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As part of efforts to curb air pollution and promote environmental sustainability, the Health Services and Environment Secretariat (FCT) is mobilising young people, especially students in secondary and tertiary institutions, to take the lead in protecting the environment for future generations.

The initiative, convened by Ms Daniella Olayinka, a young Rotaractor (Rotaract Club of Omole Golden, District 9111) and behavioural advocate, will involve visits to schools and campuses across the FCT to educate students on environmental protection and the upcoming ‘Breathe Clean Air Abuja’ project.

Declaring the youth-focused advocacy campaign open in Abuja on Monday, the Mandate Secretary, Dr Dolapo Fasawe, announced that the Secretariat is collaborating with Rotaract Clubs in the territory.

According to her, the select clubs, the Rotaract Clubs of Maitama, Apo and Wuse II, along with other stakeholders, were aimed at sensitising young people on the dangers of air pollution and the importance of adopting clean energy solutions, with members of these clubs expected to join the outreach efforts to further expand the campaign’s reach and impact among young people.

‘We recognise the critical role of young people as agents of change, especially on issues that affect our planet. That’s why we are partnering with the Education Secretariat and other stakeholders to ensure students are included in this important campaign,’ Fasawe stated.

The campaign will employ interactive and creative approaches to engage the youth, including competitions, debates, poem recitations, talent hunts, social media challenges, and the formation of environmental clubs. These activities aim to inspire environmental responsibility, promote behavioural change, and encourage innovation among students. Incentives and prizes will also be given to outstanding participants to further motivate their involvement.

The campaign will focus on raising awareness about the dangers of charcoal and firewood stoves, encouraging the switch to cleaner cooking methods using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and promoting habits that protect the environment from pollution and hazardous substances.

The Breathe Clean Air Abuja project, scheduled for launch on November 13, is a flagship public-private partnership initiative under the FCTA. It aims to replace traditional firewood stoves with gas stoves and reach over 5,000 households across the six area councils of the FCT, particularly in underserved communities.

Speaking on behalf of the youth, Ms Olayinka reaffirmed their readiness to support the Secretariat in spreading awareness and inspiring behavioural change. She highlighted key focus areas such as tree planting, carpooling, switching to LPG, avoiding open burning of refuse, and promoting the use of eco-friendly products.

The project’s theme, ‘Renewing Hope, One Household at a Time’, reflects FCTA’s commitment to building a healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable Abuja through youth-driven advocacy and community engagement.

The Lagos State Government is set to launch the Telecommunication Infrastructure Regulatory System (TIRS), saying the move is aimed at ensuring enhanced transparency and accountability in infrastructure development.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), Prince Oyekanmi Elegushi, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday, noting that the system would help ensure all telecommunication infrastructure deployments in the state adhere to established regulations and standards.

Elegushi said the TIRS, which is designed to streamline the permit application process for telecom infrastructure projects within Lagos State, would be launched in February 2026, pointing out that the initiative represents a significant milestone in optimising permit processes and enhancing regulatory compliance in the state.

‘The implementation of the Telecommunication Infrastructure Regulatory System (TIRS) is expected to significantly enhance transparency and accountability, minimising human interaction by 99 per cent.

‘To this effect, companies are expected to apply for permits for infrastructure such as masts, towers and rights-of-way for fibre optic cables online, reducing the need for physical visits,’ he said.

The LASIMRA boss stated that a comprehensive training programme had been conducted for all departments and units within the agency, providing officers with an in-depth understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of the TIRS.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to fostering a thriving and sustainable business environment for all operators and stakeholders, assuring that the launch of TIRS would further reinforce this objective.

The Federal Government has expressed its determination to reposition the Nigerian University system and restore its old glory were many of the institutions would rank among the 100 to 200 top universities in the world.

Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa disclosed this ambitious agenda of the government on Monday in Abuja, where he formally inaugurated the African Centres of Excellence (ACE) Alliance, designed as an umbrella body for all 20 African Centres of Excellence being hosted in 17 Nigerian universities.

Recall that in 2014, the first phase of the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) was launched as a regional World Bank-supported higher education programme designed to promote regional specialisation among participating universities within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Agriculture, and Health thematic areas.

Nigeria hosts the highest number of the Centres under ACE Impact, with 17 Centres focused on areas including maternal and child health, cybersecurity, sustainable power, dryland agriculture, food security, and digital science.

The project was conceived by the World Bank in partnership with participating governments, the Association of African Universities (AAU) and co-funded by Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

Following a 10-year run, the ACE Project officially closed on 30 June 2025 and to ensure that its gains are sustained and scaled, the National Universities Commission (NUC) conceived the idea of the ACE Alliance to provide a platform for consolidating the collaborative efforts of the ACE, harmonising stakeholder engagement, and sustaining the momentum of the project’s development impact.

Speaking at the official launch of the ACE Alliance and unveiling of the ACE compendium, the education minister highlighted remarkable achievements of the ACE project and its contribution to the internationalization of education in Nigeria.

‘From the report before me, the Nigerian ACs have attracted students and faculty across Africa, fostering cross border knowledge exchange and positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for excellence.

‘This aligns with a broader agenda to integrate Nigeria into the global education data system, ensuring that our institutions are recognized and ranked amongst the best worldwide.

‘A lot of work needs to be done, and I can tell you, we have a government that is serious and supportive about bringing back our institution to the old glories, where many Nigerian universities can be ranked among the top 100 to 200 universities in the world,’ Alausa stated.

He added that the ACE project has therefore positioned Nigeria not only as a consumer, but also as a provider of high-quality transnational education.

Earlier in his overview of key achievements of the ACE project in Nigeria, the National Project Coordinator, Dr. Joshua Atah, disclosed that in terms of revenue, Nigerian ACEs have earned $145.2 million through Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs).

In addition, he said the Centres have collectively generated more than 3.9 billion, $46.3 million, pound 1,78 million, and 12.6 million from local and international sources, reflecting progress toward sustainability and entrepreneurship.

‘These earnings were invested in the development of the centres/their host institutions, scholarships, publications, national and international accreditation, benchmarking, and many other indicators, in accordance with the World Bank’s guidelines,’ Atah stated

On academic enrolment, he revealed that so far, about 45,160 students have been enrolled in the ACEs’ programmes, comprising both national and international students.

He explained that this figure includes 1,402 international students (422 female, 980 male) and 9,639 national students (3,980 female, 5,659 male).

He added that graduate-level enrolment includes 10,810 students (covering both MSc and PhD students while 27,297 participants have completed short professional and technical courses.

On regional integration, the ACE project Coordinator disclosed that the Nigerian ACEs have attracted students from countries including The Gambia, Ghana, Niger, Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Mali, Sierra Leone, Chad, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Malawi, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, and Kenya, saying this enhances the host universities’ profiles in terms of internationalisation of higher education and regional integration.

‘The Centres have produced 6,615 graduates to date (1,596

PhD and 5,028 MSc). More than 5285 faculty and students have also completed industry-focused internships, strengthening the academia-industry link

‘Nigerian ACEs have produced 4,237 publications in recognised journals. These publications involved both faculty and students, a significant number of them co-authored with regional collaborators. This underscores research-led capacity building,’ he stated.

The Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu said the story of the ACE Project is a story of transformation; not only of institutions, but of mindsets and possibilities, saying this has shown that when vision meets commitment, and when partnership meets accountability, African universities can lead Africa’s development agenda.

A 32-year-old man, Anthony Williams from Peterborough, has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder after a stabbing on a London-bound train, the British Transport Police said on Monday.

He also faces charges of actual bodily harm and possession of a knife in connection with the incident, which occurred on Saturday evening.

According to the police, Williams was additionally charged with another count of attempted murder and possession of a knife over a separate incident in London earlier that same day.

Tracy Easton of the Crown Prosecution Service said the investigation involved ‘a huge volume of evidence including CCTV.’

‘We know the devastating impact the events on Saturday’s train has had and how the incident shocked the entire country. Our thoughts remain with all those affected,’ she said.

Williams is expected to appear in court in Peterborough later.

Ten people were taken to hospital after the attack, with four later discharged. One of the victims, a rail staff member who tried to intervene, remains in a life-threatening condition.

The Federal Government has announced a new initiative to train 20 content creators to help promote accurate and balanced information about Nigeria’s new tax reform laws.

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, made this known in a post on X on Monday.

The programme, tagged ‘Influencing for Good,’ encourages Nigerians to nominate content creators who are already educating their audiences about the tax reforms or those they would like to see take up the role.

Tribune Online reports that President Bola Tinubu had, in June, signed into law four major tax reform bills. The bills are: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.

According to Oyedele, the top 20 creators with the most nominations will be selected for a special training to help them share factual and useful tax information with their followers.

Nominations of content creators for the training are scheduled to close on 9 November 2025.

He wrote, ‘?????????????????????? ?????? ????????

‘Nominate a content creator who’s been educating their audience about Nigeria’s new tax reform laws or someone you’d like to see do so.

‘We’ll be selecting the top 20 creators with the most nominations for a special training to help them share accurate, balanced, and useful tax information with their followers.

‘Misinformation spreads fast, often to the author’s benefit but to the audience’s loss. Accurate information may travel slower, but it empowers everyone, and earns lasting trust.

‘Tag or mention your favourite influencer to nominate or fill the nomination form forms.gle/15kyv1ffx7tzTL.. Nomination closes on 9 November 2025.’

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of citizens as it highlighted recent successes recorded in the ongoing onslaught against terrorists and criminal elements.

This comes as the government dismissed recent claims by the United States suggesting that Christians in Nigeria are facing genocide, describing the allegation as false, misleading, and a reflection of failed intelligence.

The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the government’s position known during the National Joint Security Press Briefing held in Abuja on Monday.

He said the U.S. intelligence community has a record of flawed judgments, citing the failed interventions in Iraq and Libya as examples of how unreliable intelligence assessments can lead to costly missteps.

‘It is disappointing that after commending Nigeria just a few weeks ago for neutralizing one of the world’s most wanted terrorists, the U.S. would turn around to list our country as a ‘Country of Particular Concern.’

‘There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria. What we have are attacks on Nigerians – both Christians and Muslims , by criminal elements and terrorists that our security forces are actively combating,’ Issa-Onilu said.

He urged Washington to scrutinize its sources carefully and not fall for the antics of individuals or groups sowing seeds of division for political or personal gain.

The NOA boss emphasized that Nigeria remains committed to promoting democracy, protecting human rights, and partnering with any country willing to support its ongoing battle against terrorism and banditry.

Presenting data from the October 2025 National Security Review, Issa-Onilu revealed significant progress across various sectors.

According to him, the number of major suspect arrests rose from 42 in September to 56 in October – a 33 percent increase attributed to stronger intelligence coordination. Rescues of abducted victims climbed from 19 to 27, while fatalities from violent crimes dropped by 12 percent, from 210 to 185, within the same period.

‘These figures show that security operations are becoming more proactive, driven by better intelligence and faster response times,’ he said.

Issa-Onilu added that cross-border interventions increased from four to seven incidents, underscoring growing synergy between the military, police, and intelligence services.

The NOA boss also reported progress in the government’s anti-corruption and transparency efforts, noting that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) recovered ?840 million and $919,000 in October alone, and secured two convictions.

Similarly, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recorded ?566.3 billion and $411.6 million in total recoveries over two years, with 1,502 properties forfeited.

Portions of the recovered funds, he noted, have been reinvested into national initiatives such as the Students Loan Scheme and the Consumer Credit Scheme.

‘This reflects the Renewed Hope Accountability Framework, ensuring every kobo recovered works for Nigerians,’ Issa-Onilu stated.

He also highlighted notable performances across several agencies. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) seized over 70 containers of counterfeit and unsafe goods in Lagos and Onitsha. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) dismantled 14 drug syndicates, arrested 1,378 suspects, and secured 251 convictions.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), he said, rescued 76 victims of human trafficking and processed 15,000 visa applications through a new digital platform, while the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) recorded a 12 percent decline in fatal road crashes following intensified ‘Ember Months’ campaigns.

‘These results confirm a steady upward curve in our national safety indicators,’ Issa-Onilu said, commending security agencies for their professionalism and commitment.

The NOA DG also underscored the importance of public communication in national security, revealing that the agency’s outreach campaigns between August and October reached over 32 million Nigerians across broadcast and digital channels.

‘Our message is simple: trust is Nigeria’s strongest security asset. In today’s digital era, accurate information saves lives; misinformation costs them,’ he said.

He appealed to citizens to remain vigilant, verify information before sharing, and cooperate with security agencies to ensure peace and stability.

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has urged West African nations to strengthen regional collaboration in building shared digital infrastructure and governance systems to promote economic integration and digital sovereignty across the sub-region.

Abdullahi made the call on Monday during the second West African Digital Governance Forum (WADGov) held in Abuja, which gathered representatives from 15 West African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal.

The forum was jointly organised by the United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), and supported by the German Development Agency (GIZ).

According to NITDA, the annual initiative promotes dialogue among West African countries and aims to establish shared standards for regional digital cooperation.

In his keynote address, Abdullahi emphasised that Africa must move beyond adopting technology to designing inclusive and citizen-focused digital ecosystems.

He said, ‘We are grateful to host the second meeting of the West African Digital Governance Forum. Our goal is to use technology to deliver quality services to our citizens, to build trust, and to help them get a delightful experience while consuming government services and other digital offerings.’

He noted that digital services in Africa are often routed through Europe or the U.S., stressing the need for regional ‘digital bridges’ that will enable seamless exchange of data and innovation.

‘Why can’t we build that digital collaboration within ourselves, so we can easily exchange services with our neighbours without routing through other parts of the world?’ he asked.

Abdullahi also underscored the importance of digital sovereignty, stating, ‘Whoever controls your data controls your future. The only way for us to control our economy and our destiny is to control our data and build our own digital infrastructure.’

He highlighted Nigeria’s efforts toward this goal, including the National Digital Literacy Framework, the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, and Project Bridge, which seeks to expand fibre connectivity nationwide.

Also speaking, Arpine Korekyan, Governance and Public Administration Officer at UN DESA, praised Africa’s progress in digital transformation but cautioned against challenges such as affordability gaps and policy fragmentation.

‘Digital transformation must remain human-centred, empowering people, enhancing participation, and leaving no one behind,’ she said.

A GIZ representative, Eva Scholtes, described WADGov as a crucial platform for sustainable partnerships. ‘This transformation is unstoppable, but without good governance, it risks deepening inequalities,’ she warned.

The Director of UNU-EGOV, Prof. Delfina Soares, said the forum forms part of a broader Global Forum on Digital Governance linking Africa and Asia. ‘The question before us is not merely how to digitalise government, but how to govern digitalisation,’ she said.

Launched in 2023, the West African Digital Governance Forum seeks to harmonise policies and foster collaboration on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data sovereignty, infrastructure development, and digital inclusion all seen as vital to the continent’s long-term digital and economic resilience.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that Christians are being killed in Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Wike described the allegation of genocide as ‘politics taken too far.’

‘It is an indictment that a government I am serving, anybody will allege that that government is supporting genocide, killing of Christians and I am still in that government.

‘This is politics taken too far. The Inspector General of Police is a Christian, the Director General of the Department of State Services is a Christian, the Chief of Defence (Staff) is a Christian.

‘Tell me how any right-thinking person will think that we will sit in a government and support the killing of our own people?’ he queried.

Wike noted that the killing of any Nigerian, regardless of religion, brings no joy to any responsible leader.

This is coming after United States President, Donald Trump, in a post on his Truth Social account, instructed the U.S. War Department to prepare for a possible action in Nigeria.

He accused the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to what he described as the ‘mass slaughter of Christians’ across the country.

Trump warned that the United States would immediately halt all aid and assistance to Nigeria if the attacks on Christians continue.

He also indicated that America might intervene militarily to eliminate what he called ‘Islamic terrorists’ responsible for the killings.

‘If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,’ Trump wrote.

He further stated, ‘I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!’

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and Meta Platforms, Inc., on Monday informed a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that they have amicably settled the dispute on the $32.8 million fine imposed against the latter by the regulatory agency.

At the last sitting on the matter on October 31, parties informed the court that they will be filing terms of settlement in the matter at the next adjourned date, which was Monday, November 3, 2025.

When the matter was called on Monday, counsel to Meta Platforms, Inc., Fred Onuobia, SAN, informed the court that the plaintiff and the respondents had reached a settlement in the matter and had filed the terms of settlement before the court on October 31, 2025.

The senior lawyer prayed the trial Judge, Justice James Omotosho, to accept the terms of settlement as the judgment of the court.

NDPC’s lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, confirmed Onuobia’s submission and urged the court to enter judgment on the terms of settlement parties filed before the court.

Justice Omotosho, in a ruling, held that, ‘Terms of settlement reached by parties in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/355/2025 dated October 30, 2025 and filed on October 31, 2025, having been agreed by all the parties, is hereby entered as the judgment of the court in this suit’.

The judge commendedthe parties for the terms of settlement, which he said had saved the judicial time of the court.

The NDPC had, on February 18, imposed both a remedial fee of 32,800,000 million US dollars and eight corrective orders against Meta Inc.

The company was alleged to have violated the fundamental privacy rights of its Nigerian users with respect to behavioural advertising on Facebook and Instagram.

Dissatisfied with the action, Meta Platforms Inc., in a motion ex-parte dated and filed on February 26, dragged the regulatory agency to court as the sole respondent.

In the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/355/2025 and moved by Fred Onuobia, SAN, on March 4, Justice Omotosho granted leave to Meta to commence proceedings by way of judicial review seeking, inter alia, an order of certiorari quashing the compliance and enforcement orders dated February 18 issued by NDPC against the company.

Meta platform urged the court to nullify ‘all other investigations, proceedings and actions taken by the respondent against the applicant leading to the final orders.’

The judge, however, refused to grant Meta’s relief seeking a stay of the proceedings of all matters relating to the ‘Final Orders’ issued by NDPC against it, pending the hearing and determination of the judicial review proceedings. Instead, the judge made an order of accelerated hearing of the suit.

But NDPC, in a preliminary objection filed by its lawyer, told the court that the suit was incompetent and the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the same.

The regulatory agency, in its objection filed on April 11, urged the court to either strike out or dismiss the case.

Adedipe, in two grounds of argument, submitted that the originating summons filed by the company is incompetent for non-compliance with the mandatory provision of Order 34 Rule 6(1) of the FHC (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019.

Quoting the provision, the lawyer said: ‘No ground shall be relied upon or any relief sought at the hearing, except the grounds and reliefs sought in the statement’ and also argued that the suit, as presently constituted, is grossly incompetent and academic, the reliefs sought therein not being capable of activating the jurisdiction of the court.

‘The suit is liable to be struck out/dismissed, in limine,’ Adedipe had argued.

The fine against Meta came as one of the measures by the NDPC to protect Nigerians’ data under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.

As Edo Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, marks his first anniversary in office, the state government says it administration has delivered impressive results across key sectors – from roads and education to healthcare and civil service reforms – far exceeding public expectations.

Addressing journalists in Benin City, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said the Governor’s one-year performance has silenced critics and restored confidence in the state’s leadership.

Afegbua disclosed that a colloquium would be held as part of the anniversary celebration to examine the administration’s progress and challenges, with guest speakers drawn from within and outside the state to chart a clear path for the government’s second year in office.

He maintained that Governor Okpebholo has ‘outperformed his detractors,’ adding that the Governor inherited a decayed system contrary to public belief that Edo was already an Eldorado under the previous administration.

The Information Commissioner accused the immediate past government in Edo of massive mismanagement, particularly in the education sector.

He described the EdoBEST initiative as a ‘conduit pipe’ used to drain the state’s resources, alleging that consultants were paid ?160 million monthly from 2018 to 2024 without visible improvements in schools.

Afegbua noted that the Okpebholo administration has begun reclaiming the education system, with over 60 schools currently undergoing reconstruction.

‘One of the most remarkable is the Army Day Secondary School in Benin, which was rebuilt within eight weeks,’ he said.

He also revealed that 60 primary healthcare centres and several general hospitals across the state have been refurbished and reopened, part of what he described as the administration’s aggressive investment in public health.

On manpower development, Afegbua said the government has integrated 5,000 teachers and 500 civil servants into the state workforce to rebuild the public service.

‘Before now, the civil service was a joke. Consultants and over 41 redundant agencies drained the state, but we have cleaned up the system,’ he declared.

Afegbua likened Edo State to a ‘badly accidented vehicle’ now being ‘panel-beaten back to shape’ by Governor Okpebholo.

‘Those who mocked him as a panel-beater forget that panel-beaters fix broken things. Edo’s broken system is being fixed under his watch,’ he stated.

He emphasized that the government has been firm in confronting cultism, kidnapping, and corruption, adding that the Governor ‘will continue to step on toes’ to restore sanity and accountability in governance.

On infrastructure, the Commissioner listed the Ramat Park Flyover and another at Dawson Street as major ongoing projects to ease traffic congestion in Benin City, while hinting at plans for a third flyover before the end of the administration’s second year.

He further mentioned ongoing rehabilitation of Sapele Road, Auchi Road, and other major highways in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Works, led by Dr. David Umahi, who has visited Edo multiple times at the Governor’s invitation.

According to Afegbua, the state is also adopting new construction technologies, including cement-cast road bases, to ensure longer-lasting road projects. ‘We are prioritizing quality over quantity,’ he added.

The Commissioner stressed that Governor Okpebholo’s first year was marked by transparency, adherence to due process, and fiscal discipline. ‘Edo was bleeding before we took over, but the Governor insists on doing things by the book,’ he said.

He concluded that with a full cabinet of 28 commissioners and new ministries aligned with federal structures, the administration is now fully equipped to accelerate development.

‘We are rebuilding Edo brick by brick, and the results are already visible across the state,’ Afegbua affirmed.