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Kaduna swears in 3 new commissioners, 18 advisers

The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, has urged newly appointed political office holders to discharge their duties with integrity, courage and fairness, irrespective of political, ethnic or religious affiliations.

Balarabe gave the charge on Thursday while swearing in three commissioners, 18 special advisers, a deputy chief of staff (administration) and a counsellor on infrastructure.

She reminded the appointees that the oaths of allegiance and office, as prescribed by the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, were binding commitments to God and the people of Kaduna State.

‘The Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office are not mere words because they bind you before God and the people of Kaduna State to serve faithfully,’ she said.

The deputy governor described the ceremony as a call to service, stressing that leadership was a responsibility that must be exercised with humility and accountability.

She said the appointments reflected Governor Uba Sani’s confidence in the appointees’ abilities, experience and capacity to contribute to the state’s development.

Balarabe urged them to see their appointments not merely as recognition of past achievements but as a challenge to deliver better results for the people.

On the timing of the appointments during the election season, she said governance must continue irrespective of political activities.

‘Elections have their calendar, but the needs of our people do not wait for it,’ she said.

According to her, the administration remains committed to fulfilling its promises and building a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive state where no community is left behind.

She said communities previously divided by conflict were reconciling through the Kaduna Peace Model, while farmlands were reopening and markets becoming active.

Balarabe added that more than 500 schools previously closed because of insecurity had reopened, while over 300,000 out-of-school children returned to classrooms in 2025 alone.

She also said hundreds of classrooms had been constructed or renovated and thousands of teachers trained.

In the health sector, the deputy governor said 255 primary healthcare centres had been upgraded to Level Two, while improvements were ongoing in general hospitals.

She further disclosed that about 160 road projects, covering approximately 1,335 kilometres, were opening up communities across the state’s 23 local government areas.

According to her, the planned light rail and bus rapid transit projects would also contribute to the state’s future development.

Balarabe charged the appointees to serve as a bridge between the government and the grassroots, urging them to demonstrate their commitment through measurable results.

‘Let your performance be the argument that convinces the sceptical and the proof that justifies the trust of the supportive,’ she said.

The commissioners sworn in were Benjamin Dalhat Solomon Kure for Sports Development, Amina Akilu Dalhat for Special Duties I, and Abdullahi Garba Abbas for Special Duties II.

Dr Haliru Musa Soba was sworn in as Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), while Engr Balarabe Muhammad Bello became Counsellor on Infrastructure. Eighteen special advisers were also sworn in at the ceremony.

Marcos inaugurates NLEX link cutting travel time to 5 minutes

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday inaugurated a two-kilometer section of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) that will connect Mindanao Avenue in Valenzuela City to Quirino Highway in Quezon City, reducing travel time between the two points to just five minutes.

Called NLEX C5 Northlink Segment 8.2 Section 1A, Marcos said the segment will be toll-free until the end of 2026.

‘Siguro 40, 45 minutes ngayon [ang byahe], pero pagbukas nito, limang minuto na lang,’ Marcos said in a brief statement.

(Travel time is probably around 40 to 45 minutes now, but once this opens, it will only take five minutes.)

The President said the segment was not originally scheduled to open today but was fast-tracked to accommodate travelers during the Undas season.

‘Nandito rin yung istasyon ng subway, nakikita natin… well, hindi masyado makita, sa ilalim, tapos na yung pagbutas,’ he said, referring to the subway station being constructed beneath the expressway.

(The subway station is also here, as we can see… well, it is not very visible because the tunneling underneath has already been completed.)

Meanwhile, Marcos announced that the MVP Group and the San Miguel Corp. Group had committed a P120 billion in investments for the construction of an elevated road connecting Balintawak to Bocaue, Bulacan.

A large volume of travelers is expected ahead of the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day over the weekend.

Data released by the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange showed that 745,769 passengers had passed through the terminal from Sunday, Oct. 25, to Wednesday, Oct. 28, as of 8 a.m. Thursday.

Also, nearly 300,000 passengers had passed through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport since Tuesday.

Heart Evangelista urges responsible use of AI: ‘Huwag natin abusuhin’

Heart Evangelista emphasized the importance of using artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly and staying authentic to oneself amid fleeting fame.

Evangelista has been announced as the face of an AI-powered water purification and smart hydration systems brand during an official contract signing on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

During the question and answer portion of the program, the actress and fashion icon acknowledged that AI, like social media, has both advantages and disadvantages.

‘You know, there are always pros and cons when it comes to certain things, certain topics, like social media. If you put yourself out there, you’ll get bashed. So it’s the same thing,’ she told Inquirer Entertainment.

‘I think you just have to always be very responsible with how you use these tools, which can be for the best or even for the worst. So sana huwag na lang natin abusuhin,’ she added.

Evangelista also underscored the value of authenticity, noting that she continues to advocate for being true to oneself despite that the term has become widely used.

‘Aside from what we’re talking about today, I feel like authenticity has been overused, but honestly, I still advocate for it,’ she said.

‘Because no matter what happens, you can keep your mask on for the rest of your life. The truth of who you are will always come out,’ she added.

The Kapuso star described herself as someone who has always embraced her interest in fashion and beauty, even as she prioritizes her health.

‘I’ve always been kikay. I’ve always been into fashion. I’ve always been, they say, maarte. Pero maarte ako pagdating sa health ko. But I guess in the end, it also works for me because I only speak from my heart,’ she said.

Earlier this month, Evangelista emerged as the top celebrity voice at New York Fashion Week (NYFW) for Spring/Summer 2027, generating $7.6 million in Media Impact Value (MIV), ahead of American personality Paris Hilton and South Korean actor Jung Hae-In.

Coalition leader urges citizens to support Tinubu Chinda others

The leader of Rainbow Coalition in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State Prof. Henry Ogiri has called on the people to mobilise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election and back Kingsley Chinda as the governorship candidate in the 2027 general election.

Ogiri equally called on the people to support all the candidates contesting positions under the coalition arrangement.

He spoke on the sidelines of the unveiling and presentation of flags to Chinda for the governorship election and other Rainbow Coalition candidates in Port Harcourt.

Addressing a mammoth crowd Ogiri hailed FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for his leadership style and performance.

He said the minister’s achievements had earned him and Rivers people in Abuja a lot of respect and recognition.

‘Wike is a sought after person. People from other parts of the country seek to meet with him one on one. My colleagues from the North have been asking me to help them meet Wike. I asked them why they wanted to see him they said just to have a handshake with him and receive his blessings.

‘This makes those of us living in Abuja to walk tall because his leadership style is top-notch’ Ogiri said.

He appealed to people to support Rainbow Coalition and vote for President Tinubu Chinda and other coalition candidates.

NAFDAC destroys fake products worth N8bn

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed unwholesome, banned, fake and adulterated products worth about Eight Billion Naira confiscated in the course of its operations in the North Central Zone.

The destruction exercise was carried out on Thursday during the North Central Zonal Destruction of NAFDAC regulated products in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, represented by the Deputy Director in charge of North Central Zone, Mr. Joseph Edor, said the bulk of the destroyed products were predominantly banned alcoholic beverages in low volumes of less than 200ml (20cl).

Prof. Adeyeye explained that studies by researchers have shown that due to the availability, affordability and portability of such pack sizes, they have become major products of abuse and addiction among Nigerians, especially youths and underage school children.

She noted that research has also shown that early exposure to alcohol affects the brain and other vital organs such as the liver and kidneys, stymies the brain resulting in mental retardation and brain damage, which in turn leads to poor performance of pupils and students in school, low productivity and several illnesses.

She said, ‘It was based on these abuses, addiction and adverse effects that the Agency banned the production, distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET and glass bottles below 200ml, hence the raid and confiscation from manufacturing outfits, sales outlets, markets and motor parks.’

Other products destroyed include expired, fake and unwholesome food, drugs and cosmetics confiscated during daily operations.

The NAFDAC DG said the Agency has the mandate of protecting and promoting public health by ensuring that only the right quality, safe and efficacious drugs, food, cosmetics, medical devices, water and other regulated products are manufactured, imported, distributed, advertised or used in Nigeria.

She said in order to achieve the mandate, the Agency through its officers carries out inspections, investigations, enforcement, product registration and laboratory analysis.

The DG appreciated other law enforcement organizations, sister agencies, associations and stakeholders for their continuous collaboration, especially in intelligence sharing and security cover during operations.

Imo guber: Rainbow Coalition-PDP alliance only way to sack APC – Anyanwu

National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu, has described the political alignment between the Peoples Democratic Party and the Rainbow Coalition as the only way to sack the 3R administration in the 2027 Imo election.

In a statement in Owerri on Thursday, Sen. Anyanwu, through his Adviser on Media, Ikenna Onuoha, described those jittery of the Rainbow Coalition as election riggers whose only source of rigging has been blocked.

He, however, called on them to cover their faces in shame for disappointing Imo people.

He said: ‘APC in Imo State and its leaders are afraid of PDP and the Rainbow Coalition’.

According to him, their statement during the unveiling of the Door-to-Door initiative on Tuesday, in Owerri, that the Rainbow Coalition has no basis in the state is a testament that the party and its drivers are frustrated and confused.

He said: ‘ Imo people are aware that APC leaders in the state have been rejected and jilted. The party is currently seen as an ‘ebola’ disease that has no cure even after being quarantined’.

Anyanwu declared that as a ruling party in Imo State, people had expected the administration in the state to fix all bad rural roads, equip our hospitals with modern technology, improve the economy, raise the standard of education, dialogue with IMSU Lecturers that are on strike since three months, and provide social amenities.

He regretted that none of these had been provided by the current government, insisting that the party has failed woefully with no hope of bouncing back.

While describing it as embarrassing that the administration instead of Imo people for failing abysmally, they are making empty promises and creating unnecessary hunger.

He said: ‘ The question is, has the 3R government forgotten so soon that the bogus promises made to Imo people during the 2023 election are yet to fulfilled?’

Anyanwu therefore reminded the chief drivers of the 3R administration that Imo people are not fools and cannot allow them to deceive the masses again, and advised the APC government in the state to accept the fact that Imo people have chosen PDP and the Rainbow Coalition as an alternative route for survival.

Reforms: I won’t rest until complaints are eliminated -JAMB Boss

Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Segun Aina, has pledged to sustain efforts to improve service delivery and address complaints from candidates and other stakeholders, declaring that he would not rest on his oars until complaints against the board were reduced to zero.

Aina made the pledge during the 2026 JAMB Customer Service Week celebration held across the Board’s facilities nationwide.

He said JAMB’s primary responsibility was to provide quality service to Nigerians, stressing that the commendations received so far would not make the board complacent but would spur it to achieve higher standards.

According to him, the achievements recorded in customer service should be seen as a call to greater responsibility rather than an endpoint, adding that the Board would continue to address customers’ concerns and minimise complaints.

The registrar said his sole purpose at JAMB was to serve Nigerians, recalling that upon assuming office a little over two months ago, he had virtually relocated to the Board’s SERVICOM Unit to tackle outstanding complaints.

He disclosed that more than 5,000 pending cases were resolved within his first week in office, adding that he remained determined to apply the same level of commitment to addressing future challenges.

Aina urged stakeholders across the Board’s service delivery chain to be proactive and responsive to customers’ needs, emphasising that complaints must be handled promptly and effectively.

He maintained that JAMB should be recognised for excellence in service delivery, both in policy and practice.

The registrar’s commitment to improved service delivery also comes amid efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in the university admission process.

Meanwhile, the JAMB registrar has urged university administrators to ensure the effective and consistent use of the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

He spoke at the 2026 National Universities Commission (NUC) retreat with vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities, held in Abuja, stressing that strict adherence to approved admission procedures was essential to protecting candidates’ interests and preserving the credibility of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

Aina said admissions conducted outside established regulatory procedures could jeopardise candidates’ academic aspirations, despite the time, resources and effort invested in pursuing their education.

He called on universities to work closely with JAMB to ensure that admission decisions were properly processed through CAPS and that institutions complied with the Board’s admission guidelines.

Aina noted that the effective use of the platform was not merely a regulatory requirement but also a means of promoting fairness, protecting candidates and strengthening public confidence in the admission process.

The Registrar also acknowledged the disruption recently experienced on CAPS, which caused concern among candidates, parents and tertiary institutions during a critical period of the admission cycle.

He apologised for the inconvenience and assured stakeholders that measures would be pursued to improve the platform’s reliability and resilience.

He further called for sustained collaboration between JAMB and university authorities to resolve outstanding admission issues recover lost time and ensure compliance with approved admission timelines.

The retreat, themed: ‘Enhancing Regulatory Compliance, Partnership, Governance and Leadership in the Nigerian University System,’ brought together vice-chancellors of federal, state and private universities, alongside other stakeholders, to deliberate on regulatory compliance, institutional governance, ethical leadership and improved service delivery.

The engagement also produced a communiqué outlining resolutions and areas for collective action towards strengthening the governance and development of the Nigerian university system.

Fed Govt to showcase one-million-hectare tree crops plan to EU investors

The Federal Government will showcase Nigeria’s one-million-hectare tree crops expansion programme to European cocoa industry leaders and investors in Brussels as the country seeks to attract investment into its cocoa and other agricultural value chains.

The presentation is scheduled for Thursday October 29 at the Nigeria/West Africa Cocoa Origins-EU Industry Match-Making Forum organised on the sidelines of the Nigeria-Belgium-Luxembourg Business Forum.

The initiative was announced in a joint statement issued in Abuja by the Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement Project Management Office (AgPE PMO) under the Office of the Vice President and the EU-Nigeria Agribusiness Platform (EUNAP) managed by Agribusiness Register Limited.

The forum organised under an EU Global Gateway grant with support from the European Cocoa Association (ECA) will bring together European cocoa grinders chocolate manufacturers and traders with Nigerian and other West African exporters processors and cooperative federations.

Members of the ECA account for about 95 per cent of Europe’s cocoa grinding capacity.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness Dr Kingsley Uzoma through the AgPE PMO will deliver the keynote address and present the expansion programme to European stakeholders for the first time.

Cocoa is expected to account for a significant share of the proposed expansion with the government seeking to position Nigeria as a reliable and sustainable supplier to the European market.

The presentation comes ahead of the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for large and medium-sized operators on December 30 2026.

The government is expected to address concerns about where new plantations will be established how individual plots will be traced from the beginning and how agricultural expansion can be achieved without contributing to deforestation.

Nigeria currently has more than 350000 cocoa-farming families cultivating over 1.4 million hectares of land.

According to the statement the new programme aims to expand the country’s tree crop production base through deforestation-free and fully traceable cultivation while creating opportunities for European investors to participate through long-term offtake agreements co-investment in processing and partnerships between regions.

To strengthen coordination the AgPE PMO is engaging relevant federal ministries departments and agencies as well as cocoa-producing states ahead of the forum. The engagements are also expected to support the proposed region-to-region partnership framework.

Beyond the Brussels meeting the two organisations have agreed on terms of reference for sustained collaboration covering policy engagement mobilisation of grants and development resources and the commercialisation of cocoa and other agricultural value chains.

Speaking on the initiative Uzoma said Nigeria was offering European industry a structured expansion plan backed by traceability and responsible land use.

‘Nigeria is presenting European industry with a plan not a promise. The expansion of our tree crops will be planned mapped and traced from the first seedling so that every new hectare strengthens Nigeria’s standing as a responsible origin’ he said.

The founder and director of Agribusiness Register Limited and project director of EUNAP Roland Oroh said European buyers were looking for reliable supply consistency and verifiable evidence of sustainable production.

‘European industry has told us plainly what it needs from origin: scale consistency and proof’ Oroh said.

He added that Uzoma’s participation in the plenary session demonstrated the level of government commitment behind Nigeria’s engagement with European cocoa industry stakeholders.

The forum will feature pre-arranged business-to-business meetings investment and financing discussions and a region-to-region partnership track involving stakeholders from Nigeria Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

It will also showcase four Nigerian flagship projects through an Investment Wall designed to attract potential investors and commercial partners.

The event will be held in a hybrid format with virtual participation and deal-making facilitated through EUNAP’s online deal room.

Yayi facilitates completion of first phase of 3km Ifo-Ibogun road

Solomon Olamilekan Adeola the senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State has facilitated the completion of Section One of the three-kilometre Ifo-Ibogun Road in Ifo Local Government Area.

A statement said the project which includes drainage construction and asphalt paving is aimed at improving road accessibility enhancing safety for motorists and pedestrians and addressing perennial drainage challenges in the communities along the corridor.

According to the statement residents motorists and traders plying the route are expected to benefit from improved connectivity and ease of movement with the intervention also projected to stimulate commercial activities in the area.

The road project is part of Senator Adeola’s interventions targeted at improving road infrastructure and promoting socio-economic development across the state.

Adeola who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations is poised to emerge as the 17th Executive Governor of Ogun State as his candidature is the choice of the people.

Meanwhile residents of the benefiting communities lauded the intervention describing it as a relief after years of difficulty accessing the road especially during the rainy season.

NDE unveils five-year plan to boost job creation

National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has unveiled a five-year strategic plan to boost job creation and modernise its 87 Skills Training Centres, many of which require rehabilitation, upgraded equipment or a complete overhaul to meet current training demands.

The plan, covering 2027-2031, also targets improved employment services, stronger labour-market information systems and closer alignment between vocational training and industry requirements, as the Directorate seeks to strengthen its contribution to employment creation and sustainable livelihoods across Nigeria.

Unveiling the plan on Abuja, on Thursday, the Director-General of the NDE, Silas Agara, said the strategy would reposition the agency to respond more effectively to changing labour-market needs through coordinated, evidence-based and results-oriented interventions.

He said the plan would provide a common direction for the Directorate departments, state offices and programme delivery structures, with priorities spanning demand-driven skills development, entrepreneurship, enterprise growth, strategic partnerships and inclusive employment.

‘The NDE is not merely unveiling a policy document; but setting out a clear strategic direction for the next five years, reaffirming our institutional purpose and strengthening our commitment to creating employment opportunities, developing skills, promoting entrepreneurship and improving the livelihoods of Nigerians,’ Agara said.

On the condition of the agency’s training infrastructure, the Director-General disclosed that the NDE operated 87 Skills Training Centres, in addition to Agricultural Training Centres and Common Facility Centres, many of which required varying levels of retooling, upgrading, rehabilitation or complete overhaul.

‘We are committed to modernising these facilities and harmonising our training curricula to ensure uniform standards and alignment with industry needs,’ he said.

Agara, however, acknowledged that modernising the facilities and improving the quality of training would require sustained support from the Federal Government, development partners and the private sector.

He said the Directorate would also strengthen collaboration with employers and industry partners, improve data-driven decision-making and provide more effective post-training support to help beneficiaries secure employment, establish viable businesses and sustain their livelihoods.

The NDE boss stressed that employment interventions must respond to the changing nature of work, shaped by technological advancement, emerging industries, demographic pressures and evolving business models.

He said the plan would guide resource allocation, performance assessment and programme monitoring, adding that its priorities must be integrated into the Directorate’s annual work plans and budgets to ensure accountability.

‘The real test of this Plan begins after its launch,’ Agara said, emphasising that implementation would require clear responsibilities, adequate resources, measurable targets and effective monitoring mechanisms.

In her remarks, the Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Liaison Office for ECOWAS, Vanessa Phala, highlighted the importance of modern employment services and improved labour-market information in translating skills development into better job opportunities.

She said the plan’s proposed establishment of a modern Public Employment Service, alongside stronger labour-market information systems and institutional capacity, could improve the connection between job seekers, employers and available economic opportunities.

‘The planned establishment of a modern Public Employment Service, enhanced labour market information systems, and stronger organisational capacities will not only improve service delivery but also enable more responsive, evidence-based support for job seekers, entrepreneurs, and employers alike,’ Phala said.

She explained that a modern employment service and reliable labour-market information could help the NDE make better-informed decisions, improve support for job seekers and entrepreneurs, and ensure that employment interventions responded more closely to employers’ needs.

Phala described the strategic plan as timely, given the effects of technological change, demographic transitions and evolving skills requirements on Nigeria’s labour market.

She also said the plan was well positioned to support the implementation of the National Employment Policy (NEP) 2025 and advance the country’s efforts to promote productive employment and decent work.

The ILO director disclosed that the organisation supported the development of the plan through the Strengthening Employment and Employability Systems in Nigeria (SEESIN) project, implemented through the GIZ-ILO collaboration under the Skills Development for Youth Employment Programme (SKYE II).