Author: user user

NCDC rules out Ebola in two suspected Adamawa cases

Two suspected Ebola cases in Adamawa State have tested negative after two rounds of laboratory testing the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said.

The agency also emphasised that Nigeria currently has no confirmed Ebola case following the evacuation of the index patient to Switzerland for further treatment after her condition improved.

NCDC’s Director-General Dr. Jide Idris announced this in a statement on Saturday night.

The agency boss explained that the individuals were isolated after presenting symptoms suggestive of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Yola Adamawa State.

According to him the Adamawa State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre received the report in the early hours of October 30 prompting investigations and the activation of appropriate public health measures.

Idris said the NCDC was working with the Adamawa State government through the Ministry of Health and Human Services to investigate the cases and provide technical support for the response.

The NCDC boss praised the Commissioner for Health and his team for their proactive response stressing that Adamawa State currently has no laboratory-confirmed Ebola case.

He added that the index case previously confirmed in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) remained Nigeria’s only confirmed case.

Idris urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information advising Nigerians to rely on official government and public health communication channels for updates.

It also advised anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever severe weakness headache muscle pain vomiting diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding particularly after a possible exposure to seek immediate medical attention and disclose relevant travel or contact history to healthcare workers.

The agency cautioned against self-medication and urged the public to follow professional medical advice noting that Ebola requires prompt identification appropriate clinical management and effective infection prevention and control measures.

Idris said the NCDC Adamawa State Government and other stakeholders would continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as verified information became available.

Worrying Diplomatic Criminalities

For the first time in the history of diplomacy in this country, one of the dominant political parties has been compelled to write to a foreign mission about ‘diplomatic and service passports for sale’ and to demand a suspension of courtesies entailed thereof until an audit is undertaken.

In the past few weeks, the story about diplomatic and service passports for sale landed on social media, adding to the visa scandal which swatted our national image earlier.

Followers of social media read the emerging story with glee even as they expected a convincing denial from the appropriate quarters to no avail.

Perhaps the emerging scandals to afflict the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of late, overwhelming as they are, have made it impossible for the appropriate response.

The Minister is busy nursing the wounds inflicted on him by the disturbing scandals.

On the other hand, it could be that there is nothing to deny about a damning reality.

World Cup visa, South African evacuation and diplomatic passports sale scandals are anomalies which do not present our country in good light in whichever direction we look at them.

Is this government under a spell for which reason it is engaging in inappropriate practices which under normal circumstances it should steer clear of?

In the correspondence of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the US Embassy, the largest opposition party pointed at the unusual acquisition of the security travel documents and the need for immediate action.

Until a probe is ordered into the anomaly which would never take place anyway, we can conclude foreign suspicious characters have managed to ‘buy’ the passports.

Under the circumstances, inappropriate channels are in operation for the acquisition of the special travel documents, something which cannot be done without the connivance of persons closely associated with the corridors of power.

Such criminal means of obtaining diplomatic passports is another pointer to the bad and criminal conduct of government appointees.

Names have been mentioned, one of whose alleged relationship with the President calls for an immediate interrogation to establish the truth or otherwise.

We can bet though that with a crocodile-skinned President, such a probe, necessary as it is, won’t come on.

Names have been presented for the passports of persons who do not hold the positions assigned to them. In other anomalous instances, persons have been presented as belonging to agencies when the truth is that these persons are unknown to the staff of the agencies.

Non-existent positions have been created and assigned non-staff applicants for the diplomatic passports.

It would not be long before drug barons, some of whom are already operating here, would lay hands on diplomatic and service passports, if they have not done so already.

That this happening at a time when we have a major unresolved cocaine scandal on our hands says a lot about how governance has degenerated in the hands of those at the helm today.

Africa must ensure AI strengthens journalism, not undermine it

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming journalism, presenting opportunities to improve reporting while creating new threats to information integrity, journalists’ jobs and media freedom. Africa cannot afford to approach this transformation as a purely technological question. We must also consider who benefits, who bears the risks and what it means for the future of independent journalism.

As Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), our position is that AI must serve journalism, not undermine it. Its adoption must strengthen quality reporting, protect journalists’ rights and uphold the public’s right to reliable information.

This was also the central message of our continental dialogue in Addis Ababa on October 24 and 25, 2026, where journalist leaders engaged representatives of the African Union Commission, UNESCO, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Union on responsible AI, decent work and media freedom.

Our discussions reinforced an important truth: we cannot secure quality journalism without decent working conditions, nor defend media freedom while ignoring the conditions under which journalists work.

Across Africa, journalists continue to face low or delayed wages, insecure employment, inadequate contracts, limited social protection and pressure on editorial independence. These are not simply labour concerns. They affect the quality, credibility and independence of the information available to the public.

When journalists are poorly paid, overworked or vulnerable to dismissal, their ability to resist political and commercial pressure is weakened. When newsrooms lack the resources to investigate, verify information and hold power accountable, misinformation and disinformation find fertile ground.

AI presents genuine opportunities. It can support research, translation, transcription, verification and data analysis, helping journalists work more efficiently and reach wider audiences. However, the same technology can generate fabricated images, clone voices, impersonate trusted sources and spread misleading content at extraordinary speed.

The danger is that AI could deepen existing problems if media organisations introduce it primarily to cut costs, reduce staffing and maximise profits. Technological progress should not come at the expense of professional journalism or the livelihoods of those who produce it.

Journalists must therefore be involved in shaping how AI is adopted in their workplaces. Media organisations should develop clear policies in consultation with journalists and their unions, addressing transparency, accountability, source protection and editorial independence. Human judgement must remain central to decisions affecting the public.

Employers must not use automation as an excuse to evade their labour obligations. Where AI changes jobs and working arrangements, journalists deserve meaningful consultation, skills development and respect for their rights. Productivity gains should not benefit employers alone while workers absorb the costs.

This is why collective bargaining and social dialogue are essential. Governments, employers and workers must negotiate how AI is introduced, how its risks are managed and how its benefits are shared. Trade unions must also adapt their organising strategies to reach freelancers, digital journalists and other workers who are frequently excluded from traditional employment protections.

FAJ’s recent continental survey on journalists’ working conditions, safety, labour rights and media freedom provides an important foundation for this advocacy. It gathered responses from 1,586 journalists across 45 African countries, offering evidence to support engagement with media owners, governments and regional institutions.

These findings must translate into practical reforms, including fair remuneration, enforceable employment rights and social protection that reflects the realities of journalism, including freelance and digital work.

We must also recognise that journalists cannot produce quality journalism when they work under constant threat. Physical attacks, legal harassment and intimidation continue to undermine reporting across Africa. Women journalists face additional challenges, particularly online, where sexualised abuse, threats and coordinated harassment are used to silence them.

Governments must investigate attacks and end impunity. Media organisations must strengthen safety systems, while digital platforms must respond effectively to targeted abuse without suppressing legitimate journalism or dissent. African AI governance frameworks must protect freedom of expression, privacy, access to information and journalists’ safety.

Africa must also have a meaningful voice in shaping global AI governance. The African Union and regional economic communities should ensure that journalists and their representative organisations participate in developing policies that reflect the continent’s realities and uphold fundamental rights.

The advocacy action plan adopted in Addis Ababa gives FAJ and its affiliates a basis for advancing these priorities through engagement with African institutions, UN agencies, organised labour, human rights organisations and other partners.

But an action plan is only the beginning. Its value will be measured by whether it produces tangible improvements in journalists’ working conditions, safety and independence.

Our message is straightforward: AI should complement human judgement, not replace journalistic responsibility. It should strengthen access to credible information, not accelerate deception. It should improve working conditions, not deepen insecurity.

The future of African journalism will not be secured by technology alone. It will depend on whether we protect the people who gather, verify and report the information our societies need.

Responsible AI, decent work and media freedom are inseparable. Africa must ensure that its technological transformation strengthens all three.

Pay-TV: Why the proposition is changing

At the end of every month, Kenyan households run an audit nobody talks about openly. School fees. Rent. Transport. Data bundles. And somewhere on that list, a question that would have seemed odd a decade ago: is this subscription still worth it?

The numbers suggest that more households are questioning whether the subscription still earns its place in the monthly budget. Kenya’s pay-TV market shed 85,177 active subscriptions in the first three months of this year alone, a 5.1percent drop in a single quarter, according to the Communications Authority. The decline touched almost every operator.

That split matters. It means this isn’t simply a story about pay-TV losing to streaming, or Kenyans falling out of love with television. It’s a story about which providers still feel worth paying for, and which don’t.

The problem was never really about the number of channels on offer. It is about the relationship between price, perceived value, choice and content.

Consumers are weighing all four when deciding whether a subscription still makes sense for their household. For businesses, that means responding to changing expectations cannot be reduced to a pricing decision or simply adding more to an existing package. The opportunity is to look at the proposition as a whole.

The easy assumption is that people are leaving because pay-TV has become too expensive, while cheaper alternatives have won on price alone. Price is certainly part of the equation. But it does not tell the whole story. Value is not simply a number on an invoice. It is the comparison a household makes each month between what it pays and what it gets to enjoy.

A subscription can be competitively priced and still feel less valuable if the content or features do not match what a household actually wants. Equally, a subscription can justify its price when customers can clearly see the relevance in what they are receiving. That is why the conversation around value is becoming more nuanced. Consumers are not simply looking for the lowest possible price. They want to feel that their subscription reflects how they watch, what they enjoy and what matters to their household.

The industry’s response to changing consumer expectations should not be to take choice away. If anything, consumers want more control over what they pay for and how they use their subscriptions. The challenge is making that choice meaningful.

For a household that primarily wants local entertainment and news, value may look very different from that of a household whose viewing revolves around international sport. A parent may prioritise children’s programming, while another household may be willing to pay more for live football or premium entertainment. The point is not that consumers want fewer options. It is that they want options that make sense for the way they actually live.

That puts a different responsibility on businesses. Choice should make it easier for customers to find the proposition that fits their needs

Content remains one of the strongest reasons people choose to pay for entertainment.

A household may tolerate a higher monthly bill when a subscription gives it something it cannot easily replace elsewhere; a major sporting event, a local production everyone is talking about, or programming that serves the whole family. What has changed is not the importance of content, but the way consumers assess it.

Put the three together, and today’s viewer isn’t really choosing between value, choice and content. They’re quietly demanding more of all three at once; more value for every shilling spent, more choice that’s easy rather than exhausting to navigate, more content that reflects their lives rather than just a bigger catalogue.

Kogi vigilantes arrest two over alleged vandalism of PHCN armoured cable

Operatives of the Kogi State Vigilante Service (KSVS), attached to Sector D Command, have arrested two suspects over the alleged vandalism of an armoured cable belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The suspects, identified as Jonah Bako, 30, and Abdullahi Yunusa, 45, were arrested on October 30 at about 9 p.m. following sustained credible intelligence.

According to a statement by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Idris S. Idris, Bako was allegedly caught vandalising the electricity cable before his arrest.

During interrogation, the first suspect reportedly confessed to the crime and identified Yunusa, a scrap dealer, as his regular buyer. The alleged receiver was subsequently arrested.

The Comptroller-General of KSVS, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Anataku, commended the operatives for their dedication and professionalism, urging them to sustain the momentum in the fight against criminal activities across the state.

Anataku also expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his continued support and encouragement to the service.

He called on residents to support security agencies with credible and actionable intelligence, stressing that security is a collective responsibility.

The Comptroller-General assured members of the public that all information supplied, as well as the identities of informants, would be treated with strict confidentiality.

Fire sweeps through houses in Bangkok community

A fire swept through 79 houses in the Patthana Bon Kai community in Bangkok in the early hours of Monday. There were no injuries reported.

About 124 families were evacuated to a temporary shelter and Pathum Wan district officials were inspecting the scene.

The fire broke out about 12.51am and was reported to have begun in a two-storey wooden house.

The houses there are each attached to their neighbours, allowing the blaze to spread quickly throughout the community, which is in the Lumphini area, officials said.

The blaze was declared under control at 2.37am.

Residents fled from their homes onto the streets as the flames spread, and a later check confirmed no one was injured or missing.

Pathum Wan District Office said a total of 79 households were damaged, with 321 residents affected.

The Patthana Bon Kai community, located near Rama IV Road, was previously ravaged by fire in June 2022, when about 30 houses were destroyed.

Magic: The Gathering’s Star Trek Commander Decks

The Final Frontier is making its way to the Commander table as Star Trek joins Magic: The Gathering (MTG) with four new preconstructed decks set to release on November 13, 2026.

As the final major release in MTG’s 2026 lineup, the Star Trek collaboration brings some of the franchise’s most recognizable characters, factions, and locations to the trading card game.

From the Federation and its diverse roster of species to the war-driven Klingons and the ever-expanding Borg Collective, there’s plenty for Trekkies and MTG players to discover.

Featuring four ready-to-play 100-card Commander decks, the collection offers different playstyles inspired by the Star Trek universe.

Whether you’re looking to explore strange new worlds, lead the Federation, wage Klingon warfare, or assimilate your opponents, here’s what to expect from each deck.

RELATED STORY: Magic: The Gathering Foundations Commander decks explained

Federation Fleet

Federation Fleet is a Blue-Red-White Commander deck led by Jean-Luc Picard, Luminary.

Built around drawing cards and playing historic spells and permanents, the deck rewards players for maintaining a steady flow of cards throughout the game.

It’s a particularly appealing choice for fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG).Its primary mechanic, Seek Out, triggers whenever you draw your second card each turn, including during your opponents’ turns.

This makes card draw an important part of the deck’s strategy, allowing players to generate additional value while keeping their options open.

Players can also switch things up by replacing Picard with the deck’s alternate commander, Captain Janeway, Endgame.

Rather than focusing on historic cards, Janeway rewards players for dealing combat damage with Officers.

Whenever an Officer deals damage, she lets you draw a card and create another Officer token, giving the deck an alternative way to trigger Seek Out while building a stronger board presence.Other cards, such as Ro Laren, Double Agent and Rom and Leeta, Unlikely Pair, further support the deck’s strategy by providing additional engines and payoffs for its card-drawing synergies.

Landing Party

Landing Party is a Green-White-Blue Commander deck helmed by Commander Spock, with an emphasis on its Strange New Worlds mechanic.

This ability rewards players for having lands with different names on the battlefield, complementing the deck’s secondary Landfall strategy, which triggers whenever a land enters the battlefield.

With the goal of building a diverse collection of lands as quickly as possible, Landing Party encourages players to explore different ways of developing their mana base.

The more unique lands you have in play, the more you can take advantage of the deck’s Strange New Worlds synergies.

For players who would rather take a different approach, the deck also features Captain Kirk, Boldly Going as an alternate commander.

While Landfall remains an important part of the strategy, Kirk shifts the focus toward the Starship Enterprise and its supporting crew.

Cards like Chief Kyle, Transporter Tech and Lt. Arex, Ever-Adapting generate additional value as lands enter the battlefield.

Meanwhile, reprints such as Exploration and Ancient Greenwarden help maximize Landfall triggers, allowing players to get even more mileage out of every land drop.

Klingon Fury

Klingon Fury is a Red-White-Black Commander deck led by Worf, Defiant Commander.

True to its color identity and aggressive playstyle, the deck focuses on dealing damage to opponents through its primary mechanic, Battlefront.

Battlefront abilities reward players for attacking multiple opponents in a single turn, making the deck particularly effective in multiplayer Commander games.

Worf takes advantage of this mechanic by generating additional value whenever its conditions are met, encouraging players to keep the pressure on and spread their attacks across the table.

Alternatively, players can put Kor, Cause of Vengeance at the helm of their Klingon-themed army.

Rather than relying on Worf’s value-generation strategy, Kor focuses on strengthening Klingon and Warrior creatures.

His ability provides +2/+2 boosts and card draw when another creature is sacrificed, giving players another way to maintain their offensive momentum.

The rest of the deck supports this aggressive strategy with cards like The Sword of Kahless, which provides additional board presence during attacks, and I.K.S. Negh’Var, Imperial Flagship, which grants Vigilance to Klingon and Warrior creatures.

Klingon Fury also features a potentially devastating infinite combat interaction involving the reprinted card Combat Celebrant.

Additional cards like Professional Face-Breaker help maintain the deck’s momentum, making it an appealing option for players who prefer an aggressive approach to Commander.

We Are the Borg

We Are the Borg is a White-Blue-Black Commander deck led by The Borg Queen, the personification of the Borg Collective’s hivemind.

While it might initially appear to be another artifact-focused deck, its real strategy revolves around assimilation.

Inspired by the Borg’s ability to absorb other species into its collective, the deck’s Assimilate mechanic transforms opposing creatures into Borg artifacts, allowing players to expand their own forces using their opponents’ resources.

The Borg Queen’s seven-mana cost makes her a relatively expensive commander to cast, but her ability to assimilate creatures whenever she enters the battlefield or attacks makes her a formidable presence once she’s in play.

Players can also opt for Locutus of Borg as their alternate commander, offering another way to build and expand a Borg army.

The rest of the deck supports this strategy by strengthening artifact creatures and artifact spells, with cards like Hugh, First of Many providing Replicate and One, Borg Evolved serving as a potential finisher.

Reprints such as Tempered Steel and Forsaken Monument further strengthen the deck’s artifact-based strategy.

If taking control of the battlefield and turning your opponents’ forces against them sounds appealing, We Are the Borg might be the Commander deck for you.

Exploring a New Frontier

With the holiday season approaching, Star Trek’s Commander decks could make for an interesting Christmas gift for fans of both Magic: The Gathering and the iconic science fiction franchise.

Each deck offers a distinct playstyle, giving newcomers an opportunity to explore Commander while offering longtime players new cards and strategies to add to their collections.

Beyond their gameplay mechanics, the decks also feature artwork inspired by the Star Trek universe, complete with references to memorable characters and moments from the franchise.

These details make the collection particularly appealing to Trekkies who want to see their favorite parts of the series brought to the Commander table.

Whether you want to boldly explore strange new worlds, lead the Federation, unleash Klingon fury, or assimilate everything in your path, Star Trek’s arrival in MTG offers plenty of ways to experience the Final Frontier.

The Star Trek Commander decks will be available in both regular and Collector’s Edition versions, with the latter featuring Surge Foil treatments across the entire deck. Both editions are scheduled for release on November 13, 2026.

Home bet Marama Tokong has splashing World Surf League debut

John Mark ‘Marama’ Tokong gave the Filipino crowd plenty to cheer about after beating Brazilian World No. 11 Samuel Pupo to advance to Round 2 of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour Philippines Pro at Cloud 9 here Sunday.

Tokong put up 16.60 points on waves of 8.60 and 8.00, while Pupo could only manage 11.00 in their opening-round heat.

Surfing before a big home crowd, Tokong handled the pressure well, making the most of the six-to-eight-foot waves under light conditions.

He admitted that competing in front of his fellow Filipinos was not easy, but he tried not to think too much about the pressure once he got into the water.

‘It’s crazy and amazing. There was a lot of pressure, but I just told myself to relax, keep things simple and enjoy the waves,’ Tokong said.

He could hear his family, friends and supporters cheering from the shore whenever he came out of a wave. For the Filipino surfer, that made the experience even more special.

‘I’m not doing this just for myself, but also for my family, friends, fans and especially the Philippines. Representing my country is very important to me,’ he said.

With one round behind him, Tokong is now looking forward to his next heat, hoping to give the Filipino fans another performance to cheer for.

Surfers who lose in the opening round will still receive US$13,000 (around P830,000), while the champion will collect US$80,000 (approximately P5.1 million).

Bamidele: National Assembly proposes 74 extra seats for women

The National Assembly is considering a proposal to create 74 additional seats for women in the Senate and House of Representatives as part of efforts to address gender imbalance in Nigeria’s political representation Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has said.

Bamidele also disclosed that the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution includes a proposal to create three additional seats reserved for women in each of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.

He said the proposed seats would be in addition to existing legislative positions ensuring that no constituency loses its current representation.

The Senate Leader who is Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution made the disclosure on Monday at the 2026 Law Week organised by the Ekiti State chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).

The programme chaired by Mrs Ayobami Olowoyo-Richards had the theme: ‘Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children.’

Bamidele said the proposal if approved would create 37 additional seats in the Senate and another 37 in the House of Representatives giving every state and the Federal Capital Territory one additional seat in each chamber.

‘A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to provide for special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly and for related matters is receiving our attention at the National Assembly’ he said.

He explained that the proposed arrangement would operate for 16 years covering four electoral cycles after which it would be reviewed.

‘This arrangement is proposed to run for a period of 16 years four electoral cycles before a comprehensive review. This is a sunset clause designed to ensure sustainability and allow for the organic development of a more inclusive political culture’ he said.

The Senate Leader said the National Assembly was engaging State Houses of Assembly to secure the constitutionally required approval expressing confidence that the proposal would receive the necessary support.

‘We are actively and strategically engaging with the State Houses of Assembly as their concurrence is a constitutional sine qua non for bringing this reform to fruition’ he added.

Bamidele described the initiative as a non-partisan effort to strengthen representative democracy arguing that women should have a greater voice in decisions affecting the country.

‘The special seat initiative is not a partisan endeavour. It is a historic imperative. The rationale is anchored in a simple yet profound principle of constitutional law: the foundational precept of representative democracy’ he said.

He added ‘A democracy that systematically excludes over half of its population from the decision-making tables that determine their futures is at best flawed and at worst a veiled oligarchy.’

He said the 10th National Assembly’s commitment to the proposal had been strengthened by advocacy from prominent stakeholders including the First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Beyond political representation Bamidele called for stronger legal and institutional safeguards for women and children urging lawmakers to ensure that legislation responds effectively to emerging forms of abuse and exploitation.

He stressed that justice must go beyond constitutional provisions and be accessible to ordinary citizens.

‘Justice should be more than a promise merely expressed in the Constitution or a provision enshrined in our statute books. Rather it must be accessible affordable timely and effective’ he said.

He added that women experiencing domestic violence should be able to seek protection without intimidation while children subjected to abuse must receive appropriate protection and support.

‘Victims must have access to legal assistance medical care and psychosocial services while perpetrators must be held accountable in accordance with due process and the rule of law’ he said.

The event was attended by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation Steve Fatoba and the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Adeoye Aribasoye among other dignitaries.

Wike mocks critics of Rainbow Coalition, says they can’t even unite their families

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at politicians opposing the Rainbow Coalition, saying those criticising the political alliance lack the capacity to unite even their families and communities.

Wike said the coalition, which brings together political stakeholders across the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was established in the interest of unity, cooperation and development in the Federal Capital Territory.

The minister spoke on Monday during the commissioning of the Gwagwalada Civil Centre and an interactive session with stakeholders of the Gwagwalada Area Council APC and PDP in Abuja.

Commending political leaders in the area for putting aside their differences, Wike said their decision to work together had demonstrated that the collective interest of the people was more important than individual political ambitions.

He said, ‘Some greedy and selfish politicians do not understand what we call unity. They have no capacity to hold their space, they have no capacity to even hold their families, and they have no capacity to hold their communities. So they can open their mouths and say there is no Rainbow Coalition.’

The minister challenged those criticising the alliance to explain why political leaders who previously disagreed could not come together to pursue common interests.

He described the development in Gwagwalada as a positive departure from the politics of confrontation, insisting that the FCT needed cooperation rather than unnecessary political hostility.

Wike also urged residents not to repeat what he described as the mistake of the 2023 general elections, calling for credible representation at the National Assembly.

He said the FCT needed representatives who understood the problems confronting residents across the six area councils and could effectively communicate their demands to the Federal Government.

Questioning the quality of representation, he asked whether the senator representing the territory understood the challenges facing Gwagwalada, Kuje, Bwari, Kwali, Abaji and the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

He specifically canvassed support for former Senator Philip Aduda and other candidates endorsed by the coalition, saying political representatives must be accessible and familiar with their constituents.

Wike also declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, urging residents to mobilise at the grassroots and translate their political endorsements into votes in 2027.

‘On the day of the election, it will not be a day for market or fishing. It is the day all of us have decided to come together and demonstrate our strength through our votes. Go to the polling units, districts and communities and mobilise the people to vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu,’ he said.

Earlier, the FCT APC Chairman, Hon. Ishaku Tanko Yamawo, described the gathering as historic, saying Wike’s political intervention had brought together leaders who previously operated on opposing sides.

He said political leaders who had never regarded themselves as brothers because of party differences were now sitting together and agreeing to work under one political platform in Gwagwalada.

Yamawo also commended the minister for reducing political tension in the area, noting that campaigns had become more peaceful, without the destruction of vehicles and other violent incidents previously associated with political activities.

Similarly, the FCT PDP Chairman, Hon. Alhaji Ismaila Mohammed Dogara, praised Wike for his development interventions, particularly the revival of a project abandoned for 16 years in Gwagwalada.

Dogara said the coming together of political leaders across party lines demonstrated the minister’s commitment to building cooperation among stakeholders.

The Aguma of Gwagwalada, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Muhammadu Magaji, also commended Wike for his contributions to the development of the territory, saying the revival of the abandoned project underscored the importance of continuity in governance.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Hon. Kassim Mohammed, listed road projects executed by his administration in Gwagwalada metropolis, Tungan Wada, Abum-pe and other communities.

He thanked Wike for approving the establishment of a one-inch chip facility in Gwagwalada but appealed for intervention on the road linking the Army checkpoint to the Specialist Hospital.

Former Gwagwalada Area Council Chairman, Hon. Zakari Angulu Dobi, recalled that the Civil Centre was almost 80 per cent completed when he left office but suffered vandalism during the 16 years it remained abandoned, reducing its completion level to about 40 per cent.

He commended the incumbent chairman for reviving the facility, describing its completion as a victory for residents irrespective of their political affiliations.

Also speaking, Hon. Adamu Mustapha Danze urged FCT residents to reciprocate the attention given to the territory by Tinubu and Wike through their votes in 2027.

The Gwagwalada Area Council Women Leader, Hajia Hajara Abdullahi, assured Wike of women’s support for Tinubu, Aduda and other APC candidates, while appealing for the establishment of a cottage hospital to complement existing healthcare facilities.

The Gwagwalada Youth Leader and Special Assistant to the council chairman, Inuwa Guzo, also pledged the support of youths across the APC and PDP blocs for the Rainbow Coalition.

He appealed for the rehabilitation of the Gwagwalada football stadium, which he said had been abandoned for more than 25 years.