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The Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM) has lauded the Federal Government for various trainings and empowerment programmes for youths in the Niger Delta region.

National President of NDYM, Comrade Major Ekene in a statement said that the FG’s youth intervention programmes have helped in reducing all forms of criminalities in the region.

The group attributed the reduction in cases of militancy, youth restiveness, crude oil theft and all forms of economic sabotage in the region to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying youths of the area have never had it so good.

It thanked the Ministry of Regional Development for implementing the laudable initiatives of the Tinubu administration which has resulted in youths undergoing various life-changing skills acquisition trainings.

The statement reads in parts: ‘The Niger Delta Youth Movement, the umbrella body of all youth in the region, deeply appreciates the Ministry of Regional Development for it’s pragmatic training programmes.

‘We pledge our unalloyed solidarity to the continuity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidency for the genuine development policies, projects and programmes for the youths, women and the elderly.

‘The youths are passionate about the training, orientation and empowerment programmes under the able watch of Engr. Abubakar Momoh’s ministry of Regional Development.

‘The theoretical and practical knowledge of entrepreneurship and mentorship programmes by experienced scholars is really the way to go.

‘Reports indicate that some youths have started fish farming, palm oil/palm kernel, piggery businesses and some on cooperative societies, etc and are on the path to self-sufficiency.

‘As we look forward to 2025 training and empowerment programmes, we urge the youths to imbibe the entrepreneurship spirit.

‘Proper and methodological empowerment of the youths means reduction in crime and criminality including crude oil theft, economic sabotage, et al’.

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has reaffirmed commitment to women’s empowerment through technology, saying that when women are equipped with the right tools and knowledge, they become ‘agents of change in their families, communities, and the nation at large.’

She spoke at the formal closing ceremony of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI)/Huawei Women in Tech Training Programme, at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, where 300 women entrepreneurs drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country were trained in digital and technological skills.

In a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady described the programme as a digital empowerment initiative aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which seeks to promote inclusive growth, economic diversification, and digital transformation.

Encouraging the participants to sustain their learning momentum, Mrs Tinubu urged them to continuously adapt to emerging technologies and use their skills to drive innovation and social impact.

‘Although the training has ended, technology keeps changing. Your biggest strength is your ability to keep learning, evolving, and adapting to new trends available for your growth. Use your new skills to solve real problems in your various communities, because true innovation is only valuable when it improves lives,’ she advised.

The First Lady congratulated the beneficiaries, who came from diverse sectors including agriculture, fashion, catering, retail, event management, and technology services, noting that 24 participants were recognised as outstanding performers.

She expressed appreciation to Huawei Technologies Nigeria for partnering with the Renewed Hope Initiative to empower Nigerian women, adding that the federal government would continue to collaborate with the private sector to bridge technological gaps and foster women-led innovation.

‘The present administration will continue to do all it can to meet the technology and economic needs of its over 250 million population, especially with help from well-meaning corporate organisations such as Huawei. I charge you all to mentor others in your various businesses. Be a guide for young girls and women who think technology is not for them,’ she added.

Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, commended the initiative, saying it gives women a competitive edge in their businesses and careers.

‘ICT is the new way of doing things all over the world, and Nigerians cannot afford to be left behind,’ he said.

AManaging Director of Huawei Nigeria, Mr. Chris Lou, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for giving the company the opportunity to contribute to women’s economic and social development.

Certificates of participation were presented to the trainees by Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, Wife of the Deputy Senate President, Hajia Laila Barau, and Wife of the Kwara State Governor, Ambassador Dr. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, among others.

The event was attended by wives of state governors, members of the National Assembly, and heads of security agencies, underscoring the national significance of the initiative in advancing women’s inclusion in Nigeria’s digital economy.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Thursday confirmed that Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Force Intelligence, DIG Ben Okolo, is to lead the overall police team during Saturday’s Anambra governorship election.

Okolo is expected to coordinate all field operations in line with the strategic directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Olukoyode Egbetokun.

PSC also confirmed that Anambra State remains calm with security deployments already tightening across the state.

The Commission’s monitoring team, led by retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Taiwo Lakanu, has arrived in Awka on Thursday to oversee police performance and ensure professionalism during the poll.

According to the Head of Press and Public Relations, PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, the deployment follows the visit of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, whose two-day engagement with stakeholders in Anambra has begun yielding positive results.

Ani said the police officers on election duty have reportedly taken full control of strategic areas across the state, maintaining visible security presence to reassure residents and deter disruptions.

The Commission stated that its delegation to Anambra is acting within its constitutional mandate to promote credible elections by ensuring that the police, as the lead agency in internal security, perform optimally.

To strengthen accountability, the PSC also released a list of dedicated hotlines for residents and observers to report misconduct or commendable behaviour of officers during the election.

DIG Lakanu, who chairs the PSC Standing Committee on Police Matters, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting the police in protecting voters, officials, and election materials.

He emphasised that free, fair, and credible elections can only thrive in a secured and peaceful environment, and assured that the Commission would closely monitor compliance across all local government areas.

Ani said Commissioner of Police Abayomi Shogunle, recently deployed to coordinate the election, has designed a comprehensive operational manual to guide officers in ensuring order and transparency throughout the exercise.

The Police Service Commission reiterated its readiness to work with security agencies and election stakeholders to guarantee a peaceful and credible electoral process in Anambra State.

Edo State Government said it has begun reclaiming its cattle ranches from land grabbers in different parts of the state as part of its move revive ranches in the state.

It said anybody found to have sold parts of the ranches would be prosecuted in line with the Edo State Public Property Protection Law, 2025.

The law prescribed 10 years imprisonment for anyone who violently or forcefully entered into state-owned property.

Chairman, Edo State Public Property Protection Committee, Eugene Okoloise, said a special court would be set up to prosecute offenders.

Okoloise, who spoke at a briefing in Benin City, said many offenders have been identified to be prosecuted under the new law.

He said over 500 state-owned properties have been recovered from individuals since Governor Monday Okpebholo assumed office.

Okoloise vowed that there would be nk sacred cow in the bid to recover government properties.

He said: ‘Before now, there was no law empowering us to prosecute offenders. But now that the governor has signed this law, there will be no excuse. Anyone caught would be prosecuted in accordance with the law. And to this effect, the government has set up a special court to prosecute anyone who sells or encroaches on government property.

‘And I want to assure Edo people that anyone caught shall be prosecuted in accordance with the law, no matter how highly placed. We are not going to spare anyone or treat anyone especially for his or her status.

‘We are going to sensitise the general public including the rural dwellers that there is a new law to prosecute anyone that forcefully enters government property. I have plans of going round media houses to sensitise our people. Briefing you on the new law is part of the enlightenment campaign.’

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has withdrawn the two-count charge filed against Senator Andy Uba and Benjamin Etu.

The IGP had, in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024, accused Uba and Etu of obtaining N400million under false pretence from an Abuja businessman, George Uboh.

The IGP had alleged that Uba, Etu and Hajiya Fatima (said to be at large), sometimes in 2022, obtained ‘by false pretence, by making a presentation to Mr George Uboh that they had perfected ways for the appointment of the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to any interested persons who could afford N400 million.’

When the case was called on Thursday, prosecuting lawyer, Aminu Abdullahi told the court that he was willing to withdraw the charge.

Abdullahi said a notice of discontinuance been filed by the prosecution on the grounds that parties have settled.

He the defendants and the nominal complainant (Uboh) have amicably resolved all the issues in dispute, adding that Uba and Etu have repaid N400m involved in the charge to the nominal complainant.

The prosecuting lawyer the notice of discontinuance was filed pursuant to Section 108(5) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

He urged the court to terminate any further proceedings in the case forthwith.

Lawyer to the defendants, C.F. Odiniru, said he was aware of the prosecution’s notice of withdrawal and was not opposed to it.

Odiniru urged the court to dismiss the charge rather than striking it out in view of the fact that parties have settled.

He said his request for dismissal of the charge was in line with Section 108(3) of ACJA, 2015.

Ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar, allowed the notice of discontinuance nd proceeded to strike out the charge and discharged Uba and Etu.

Former governor of Anambra, Mr Peter Obi, has urged the INEC, the national electoral umpire, to ensure a credible governorship election in the state on Saturday.

Obi made the call on Wednesday while speaking with newsmen after a visit to the College of Nursing, Adazi Nnukwu, in Anaocha Local Government Area (LGA).

He also visited the University on the Niger Teaching Hospital, Iyienu, Ogidi, in Idemili North LGA.

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate advised against vote-buying or other acts capable of compromising the outcome of the exercise.

He described the gubernatorial candidates as his friends whom he respects, but noted that his loyalty remained with his party’s candidate, Dr George Moghalu.

‘All those involved in the exercise, in one way or another, are my friends. I have respect for all of them.

‘But as a member of the Labour Party, I’m supporting my party’s candidate, though not to the extent of vote buying or any other malpractice.

‘Let everyone vote according to their conscience. All I want is a free, fair, and credible election,’ he said.

Reacting to the issue of state creation, Obi described the plan as unnecessary, stressing that what Nigeria needs is to function effectively as a nation.

‘Creation of states is not our problem. We need to make Nigeria work first, not keep creating more states, ministries, and other structures,’ he said.

Obi, who donated ?15 million each to the health institutions, said he had dedicated his life to uplifting humanity.

‘I believe life must have a purpose, and mine is to support people and uplift humanity. I go around Nigeria supporting schools because education and health are critical.

‘The key measure of development globally is life expectancy and Nigeria’s is just 54, among the lowest in the world.

‘We must invest in health and nurses are the human capital for that investment,’ he said.

Obi commended the proprietor of the College and Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Thursday approved two major external loan facilities totalling $396 million to support critical humanitarian and health projects in Nigeria’s northern region.

FEC also approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on ‘Detty December’, a new federal initiative aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leading global destination for end-of-year tourism and entertainment festivals.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, disclosed the approval for the loans while briefing journalists at the State House, Abuja, after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He said the first facility is a $300 million World Bank credit to support Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and host communities across several states in northern Nigeria.

The second approval is for a combined $96 million credit from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the African Development Bank (AfDB); $50 million and $46 million respectively, for the Sokoto Health Infrastructure Project, to which the Sokoto State Government will also contribute counterpart funding.

‘The $300 million World Bank credit is for internally displaced and host communities in various states in the North. The second approval is for the credit from the Islamic Development Bank and the African Development Bank for a total of $96 million to fund the Sokoto Health Infrastructure Project’, Edun explained.

The Minister described the projects as critical to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at addressing regional disparities, improving access to healthcare, and rebuilding communities affected by conflict and displacement.

Edun also briefed the Council on the state of the economy, noting that the latest data show a strong turnaround driven by reforms in the fiscal and monetary sectors.

‘As at the second quarter, the economy was well and truly turned around in terms of growth. Growth was accelerating – over 4.2 percent – while inflation was down to 18 percent,’ he said.

He attributed the recovery to the correction of market distortions, exchange rate stabilization, and improved investor confidence.

According to him, critical consumer spending indicators show that Nigerians are spending less of their income on essentials such as food, health, and transport than before.

‘People are now spending about 50 percent of their income on basic needs compared to 90 percent before. There is more affordability, and the cost of living is inching downwards,’ the minister noted.

Edun further highlighted Nigeria’s recent delisting from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, describing it as a ‘major institutional achievement’ that restores Nigeria’s standing in the global financial community and lowers the cost of cross-border transactions.

He said this milestone, combined with the recent oversubscription of Nigeria’s $2.35 billion Eurobond offer, which attracted $13 billion in bids, reflects global confidence in the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms.

‘Despite recent political headwinds, investors focused on the fundamentals of the Nigerian economy. We were prudent in our borrowing, not exceeding what was approved or budgeted. The oversubscription shows a resounding vote of confidence in Nigeria’, Edun said.

The Minister also cited Nigeria’s digital identity milestone as a tool for efficient social investment delivery, revealing that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has now issued National Identification Numbers (NINs) to 125 million Nigerians.

‘This gives the President and government the flexibility to directly reach and support citizens when needed, using verified biometric and digital systems,’ Edun explained.

He reaffirmed that the government’s reform programme is positioning Nigeria as ‘a stable and attractive investment destination,’ noting growing international interest in multiple sectors, including aviation and infrastructure.

‘The world is interested in good investments, and Nigeria is now proving to be a stable and attractive climate for such investors,’ the minister stated.

Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has announced that Council has approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on ‘Detty December’

Musawa said the Task Force will coordinate federal ministries, departments, and agencies to support Lagos State and other participating states in delivering world-class festival experiences during the ‘Detty December’ period – the popular month-long season of music, arts, and cultural celebrations.

She added that the initiative would serve as a catalyst for the creative and tourism industries, attracting private sector investment and branding Nigeria as a global cultural hub.

Musawa further revealed that the Council approved the establishment of Tourism and Cultural Economic Zones across the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory.

These zones, she said, will leverage regional strengths to promote unique cultural and tourism assets.

‘Every state, working together with the federal government, will project its cultural and tourism strengths. These zones will be modeled after global success stories like Cancun in Mexico and Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia,’ she stated.

The Minister also announced the adoption of national tourism brands such as Naija Season, a year-round celebration of Nigerian festivals developed by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), as official federal initiatives for tourism promotion.

Another major approval, she disclosed, was the establishment of the Presidential Council on Tourism Promotion and Investment, chaired by President Tinubu, with the Minister of Arts, Culture, and Tourism serving as vice chair.

The Council, which reactivates an earlier framework from 2023, will coordinate inter-ministerial efforts to attract investment and enhance Nigeria’s global image as a stable, peaceful, and united nation.

‘This Council will build Nigeria’s positive global image, showing our unity and stability to the world. A secretariat will be established in our ministry to drive this agenda’, Musawa said.

The minister also highlighted the FEC’s endorsement of the Intellectual Property (IP) Policy and Legal Framework, developed jointly by the Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment; Justice; and Arts, Culture, and Tourism.

The policy, she said, will enable creatives to use their intellectual property as collateral for financing and unlock private-sector funding for the creative industry.

‘This is a game-changer. It will allow our creatives to monetize their ideas, protect their works, and access credit based on their intellectual property. Bigger and better days are ahead for Nigeria’s creative economy’, Musawa said.

The arrival of online gaming to the internet was groundbreaking in casino gaming and other gaming and took off massively. Today, thousands each day log into an iGaming app or website to play one of the many popular niches in the industry, whether it’s sports betting, casino table games, fantasy sports betting, or other iGaming. Online slots are especially popular.

Past research in the UK has indicated iGaming is incredibly popular amongst 18- to 34-year-olds. Below is a look at why people in this age group enjoy iGaming so much, with a focus on online slots, and how the slots market could grow even bigger.

An age demographic that loves iGaming

Advances in technology are a huge driver of the popularity of slots and other iGaming. Three-quarters of the 18-to 34-year-old demographic in the UK conduct their iGaming on smartphones, compared to just 14% of players aged 65 and over. Mobile technology offers players major convenience, allowing them to play while on the move or wherever they are. This age demographic also uses a wider range of devices for their iGaming than the average.

Improved design and development

Mobile technology isn’t the only advance in technology that has made slots so appealing to younger players. Slots don’t just feature simple, spinning reels anymore. Technological innovation has allowed designers and developers to incorporate high-definition graphics and thrilling music into the slots. These make slots more engaging and a popular form of instant on-the-go entertainment, precisely what this demographic is looking for.

Variety

The wide variety of online slots available is another major factor in the popularity of slots with this demographic. Online slot themes draw from a pool of pop culture, including movies, TV shows, music artists, historical periods, artistic designs, and more. The huge variety of slots helps them appeal to different tastes and makes the demographic feel seen.

Part of this greater variety includes progressive slots, where the jackpot increases indefinitely until someone wins it. The stakes in progressive slots are higher, but anyone looking for a chance to win big may consider them. The rise in the popularity of online slots across Canada has resulted in a very saturated market, so Casino.org Canada review them and help their readers to find the best slots, considering plenty of criteria, including payout times, bonuses and win rate.

Simplicity for newcomers to iGaming

Whereas games such as Texas Hold’em poker are more strategic and involve lots of number crunching, and live table games in general are quite intimidating, online slots are straightforward. Although players can implement betting strategies to improve their chances of winning, games entail betting, pressing a button and waiting to see how the reels land. The outcome of spins is completely random, which adds to the engagement.

Social connections

Engagement from slots doesn’t just come from the game itself, but also the facility to share slot gaming experiences with friends or family. Today, slot players don’t have to just play slots. They can participate in challenges and more.

Online casino operators understand the power of iGaming to engage and connect people and have focused on integrating more social features into their offerings to facilitate communication and engagement between players. Leaderboards, scoring systems, and even chats can boost interactions, which benefits the casino because these features can increase the lifetime value of the player to the operator.

Bonuses, rewards and promotions

The bonuses, rewards, and promotions players can receive for playing slots are numerous. Players can receive free spins for signing up, and slots themselves feature bonus elements that can increase players’ winnings, such as bonus games, multipliers, scatter symbols, and more. Players can even receive rewards for sharing on social media or multipliers for crediting their accounts.

The future of online slots

The accessibility of online slots themselves, combined with the prowess of technology for driving growth in the market, means online slots will grow even bigger in both popularity and revenue.

The tech world is innovating constantly, and slots operators are keeping up with the trends. Although it’s relatively early still, virtual and augmented realities have begun to enter the online slots world as service providers try to meet players’ demands for more immersive experiences. VR offers real-time experiences, 3D graphics, and realistic environments, and players can play against other players and feel as if they were in a traditional casino.

This isn’t the only development. Online casinos are implementing AI and machine learning to understand player preferences, which allows them to personalize offerings and promotions for players and to recommend similar games players might enjoy. This will build further engagement with online casinos.

Online slots and other iGaming services are popular with the 18- to 34-year-old demographic because of their variety, convenience, and, in the case of slots, simplicity and the bonuses available. Advances in technology help slots to meet the demands of this tech-savvy demographic for instant entertainment they can enjoy while on the go, and further innovation is sure to happen and trigger extra growth in the online slots market as time goes by.

Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage has revealed that infidelity has never been a deal-breaker in her relationships.

During a recent interview, the singer and mother of one opened up about her romantic history, stating she has never cheated on a partner nor ended a relationship over cheating.

According to her, she only leaves relationships for grave issues like theft, drug abuse, or similar misconduct.

Tiwa acknowledged that people have indirectly stolen from her but emphasised that cheating alone does not justify ending a relationship.

She explained that partners who cheat often return with apologies and efforts to reconcile, which she typically accepts.

Being a public figure, her calm and non-confrontational personality, she said, makes it easier for partners to stray without public backlash.

She said: ‘No, never. And I have never left someone for cheating. I didn’t even leave him; he left me. Well, indirectly, yes. Even when they cheat, they’ll come back and apologize. That’s not a deal breaker for me. They get away with it because of my personality. I can’t come online to rant, and when I see them, I can’t react’.

The Senate on Thursday, cleared Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace, of allegations of negligence and drug use by its pilots over the July 13, 2024 runway incident at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

This followed an investigative hearing by the Senate Committee on Aviation, which reviewed the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB)’s preliminary report and found ‘serious inconsistencies and uncoordinated findings’ in its conclusions.

Committee Chairman, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North), said after the hearing on Thursday that the Senate’s review showed that the NSIB’s report contained contradictions that could damage Nigeria’s aviation reputation before international regulators if left unaddressed.

‘You can see that, unfortunately, most of those allegations are not true,’ Buhari said. ‘The report was disjointed and not coordinated. You don’t accuse people wrongly, especially in aviation, where ICAO and other international laboratories are monitoring us closely.’

The lawmaker disclosed that the NSIB had initially alleged drug use by several members of the Air Peace crew before later revising the claim to only two individuals, describing the process as ’embarrassing and poorly handled.’

Buhari commended Air Peace and other indigenous airlines for maintaining strict internal safety standards, including regular random drug and alcohol tests for crew members.

‘Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines are our own,’ he said. ‘We need to support them, not damage their reputation with unverified claims. The most important thing is that no lives were lost, and the aircraft suffered no damage. It was towed and later flown back safely to Lagos.’

The senator added that the committee’s forthcoming report would recommend reforms to improve the quality and coordination of aviation investigations in the country, emphasizing that the Senate’s objective was not to witch-hunt any operator but to strengthen public confidence and ensure aviation safety.

Buhari also hinted that the Senate might soon consider legislation compelling federal agencies and government officials to patronize Nigerian airlines for official trips as part of efforts to boost the local aviation industry.

Earlier, Air Peace Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Allen Onyema, appeared before the committee to defend the airline’s safety record.

He described the NSIB’s preliminary report and the public speculation it triggered as ‘unfair and damaging’ to the reputation of a proudly Nigerian airline that adheres to global safety standards.

‘I initially did not want to honour this invitation,’ Onyema said. ‘But on second thought, I came because the Senate members are our customers and have every right to be concerned about safety. I must, however, correct certain impressions created by the NSIB’s handling of this matter.’

He clarified that the aircraft involved in the incident suffered no mechanical faults and that the runway excursion resulted from human error.

‘The aircraft in question had no single damage. It flew back to Lagos the same day,’ Onyema said. ‘The pilot has flown for nearly 40 years-one of the most experienced in our fleet. He simply had a bad day. Unfortunately, the early report created confusion that made it seem as if the aircraft was faulty or the pilots were intoxicated.’

The Air Peace boss added that his company maintains a self-regulating culture even stricter than many foreign airlines, often grounding entire fleets when a potential anomaly is detected.

‘I once grounded eight aircraft in one day after discovering that a maintenance planner made a mistake on one of our ERJ planes,’ he recalled. ‘We could have hidden it, but we reported it ourselves to the NCAA. That is how seriously we take safety.’

Onyema warned that misleading narratives and sensational reports could harm Nigeria’s image before international aviation regulators and make local carriers targets of undue scrutiny abroad.

‘What we say here is being monitored globally,’ he said. ‘We must be careful not to impugn the integrity of our aviation agencies or destroy public trust in Nigerian airlines. Air Peace is one of the safest airlines in the world, not just in Nigeria.’

The session, which occasionally grew emotional, later went into a closed-door meeting to review confidential safety documents.

Before adjourning, Senator Buhari assured Onyema that the Senate’s interest was to safeguard travelers and Nigeria’s aviation image, not to indict any operator.

‘We are not here to destroy any business,’ he said. ‘Our concern is the safety of Nigerian travelers and the reputation of our aviation industry. The Air Peace incident has shown the need for coordinated reporting and factual communication. Once the final report is ready, it will be presented before the full Senate.’

With this, the Senate appears set to recommend a more transparent and collaborative framework for accident investigations, one that promotes accountability while protecting confidence in indigenous airlines regarded as vital to Nigeria’s transport and economic development.