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The Premier League is often described as one of the most cutthroat environments in world football – and once again, it has lived up to its reputation.

Nottingham Forest’s decision to sack Ange Postecoglou after just 39 days in charge has added a new chapter to the league’s long history of managerial turmoil. The Australian coach, known for his attacking style and previous success at Celtic and Tottenham, arrived at the City Ground with high expectations.

But a string of poor performances saw Forest act swiftly – making Postecoglou the second-shortest serving manager in Premier League history.

Here’s a look at the top five shortest managerial spells in the Premier League era:

1. Sam Allardyce – Leeds United (30 days)

Brought in during the 2022/23 season to save Leeds from relegation, Allardyce lasted just a month. Four games, no wins, and a 19th-place finish saw both parties part ways swiftly.

2. Ange Postecoglou – Nottingham Forest (39 days)

Appointed with hopes of steadying the ship at Forest, Postecoglou’s tenure never took off. A series of uninspiring displays and mounting pressure led to his dismissal less than six weeks into the job.

3. Javi Gracia – Watford (69 days)

The Spaniard’s second stint in the Premier League ended almost as quickly as it began. Tasked with rescuing Watford in 2023, Gracia couldn’t turn the tide and was swiftly replaced.

4. René Meulensteen – Fulham (75 days)

After replacing Martin Jol in December 2013, Meulensteen managed only a handful of wins before being shown the door in February 2014 as Fulham battled relegation.

5. Frank de Boer – Crystal Palace (77 days)

Perhaps the most infamous case, De Boer’s Palace tenure in 2017 lasted just four league games – all defeats without scoring a single goal. The Dutchman’s philosophy clashed with the club’s direction, leading to a swift exit.

The Attorney-General (AG) of Osun State has indicated his intention to discontinue the suit he filed against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation (AG-F) over the withheld allocations belonging to the state’s local governments.

Lawyer to the Osun AG, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN) disclosed this yesterday at the resumption of proceedings in the case before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Adetunbi told the court that his client has filed a notice of discountinuance and proceeded to move it after obtaining the court’s permission.

While moving the motion for discontinuance, Adetunbi claimed that the suit’s objective, which he said was to safeguard the withheld funds, had been defeated on the grounds that the said funds had been allegedly moved out of the CBN by the defendants.

Adetunbi said: ‘On September 29, 2025, when the matter was heard, I told the court that our primary aim was to safeguard the money. Between then and now, we are sure that, notwithstanding the pendency of the case and order of status quo, the money was moved out of the CBN.’

He added that the notice of discontinuance was filed pursuant to Order 51 Rule 2 of the Federal High Court Rules, noting that any further arguments in the matter would amount to an academic exercise.

Adetunbi said even if one was to concede that the Local Government Chairmen and Councillors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had a valid tenure, that tenure ended on October 16.

Responding, lawyer to the CBN, Muritala Andulrasheed (SAN), said he was not objecting to the plaintiff’s decision to withdraw the suit.

Andulrasheed however, expressed displeasure about the averments in the affidavit of facts filed along with the motion for discontinuance.

He claimed that the plaintiff made damaging depositions in the affidavit of facts and added that the plaintiff should withdraw the affidavit along with the notice of discontinuance because some of the depositions in the affidavit were against persons who are not parties in the matter.

The CBN lawyer argued that if those claims in the affidavit were left in the court record, somebody can approach the court in future with a request for a certified true rue copy (CTC) of the process and may decide to use it against the persons mentioned in the plaintiff’s affidavit of facts.

He added that the grounds on which the notice of discontinuance was predicated were in bad faith.

Andulrasheed faulted the plaintiff for claiming that the CBN has no competent response to the plaintiff’s substantive suit, noting that it (the CBN), in May this year, filed a 12-paragraph counter-affidavit against the originating summons.

He then, prayed the court to expunge paragraphs 5 to 11 in the plaintiff’s affidavit of facts for allegedly being inaccurate and for referring to persons, who are not parties to the suit.

Lawyer to the AG-F, Tajudeen Oladoja (SAN), did not also oppose the plaintiff’s intention to discontinue the suit, but quarreled with the second ground on which the plaintiff said the notice of withdrawal was predicated.

Oladoja said: ‘The plaintiff is not under any obligation to predicate his application on any ground,’ arguing that it was wrong for the plaintiff to claim that the AG-F has no competent defence to the suit.

He noted that the AG-F filed an application for an extension of time to file a counter-affidavit in opposition to the plaintiff’s originating summons on September 8, which had not been determined due to the application filed by the plaintiff accusing the court of bias and challenging its jurisdiction.

He urged the court to strike out ground one of the notice of discontinuance and ground two, which stated that certain money had been paid, a claim the 2nd defendant had not been given an opportunity to react to.

Tajudeen also asked for a cost of N10 million against the plaintiff for bringing the 2nd defendant to court, for the court processes filed in the matter, and for wasting the precious judicial time of the court.

Adetumbi, in his reply said a notice of discontinuance under Order 50 Rule 2 of the Federal High Court Rules does not attract cost, and added that the defendants had not filed any process before the court.

He argued that it was a default on the part of the defendants to have filed their court documents in reaction to the suit out of time allowed.

Adetunbi further argued that the defendants could ask for cost or demand that a ground in the notice of discontinuance be expunged, adding that the defendants were not entitled to cost because of their own default.

Presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite has adjourned till October 29 for ruling on the plaintiff’s application for discontinuance and other applications by the defendants.

Speaking to newsmen after exiting the courtroom, Adetunbi said: ‘We came to court to safeguard the money, and the money has gone. So, what are we arguing over again? It has left their hands.

‘They deliberately released it, so it is no longer within the jurisdiction of this honourable court. That money is no more.

‘As long as that money had left the hands of the CBN and the Accountant-General of the Federation, it is no longer within the jurisdiction of this honourable court.

‘I mentioned it there that even the so-called APC chairmen and councillors, assuming without conceding that they had any tenure, it ended yesterday, the 16th of October.

‘That’s what the document is saying – not 22nd, not 23rd. It is saying 16th. We have the affidavit here. They are out of office. They signed. They were out of office on 17th October 2025,’ he said.

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has emphasised the need for a stronger partnership between the Commission, media, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to effectively combat corruption in Nigeria.

Speaking at a one-day capacity-building workshop for journalists and CSOs in Ibadan, Oyo state, Olukoyede described the media and CSOs as critical stakeholders in the anti-corruption drive, noting that their roles in promoting transparency, accountability, and civic responsibility are indispensable to national development.

He was represented at the workshop by the Acting Zonal Director, Ibadan Directorate, Assistant Commander of EFCC, ACE 1, Hauwa Garba Ringim.

Olukoyede said: ‘The media must continue to hold public institutions accountable, while civil society must deepen civic engagement and promote transparency at all levels.

‘Our fight against corruption is not a solo mission; it is a collective national endeavor that requires synergy, trust, and shared intelligence.’

The EFCC Chairman also highlighted the importance of collaboration between the Commission, media, and CSOs in promoting a culture of integrity and accountability.

He urged participants to take full advantage of the engagement to ask questions, share perspectives, and contribute ideas that would enhance the effectiveness of the anti-graft crusade.

Harping on the need to strengthen the fight against corruption, the EFCC boss maintained that the workshop aimed to deepen engagement between the EFCC, media, and CSOs, and to foster greater synergy in the fight against corruption.

Olukoyede emphasised that the EFCC is committed to building stronger partnerships with all stakeholders to foster a Nigeria where integrity, accountability, and justice become the norm rather than the exception.

He disclosed that he EFCC has secured over 17,000 convictions within its 22 years of existence, a feat attributed to the Commission’s commitment and resilience in pursuing justice.

In his presentation on ‘The roles of CSOs and Media in driving a preventive framework’, the Head, Media and Publicity, Deputy Commander EFCC, DCE Dele Oyewale, said the essence of workshop is to ensure that the messages of anti-corruption are passed down to the people at the grassroots through the media and CSOs.

He urged the media and CSOs to also amplify the messages of anti-corruption to their counterparts in a bid to promote the war and create awareness among the people.

At a time when constructive interrogations of President Bola Tinubu’s administration should dominate national discourse, it’s unfortunate that the ongoing rancorous defections by politicians have taken over rational national engagements. The issue in contemporary Nigerian politics is distractingly about who’s for or against Tinubu. It’s so disgusting that what’s unfurling is now being disturbingly misinterpreted to mean that Nigeria is gradually becoming a one party state.

The issue of defection, colloquially known as cross carpeting, is currently gaining momentum, and this is expectedly because the nation is approaching another general elections year. The next general elections, except an amendment to the Electoral Act occurs, will be coming up between February and March 2027.

So, real politicking amongst politicians of the land is now ongoing. Politicians are weighing their options and doing their selfish permutations with no iota of consideration for values and principles. And, since the party controlling the federal level of power is at any point in history perceived as the most potently viable, politicians see such party as the beautiful bride that they must marry or ingeniously court. That party as it stands today is the All Progressives Congress(APC), under the national headship of Tinubu.

In this season of political defections, the general feelings that President Tinubu’s behind the democratically detrimental defections plot is debatable even though understandable. The truth of the matter that no one wants to acknowledge is that Tinubu, despite being the current landlord of the Presidential Villa, is shockingly the ‘authentic opposition’ in the country notwithstanding the purported oppositional shenanigans of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, GCON, Peter Obi and others. Isn’t it shameful that Abubakar Atiku and Peter Obi are still forum-shopping on which political platforms to pitch their tents in their bid to run for president in the upcoming presidential elections. It’s that bad for this indecisiveness reflects the lack of self values, principle or philosophy by leading politicians in the country. Obviously, this can’t be Tinubu’s fault.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Atiku and Obi once held sway, at a point stayed too long in power, and thinking erroneously too, that that’ll take forever but the party cannot ever fathom that a day like this will come when they’ll be the political opposition.

In facts and figures, when issues around contemporary politics are discussed, for good or bad, the general notion is that such must have Tinubu’s imprimatur. No wonder then that there’s palpable fears in the court of public opinion that the country might be etching gradually into a one-party state with the inexorable rise in defections of opposition politicians, especially governors and their lawmakers, to the All Progressives Party(APC), with the shrewd political strategist called Tinubu known to be calling the shots.

Above fears have been further amplified by the excitedly insensitive comments by the immediate past national chairman of the APC and former governor of Kano state, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. It was he who at the twilight of his tenure as the APC national chairman that was reported to have declared: ‘We are not saying we are working for a one-party system, but if this is the wish of Nigerians, we cannot quarrel with that. You know, they say too many cooks spoil the broth; too many political parties spoil governance.’

Ganduje’s undemocratic statement couldn’t have been the wish of Nigerians but at best be described as his own wishful thinking. In the same vein, it would be apriori reasoning to wantonly conclude that the statement from Ganduje be interpreted to be the opinion of Tinubu.

At the risk of being accused of being an unofficial mouthpiece of the president, it is pertinent to remind ourselves that defection has always been a recurring theme in the nation’s ongoing democratic experiment. From past experiences, defections have been embarrassingly embarked upon by politicians in and out of power with shameful alacrity.

The country’s partisan engagements, known to be bereft of political morality and any identifiable ideological considerations, might be responsible for this. When you have an ounce of morality and ideology missing in any so called democratic process like ours in Nigeria, it becomes difficult to clearly nail any politician on the cross for their mostly logic defying and unexplainable defections that pushes selfish pursuits to the fore. Governors, legislators, and politicians of influence have played the game of political harlotry, not for any developmental reasons other than avaricious personal pursuits. All the political parties that have existed and still exist under this democratic reality, and their members are guilty of this highly detrimental political game.

The country becoming a one-party state is not something worthy of celebrating by stakeholders in the country’s current democratic experiment. Not even the president who has been a foremost figure in opposition politics while holding firmly his Lagos political forte can imagine the country becoming a one-party state under him. He never brooks such idea from other leaders before him. Yours sincerely can vouch for the president because the president knows that such an occurrence will only create a high wired public service hypocrisy with dire consequences on the political system. Sooner or later, those decampees from these currently less favoured political parties to APC will form the balk of political bastards that will balkanise the party later. That is the undiluted reality because they never shared its values or ideals but only seeking a platform to keep their jobs.

Hence, it’ll be fair to state that what we’re witnessing today is the long term consequences of the political rascality of the previous and present leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). Ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo laid the foundation of the democratic rot called defection, and certainly, Tinubu won’t be proud to consolidate on the former leader’s partisan dictatorial inclinations. More troubling is that most of those robed in progressive garbs in APC today are staunch reactionaries from PDP and other lesser parties, hibernating in the ruling party simply because it’s in power. It won’t be a proud record if the president allows these political prostitutes to engrave the condemnable phrase of sycophantic defection that crumbled the PDP on his solid political name.

An excursion into Nigeria’s recent political history has become necessary if only to show that defection being currently witnessed is not an uncommon but certainly a windy ephemerality in our clime. For example, the PDP once haughtily prided itself as the ‘largest party in Africa’ while its then national chairman, a retired Army General called Ahmadu Ali, vainly boasted that the party would rule the country for 60 years. Its fistic hold on the country’s political firmament lasted just sixteen years.

At that time, it was as if their time in power would never come to an end.

The indicators of delusional dominance were there because as at May 30, 2007, the PDP was controlling thirty-two states including Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Cross River and Zamfara.

By then also, the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the defunct Action Congress (AC), and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were operating as merely fringe political parties.

But ten kings, ten epochs so says a long-standing aphorism. Today, in Y2025, some people with no adequate sense of history are yelling Tinubu’s name simply because the ruling APC firmly controls more states including Akwa-Ibom, Ebonyi, Enugu, ýImo ,Lagos, Ondo , Sokoto, Ekiti, ýOgun , Edo , ýKwara, Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa, Borno, ýYobe, Gombe, Kano, Benue, Kaduna, Cross River, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, Jigawa, Delta, and Bayelsa amongst others.

Quite curiously, the PDP as at today controls a paltry few states from thirty-two in 2007. It is doubtful if governors and the lawmakers from these few remaining states that PDP is controlling would not have decamped to APC by the time this piece is published or latest by December. Two political parties, APGA and the Labour party, are holding onto Abia and Anambra states, respectively. Who knows?

Above depicts the seasonality of defections in Nigeria’s body polity.

Even Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, while serving as vice-president of Nigeria under the Obasanjo presidency, with Tinubu’s mentorship, cross-carpeted to the current president’s then Action Congress (AC) party to run for the presidency of this country. His shamelessness for doing this at that time shows his lack of moral compass to condemn those decamping to Tinubu’s party at the moment. Atiku and company are only playing the hypocritical card against the current landlord of the Presidential Villa. The more selfish cries they make against Tinubu, the more certain it becomes that the current president will secure a reelection come the next general elections.

Nothing happening now is new, but

Tinubu must do things differently. I once told the current president in a private conversation sometimes ago, on the need for him to effect uniform manifesto for states controlled by his political party like the great political icon, late Pa Obafemi Awolowo, did for his Unity Party of Nigeria(UPN) controlled states during his lifetime. Tinubu’s opportunity to heed my suggestion is now to prevent governor decampees to his party from running haywire in different directions.

The ongoing cross-carpeting is a confirmation of the fact that Tinubu is ahead of his political foes including Atiku by thousands of miles. We can not easily forget how he galvanized the opposition as a private citizen to uproot PDP’s stay in power for late Mohammadu Buhari to govern this country. Now, as a sitting president, his political-pull will be commonsensically higher and should not be denegrated by his traducers.

My counsel: Tinubu should not take undue advantage of this divine political-pull gift for granted. Nigerians look forward to feeling and seeing the positive impact of his ideas. The current decamping process can only make sense once he realises that he’s at the apogee of his political relevance. Those decamping to APC today are doing so because he’s the president. If he stops being one tomorrow, they’ll jump into the ship of the next person. So, he has to be very careful and think of making a difference rather than leading an assemblage of strange bed follows to avoid the PDP blunders of the past.

The president should positively strive to improve the lots of his people. This can be done if he comes up with constructive plan that aligns with what he espoused before he became the president.

Winning reelection in 2027 or whenever should be the least of Tinubu’s worries for now. He will get it, but the verdict of history is more important to yours sincerely. Now that it is confirmed that he’s the nemesis of our hypocritical opposition, his worries should be how he’ll create a legacy of positive envy and not one that would be derided by historians. Indeed, Tinubu has overwhelmed Nigeria’s current opposition juggernauts. Nothing more!

The Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has decried the many lives lost on Lagos roads due to delays caused by onlookers taking videos instead of assisting first responders.

Represented by the Director of Medical Services, Lagos Health Service Commission, Dr Olawale Adegbite, Abayomi spoke in Lagos at a Symposium for stakeholders to mark the 2025 World Trauma Day with the theme: ‘Reducing Needless Deaths on Our Roads: Everybody’s Responsibility.’

He urged Lagosians to respect ambulances and prioritise saving lives first before taking videos at the scene of accidents, saying that saving lives on the road was not just the government’s responsibility, but a collective moral and civic duty of every Lagosian.

‘Every time we block an ambulance or ignore an emergency call, someone’s parent, spouse, or child could be dying. Trauma care begins with public responsibility,’ he said.

He reiterated resolution of the state government to strengthen emergency preparedness and trauma response mechanisms to reduce preventable deaths on Lagos roads.

He said that most trauma cases on Lagos roads were not accidents but preventable incidents caused by human errors.

He stressed that the state’s emergency systems, especially pre-hospital care and ambulance services, have been instrumental in saving lives but require continuous improvement and public cooperation.

Highlighting Lagos’ ongoing investments in emergency medicine, Abayomi noted that most trauma cases brought in by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) recorded higher survival rates compared to those transported by bystanders.

‘Proper pre-hospital intervention makes the difference between life and death.

‘Continuous staff training and retention were critical to sustaining success in trauma management,’ he said.

Earlier, in her opening remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, described trauma as one of the leading causes of preventable deaths and disabilities globally, particularly from road traffic crashes.

Represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr Oluwatoni Adeyemi, Ogunyemi noted that Lagos State has made significant progress under the leadership of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, citing improvements in ambulance coverage, response time, and coordination among first responders.

She said: ‘We recently launched ten emergency ambulance bikes to ensure faster access to victims in congested areas and also commissioned modular high-dependency units in Ifako and Mushin General Hospitals.

‘These interventions are part of our drive to bring critical care closer to communities and reduce delays in life-saving interventions.’

She further emphasised that the theme of this year’s commemoration underscored the fact that reducing trauma-related deaths goes beyond government efforts.

‘It requires everyone-drivers, pedestrians, health professionals, civil society, and the media-to play their roles in building a culture of prevention and prompt response,’ she said.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, said the story of ‘Mr Andrew,’ a trauma survivor treated at the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre (LASAEC), represented the essence of the symposium.

Ogboye recounted how coordinated emergency response and government-backed trauma care saved a man who was left comatose after a crash on the morning of his daughter’s wedding.

He stressed that pre-hospital care was a crucial but often neglected component of healthcare.

He revealed that the Lagos State Government was expanding trauma centers across the state, with new facilities being established in Epe, Eti-Osa, and Badagry corridors in partnership with private sector allies such as Custodian Allied Insurance and Access Bank.

He added that the state’s ambulance service had evolved into a world-class system with well-equipped vehicles serving as mobile intensive care units.

‘There’s hardly any equipment you’ll find in advanced ambulance systems that our units don’t have – ventilators, defibrillators, and fully trained emergency technicians. Lagos has come a long way,’ he said.

The Permanent Secretary also called for attitudinal change among motorists and the general public, especially in giving ambulances the right of way.

‘You move aside for convoys and security vehicles, yet block ambulances carrying lives. That behavior must change. It could be your loved one in that ambulance,’ he warned.

In his presentation titled ‘The Traumatic Story Being Rewritten,’ the Medical Director, LASAEC, Dr Adeolu Arogundade, told the true story of Mr Andrew, who was hit by a car and left unconscious for months but survived through state-funded care.

Arogundade said the case epitomised the 41,000 trauma cases successfully treated at LASAEC in the last 15 years, with a commendable mortality rate of just 1.4 per cent .

He lauded the Lagos State Government for sustaining a policy that guarantees free emergency care for all trauma victims within the first 24 hours, emphasising that the policy’s funding-though sometimes delayed-remains vital to saving lives.

‘Behind every statistic is a human story. Each percentage represents someone’s father, mother, or friend who lived because a system worked.

‘Our success is proof that trauma care is everyone’s business; from road users to rescuers and administrators,’ he said.

The Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Kehinde Hamzat, underscored the grim reality that most crash-related deaths were avoidable.

Citing WHO data, Hamzat, also a Guest Speaker, said that Africa bore a disproportionate share of the 1.3 million global deaths from road traffic crashes yearly, with Lagos inclusive due to high vehicle density and weak road discipline.

Hamzat warned that unsafe behaviours such as speeding, drunk driving, and disregard for traffic laws remain major culprits, stressing that effective trauma management begins with prevention.

‘No matter how advanced our hospitals become, if we don’t change road behaviour, we’ll keep losing lives needlessly.

‘Our collective vigilance, compliance, and compassion are what will make our roads safer and our emergency systems more responsive,’ he said.

As the symposium ended, participants resolved to deepen inter-agency collaboration, intensify public sensitization, and push for behavioural change campaigns across the state.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ has reversed some of Nigeria’s economic plagues and his policies are making Nigeria rich again, Imo state governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma has said.

Addressing a crowd of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters during a meeting of the Progressive Governors’ Forum in Birnin – Kebbi yesterday , Uzodinma who is the emphasised that the parlous economic situation inherited by President Tinubu in 2023 required very bold and painful steps which has now started manifesting positive results.

‘We are to give you the good news and thank you for your patience; in 2023 when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu came into office, he met a Nigeria that was almost drowning and what was required was a bold leader who will be able to take bold decisions, and he discovered the cancer that had held in Nigeria hostage.

‘And he took bold decisions, removing fuel subsidy, unifying the exchange rate, rolling out so many reforms and fiscal policies that made Nigeria that was almost broke now gradually becoming rich again,’ he stated.

At the event that was attended by governors, ministers, APC state governors, party leaders, leaders of the youth organisations and women leaders and streamed online, Governor Uzodinma pointed out that the pains, patience and endurance of Nigerians is now gradually bearing fruits.

‘ The aftermath of those (reform policies) decisions were extremely harsh; the cost of living went up, prices of food went up and despite all interventions and palliative measures by the government, our people were almost crying.

‘Today, it was like a woman that was under labour; and the parents have heard the cries of the new baby and now, it is jubilation everywhere,’ he said.

Uzodinma, who stated that the APC federal government is rolling out a massive economic empowerment programme that would directly touch hundreds of lives in each ward across the nation’s 774 local government councils, further said:’So I commend you, my brothers and sisters, our party members for the leadership you have shown and to you our leaders, for the protection you have given to our members all this while because I know what it means to be a leader.

‘I have seen former governors of Kebbi state, Alhaji Adamu Aliero, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu and other leaders here; there is a common proverb in my place: when the eye is bleeding, the nose is also bleeding – so, for them to have shown leadership and for you to have remained resilient and committed to our party, we must give glory to God.

‘Now that you went through the famine, the good news is that this is now harvest period; after the President has worked so hard through the Renewed Hope Agenda, to begin to earn more revenue – Nigeria is now earning huge revenue outside crude oil – the President, in his wisdom in the last National Economic Council meeting, decided that 1,000 active businesses must be created in every electoral world across Nigeria between now and the next six to twelve months.

‘Through that, we must have minimum of 1,000 active businesses in each ward and I have been told that it’s happening simultaneously all over the country; when your governor told you to submit names electoral ward, that is the purpose for which those names is being collected.

‘Whether you are a vulcanizer, bicycle repair, a barber, bricklayer, an IT specialist, no matter your businesses, we need to now push them to them, some of this money that we have earned, so that it reaches down to the grassroots and nothing can beat this,’ he said.

According to Uzodinma, the only truly viable political party in Nigeria is the All Progressives Congress and that is the reason why political heavyweights from other parties are queuing to join it.

‘The truth is that there is only one political party in Nigeria and the name of that political party is APC; have you not seen on the television or at the National Assembly and in states, every day, you see Senators, House of Reps members and others leaving their parties and joining APC.

‘You also see governors leaving their party and joining APC; It is not born out of nothing, it is conviction that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has performed – it is a testament to the fact that Nigeria is now working again,’ Uzodinma stated.

Meanwhile, the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) at the end of a two-day meeting held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, between October 16 and 17 reaffirmed its commitment to the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The forum, in a communiqué read by the chairman, Sen. Hope Uzodimma,

said that the meeting, which brought together APC governors from across the country, served as a strategic platform for reflection on the nation’s socio-economic trajectory and a reassessment of the states’ role in Nigeria’s transformation process.

‘The forum also described the collaborative framework involving the federal, state, and local governments as a model of cooperative federalism and inclusive development,’ he said.

‘The governors congratulated President Tinubu, the national leadership of the APC, and Nigerians at large on the development.

‘This would further strengthen national unity and progressive leadership across the country.

‘We warmly congratulate His Excellency, Dr Peter Mbah, on his courageous decision to join the APC.

‘His entry reinforces the party’s growing national appeal and validates the policy strength of the Renewed Hope Agenda,’ he said.

Uzodimma said that the forum also commended President Tinubu and the APC leadership for steering the party into what it described as a new era of inclusivity, ideological clarity, and national consolidation.

‘During the meeting, the governors undertook a comprehensive appraisal of the political, security, and socio-economic situation in the country.

‘They expressed satisfaction with the progress being recorded in fiscal reforms, food security, power sector stabilisation, infrastructural modernisation, and social intervention programmes.

‘The forum noted that under President Tinubu’s leadership, the nation’s economy is recording steady growth, with inflation and interest rates declining, while revenue accruing to the three tiers of government continues to increase.

‘The forum lauded the President for initiatives introduced through the National Economic Council aimed at creating opportunities for Nigerians across the 8,809 INEC wards of the federation.

‘The Progressive Governors’ Forum commends the foresight of President Tinubu and reaffirms its collective resolve to support all policies and programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda.’

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has donated cash assistance and a solar-powered borehole to victims of the September 2021 accidental airstrike in Buhari Village, Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe.

Air Commodore Ecomo U. U. Idris, the Air Component Commander, Joint Task Force (North-East) Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed this on Saturday in Damaturu while presenting the donation on behalf of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar.

Idris said the donation was approved by the NAF Headquarters as part of efforts to support the affected families and mitigate the impact of the unfortunate incident.

He explained that the 2021 bombing, which claimed eight lives and injured 30 persons, was accidental, stressing that it occurred while troops targeted an insurgents’ enclave within the area.

‘This incident was not intentional. It was a mistake that happened during an operation targeting criminal elements in the area,’ Idris said.

He reaffirmed NAF’s commitment to maintaining high standards of civilian harm mitigation, stating that every operation was guided by strict rules of engagement to prevent harm to non-combatants.

Idris commended Gov. Mai Mala Buni for facilitating the engagement between NAF and the victims’ families, adding that the service would continue to work with the state government to sustain peace and security in the region.

Idris prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims and reaffirmed NAF’s resolve to deepen community engagement in all its operational areas across the North-East.

Also speaking, retired Brig.-Gen. Dahiru Abdulsalam, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, said the Yobe Government had earlier supported the victims with medical care and logistics immediately after the 2021 incident.

He described the gesture by NAF as a demonstration of empathy and responsibility, adding that the air strike, though regrettable, was a consequence of the complex nature of counter-insurgency warfare in the North-East.

Abdulsalam said the NAF headquarters approved a compensation of N1million each for families of deceased victims and N500,000 each for those who sustained injuries.

He added that a solar-powered borehole would be constructed in Guro-Buhari to provide clean water for the residents as part of NAF’s quick-impact community projects.

‘The victims’ names had been verified and authenticated by the Office of the Attorney-General and the NAF headquarters to ensure transparency.

*There will be no proxy collection,’ Abdulsalam said.

He urged the residents of the community to continue cooperating with the security agencies to ensure lasting peace and the final defeat of insurgents in the region.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has demonstrated its commitment towards driving sustainable growth and economic transformation across Africa with the official launch of its White Paper in Washington DC.

The White Paper: Banking on Africa’s Future: Unlocking Capital and Partnerships for Sustainable Growth aims to unlock an estimated $4 trillion in Africa’s domestic financial assets.

This includes $2.5 trillion in commercial bank assets and over $1.1 trillion in long-term institutional capital, while capitalising on the $3.4 trillion potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) single market.

The document also focuses on ensuring the integration of domestic capital with strategic global alliances.

The report which was unveiled on the side-lines of the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC, provides a comprehensive roadmap for accelerating Africa’s progress through innovative financial solutions, policy reforms, and strategic partnerships; elevating Africa’s economic priorities to the forefront of international financial conversations.

It delivers a detailed, actionable blueprint designed to harness Africa’s enormous economic opportunities while examining essential growth areas including trade facilitation, infrastructure development, digital innovation, climate finance, and inclusive growth.

For Africa, this whitepaper signifies a pivotal advancement in financial infrastructure and economic empowerment. It addresses longstanding challenges such as limited access to capital and underdeveloped partnerships, proposing solutions that could accelerate sustainable development across the continent.

UBA’s Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, who delivered a bold vision for the continent’s future at the launch said, ‘Africa stands at a transformational crossroads, rich in resilience, creativity, and untapped potential. With this whitepaper, UBA champions Africapitalism, empowering our private sector to drive sustainable growth that delivers prosperity and social wealth.’

Elumelu who is also the founder of Heirs Holding Group and the champion of the Africapitalism concept added, that by focusing on inclusive growth and digital innovation, the report promises to enhance financial inclusion for millions, bolster infrastructure projects, and drive climate-resilient initiatives, ultimately fostering job creation, poverty reduction, and regional integration under AfCFTA.

In the global finance space, the unveiling also underscores Africa’s rising prominence as a key player in the world economy where international investors, institutions, and policymakers are invited to engage more deeply with African markets, highlighting mutually beneficial opportunities for capital flows and collaborations.

This, he noted, will help towards reshaping global investment strategies, encouraging a shift toward emerging markets and promoting diversified portfolios that include African assets, thereby contributing to more balanced global economic growth.

Elumelu explained that with this whitepaper, UBA champions Africapitalism, empowering our private sector to drive sustainable growth that delivers prosperity and social wealth, adding that ‘To investors across Africa and the globe: join us in mobilizing our $4 trillion domestic capital alongside strategic partnerships to bridge opportunities, de-risk investments, and build a self-determined future. The era of action is upon us, let us seize it together for Africa’s economic sovereignty.’

UBA’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who spoke further on the whitepaper, pointed out that it redefines development finance, moving from aid dependency to investment highways powered by African innovation.

‘UBA, with our deep local knowledge and global reach, is uniquely positioned to unlock capital flows and foster collaborations that transform challenges into opportunities. We call on financial leaders worldwide: partner with us to deploy agile solutions, from digital platforms to blended finance, and co-create resilient growth that benefits millions. Africa’s time is now, commit today to be part of this revolutionary journey,’ he stated.

United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting technology.

Actress Sarah Martins has accused Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) operatives of maltreating her while cooking for the less privileged in Lagos.

She shared a video of her bruised hand on Instagram, expressing heartbreak over the incident.

Sarah admitted she was wrong to cook on the walkway but criticised KAI officials for taking away food meant for poor street children without empathy.

She questioned the lack of empathy, stressing the trauma caused to vulnerable kids who were excited about a meal.

In response, the Lagos State Government issued a statement on Friday defending the KAI operatives’ actions.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, clarified that Martins’ roadside cooking violated environmental and sanitation laws, posing risks to public safety and infrastructure.

According to her, she cooked on the street to bond with street kids, making them feel loved and valued, adding that her social media platforms aren’t monetised, and she does this to create a connection with them.

Sarah argued that she should’ve been allowed to finish the meal and be advised instead of being treated poorly.

She’s advocating for humanity and peace, supporting the government through her outreach work.

She wrote: ‘Yes I was wrong to cook on the walkway but KAI operatives were mean enough to carry away food meant for poor street children without empathy!

‘What happens to empathy??? Not for me but for the vulnerable people i was cooking for. These are people that were already excited about having a taste of good meal for that day, these were children that probably haven’t eaten the entire day and the meal I was making for them was their only hope for the day.

‘You cut their hopes short! You traumatized them! You took away a big cooler of rice meant for 200 street kids. I wasn’t crying because you took all my cooking utensils including the entire food meant for poor people, I cried because hungry children depended on that meal for dinner.

‘And I ask again, what happens to empathy??? I do not cook on the street for content or for financial benefits because my social media platforms are NOT even monetized.

‘I cook on the street in order to bond with the street kids, making them feel loved, appreciated, valued and cared for by watching me cook for them with so much love and care.

‘They watch me cook from starting to finish and they see the amount of love I pour into each meal I make for them and that’s what makes my own style of charity different.

‘There’s a difference between watching a loved one cook for you with so much love and admiration and seeing someone bringing food just to share to you.

‘The bond I’ve created with the street kids is what has kept me going since the past 7yrs in this outreach.

‘For the fact that I wasn’t cooking to sell, I feel I should have been allowed to finish the particular meal, share to the kids and then advise to discontinue for safety reasons instead of being treated like an animal.

‘I chose not to wail at government and blame them for everything but rather support the government by feeding the poor from my hard earned money as an advocate of peace and humanity that I am.

‘This is our Nigeria, and together we shall make it great again by impacting into one another in our own little way. The tiny voices of those poor kids with the tears in their eyes still echoes in my head. It is well. It can only get better’.

Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday said Nigeria is primed to anchor a new era of intra-African trade and investment, leveraging its market size, economic weight, and innovation capacity to drive the continent’s next commercial revolution.

The Vice President made this known at the High-Level Conference on Intra-African Trade, jointly organised by the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Woodhall Capital, Afreximbank, and the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), at the State House, Abuja, ahead of a series of investment roadshows scheduled for London, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.

Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Vice President, Senator Ibrahim Hadeija, Shettima commended Woodhall Capital for what he described as ‘an audacious mandate’ to mobilise international funding for sovereign and sub-sovereign projects, calling it ‘an act of deep patriotic service that turns theoretical potential into bankable opportunities.

‘For too long, the narrative of African trade has been dictated by what we extract and export to the Global North. Today, we must pivot and activate the vast untapped energy of intra-African trade’, he said.

While intra-continental trade in Europe and Asia stands at 65% and 60% respectively, Shettima lamented that Africa’s remains below 17%, urging African nations to embrace the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a springboard for shared prosperity.

According to him, Nigeria’s subnationals – not just the federal government – must take the lead in attracting global capital by presenting ‘structurally sound, de-risked, and market-aligned’ projects.

‘As a government, we recognise that to attract sustainable investment, we must build an environment anchored on predictable policy, institutional transparency, and public accountability. Capital follows confidence, and confidence follows governance’, he said.

The Vice President reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to stabilising the currency, rationalising subsidies, and deepening business reforms through PEBEC.

He urged governors to seize emerging opportunities in agro-exports, regional power projects, and digital platforms, declaring ‘the capital is ready. The markets are ready. And the world is watching. This is our moment to redefine Nigeria’s place in Africa’s economic story – not as a participant, but as a leader.’

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, reaffirmed that Nigerian states are ready to drive the continent’s next phase of growth.

Represented by Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, AbdulRazaq said subnationals hold the key to unlocking Africa’s next wave of trade and economic expansion.

The governor described the gathering as ‘a declaration that Nigerian states are open for business, already bankable and globally competitive.’

He highlighted the NGF Investopedia platform, launched earlier this year, which showcases hundreds of investment-ready projects across infrastructure, energy, agriculture, logistics, and the creative economy – all aligned with AfCFTA priorities.

‘Our collective goal is to deepen collaboration, mobilise capital, and strengthen confidence in the subnational investment ecosystem,’ he added, commending Afreximbank and Woodhall Capital for supporting the NGF through blended finance and advisory services.

Also speaking, Alain-Thierry (AT) Mbongue, Acting Regional Chief Operating Officer and Head of Mission for Anglophone West Africa, Afreximbank, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to helping subnational governments attract investment and expand intra-African trade.

Representing Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah, Mbongue described the forum as ‘a pivotal juncture in Nigeria’s investment narrative,’ focused on commitments and frameworks to deliver tangible outcomes at scale.

He spotlighted the African Sub-Sovereign Government Network (AfSNET) – established in 2021 – as a platform enabling governors and mayors to exchange knowledge, shape innovative policies, and access Afreximbank’s tailored financing tools.

‘Our guiding philosophy is simple: development must be decentralised. It must begin where the needs are most keenly felt – in cities, provinces, counties, and regions – and radiate outward to influence national and continental progress’, Mbongue said.

Over the past four years, AfSNET has convened investment conferences in Durban, Abuja, Cairo, and Kisumu, catalysing over $2 billion in trade and investment deals.

Mbongue also announced that Cross River State will host the next AfSNET Investment Forum in 2026.

Earlier, Woodhall Capital President, Mrs. Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu, rallied local and international investors to leverage Nigeria’s evolving policy landscape, describing the forum as ‘a convergence of purpose, partnership, and vision.’

She linked the initiative to Woodhall’s 2025 Memorandum of Understanding with the NGF, which connects state-level projects with credible investors in the UK and the Gulf region.

Hunponu-Wusu hailed President Tinubu’s economic reforms – including forex liberalisation, exchange rate unification, and capital market deepening – as transformative measures restoring investor confidence.

‘This forum is not merely a conversation; it is a bridge connecting policy with capital, Nigeria with the world, and vision with measurable impact,’ she said, urging investors to ‘start from Africa, not outside it.’

She praised Afreximbank as a ‘Big Brother’ to Woodhall Capital and paid tribute to Prof. Oramah as ‘a true African champion,’ expressing confidence that incoming president Dr. George Elombi will sustain the momentum.

Announcing the upcoming NGF-Woodhall Capital international investor roadshows in London, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, Hunponu-Wusu said the platforms would enable Nigerian states to engage financiers directly.

‘No longer do we go with begging bowls. There’s investment onshore, on the continent. If you’re an investor wondering where to find partners, look around this room – they’re here’, she said.