatier community in Buruku Local Government Area of the state who is President of Divine Open Doors Multipurpose Cooperative, said the support had enabled women farmers to remain active in agriculture despite the challenges facing the sector.

Chichi said the intervention, which began in 2020, included financial support and the provision of a power tiller that had greatly reduced the cost of land preparation for members.

‘The cost of doing a hectare manually was N60,000. But now, with the power tiller, we pay the boys N20,000, buy diesel N7,000 and some other services, just about N30-something thousand, and a hectare is finished. This has actually helped us,’ she said.

She said the reduced cost of land preparation had encouraged members who had previously become discouraged by rising production costs and losses to return to farming, adding that the cooperative currently had about 58 hectares under cassava and soybean cultivation.

Beyond farming, Chichi said members had also ventured into cassava processing, producing flour popularly known as Akpu, which is packaged in cartons for distribution beyond the community.

‘With this product, it can go anywhere in the country because it is not easy to travel with the raw akpu. But with this one, it can be packaged in cartons. You just boil your water, pour it inside and turn it; it is just like pounded yam,’ she said.

She added that members had received training in weed control, record keeping and savings, which she said had improved their farm management and financial discipline.

Chichi while responding to marketing, said demand for the cooperative’s processed products had grown through direct sales and referrals.

‘Anytime we process, many people run to come and pick it from us. When they try it, they send a message again because there is a number on it,’ she said.

She said the cooperative operated a profit-sharing system under which dividends were distributed annually based on members’ contributions, while one hectare was also allocated yearly to the host community to strengthen relations and ensure security for the farms.

Another farmer, Akombu Erdoo, said farmers in her community had benefited from training, improved seed varieties, financial support, herbicides and fertiliser.

She listed some of the cassava varieties introduced to farmers as 419, Dickson, Game Changer, Farmers’ Pride and Baba70, among others, adding that improved farm income had enabled some beneficiaries to build houses and meet family expenses.

At Mbatsaase community in Mbaapen, farmers, including Msugh Ahula and Wuese Felicia, also said the training and support had transformed farming and encouraged residents to remain in agriculture.

The interventions are being implemented by the Sasakawa Africa Association across eight local government areas of Benue State.

Speaking during a tour of farming communities in Buruku, the association’s Programme Officer for Climate Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems, Engr Moshood Sulaiman, said mechanisation was a key component of the intervention.

‘We empower local groups with 18-horsepower power tillers to till the soil for them before planting. Mechanisation alone can contribute about 20 per cent in terms of farm production,’ he said.

Sulaiman said the power tillers had made it possible for farmers to prepare their fields much faster than through manual labour, noting that a hectare that could take seven to 10 days to prepare manually could be tilled in two to three hours with the machine.

He added that operators were trained on the use, repair, maintenance and troubleshooting of the machines to ensure sustainability.

Meanwhile, the beneficiaries have called for the expansion of the SAA intervention to more farming communities, saying the support had helped reduce production challenges and strengthened their livelihoods.

The project factsheet for 2025 said the programme focused on soybeans, maize, rice and horticultural crops, with emphasis on improving productivity, access to markets, financial inclusion and climate-resilient farming practices.

According to the report, the farmers were trained on group dynamics, collective aggregation, record-keeping and market access as part of efforts to promote the ‘Grow to Sell’ approach and encourage farmers to treat agriculture as a business.

The programme also established a 1.5-hectare community-based seed multiplication enterprise involving 75 smallholder seed producers, comprising one hectare for soybean and 0.5 hectares for maize.

The intervention further established an Agro-Enterprise Centre to support local processing, post-harvest handling and value addition, while nine youths were trained and equipped with knapsack sprayers to provide commercial agrochemical spraying services to farmers.

The report said 18 commercial agreements were also secured with input dealers, service providers and produce off-takers, while 17 Community Savings and Internal Lending Association leaders were trained in financial literacy, loan administration and savings mobilisation.

The programme covered Gwer-East, Gboko, Tarka, Guma, Ushongo, Vandeikya, Buruku and Konshisha local government areas.

SAA said the interventions were designed to improve smallholder farmers’ productivity and livelihoods by strengthening access to agricultural knowledge, technologies and markets, while promoting climate-resilient and sustainable farming systems.

World Bank mobilises $22bn private capital for Africa

The World Bank Group mobilised about $22 billion in private capital for Africa in its 2026 fiscal year, up from approximately $9 billion four years earlier, as it intensifies efforts to attract private investment to developing economies and create jobs.

The World Bank, in a statement it issued on Thursday, noted that the increase, representing nearly 150 per cent growth since fiscal 2022, formed part of a record $112 billion in private capital mobilised globally by the World Bank Group during the year.

The $112 billion was the highest annual amount in the institution’s history and more than three times the $35 billion mobilised in 2022.

For Africa, the development is significant as governments across the continent face the challenge of creating enough jobs for a rapidly growing young population while dealing with infrastructure gaps, limited access to finance and investment risks.

The World Bank Group said its focus was increasingly shifting towards using its own financing, guarantees and technical expertise to bring more private investors into developing economies.

When it combined its own financing with mobilised private capital, the World Bank Group said total financing and mobilisation in developing economies exceeded $200 billion in fiscal 2026.

The increase in Africa was part of a broader rise across developing economies.

Private capital mobilisation in lower-middle-income countries increased from $14 billion in fiscal 2022 to $37 billion in fiscal 2026, while mobilisation in upper-middle-income countries rose from $12 billion to $50 billion.

However, the volume remained about $3 billion in low-income countries, reflecting the difficulty of attracting private investment to some of the world’s poorest and highest-risk economies.

The World Bank Group said the increase followed three years of changes designed to make it faster and simpler for governments and private investors to work with the institution.

The reforms brought the World Bank Group’s public and private-sector operations closer together, with a single point of contact established in each country and integrated strategies developed around individual countries’ needs and development priorities.

The institution also expanded the investment tools available to the private sector, including guarantees, local-currency financing and equity instruments.

It has also been working to address foreign-exchange risks and improve business and regulatory conditions that can discourage private investment in developing economies.

The Private Sector Investment Lab has contributed by identifying practical barriers that prevent investors from committing capital to developing countries and developing measures to address them.

Another major area of expansion has been guarantees. The World Bank Group issued more than $25 billion in guarantees in fiscal 2026, exceeding its target of $20 billion in annual issuance by 2030. The target was therefore reached four years ahead of schedule.

Much of the growth came through the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform, established in 2024 to provide governments and investors with a single access point to guarantee products across the institution.

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga said the increase followed a clear demand from shareholders and clients for the institution to do more to attract private capital.

‘Three years ago, our shareholders and clients were clear: utilise World Bank Group financing and knowledge to mobilise more private capital and become a better partner to the private sector,’ Banga said.

He said the institution responded by changing how it worked, making its operations ‘faster, simpler, and as one World Bank Group.’

Banga, however, said the volume of capital mobilised should not be viewed in isolation from its development impact. ‘But the number only matters if the capital goes where it can create opportunity and jobs,’ he said.

For Nigeria and other African economies, job creation remains one of the strongest reasons for attracting more private investment.

The World Bank Group estimates that 1.2 billion young people in developing economies will reach working age over the next 10 to 15 years, while only about 420 million jobs are projected to be created.

The private sector currently creates nine out of every 10 jobs in developing economies, making investment in businesses and productive sectors central to efforts to close the employment gap.

The World Bank Group’s jobs strategy focuses on three areas: investment in human and physical infrastructure, creating business-ready regulatory environments and helping private businesses expand.

Five sectors have strong potential to generate jobs and attract investment at scale.

They are infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism and value-added manufacturing.

In fiscal 2026, 55 per cent of the World Bank Group’s total financing, including its own financing and mobilised private capital, went to these five sectors.

The focus is particularly relevant for African economies such as Nigeria, where infrastructure, energy, agriculture, healthcare and manufacturing remain important areas for expanding productive capacity and employment.

The World Bank Group said private investment was also reaching lower-income economies rather than being concentrated only in the most accessible markets.

It said regional and local investors were increasingly complementing international capital in financing businesses and supporting job creation.

The institution is now seeking to widen the pool of investors through its originate-to-distribute initiative, under which it is developing ways to package and distribute investments for institutional investors.

The approach is intended to connect more of the world’s long-term investment capital with opportunities in developing economies.

For Africa, where the need for infrastructure, business expansion and employment remains substantial, the initiative could provide another channel for bringing institutional capital into productive investments.

The World Bank Group said its objective was to mobilise more capital from more sources and put more of it to work in developing economies, particularly in areas capable of generating businesses, jobs and wider economic opportunities

Ilocos power utility backs nuke option

Reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, which the previous Marcos administration in 1979 billed as a long-term solution to the country’s growing power demand and dependence on imported oil, got the support of the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC).

In his lecture ‘Powering the Countryside: Rural Electrification in the Marcos Senior Era, The Nuclear Option’ at the Mariano Marcos State University on Wednesday, INEC General Manager Cipriano Martinez III described the mothballed nuclear plant as ‘a controversial but visionary option’ of the late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

‘With today’s rising power demand, unstable global fuel prices, and the push for clean and reliable energy, revisiting nuclear power as part of the country’s energy mix is timely and relevant,’ he said at a campus forum in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

Martinez also said the electric cooperatives established in the 1970s enabled the electrification of the sitios in Ilocos Norte and the entire country, as ‘electrification was made a national priority through the creation of electric cooperatives.’

‘It was during the Marcos Administration that the foundation of INEC and other electric cooperatives was laid. This was a decisive move that brought power to rural communities that had long been left in darkness,’ Martinez said, stressing that the program was never just about electricity, but about economic development, improved livelihood, and bringing equity to the countryside.

Martinez closed his lecture with a strong commitment from INEC: ‘Progress is not complete until every light is lit, until every child can study at night, and every family can live in comfort. In this present chapter of INEC, we see the legacy of Apo Lakay alive: in the national pledge of his son; in the local initiatives of his daughter; and in the everyday victories of our cooperative.’

He added that INEC will continue ‘until every child has a light to study under at night; we will continue until every elderly person can live their remaining years with simple comfort.’

Kaa-Ataba Bridge in Rivers: Coming of Niger Delta’s longest bridge

For many decades, the people of Ataba and numerous surrounding communities in Andoni Local Government Area lived by the tide and were exposed to many hazards in agricultural production and health emergencies. That era is about to end, as NDDC prepares to commission the 1.2-kilometre Kaa-Ataba Bridge, described as the longest in the Niger Delta.

The project has moved from an abandoned promise to near completion in under 18 months. When the ribbon is cut, a journey that took hours by boat will take minutes by road.

A recent inspection of the bridge project confirms that the final alignments and pavement work are racing toward a month-end finish line, with commissioning eyed for November. This milestone signals a renewed operational philosophy for the NDDC: prioritising the conclusion of long-stalled legacy interventions over endless groundbreakings.

When Abubakar Momoh, the Minister of Regional Development, led an inspection of the project alongside Samuel Ogbuku, the NDDC Managing Director; Victor Antai, the Executive Director (Projects); and Ifedayo Abegunde, the Executive Director (Corporate Services), he affirmed that the bridge would soon open to traffic.

The Minister noted that the bridge project demonstrated the Federal Government’s determination to develop the Niger Delta region, and commended the NDDC leadership for responding appropriately to President Bola Tinubu’s directives to deliver impactful projects in the Niger Delta region.

L-R: Ifedayo Abegunde, the Executive Director, Corporate Services; Abubakar Momoh, the Minister of Regional Development; Samuel Ogbuku, NDDC Managing Director; and Victor Antai, the Executive Director, Projects; during the inspection of the 1.2 km Kaa-Ataba Bridge in Rivers State. L-R: Ifedayo Abegunde, the Executive Director, Corporate Services; Abubakar Momoh, the Minister of Regional Development; Samuel Ogbuku, NDDC Managing Director; and Victor Antai, the Executive Director, Projects; during the inspection of the 1.2 km Kaa-Ataba Bridge in Rivers State.

Momoh assured that the road and bridge project would be completed and commissioned in November.

Also speaking during the inspection, Ogbuku reiterated the Commission’s commitment to the presidential mandate to change the narrative in Nigeria’s oil-producing region.

The NDDC boss restated the Commission’s commitment to the presidential mandate to complete all legacy projects in the Niger Delta region.

Antai said the project’s significance went beyond its engineering scale, reflecting the transformation under the current NDDC Board and Management. He described it as evidence of the Commission’s shift ‘from transactional to transformational,’ where projects are designed to create lasting economic and social impact for host communities.

He linked the bridge to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the Federal Government’s commitment to completing critical legacy projects and delivering infrastructure that connects communities and unlocks economic opportunities.

Ogbuku reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to completing legacy projects in line with the presidential mandate, noting that adverse weather had slowed the movement of construction materials and contributed to delays.

He said that the bridge was part of NDDC’s push to link riverine and hinterland communities in the Niger Delta, noting: ‘For residents, it is more than concrete and steel. It is access to schools, hospitals, and markets that were previously cut off for half the year.’

Ogbuku appealed to communities in the area to protect the legacy infrastructure. Recall that at the flag-off of the reconstruction of Sapele-Benin in Delta State recently, the NDDC boss assured: ‘We will not be on this site for too long.’ The same urgency is driving the Kaa-Ataba Bridge to the finish line.

Giving technical details of the project, Antai said the landmark project comprises a two-kilometre double-lane road with two bridges, including the 1.2-kilometre main bridge linking Kaa in Khana Local Government Area with Ataba in Andoni Local Government Area.

He explained that the Kaa-Ataba Bridge project comprised two bridges, stating: ‘The first bridge has 57 piers, while the second bridge, which is 250 metres, has 15 piers.’

He added that the bridge would link communities long separated by waterways, reduce reliance on boat transport, ease the movement of agricultural produce, boost trade, and improve access to schools, healthcare and other essential services. It would also open an additional route toward Bonny Island, expanding economic opportunities across Rivers State and the wider Niger Delta.

Christian Emeozor, an engineer and Managing Director of the contracting firm, Christian Emeozor, said work on the bridge has reached 95 per cent completion and promised to deliver the project within a few weeks.

For members of the benefiting communities, better days are here. Idan-Owaji Erasmus, the second-in-command to the Paramount Ruler of Ataba Kingdom in Andoni Local Government Area, applauded the NDDC for executing the project, noting that it would enhance social and economic activities in the local communities.

He assured the NDDC that his people would cooperate with the contractor to ensure the project was completed on schedule.

A community leader in Ataba, James Akpotor, put it simply: ‘We have buried people waiting for boats. We have lost perishable farm produce because we couldn’t cross. This bridge means our children can go to school and come back safely.’

The NDDC has tied infrastructure to agriculture in its mandate. The Kaa-Ataba Bridge sits on a corridor that feeds Bori, Port Harcourt, and beyond with farm produce. Right now, post-harvest loss is high. Perishables rot waiting for boats. Input costs are high because fertiliser and seedlings must also come by boat. With the bridge, trucks will roll in. Middlemen will disappear. Prices will drop.

The NDDC says the project aligns with its goal to ‘enhance food security and poverty reduction in the states under its purview.’ It also supports the larger Agric Summit plan where NDDC is pushing for ‘regional agricultural integration’ across the nine Niger Delta states.

The Kaa-Ataba Bridge reflects a shift in how NDDC is delivering projects. After years of delays, the current board prioritised completing legacy projects. Instead of commissioning for optics, NDDC is linking roads and bridges to economic corridors; farms to markets, islands to cities.

A commercial motorcycle rider in Kaa, Johnbull Shedrack, said: ‘Now we carry passengers to the waterside and wait. When this bridge opens, we will ride straight to Ataba and charge half the fare, and our business will double.’

Edna Ikuru, a fish seller in Ataba, said: ‘My fish will reach the urban markets fresh. No more ice, no more losses. God will bless the NDDC leadership for giving us this bridge.’

The Niger Delta is crisscrossed by rivers that both sustain and separate its people. For decades, development for two local governments in Rivers State stopped at the water’s edge. With Kaa-Ataba, NDDC is saying that development must cross the river too.

Beyond concrete and asphalt, the economic implications are profound. The bridge creates an unfettered artery directly into Andoni’s rich terrain, vastly improving logistics for the fishing settlements, reducing post-harvest and catch spoilage, and introducing land-based security against maritime piracy. It also establishes a strategic alternative economic gateway toward Bonny Island and neighbouring Akwa Ibom.

The Kaa-Ataba Bridge is one of several legacy infrastructure projects the NDDC has prioritised for completion under its current Board and Management, as part of a broader push to close out long-delayed interventions across the nine Niger Delta states.

As the final asphalt layers roll out across the spans of the Kaa-Ataba crossing, the isolation of Andoni’s riverine landscape recedes into history. For the people of Rivers State, the long wait is finally meeting the horizon of modern connectivity.