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Zayd Ibn Isah To Speak At 45th Convention Of Nigerian Authors

Columnist and public affairs analyst, Zayd Ibn Isah, is among the literary personalities expected to speak at the 45th International Convention and Conference of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), holding in Abuja.

Ibn Isah is listed as a panelist at the four-day gathering, which commenced on October 29 and ends on November 1, 2026, at the Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village, Mpape, Abuja.

The author has two books to his credit – ‘We Are All Guilty’, a moving drama that captures the intrigues and underlying corruption hindering the development of the most populous African country, and ‘The Nigerian Spirit Is Special’, a compilation of his articles published across Nigerian newspapers in about half a decade.

The foreword of Isah’s second book was written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose popular ‘My Watch’, was reviewed by the young author.

Isah’s works have appeared on Nigerian newspapers such as THISDAY, Guardian, Daily Trust, Vanguard, PREMIUM Times, TheCable, among others.

Daily Trust reports that the theme of this year’s ANA convention is, ‘Literature, National Security and the Place of Nigeria in the World’.

The theme reflects growing conversations about the role of creative expression in addressing societal challenges, promoting national cohesion and shaping Nigeria’s international image.

The event brings together writers, academics and other stakeholders in the literary and creative industries to examine the intersection of literature, security and national development.

Other featured participants include Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, Vice Chancellor of the African School of Economics, Abuja, who is billed to deliver the keynote address.

Also listed as panelists are Squadron Leader Alexander Emmanuel Ochogwu, PhD, and Toyin Adewale-Gabriel, while Odoh Diego Okenyodo will moderate the session.

The convention is hosted by ANA President, Dr Usman Akanbi, with Dr Bukar Usman as chairman of the occasion.

Founded on June 27, 1981, at a conference convened by the late literary icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, ANA has played a significant role in promoting Nigerian literature and providing a common platform for writers across the country.

Its founding conference attracted prominent Nigerian literary figures, as well as Kenyan writers Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Gacheche Wauringi.

The association’s constitution, aside from promoting literary works, identifies the protection of authors’ professional interests, preservation of oral literature, development of indigenous intellectual talents and promotion of a humane and egalitarian society among its objectives.

The association has also engaged with national security concerns through its 2017 partnership with the STRADA Development Initiative, which established the ANA Programme on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism.

At the ongoing convention, the connection between literature and security has featured prominently in discussions.

Earlier at the gathering, keynote speaker Prof. Adedimeji argued that national security should extend beyond military protection to include human security, social justice and freedom of thought.

He also described literature as an early-warning mechanism and a form of informal diplomacy, stressing the importance of protecting Nigeria’s national narrative.

The convention features speeches, literary performances, panel discussions, workshops and an awards dinner, among other activities.

CARICOM: UK apology for slavery would be welcomed, but reparations must remain on the table

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has welcomed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s openness to a formal apology for slavery and structured dialogue with affected countries, but insists that reparatory justice must remain central to any discussions.

In a statement issued on Saturday, CARICOM Chair and Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre, said the Community was ready to engage with the United Kingdom but rejected Burnham’s position that reparations were not ‘the right answer’.

Burnham, who is due to attend the November 1-4 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, has said he is ‘open’ to listening to calls for a formal apology on behalf of Britain for its role in the slave trade, but ruled out considering financial reparations.

‘I do not believe that is the right answer,’ he wrote in the Guardian. ‘I do not think that British people today can be held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous, that happened in a different age under different laws and in which they played no personal part.’

Burnham instead offered a ‘structured dialogue’ with those affected by the slave trade: ‘Having these difficult conversations to safeguard the Commonwealth for the future is the right thing to do. It is also the patriotic thing to do. Not just because it is in our interests, but because the Britain I believe in is confident, decent and brave. We led the world in abolishing slavery – and we can show leadership again today.’

‘I want to express my sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions and to recognise the way it still shapes our world today,’ he added.

Pierre said Burnham’s expression of personal sorrow and regret for the suffering caused by slavery and its continuing effects, together with his willingness to consider a formal apology on behalf of the British state, represented a significant development.

‘No British Prime Minister has gone this far before. It would be wrong of us not to say so, and we welcome it in the spirit in which it appears to be offered,’ Pierre said. ‘For more than a decade, this Community has asked for exactly such a dialogue. We are ready to engage.’

However, the CARICOM Chair said the Community did not accept the argument that reparations were inappropriate or that Britain’s responsibility had ended because present-day citizens had not personally participated in slavery.

‘Reparatory justice has never been about individual guilt. It is about the responsibility of states and institutions – and that responsibility does not expire with the passing of generations,’ he said.

Pierre pointed to Britain’s role in legislating for, protecting and profiting from slavery, as well as its decision to compensate enslavers at Emancipation while formerly enslaved people received no land, wealth or compensation.

He noted that the loan raised to compensate enslavers was still being repaid by British taxpayers until February 2015.

The consequences of slavery, he said, continue to be felt across the Caribbean through chronic disease, inequalities in education and opportunity, economies shaped by extraction, national debt and vulnerability to economic and climate shocks.

Pierre said a formal apology would be an important first step, but argued that it must be accompanied by practical measures to address the lasting effects of slavery.

He pointed to CARICOM’s Ten-Point Plan for Reparatory Justice, which includes a formal apology, public health, education and training, cultural heritage restitution and reconnection, psychological rehabilitation, technology and innovation, entrepreneurship, debt cancellation, monetary compensation and decolonisation.

He said the proposed dialogue must allow for discussion of every element of the plan, as well as reparations for the genocide of Indigenous Peoples and the harm caused to people brought from India and China to sustain colonial systems.

‘A dialogue that begins by placing reparations outside the room cannot be a complete dialogue,’ Pierre said.

The CARICOM Chair also acknowledged the United Kingdom’s initiative, to be led by former British prime minister Gordon Brown, to restructure the debt of the poorest Commonwealth countries.

He said the Community would examine the proposal seriously but cautioned that most CARICOM member states were classified as middle- or high-income economies and were routinely excluded from concessional relief despite their vulnerability to climate and economic shocks.

‘Any initiative that is to be meaningful for our region must measure vulnerability, not income alone,’ he said, adding that debt relief could not be used as a substitute for reparatory justice.

Pierre said the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Reparations, led by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, and the CARICOM Reparations Commission, chaired by Sir Hilary Beckles, were prepared to work with the British Government on the terms, agenda and timetable for structured dialogue.

He said he looked forward to meeting Burnham in Antigua and Barbuda in the coming days, as the country prepares to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

‘Our ancestors did not receive justice in their lifetime. We owe it to them, and to the generations who will come after us, to see this work through – with dignity, with patience, and with resolve,’ Pierre said.

Popular comedian Kapere Lufotose dies

Popular Ugandan comedian Yokana Mbuuse, fondly known by his stage name Kapere Lufotose, has died.

His demise was announced on Sunday evening by National Unity Platform (NUP) party President Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, on his official X (formerly Twitter) platform.

‘A few moments back, I just received the most devastating news regarding the untimely passing of our brother, dear friend and comrade Yokana Mbuuse, fondly called Kapere Lufotose,’ Mr Kyagulanyi wrote.

A close family member revealed that the comedian was rushed to the hospital after complaining of a severe headache shortly before his death.

Although Mr Kyagulanyi did not disclose the specific cause or location of death, he eulogised Kapere as ‘a man who made every dark moment light. A man who loved his country and wished it well! A loss so difficult to take in.’

Eulogies have since poured in across social media, with fans, colleagues, and political figures remembering Kapere not only for the laughter he brought into millions of homes, but also as a courageous figure who stood for human rights, constitutionalism, justice, and the rule of law.

The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Mr Joel Ssenyonyi, expressed deep shock over the loss, reflecting on their recent interaction.

‘Just last week, we were with Kapere Lufotose at NUP offices in Kavule. It is so sad to learn that he has passed on,’ Mr Ssenyonyi stated.

A career built on unapologetic authenticity

Kapere rose to national fame as a key figure in the iconic stand-up comedy outfit Amarula Family, performing alongside seasoned comedians Allan Mujuni (Amooti) and Nicholas Mpiirwe (Messe Bontwe). In colloquial Luganda, referring to someone as “Kapere” implies they are either funny or phoney-a title Mbuuse embraced and transformed into a household brand.

Standing at five feet three inches, Kapere possessed a unique comical presence that captivated audiences the moment he stepped on stage. Over the years, his humorous appeal extended beyond theatre halls into mainstream music videos. Most notably, he starred in Bobi Wine’s hit music video Mr. Money, where he played a wealthy Hajj donning a cap and white tunic (kanzu), flaunting car keys and land titles to win over a love interest.

In a 2013 interview with this publication, Kapere reflected candidly on how his unconventional looks became his greatest asset in the entertainment industry.

‘I am ugly and proud to be so. I am not sure I would have the fame, friends, and a decent life like I do today,’ he shared at the time, viewing his features as a God-given uniqueness that opened doors and won the hearts of thousands of fans across Uganda.

Accidental stardom: From Nakulabye to national fame

Recounting his entry into comedy, Kapere revealed that his journey began purely by chance. While walking through town one afternoon, he stumbled upon a crowd gathered around a comedian shooting a commercial.

“I watched, laughed, and continued on my journey,” Kapere recalled. “On my way back, I was stopped by a driver who told me that I was sitting on gold. I asked him what sort of gold, and he told me I was one damn ugly guy whose face is worth gold.”

The driver directed him to Amooti at Jenina’s Bar in Nakulabye. Despite an intimidating first encounter involving barking dogs and surprised onlookers, Amooti invited him to perform at a show that very Thursday.

“That was my first day on stage. I was confused when people began laughing at me. Amooti explained to me that they liked my appearance, and I laughed at myself,” he recounted.

His breakout skit, titled Lufotose-which satirized a public feud between a prominent city businessman and a top Kadongo Kamu singer-instantly resonated with the public and launched his professional comedy career.

Throughout his life and career, Kapere maintained that his appearance was never something to regret, but rather a blessing that transformed his life and brought joy to a nation.

Burial arrangements are expected to be announced by the family and political leadership in the coming hours.

Thailand, Bhutan sign three deals

Thailand and Bhutan have signed three cooperation agreements covering healthcare, agricultural finance and clean energy as the countries seek to deepen economic ties, expand investment opportunities and promote sustainable development.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is also interior minister, witnessed the signing and exchange of the agreements in Thimphu on Saturday during his official visit to the Himalayan kingdom.

Government spokesman Ekkapob Pianpises said the agreements aim to boost the exchange of knowledge and technology, improve medical services, expand access to finance for farmers and small businesses, and support renewable energy development.

The first memorandum of understanding (MoU), between the Thai and Bhutanese public health ministries, covers universal healthcare, disease prevention and control, medical personnel development and medical research.

It also promotes cooperation in digital healthcare, telemedicine and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as arrangements for Bhutanese patients to receive treatment at Thai public hospitals.

The second agreement is a renewed MoU between the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) and Bhutan Development Bank Ltd (BDBL) covering financial cooperation.

Areas of collaboration include green loans for sustainable agriculture, credit risk assessment, cross-border money transfers and trade in agricultural products and community-based goods. The aim is to improve access to finance for farmers and small enterprises in both countries.

The third document, a record of discussions on clean energy cooperation involving Thailand’s Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA), Bhutan’s Finance Ministry and Norion Renewable Energy Ltd, provides for technical assistance to review feasibility studies and detailed designs for a proposed 100-megawatt solar-agriculture project in Tareythang, Bhutan.

Mr Ekkapob said the agreements were testament to Thailand’s commitment to translating its longstanding relationship with Bhutan into practical benefits for people in both countries.

The signing followed talks between Mr Anutin and Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay in Thimphu on Oct 30, during which the two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, healthcare, education and clean energy.

Both sides welcomed progress on a Thailand-Bhutan free trade agreement (FTA), which they hope will take effect on Jan 1, 2027. The agreement is expected to boost bilateral trade and investment.

Is NRM margarine pan-Africanist?

President Museveni has often warned Ugandans about the risk of African recolonisation. With rather extravagant language, he has remarked that we are too busy enjoying ourselves with the pettiness of our existence as the pieties of ideological clarity are overlooked.

In fact, it is possible that if the colonisers were to make a second coming, they’d find us dancing paka chini; enraptured by capitalism’s dance of the seven veils, as it were.

To sit out such a dance, the President has offered the three-legged stool of political and economic integration (pan-Africanism), robust defence mechanisms, and rapid advancement in science and technology.

Throughout his presidency, Mr Museveni has rightly argued that Africa’s historical vulnerability to colonisation stemmed from internal division and technological stagnation, and that modern global dynamics present a similar threat if the continent remains fragmented.

However, while Africa is balkanised by its numerous countries not becoming one, Uganda is atomised by its many districts, threatening our potential oneness. Thus, Ugandan unity should be wholesome as an example of how Africa can become whole.

This implies a more socialist approach to economic management, one that the President probably secretly favours. We are all aware of his Marxist roots, given colour of fact by how the National Resistance Movement/Army (NRA/M) used Maoist rhetoric and tactics to prosecute and win a Bush War.

This was partly pragmatic as Milton Obote’s 1980s economic policies were inherently capitalist, representing a complete U-turn from his own previous socialist ideology.

During his first presidency in the late 1960s, Obote championed the ‘Move to the Left’ and the Common Man’s Charter (1969), which aimed to nationalise private companies and shift Uganda toward a socialist, State-controlled economy.

However, his second administration (Obote II, 1980-1985) let the market decide, floating the Ugandan Shilling and removing price controls on consumer goods. Obote also actively partnered with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. To secure their loans, he had to accept their ‘Washington Consensus’ model, which relies entirely on deregulation, fiscal austerity, and private-sector-led growth.

The NRA/M took a different and more populist tack by championing a social revolutionary ideology that required a fundamental social revolution towards unity. This entailed the seizure of political power by a ‘protracted peoples’ struggle’ or mass movement to control the State-as a structural precondition for moving from capitalism to socialism.

This would minimise income inequality and do away with Obote’s nascent plutocracy or rule of the rich in favour of the public ownership of the means of production. An upshot of this would be the dismantling of the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) state machinery and replacing it with worker- or peasant-led decentralised assemblies known as Resistance Committees.

It was a radical ideology, one that the government would have to actually implement if it were to seriously make an attempt at unity based on politico-economic inclusivity. Anything less would really open the government up to the charge of being mouthing Marxists.

This would ironically draw further similarities to China under Mao Zedong, according to Russian leader Joseph Stalin. He famously dismissed Mao Zedong as a ‘margarine Marxist’.

Stalin used the term ‘margarine’-which is a cheap substitute for real butter-to imply that Mao was an imitation or ‘ersatz’ communist rather than a true orthodox Marxist.

By spouting pan-Africanist ideology and not walking its original talk, the NRM government might conceivably be margarine pan-Africanist and thereby failing to butter the bread of unity.

House impeach panel offers VP trial evidence to OMB, BIR

THE House impeachment prosecution panel is prepared to turn over documents and other evidence gathered during the impeachment proceedings to the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to assist separate investigations into allegations involving Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, her husband and officials of government agencies.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia-ur Rahman Alonto Adiong, House prosecution spokesperson, said the panel was willing to cooperate with both agencies, which are examining allegations involving the alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery and possible tax violations involving companies linked to Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.

Adiong said the prosecution’s evidence, much of which was presented during congressional hearings and the Senate impeachment trial, could be made available to authorities upon request.

‘We are focused on the impeachment trial, but if the BIR requests the documents we already have, the prosecution panel is more than willing to provide them because these are public records,’ Adiong said.

The offer comes as the Office of the Ombudsman continues investigating allegations involving confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd). Lead prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said the Ombudsman had been investigating the confidential funds and bribery allegations involving officials of the two agencies since 2024.

That same year, the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability investigated P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the OVP and DepEd during Duterte’s tenure. The committee examined questions involving liquidation records, acknowledgment receipts and the disbursement of public funds before transmitting its findings to the Ombudsman for further investigation.

Luistro said the withdrawal of three impeachment articles covering confidential funds, bribery and grave threats did not terminate separate investigations or prevent the filing of possible criminal or civil cases.

‘We are prepared to submit the pieces of evidence in our possession in response to Ombudsman Remulla’s interest in examining the prosecution’s evidence. These may be used in investigations or preliminary investigations that could lead to criminal or civil cases,’ Luistro said.

The prosecution’s offer also extends to financial records involving three companies associated with Duterte and Carpio: Metro City Chow Inc., Cale88 Foods Corp. and Gencorp.

Adiong said the financial analysis presented during the impeachment proceedings identified an alleged P1.41-billion discrepancy between the companies’ bank inflows and declared revenues from 2022 to 2025.

He also disclosed that the BIR had issued a letter of authority for a tax examination of Cale88 Foods Corp., although there was no confirmation that similar audit authorizations had been issued for the other two companies.

‘We are talking about not just one company, but three companies,’ Adiong said, identifying Metro City Chow, Cale88 and Gencorp.

The lawmaker said the financial discrepancies warranted examination by tax authorities, which have the means to obtain and evaluate the necessary corporate and banking records. However, he stressed that the BIR would have to independently determine whether the questioned bank deposits represented taxable income or legitimate transactions such as loans and fund transfers.

Adiong said government agencies could coordinate in sharing information and documents when necessary to protect the interests of the state and support appropriate investigations.

Meanwhile, the Senate impeachment trial is scheduled to resume on November 9, with Duterte’s defense set to present evidence on the remaining Article II charge involving alleged unexplained wealth. The defense had originally requested 30 trial days to present its evidence covering all four impeachment articles.

Luistro said she expects the defense’s requested time to be substantially reduced to 10 full trial days following the withdrawal of three of the four articles. She said the trial could conclude before the end of November if the defense limits its presentation to 10 days.

However, she cautioned that the proceedings could extend into December if the defense requires additional time to present its witnesses and documentary evidence.

Nigeria making progress in food systems transformation – FAO Consultant, Faniran

Sanjo Faniyan, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) National Consultant on Food Security and Food Systems analyst, has said that Nigeria was making significant progress in implementing the United Nations Food Systems Transformation pathways.

Faniran, who is the immediate past National Convenor for the Implementation of UN Food Systems Transformation in Nigeria, spoke on the sidelines of the Southwest Zonal Review Meeting held in Lagos.

According to him, the food systems transformation initiative started in 2021 on the recommendation of the UN Secretary-General, directing member countries to examine issues affecting their food systems.

‘The food system is the interconnectedness of all the food value chains. It’s not only agriculture; we are looking at all the food value chains. Nigeria went around all the states and came up with recommendations which were presented by President Muhammadu Buhari in New York on September 23, 2021,’ Faniran explained.

He noted that it was thereafter agreed that every two to three years, there would be a review of implementation by all UN member countries. The first review was held in 2023 and the second in 2025, both led by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

On implementation so far, Faniran said: ‘So far so good. States have cooperated.’

He disclosed that to ensure nationwide coverage, the country adopted a geopolitical zonal arrangement with one coordinating state per zone – Lagos for South-West, Kano for North-West, Borno for North-East, Enugu for South-East, Cross River for South-South and Kwara (Ilorin) for North-Central.

‘With this arrangement, it is easy to decentralize coordination. The report on implementation will be obtained from the coordinating states and all states in the zone will come together to give information on what they have done so far, where are the gaps, capacity requirements and how the federal government and development partners can support,’ he said.

Faniran stressed that the focus goes beyond production to processing, storage and other components of the food value chain, adding that Nigeria has been ranked by the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub in Rome as one of the serious and committed countries.

Speaking on post-harvest losses, he said storage remains a major concern of the current administration. ‘The issue of storage has become very important. At the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, it is taken as an important segment of controlling food wastages. Lagos State is an example – it has created market hubs where agric products that would have been destroyed are taken for people to buy, sometimes subsidised by government,’ he said.

On how food systems translate to health, he noted that the end product of the food system is healthy diets and nutrition. ‘We are looking at food systems from farm to dining table. At the dining table, the food should be healthy. Good diet gives improved nutrition; improved nutrition improves human capital capacity. When you are healthy, productivity level is higher and contribution to economic growth is guaranteed,’ Faniran stated.

He also said the issue of insecurity affecting farming is being taken seriously by President Bola Tinubu, noting that recent presidential directives show renewed commitment to secure farmers and farming communities.

Isiaka Ibrahim, Food Systems and Nutrition Specialist with the FAO of the United Nations, said tangible steps have been taken by the Federal Government in collaboration with technical partners to transform Nigeria’s food systems.

He said after the 2021 zonal dialogues which culminated in the development of Nigeria’s Food Systems Pathways, 78 priorities were set for implementation.

‘This is a collaborative effort that all stakeholders participated in, including government. Secondly, the Federal Government validated the National Agric Food Investment Plan. Even if tangible transformation is not yet fully seen, key steps have been taken by government in collaboration with technical partners like FAO,’ he said.

Ibrahim noted that globally, the focus is now on technology, climate-smart agriculture, precision agriculture and innovation, including school farms and rooftop farming, as against practices that degrade the soil.

‘The way to go is to embrace technology and innovation and at the same time ensure facilities and infrastructure are in place to ensure timely processing and availability of all-year-round food,’ he said.

He disclosed that FAO is one of four key UN agencies implementing the Agrifood Systems Transformation and Innovation Project initiated by the Food Systems Coordination Hub in Rome, alongside UNICEF and others.

‘One of the key result areas is strengthening of food systems coordination in the country and that is what FAO is implementing. We want to take stock of progress Nigeria has made since the 2021 stock-taking and development of pathways – what achievements have been made by the coordinating states, what are the challenges, capacity gaps and how to develop state capacity, because implementation of food systems is actually at sub-national level,’ Ibrahim added.

The Customs recruitment fiasco

The story of Nevada Pierre, the sensational three-year-old American soccer prodigy from Florida, is fast becoming an archetype of how qualification can, ironically, disqualify the qualified. If you look closely enough at the Nevada narrative, you will also tease out a sobering commentary on the shrinking boundary of human patience for natural talent and competition.

Nevada set the internet ablaze recently following a youth soccer match organized by i9 Sports in Winter Park, a game that degenerated into a dispute so heated it required police intervention. The toddler’s brilliant ball control, eclectic dribbling and total pitch dominance left the parents of opposing children visibly incensed. Complaining that the boy was ‘too advanced,’ the disgruntled parents summoned the Winter Park Police Department. But their outrage backfired spectacularly. Rather than suppressing the prodigy, the police dispatch catapulted Nevada into global headlines, earning him an invitation to train at Eddie Johnson’s Orlando-based EJE7 Soccer Academy, the admiration of celebrity children’s entertainer, Rachel Griffin-Accurso and a wave of fan-backed GoFundMe support.

Instructive as the Nevada Pierre episode is, what commands my attention most is its central lesson: how man readily manipulates qualification for selfish ends.

A raging issue that underscores this moral deficit right here in Nigeria involves the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and its 2024/2025 recruitment exercise, where candidates who officially triumphed are now being punished for their success.

According to media reports, the NCS published the final list of successful candidates of the exercise in July 2026. They then received formal provisional offers on the official recruitment portal, complete with instructions to fulfill specific prerequisites. These included submission of medical certificates of fitness from state hospitals and formally accepting the offers within a stipulated window. Trusting the sanctity of the process, several candidates resigned from their existing jobs.

Yet, when basic training commenced, these successful applicants discovered to their utter shock that their names had been systematically erased. In their place were entirely new names, individuals who allegedly never participated in the initial screening exercise.

While the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, reportedly intervened by ordering a case-by-case review of the aggrieved applicants’ complaints, the Service continues to defend its posture with the defense that inclusion on its published shortlist does not constitute an automatic guarantee of enlistment.

What the NCS must realize is that when administrative discretion becomes a veil for organizational impunity, institutional integrity leaves through the window. Just as the aggrieved parents in Winter Park sought to police away superior talent out of spite, the arbitrary erasure of verified candidates from the Customs recruitment list signals a dangerous culture where merit is treated as a liability rather than an asset. Comptroller-General Adeniyi’s promised review must move beyond mere damage control to full restitution. A nation that off-handedly mourns its brain drain and institutional decay cannot continue to systematically disqualify its most qualified, simply to satisfy the appetite of elite man-know-man.

Alapag expects better NLEX in semifinals

NLEX head coach Jimmy Alapag believes the Road Warriors can become an even better team as they head into the best-of-five semifinals of the Season 50 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup.

Alapag reached the semifinals for the first time in his first season as PBA head coach, while Robert Bolick will also make his first appearance in the round of four.

After winning the first two games of their quarterfinal series against Phoenix Super LPG, 97-92 and 124-117, the Road Warriors completed a sweep with a 137-89 rout last Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Alapag lauded the players for the hard work and perseverance, saying their commitment to make a deep playoff run finally paid off. NLEX last reached the semifinals in the 2021 Governors’ Cup.

‘Extremely proud of the guys. They are all hardworking, and they get a chance to do something great,’ said Alapag, who took over from Jong Uichico before the start of the conference. ‘But we are still far away, and there’s still a lot of work to be done.’

Bolick averaged 25.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists in the quarterfinals, finally breaking through to the semifinals after several playoff disappointments.

Alapag, however, believes the best is yet to come for his star guard.

‘I think this is just the beginning. Berto is just scratching the surface, not just as a player but also as a leader,’ Alapag said.

NLEX also drew 19 points each from Deschon Winston and import Deonte Burton in Game 3, while Bolick finished with 23 points, five assists and four rebounds.

The Road Warriors will face the winner of the quarterfinal series between Converge and Rain or Shine. The FiberXers and Elasto Painters are tied at 1-1.

Meanwhile, defending champion TNT Tropang 5G and import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson also advanced to the best-of-five semifinals after sweeping Magnolia, 3-0. TNT won the three games, 92-70, 91-73 and 98-87.

TNT will face the winner of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel-San Miguel Beer quarterfinal series.

Ginebra leads the series, 2-0, and can clinch the last semifinal berth with a Game 3 victory on Tuesday at the Dasmariñas Sports Complex.

Lagos moves to boost commuter safety, strengthen regulatory compliance

The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation has unveiled a renewed enforcement drive to strengthen regulatory compliance across the state’s commercial transport sector targeting public safety.

The initiative, being executed through its Directorate of Public Transport and Commuter Services (PTCS), is aimed at enhancing public safety, commuter security, accountability and effective enforcement of transportation standards.

Disclosing this, the Director, Public Transport and Commuter Service, Mr. Nuhman Edu, said the new framework captures a coordinated operational synergy between the PTCS, the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

According to him, the collaboration will address critical safety compliance gaps, including; lack of proper commuter vehicle registration, lack of vehicle body tags, stage carriage permits, driver’s badges and conductor badges among commercial drivers.

Edu explained that the synergy with VIS and LASTMA will strengthen verification of safety documents, especially during routine enforcement operations.’Where a vehicle is found to be non-compliant, enforcement or compliance procedures will be initiated strictly in accordance with extant laws, regulations, approved guidelines and established operational procedures,’ he said in a statement signed by Mrs Bolanle Ogunlola, Director, Public Affairs.

He stressed that properly identified vehicles and drivers will be traceable, a move that will enhance accountability of transport operators, aid investigation of vehicles used to commit crimes and ensure prompt resolution of commuter complaints.

To ensure effective compliance, Edu noted that the framework will clearly define the roles and responsibilities of all agencies across six key areas: verification of prescribed PTCS products and documentation; recording and documentation of vehicle compliance status; identification and documentation of non-compliance cases; initiation of appropriate enforcement or corrective measures; reporting, information exchange and data-sharing among the agencies; and referral of cases requiring further administrative or regulatory action to the appropriate authority.

The Director added that commuter safety and security remain the major motivation for regulating public transportation. He said the Ministry will engage transport unions and associations through stakeholder meetings, media campaigns and sensitization programs to help operators understand the objectives, requirements and procedures of the compliance initiative.

Edu further disclosed that the Ministry has resolved to establish continuous monitoring, evaluation and assessment of compliance levels statewide, with a clear reporting and feedback mechanism for communicating compliance gaps and emerging issues for timely resolution.