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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said he got President Bola Tinubu’s permission to be absent during the Council of State meeting.

Prof. Joash Amupitan was nominated as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission during the meeting.

Wike stated this during the commissioning of the Access Roads in Sector Centre B, Dakibiyu District, in Abuja.

He dismissed as false and mischievous reports that he deliberately boycotted the meeting over dissatisfaction with the appointment of the new INEC.

‘On Thursday, we had a flag off and I told the Minister of State, FCT, to represent me at the Council of State meeting.

‘I had already told Mr President that I would not be available because of other engagements we had already put in place, and so, the honourable minister of state represented the FCT in that meeting.

‘We have to be careful when people carry unnecessary propaganda and blackmail. But in spite of those things, be focused; you will achieve your results.

‘They said I did not attend because I was not happy that my own nominee was not taken,’ he said.

Wike maintained that he works for President Tinubu and that his delivery of projects in the FCT has silenced the critics.

‘I work for Mr President. Mr President’s judgment, as far as I’m concerned, in this country has always been how to put this country in the right perspective.

‘Be focused. When you start delivering, the achievement will silence all critics. Today they have nothing again to say,’ he said.

Wike also commended President Tinubu for providing the right leadership, which according to him paved way for the achievements made by the FCT Administration.

‘I have always said, when you have the right leadership, you can achieve the expected results. President Tinubu, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has shown the right leadership.

‘People are talking about the achievements we have made. It is because we have the right leadership. When you have the right leadership, you get things right,’ he said.

A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Oyedele Alao, has slammed Governor Seyi Makinde’s recent criticism of Minister of Works David Umahi of ‘dancing around the cost’ on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

He described Makinde’s remarks as hypocrisy, alleging the governor must first account for his inflated road contracts before attacking anyone at the federal level.

A statement by Alao, an engineer, said the costs of roads by Makinde’s administration defied logic, accusing him of turning road construction into a cash-draining adventure that had produced some of the highest cost-per-kilometre projects.

He said: ‘These are not rumours; these are the governor’s own public figures. No civilised state should pay such outrageous sums without a clear Bill of Quantities or cost justification. Governor Makinde should publish the contracts.

‘Oyo people deserve to know where their money is going. Until the governor opens his books, he has no moral ground to lecture the Federal Government on transparency or efficiency.

‘As an engineer, I think the governor has an explanation to make on the roads and other infrastructural projects his administration has embarked on since 2019, most especially when the government has claimed it completed 14 road projects, totalling 224.32 kilometres between May 2023 and May 2025.

‘Leadership is by example, not about grandstanding or media drama. Makinde should clean up his own administration before pointing accusing fingers at others. The people of Oyo State are watching, and history will not be kind to those who squander public trust.’

The federal government on Wednesday cautioned the operators in the renewable energy space not to depend on importation for the provision of electricity.

Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu’s chief technical adviser, Adebayo Owoloniyi, made the warning in a panel session at the Nigerian Renewable Energy Innovation Forum (NREIF) 2025 in Abuja.

The forum was organised by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

According to him, providing access to energy with reliance on importation will deny Nigeria industrialization and job creation.

‘One thing we must not do is to drive the provision of access through importation because that would ensure that we are actually not industrializing and providing jobs for our people,’ he said.

He also said the provision of energy should be linked to industrialization, since people consume additional energy to add capacity.

The Chief Technical Adviser insisted that the energy must not only create jobs it must also increase income for the citizenry.

He revealed that the ministry focuses on local content with the Nigeria First policy.

He advised that the federal government’s electricity subsidy should be deployed to the kind of procurement that can advance industrialization and be beneficial to the people.

The Panel Moderator, Rumndaka Wonodi, had recalled that in 2024, there was a release of $2.1trillion investment in the renewable energy space from which Africa got only $40 billion, representing 2% of the total sum.

Wonodi, who was the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) company pioneer Managing Director, noted that Africa is still lagging behind with the deployment of 6GW since last year.

He called on the panelists to deliberate on how Nigeria can unlock its investment potential in the renewable energy sector.

He urged the panelists to brainstorm on how to take advantage of the energy gap.

‘Our forum is charting the course and prioritizing actions for the government. We are going to look at government coordination in the Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs),’ said the moderator.

On his part, the InfraCorp, Dr. Lazarus Aganzo, said there is a lack of equity in funding for local investors, adding that the inability to access funding in local currency portends danger, as funding through foreign currency is not sustainable.

‘So in essence, what Infracorp is really focused on trying to do across the different infrastructure verticals, not just the energy one, is to create a market support for sustainable investments in the infrastructure space.’

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajuddeen Abbas, said the house has done a lot on local content, manufacturing, and access to finance for renewable energy equity funds, credit guarantees, and consensual financing for manufacturers to have access to funds and the ability to pay for a long period of time.

He added that renewable energy courses will be integrated into the universities and polytechnics.

The founder of One Love Family, Sat Guru Maharaj Ji, has advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other northern politicians to abandon their 2027 presidential ambitions and allow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete his eight-year tenure.

In a statement on Wednesday, Maharaj Ji said Atiku’s persistent quest for the presidency has become excessive, describing it as ‘a car without brakes.’

He added that the former vice president’s desperation has made him deaf to the voices of reason.

He called on political leaders from the North, particularly members of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), to intervene and persuade Atiku to shelve his ambition in the interest of national peace and equity.

‘The silence of Northern leaders, especially the NEF members like Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and David Mark, as well as Northern youths and traders, amounts to encouraging political rascality,’ Maharaj Ji said.

He warned that allowing Atiku to contest in 2027 would amount to an attempt to ‘rob the South of its rightful eight-year tenure,’ which began in 2023 under President Tinubu.

‘It is either Atiku is stopped from contesting in 2027 or the 2031 presidential election should be open to all regions,’ he added.

Maharaj Ji maintained that the South must be allowed to complete its two-term cycle, just as the North did under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

‘What is good for the goose is good for the gander,’ he stated, urging Northern leaders to apply the same level of support they gave Buhari in ensuring Tinubu’s administration completes its tenure for the sake of peace, progress, and stability.

‘I reiterate that Atiku has no business aiming to contest the forthcoming 2027 presidential election! He does not have the love that creates intelligence, dignity, and respect for such a position.

‘And if he insists he does, he will be taught a special lesson by The Light Forces that have saved Nigeria from being set ablaze by the Atikus, Ndume Babachin, David Mark, El Rufais, Kwankwaso, Modu Sheriffs of Boko Haram, Miyetti Allah, etc., and their trainee religious sycophants and stealocrats like Aregbe, Amaechi, Tanbulwal.’

The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to investigate why the government-funded modular refinery in Brass, Bayelsa state, has failed to commence despite an investment of about 35 million dollars in the project.

This followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Billy Osawaru (APC, Edo), alleging that despite the investment, there is nothing on the ground to suggest that the government has made such a huge investment.

In view of the motion, the House directed its committee on Downstream and Midstream to investigate the circumstances surrounding these huge financial commitments to the tune of $35m, with nothing on the ground to suggest such a huge investment.

Leading the debate on the motion, Osawaru argued that an increased revenue base for the nation reduces the pressure on the foreign exchange regime and lowers the debt burden, especially as it relates to budget financing.

According to him, it was in the light of the above that the Buhari administration graciously embarked on the need to encourage the funding of modular refineries in the Niger Delta region.

He maintained that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, indigenous refining has been identified as a key driver of energy independence, job creation, and industrial revitalization.

He said the key objective of the present administration is to ensure energy security through improved oil production output in order to increase the Nation’s revenue base, and that every available opportunity has been geared towards this objective.

He explained that sometime in 2020, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) invested the sum of Thirty-Five Million Dollars ($35 million) in Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited – a modular refinery to be located in Brass, Bayelsa State.

He expressed concern that despite this huge investment of $35 million dollars which is more than N50 billion and enough to fund fundamental components of the national budget, the proposed modular refinery was never set up, adding that there is nothing on the ground to show that such a huge financial commitment had been made.

He disclosed that despite the move by the House to unravel the mystery behind this wastage by mandating its relevant committee to investigate the monumental economic sabotage, nothing has been heard in respect of the subject matter.

He said, ‘In May 2024, a stakeholder submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) urging the anti-graft organization to probe the multi-million dollar investments made by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) among which was the Atlantic Refinery project; and that despite this noble move by the said stakeholder, nothing has been heard about this profound national waste almost a year ago’.

He said the continued inactivity of this Brass modular refinery project raises significant questions about the management of public funds and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms in Nigeria.

Cameroon’s opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary claimed victory early yesterday in the Oct. 12 presidential election, urging President Paul Biya, who has been in power for over four decades, to concede.

‘Our victory is clear, it must be respected,’ Tchiroma said in a video statement on Facebook, calling on Biya to ‘accept the truth of the ballot box’ or ‘plunge the country into turmoil.’

Elections Cameroon, the independent body in charge of overseeing the poll, and the constitutional court have not yet announced any results. Official results are expected at the latest by Oct. 26.

Biya’s Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement party rejected Tchiroma’s claim yesterday.

Gregoire Owona, the deputy secretary-general of the CPDM, said the opposition candidate did not win and does not have the results from the polling stations.

Tchiroma said he will share a detailed report of the votes by region in the coming days.

Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji warned last week that any unauthorised release of results would be deemed ‘high treason,’ saying only the Constitutional Council can declare a winner.

The 76-year-old opposition candidate was a government spokesperson and minister of employment under Biya but quit the government last year to launch his presidential run. His campaign drew large crowds and backing from a coalition of opposition parties and civic groups.

Analysts have predicted a victory for Biya, 92, as the opposition remained divided and his strongest rival was barred from running in August. Eleven opposition candidates were on the ballot for the Oct. 12 election.

Biya is the world’s oldest president. He has been in power since 1982, nearly half his lifetime, making him Cameroon’s second president since independence from France in 1960.

During Biya’s decades in power, the Central African nation of nearly 30 million people has struggled with challenges from a deadly secessionist movement in the west and chronic corruption that has stifled development despite rich natural resources like oil and minerals.

Around 8 million voters were eligible to vote in Cameroon’s election, which uses a single-round electoral system that awards the presidency to the candidate with the most votes.

During the last presidential election in 2018, the opposition leader Maurice Kamto claimed victory a day after the vote. He was later arrested, leading to protests and dozens of his supporters being detained.

Biya cruised to victory with over 70% in an election marred by irregularities and a low turnout.

Disc jockey Nonso Temisan Ajufo, popularly known as DJ Big N, has expressed concern over what he described as the worst decline in Afrobeats’ global influence in two decades.

Speaking in a recent interview with Echo Room, DJ Big N blamed both artists and music executives for compromising the genre’s quality in their quest to appeal to international audiences.

He criticised the increasing dilution of Afrobeats’ original sound, saying it has resulted in less authentic and lower-quality music that fails to connect with global listeners.

‘The uniqueness of Afrobeats is what made the world fall in love with it,’ he said, stressing the need to preserve the genre’s authenticity.

Citing journalist Joey Akan’s views, DJ Big N argued that exporting an inauthentic product is unsustainable, noting that ‘no one can beat Americans at being American or making hip-hop.’

He also highlighted the issue of rising performance fees among Afrobeats artists, which he said have made many acts unaffordable even within Nigeria.

DJ Big N urged Nigerian artists to re-evaluate their creative direction and pricing models, warning that without a shift in approach, Afrobeats risks losing its hard-won global prominence.

‘Afrobeats right now is at its worst position in the last 20 years. And everyone, from musicians to music executives, has a part to play. The quality of music.you have to understand that the quality of the product is important in every way.

‘Joey Akan said they wanted us for our originality. Always remember that whatever you want to export has to be original, first and foremost. If you tried to export something else, it’s only a matter of time. You can’t sell Hip-Hop to Americans, that’s their genre. We have to embrace our originality,’ he expressed.

The curtain has officially fallen on one of the most exciting campaigns of the season – the TECNO 2025 Back-to-School Promo. What began on August 28, 2025, the campaign, themed ‘Buy Smarter, Win Bigger,’ gave students, parents, and young professionals the perfect opportunity to gear up for a new academic season with affordable gadgets and irresistible rewards.

Throughout the campaign, customers enjoyed more value for every purchase – from handy power banks and selfie light sets to rotatable phone stands and stylish vacuum cups. But TECNO didn’t stop there. The excitement soared even higher with weekly online raffle draws that transformed everyday shoppers into proud winners of premium appliances like refrigerators, deep freezers, and rechargeable fans.

The campaign reached its grand finale on October 10, 2025, when 10 lucky customers across Nigeria emerged as the ultimate winners. From Lagos to Kano, Abuja to Onitsha, smiles lit up faces as people like Fumilayo and Asuni took home the sleek TECNO Spark 40, while others, such as Victor and Otu, won brand-new laptops to power their academic journey. Nneka and Janet celebrated their wins with freezers, while Mohammed, Sarah, and Oloruntomi proudly walked away with fans – making this year’s Back-to-School season one to remember.

Speaking on the campaign’s success, a TECNO representative shared:

‘Seeing students and families across the country win rewards that truly make a difference in their daily lives reminds us why we do what we do. This promo was about more than sales – it was about supporting our customers and helping them start the school year strong.’

As the campaign wraps up, TECNO extends heartfelt appreciation to every customer who participated, shopped, and shared in the fun. While the 2025 Back-to-School Promo may have come to an end, the brand promises even more exciting opportunities ahead. Because with TECNO, every season is another chance to win big and live smarter. For more updates, follow TECNO on Facebook, Instagram, and X(Twitter).

The federal government has clarified its position on the expatriate quota, saying that the policy does not oppose the hiring of expatriates by companies, but should not be done without consideration for local content.

The government also said that it would not grant visa amnesty to companies that failed to comply with its expatriate quota regulations, maintaining that foreign companies are free to hire expatriates for skills that are not available in Nigeria.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalena Ajani, made the clarifications in Abuja during a stakeholders’ engagement and sensitization workshop on Expatriate Quota Reform, New Visa, and Post-Amnesty Program.

She said the present administration is not opposed to hiring expatriates, but stressed the need for companies to justify their requests.

Dr Ajani maintained that companies must demonstrate that the skills they require are not available in the country before they embark on the recruitment of foreign experts.

She expressed concerns over the ways and manners in which companies bring expatriates to Nigeria for every project, despite operating in the country for decades.

While emphasising the importance of developing local talent and ensuring that Nigerians are given priority in job opportunities, she said the government would no longer tolerate ‘importation’ of expatriates when there is are abundance of skilled human resources within.

Regarding suggestions for amnesty for expatriates, Dr. Ajani said the Ministry would not grant amnesty for non-compliance with expatriate quota regulations. She stressed that companies must adhere to the rules and regulations governing expatriate employment.

The Permanent Secretary emphasized the need for companies to prioritize local talent and develop the skills of Nigerian professionals, adding that the government is committed to ensuring that Nigerians are given opportunities in their areas of expertise.

‘We urge companies to comply with the regulations and prioritize the development of local talent,’ Dr. Ajani said.

Speaking at the event, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs Kemi Nanna Nandap, highlighted the commitment of the Service to transforming Nigeria’s migration landscape through technology, collaboration, and people-centered policies.

‘These initiatives reflect our shared commitment to excellence in border governance and migration management.

‘Leadership is not just about managing systems-it is about inspiring change, empowering people, and ensuring that every reform enhances both our national security and the dignity of those we serve,’ she said.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to investigate why the government-funded modular refinery in Brass, Bayelsa state, has failed to commence despite an investment of about 35 million dollars in the project.

This followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Billy Osawaru (APC, Edo), alleging that despite the investment, there is nothing on the ground to suggest that the government has made such a huge investment.

In view of the motion, the House directed its committee on Downstream and Midstream to investigate the circumstances surrounding these huge financial commitments to the tune of $35m, with nothing on the ground to suggest such a huge investment.

Leading the debate on the motion, Osawaru argued that an increased revenue base for the nation reduces the pressure on the foreign exchange regime and lowers the debt burden, especially as it relates to budget financing.

According to him, it was in the light of the above that the Buhari administration graciously embarked on the need to encourage the funding of modular refineries in the Niger Delta region.

He maintained that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, indigenous refining has been identified as a key driver of energy independence, job creation, and industrial revitalization.

He said the key objective of the present administration is to ensure energy security through improved oil production output in order to increase the Nation’s revenue base, and that every available opportunity has been geared towards this objective.

He explained that sometime in 2020, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) invested the sum of Thirty-Five Million Dollars ($35 million) in Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited – a modular refinery to be located in Brass, Bayelsa State.

He expressed concern that despite this huge investment of $35 million dollars which is more than N50 billion and enough to fund fundamental components of the national budget, the proposed modular refinery was never set up, adding that there is nothing on the ground to show that such a huge financial commitment had been made.

He disclosed that despite the move by the House to unravel the mystery behind this wastage by mandating its relevant committee to investigate the monumental economic sabotage, nothing has been heard in respect of the subject matter.

He said, ‘In May 2024, a stakeholder submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) urging the anti-graft organization to probe the multi-million dollar investments made by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) among which was the Atlantic Refinery project; and that despite this noble move by the said stakeholder, nothing has been heard about this profound national waste almost a year ago’.

He said the continued inactivity of this Brass modular refinery project raises significant questions about the management of public funds and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms in Nigeria.