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UNITED STATES-IMMIGRATION-US deports Cuban national over immigration fraud

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says it has deported a Cuban national who is also a Guatemalan citizen after investigators determined that he fraudulently obtained lawful permanent resident status by concealing his affiliation with the Cuban government.

ICE said Fernando Armando Valdes Perez, 61, of Kendall, Florida, was arrested at Miami International Airport on July 10 during an immigration enforcement operation involving ICE, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

‘Investigators determined Valdes was a Cuban intelligence asset tasked with infiltrating and reporting on Cuban exile and dissident communities in Latin America and the United States as early as the mid-1990s,’ ICE said.

The agency alleged that Valdes gained the trust of the late anti-Castro dissident Luis Posada Carriles and remained close to other prominent Cuban and Cuban-American figures in South Florida until his arrest.

According to ICE, Valdes knowingly concealed his position and affiliation with the Cuban government when he applied for and obtained lawful permanent resident status, deliberately deceiving US immigration authorities.

‘Individuals who conceal ties to foreign intelligence services and exploit our immigration system pose a serious threat to the integrity of that system and to our national security,’ said Matthew Elliston, director of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Miami Field Office.

‘ICE will continue working with our federal partners to identify, arrest and remove those who obtain immigration benefits through fraud,’ he added.

Valdes was processed and placed in removal proceedings following his arrest and has since been deported from the United States.

Next Afrobeats Star Season 2: Enugu auditions produce strong contenders

The search for the Next Afrobeats star gained momentum in Enugu as three contestants earned Golden Mics and several others secured places in the next round of the competition.

The two-day auditions, which was held recently at the Amadeo Event Center, brought aspiring artistes from Enugu and other parts of the South East before the judges for a chance to progress in the competition.

The auditions are part of MTN’s efforts to discover and nurture musical talent across Nigeria through Next Afrobeats Star, in partnership with Ultima Studios and ONErpm.

Callima Inino, General Manager, Regional Operations – Eastern Region, MTN Nigeria, said nurturing emerging talent remains an important part of the company’s efforts, with the platform providing an avenue to identify and support young people with the potential to build careers in music.

‘Talents are embedded across different regions of the country, and that is what we are driving in the Eastern Region, just to bring out those peculiarities, those young people who have that potential to develop into a bigger star,’ Inino said.

Eighteen-year-old Adriel Umoh became the first contestant at the Enugu auditions to receive a Golden Mic. Umoh also earned one during Season 1 but did not make it to the finals. ‘I feel so happy to get the Golden Mic. It means everything to me. I have been into music since I was a child, so it’s just a dream come true,’ Umoh said.

Uganda woos Korea-based diaspora for investment

Uganda has called on its diaspora in South Korea to invest their capital, skills and technology back home as the government seeks to deepen trade and investment ties with the Asian country.

The appeal was made on Saturday at a diaspora outreach in Seoul hosted by Uganda’s embassy in Tokyo, which is accredited to South Korea, ahead of the Uganda-Korea Trade and Investment Meeting scheduled for September 6 to 10.

The meeting, organised in partnership with the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), is expected to bring together government officials, businesses and other stakeholders to explore opportunities for increased trade and investment between the two countries.

At the Seoul engagement, Uganda’s Ambassador to South Korea, resident in Tokyo, Tophace Kaahwa, described Ugandans living abroad as “grassroots ambassadors” and urged them to support the country’s economic and commercial diplomacy through investment, technology transfer, tourism and skills development.

Amb Kaahwa said the diaspora’s remittances and expertise were central to Uganda’s economic growth.

She identified tourism, mineral development, science and technology, and agribusiness among the sectors where Ugandans in South Korea could invest.

Amb Kaahwa also encouraged the diaspora to register for national identification cards and assured them that the embassy remained available to provide consular and other services despite being based in Tokyo.

The Second Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Ugandan delegation, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, told the gathering that Uganda’s economy was now worth about $70 billion and that the government was targeting an economy of $500 billion by 2040.

Dr Kiyonga, who conveyed President Museveni’s greetings to the diaspora, urged Ugandans in South Korea to remain proud ambassadors of their country and maintain unity.

He said the government had invested heavily in road infrastructure to facilitate movement and economic activity, while the railway was being extended from Nairobi to Kampala.

The minister also highlighted Uganda’s security and stability as factors that should encourage investment in the country.

Ambassador Muhindo said the government was developing a comprehensive diaspora policy to improve coordination, communication and access to government services for Ugandans living abroad.

He said previous consultations had shown that the diaspora was “scattered and fragmented”, adding that consultations, largely completed in North America and Europe, were now being extended to Asia and other regions.

Amb Muhindo urged Ugandans in South Korea to attend the Uganda Diaspora Convention scheduled for December 18 to 22, 2026, and to share the knowledge and technology acquired abroad through mentorship and other initiatives.

He said the convention, first held in 2024, had helped encourage Ugandans living abroad to return home and contribute to national development.

Ambassador Henry Mayega, representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, said Ugandans abroad were important partners in the country’s industrialisation drive through remittances, investment and expertise.

He said the diaspora could play a bigger role in advancing the government’s priority sectors of agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral development, and science, technology and innovation.

The Honorary Consul of Uganda in Busan, Dr Kim Jin Bo, praised the growing friendship between Uganda and South Korea and urged Ugandans to use the skills and experience acquired in the country to support development back home.

The President of the Ugandans in South Korea Association, Hamza Kyamanywa, said there were 654 Ugandans living in South Korea as of July 31, comprising 407 men and 247 women.

He said many of them were students, employees and entrepreneurs and remained closely connected to Uganda.

Mr Kyamanywa, who said he had lived in South Korea for eight years, said the association was working to build a united and vibrant Ugandan community.

During an open session, participants raised concerns about professional growth, sports and the welfare of Ugandans married to Korean nationals.

Some participants also raised concerns about the absence of a resident Ugandan embassy in South Korea, noting that consular services are currently provided from Tokyo.

The outreach formed part of several diaspora and business engagements ahead of the Uganda-Korea Trade and Investment Meeting, which opens on Sunday.

King Oyo through the lens of his classmates

Fear came first for Augustine Kasansula, who had just fouled Oyo during a football game at The Aga Khan Primary School in Kampala. The fall was hard, the young king was visibly angry, and, to Kasansula, physically bigger than him. When Oyo took off in pursuit, Augustine ran. He remembers being genuinely afraid of what would happen if Oyo caught him. Then Oyo caught up with him. What followed was the last thing Kasansula expected. Instead of hitting him, the angry boy wrapped his arms around him and hugged him. The quarrel ended in the duo making peace.

Nearly two decades later, it is that embrace, more than the chase, that Kasansula remembers. It is also a fitting doorway into the childhood of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died on August 27, aged 34, after more than three decades on the Tooro throne. To many Ugandans, Oyo was the child king who became an institution. To the pupils who shared his classroom at The Aga Khan Primary School, he was simply a schoolmate called Oyo.

‘We just knew him as Oyo’

Kasansula, now an accounting officer with a manufacturing company, joined The Aga Khan School in Primary Two in 1999, the same year Oyo joined the school, and was in the same class. At that age, neither he nor his classmates understood what it meant to have a king among them. Oyo attended lessons, played with them and joined the ordinary rhythm of school life. His status existed, but for young children, it remained an idea they were too young to process.

Primary Four changed that. During a school cultural day, where everyone had to dress in their cultural attire, Oyo appeared in full royal regalia for a photoshoot. The sight gave the pupils a reference point. They were now old enough to reconcile the title with the boy sitting beside them.

‘It was only in Primary Four that it became quite clear to us that he was a king,’ Kasansula told the Weekend Monitor.

Once they knew, details that had been invisible became noticeable. There were private guards stationed around the school, although discreetly away from the main grounds. Oyo also received special meals brought exclusively by his family. He ate from a car with people entrusted with his care rather than joining the other pupils in the ordinary lunch routine.

Yet those arrangements did not turn him into a distant figure. His classmates still called him Oyo. He did everything with them. Kasansula remembers that Oyo would hurry through his special lunch because he wanted to return to playing. Sometimes he invited friends to eat with him so they could finish quickly and get back to the playground.

‘He was really a normal pupil like most of us,’ Kasansula says.

Football was his particular passion. On the pitch, the royal distinction disappeared.

Oyo later left The Aga Khan midway through Primary Six for Kabira International School. He subsequently continued his education abroad, and the two never re-established direct contact.

The king’s campaign manager

Marylin Achola, a tax officer at Uganda Revenue Authority, arrived at The Aga Khan in Primary Four. She encountered Oyo as a classmate at a time when his royal identity was becoming better understood among pupils. Her most vivid memory is a school election. Their class teacher, Ms Irene Ntambi Nabossa, selected a team to help Oyo campaign for health prefect. Achola was appointed campaign manager, with the task of seeking support across different classes. The campaign had an obvious selling point: Oyo was a king.

‘My role was to get support for him from all classes,’ she says.

‘It was easier to sell him because he was a king of an entire kingdom.’

The royal family was also visible within the school. Oyo had blood relatives in other classes, including his elder sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, who was two classes above them.

Oyo won the election. For Achola, his victory had an unexpected effect. She was inspired to contest for the same position the following year and won it herself.

Like Kasansula, Achola lost direct contact with Oyo after he left the school. A mutual friend, who moved with him to Kabira, remained closer and occasionally passed news about their former schoolmate through class social networking platforms.

The boy they had known was increasingly becoming a public figure whose position made ordinary communication difficult.

The teacher entrusted with him

For Ms Ntambi, the connection began with an instruction. Then headteacher David Ogaja introduced Oyo to her and made it clear that, as his Primary Four class teacher, she was to handle and monitor the young king closely. He was her responsibility. That responsibility brought her into contact with Oyo’s mother, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, and other close relatives.

There was regular communication, with Ntambi checking on Oyo and family members checking with her about him. But inside the classroom, her first impression was of a child. She remembers him as lovely, peaceful and lively, and as an unusually inquisitive pupil. During open discussions, his hand was almost always up. He wanted to ask questions and was equally eager to answer them.

English was one of his strongest subjects, and it gave Ntambi another window into his personality. She taught him English and encouraged his interest in reading news during school assembly. He repeatedly volunteered to do it.

‘He loved the English Language,’ Ntambi recalls.

King Oyo read swiftly, paused in the right places and used intonation. He had an accent, she says, but read perfectly well. Ntambi also witnessed the moment his classmates began changing how they addressed him.

After the cultural day, and as pupils learnt more about him as the world’s youngest king, some began calling him King Oyo.

He was uncomfortable. He would tell them that his name was Oyo.

‘Don’t call me King Oyo, my name is Oyo,’ he always reminded classmates.

For Ntambi, this captured the central challenge of teaching him, as the school had to respect the king without overwhelming the child.

He could not simply be placed in ordinary food queues, so his meals were brought separately, while security was handled discreetly.

But the school also had to leave him room to play, learn and make friends without constantly reminding him that he was different.

‘We had an obligation of treating him as a king with respect but also allowing him room to be a normal pupil,’ Ntambi says.

Ntambi believes they struck that balance. The three accounts converge on a portrait of childhood. After he left The Aga Khan, those everyday connections became memories as the schoolmate grew into adulthood. But the intimacy of those early years remained.

Ntambi, who now lives in the United Kingdom, continued to follow Oyo’s progress after he moved to Kabira.

Her friendship with Best Kemigisa also endured.

‘To the point of his death, I looked at him as my very own son,’ she says.

‘He was an innocent child; we just helped him mature into a responsible leader.’

As Tooro prepares to lay its king to rest on September 12, the history of his reign will dominate the public farewell. But there is another history, quieter and less ceremonial, held by the people who knew him before they fully understood his crown.

That is the child that his former classmates still remember.

2027: Akpabio takes Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ campaign to North

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has begun making a fresh case for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, urging Northern youths to support the administration’s economic reforms and policy continuity.

Akpabio made the appeal on Saturday while receiving a high-level delegation of the Northern Ethnic Groups Assembly in Abuja.

He said the reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms, were painful but necessary measures to reposition the economy.

According to him, the policies have now crossed a critical threshold and are beginning to produce tangible benefits for Nigerians.

‘I stand before you not merely as a politician, but as a public servant committed to the prosperity of our nation, and particularly this vital region,’ Akpabio told the youth leaders.

‘The reforms initiated by President Tinubu are not abstract theories; they are concrete, courageous actions designed to dismantle long-standing structural bottlenecks and unlock Nigeria’s vast potential.’

The Senate President said the removal of the fuel subsidy and efforts to stabilise the foreign exchange market were necessary steps towards achieving fiscal sustainability.

He acknowledged that the measures initially imposed difficulties on Nigerians but argued that they were required to redirect government resources to critical sectors.

‘While these measures initially posed challenges, they were the surgical procedures needed to redirect resources into healthcare, education, and infrastructure,’ he said.

Akpabio also claimed that the reforms were producing early positive indicators, including improved revenue collection, increased investor confidence, and renewed interest from international partners.

He urged Northern youths to become active participants in governance rather than waiting for the future before taking responsibility.

‘You are architects of today, not just leaders of tomorrow,’ he told the delegation.

He said the 10th National Assembly was prioritising reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and the rule of law.

‘Your innovation and engagement are the lifeblood of these reforms,’ Akpabio said.

‘We urge you to be critical consumers of information and to engage in constructive dialogue.’

The Senate President’s comments come as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to gather momentum across the country.

His appeal also places policy continuity at the centre of the argument for another Tinubu term.

Akpabio argued that abandoning the current reform programme before its consolidation could undermine the gains being recorded.

On his part, The group’s spokesperson of the Northern Ethnic Groups Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan-Musa, commended Akpabio for what he described as efforts to strengthen political understanding between the North and South.

‘We commend the Senate President for his accessibility and his unwavering dedication to the Nigerian project,’ Dan-Musa said.

‘His proactive engagement has rebuilt vital bridges of trust. He has proven that true national leadership transcends ethnic and geographical boundaries.’

The coalition also pledged to mobilise at the grassroots to educate Nigerians on what it described as the long-term benefits of the Federal Government’s economic policies.

Dan-Musa said national unity must remain above regional demands and sectional interests.

‘National unity is the ultimate anchor of our collective survival.

‘No regional sentiment can take precedence over the sovereignty and peace of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’, he said.

Meanwhile, the assembly identified three key areas for its political engagement ahead of 2027.

They include continuous consultation with Northern youth structures, grassroots enlightenment on federal fiscal policies and an uncompromising commitment to national cohesion.

The coalition said federal leadership must maintain mutual respect and transparent consultation with Northern youth organisations.

It also pledged to embark on awareness campaigns aimed at explaining the government’s economic policies to rural communities.

The group said such engagement was necessary to address misinformation and help Nigerians understand the implications of the reforms.

Nigeria, a nation wrapped in smog

VINCENT KURAUN explores the largely overlooked but far-reaching consequences of air pollution across Nigeria, as health experts call for decisive, coordinated intervention spanning tougher environmental enforcement, a transition to cleaner energy sources, smarter urban planning, and expanded public education.

EVERY one of Nigeria’s more than 200 million residents lives in an area where annual particulate pollution exceeds World Health Organisation (WHO) safety guidelines, according to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), produced by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute in the United States.

In other words, every breath taken in Nigeria is a breath of contaminated air.

This issue is not confined to specific cities or occasional poor air quality; it is pervasive throughout the country, continuously impacting the health and longevity of Nigerians. Despite its significance, this statistic has failed to capture media attention in the country.

The primary pollutant of concern is fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5. These tiny particles can evade the body’s defences, infiltrating deep into the lungs and entering the bloodstream, where they affect vital organs like the heart and brain.

The WHO recommends a safe long-term exposure limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre; however, Nigeria’s national average is approximately 4.6 times higher, with certain regions like the Niger Delta experiencing even greater levels of pollution. The repercussions extend beyond health issues to a reduction in life expectancy.

A World Bank study, Cost of Air Pollution in Lagos, estimated that air pollution-related illnesses and premature deaths accounted for around 11,200 fatalities in Lagos within a single year, marking the highest rate in West Africa. Children under five were particularly affected, representing roughly 60 per cent of these deaths. The economic toll was also significant.

The sources of this pollution are deeply integrated into daily life in Nigerian cities, including congested traffic from ageing vehicles, diesel generators used during frequent power outages, and open burning of waste due to inadequate disposal systems.

Experts and researchers have identified vehicular emissions, industrial growth and unregulated waste burning as key contributors to the hazardous air quality in major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.

In the oil-producing Niger Delta, the pollution profile is distinct. Years of gas flaring, oil extraction and informal refining processes have enveloped communities in soot and toxic fumes. This gradual industrial pollution contributes to the region’s ranking as one of the most polluted areas in Nigeria according to the AQLI.

Also, the Health Effects Institute’s State of Global Air project identifies air pollution as the third leading risk factor for premature deaths in Nigeria, following malnutrition and unsafe water. The data reveal that air pollution is responsible for 144 deaths per 100,000 people in Nigeria, significantly exceeding the global average.

Children disproportionately suffer from this crisis, as fine particulates can inflame developing lungs and are linked to respiratory infections and pneumonia, exacerbated by smoke from traditional cooking methods.

Pregnant women are also at increased risk; pollutants can cross the placenta, potentially leading to premature or low-birth-weight infants who face heightened respiratory health issues later in life.

Experts and researchers investigating maternal mortality in Nigeria have indicated that particulate pollution is a contributing factor in a country that, according to WHO data, represents a substantial proportion of global maternal deaths in recent years.

This raises an uncomfortable question: as a nation: Do we simply keep breathing without saying or doing anything? For a country already contending with malaria, maternal health and infectious disease, air pollution can feel like an abstract, invisible threat set against more immediate crises.

Dr. Charles Adedamola Adeogun, a public health advocate and medical practitioner, told Sunday Tribune that the air pollution in Nigeria has become the invisible killer the country can no longer ignore.

‘Every breath should sustain life, not threaten it,’ he said.

Yet for millions of Nigerians, the simple act of breathing has become an invisible health risk. While epidemics and infectious diseases often dominate headlines and command immediate government attention, air pollution continues to exact a devastating toll in silence, claiming lives prematurely, worsening chronic illnesses, and eroding the nation’s productivity.

‘It is no longer merely an environmental concern; it is a public health emergency, an economic burden, and a significant obstacle to Nigeria’s sustainable development,’ he said.

He pointed to a combination of factors driving the crisis: rapid urbanisation, industrial expansion, rising vehicular traffic, indiscriminate waste burning, open refuse dumps, the constant use of petrol and diesel-powered generators, gas flaring, quarrying, construction activity and continued reliance on biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal.

‘In many communities, especially where electricity supply remains unreliable, generator fumes have become an unavoidable part of daily life. Equally concerning is the widespread exposure to indoor air pollution, where millions of women and children inhale toxic smoke generated from cooking with firewood, charcoal, and kerosene in poorly ventilated homes,’ he added.

The health implications, he said, are extensive and deeply troubling. ‘Microscopic pollutants including fine particulate matter and harmful gases penetrate deep into the respiratory system and bloodstream, triggering inflammation throughout the body.

‘The result is an increased incidence of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, and worsening diabetes.

‘Emerging scientific evidence also links prolonged exposure to air pollution with adverse pregnancy outcomes, impaired childhood lung development, reduced cognitive performance, neurodegenerative diseases, and certain mental health disorders. Children, pregnant women, older adults, and individuals living with chronic illnesses remain the most vulnerable,’ the medical personnel stated.

What this means for pregnant women

To understand the risks in more medical details, Sunday Tribune spoke with Dr. Olajumoke Ogunro, an obstetrician and gynaecologist currently working as a fertility specialist at The Alpha Assisted Reproductive Klinic (The Ark). She explained just how deeply air pollution can affect a pregnancy.

‘Air pollution affects everyone exposed to it. However it has the most severe impact on pregnant women, children, babies, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory problems,’ she stated.

This vulnerability, she explained, stems from the unique physiological demands of pregnancy. A pregnant woman’s body works harder to supply oxygen and nutrients not just to herself, but also to a developing foetus, and pollutants inhaled into her lungs can cross into the bloodstream and, ultimately, the placenta.

Experts believe this pathway drives many of the complications now being linked to poor air quality including preterm delivery, low birth weight, pre-eclampsia, and high blood pressure in pregnancy.

Additionally, there is evidence suggesting a correlation between air pollution and neurological issues, such as autism as well as tragic outcomes like stillbirth.

Timing matters, Dr Ogunro noted. ‘Prolonged exposure throughout pregnancy can worsen risks such as pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure, while exposure during the second trimester has been closely linked to an increased risk of preterm delivery.’

In contrast, exposure during the third trimester has been associated with low birth weight, stillbirth, and autism, emphasising the need for pregnant women to be vigilant about their environment throughout their pregnancy journey.

Given these alarming risks, Dr. Ogunro recommended several practical steps that expectant mothers can take to reduce their exposure to air pollution.

First, she stated that pregnant women should avoid polluted areas.

‘Pregnant women should steer clear of locations known for high levels of air pollution such as areas with heavy traffic, industrial emissions, or smoke from fires. Taking alternate routes during commutes or choosing parks away from busy roads can make a difference.’ she said.

Closely related to this is staying informed about the Air Quality Index (AQI). ‘Keeping track of local air quality can help pregnant women make informed decisions about when and where to go outside,’ she noted, adding that many apps and websites now provide real-time data on air quality levels, enabling mothers to plan their activities accordingly.

She also recommended investing in air purifiers. ‘Air purifiers can significantly improve indoor air quality by filtering out pollutants, allergens, and particulate matter,’ she explained. ‘Placing these devices in bedrooms and common areas can create a safer breathing environment for both mothers and their babies.’

Alongside this, she advised eliminating other indoor pollutants, particularly mold.

‘Mold is a common indoor air quality issue that can exacerbate respiratory problems,’ she said. ‘Expectant mothers should regularly check their homes for mold and take steps to eliminate it, ensuring a cleaner indoor environment.’

Finally, Dr. Ogunro suggested incorporating air-purifying plants into the home. Certain indoor plants, she noted, are known for their natural air-purifying properties, and adding them not only beautifies a living space but also contributes to improving overall air quality.

The economic burden

Beyond its devastating health effects, air pollution carries an enormous economic cost, according to Dr Adeogun.

‘Air pollution fuels rising healthcare expenditure, increased hospital admissions, frequent absenteeism from work and school, reduced labour productivity, disability, and premature mortality,’ he said.

‘Families are forced into catastrophic healthcare expenses, employers lose valuable workforce capacity, and the nation’s economic growth suffers. The true cost of polluted air cannot be measured solely by hospital bills; it is reflected in lost human potential, diminished quality of life, and preventable deaths that occur every single day,’ he said.

Indoor air pollution deserves urgent national attention, he stated, noting that for countless Nigerian households, particularly in rural and low-income communities, the kitchen has become one of the most hazardous environments.

‘Continuous exposure to smoke from biomass fuels significantly increases the risk of respiratory infections, chronic lung diseases, eye disorders, cardiovascular complications, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and premature death. Ensuring access to affordable, clean household energy should therefore be regarded as a strategic investment in public health rather than merely an energy policy,’ he added.

The way forward

‘Confronting this crisis requires bold leadership and coordinated action,’ said Dr Adeogun. ‘Governments at all levels must strengthen environmental legislation, enforce industrial emission standards without compromise, modernise air quality monitoring systems, and establish transparent public reporting mechanisms that allow citizens to know the quality of the air they breathe.

‘The longstanding challenge of gas flaring must be decisively addressed through strict regulatory enforcement, while industries should be encouraged to adopt cleaner technologies through innovation, incentives, and accountability.

‘Urban planning must equally embrace sustainability. Expanding efficient public transportation systems, improving road infrastructure, promoting cleaner vehicles, developing safe pedestrian walkways and cycling lanes, and preserving urban green spaces can substantially reduce harmful emissions.’

He noted that massive tree-planting initiatives and protection of existing forests will not only improve air quality but also strengthen Nigeria’s resilience against climate change.

‘Waste management reforms are equally indispensable.. The routine practice of open waste burning must give way to modern systems of waste segregation, recycling, composting, and environmentally responsible disposal.

‘Public enlightenment campaigns should empower communities to embrace cleaner environmental practices while regulatory agencies ensure strict compliance with sanitation laws.

‘Nigeria must also accelerate its transition towards renewable energy. Greater investment in solar, wind, and other clean energy technologies offers an opportunity to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, decrease generator emissions, improve energy security, stimulate innovation, and create sustainable employment.

‘Likewise, cleaner cooking alternatives including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), electricity, biogas, and improved cookstoves should be made affordable and accessible to households nationwide.

‘Healthcare professionals have responsibilities that extend beyond hospital walls. They must educate communities about the health consequences of air pollution, advocate for cleaner environments, support research, contribute to evidence-based policymaking, and champion preventive strategies.

‘Environmental health surveillance should become an integral component of Nigeria’s disease prevention framework because preventing exposure remains far more effective and considerably less expensive than treating its consequences.

‘Citizens, too, have a critical role to play. Avoiding indiscriminate waste burning, maintaining vehicles regularly, embracing cleaner cooking fuels where feasible, planting trees, reducing unnecessary generator use, supporting environmental sanitation initiatives, and holding industries and public institutions accountable for environmental compliance are practical actions that collectively can transform the quality of the air we breathe,’ he said..

According to him: ‘Environmental sustainability is no longer an optional aspiration; it is an indispensable prerequisite for national survival and prosperity. Clean air is not a luxury reserved for privileged communities but a fundamental human right that should be guaranteed to every Nigerian, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographical location.

‘Protecting our environment is ultimately synonymous with protecting our health, strengthening our economy, and safeguarding the future of generations yet unborn.

‘History will judge this generation not merely by the infrastructure it built, but by the environment it preserved. Nigeria possesses the scientific knowledge, professional expertise, technological capacity, and human resources necessary to reverse the growing menace of air pollution.

‘What remains indispensable is visionary leadership, unwavering political commitment, corporate responsibility, institutional accountability, and sustained citizen participation.

‘The air we breathe unites us all. Every breath matters. Every policy matters. Every tree planted, every emission reduced, every clean-energy investment, and every environmentally responsible decision brings Nigeria closer to becoming a healthier, safer, more resilient, and more prosperous nation. The invisible killer can be defeated but only if we act decisively, collectively, and without delay,’ he concluded.

Three students lose millions to fake police, scholarship scam

Three students lost more than 2.7 million baht to call-centre scams in which the fraudsters posed as police officers and as a university lecturer offering a fake overseas scholarship.

The police Anti Cyber Scam Centre (ACSC) assisted the victims on Wednesday and details were released on Sunday.

They were deceived into transferring money and other assets under the false claim that they were implicated in criminal cases and needed to prove their innocence, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, the centre’s deputy chief, said.

In the first case, a 19-year-old female student was contacted by a scammer posing as a mobile network employee, who claimed her name and national ID number had been used to register a SIM card in Khon Kaen linked to a mule account.

The call was then transferred to a person claiming to be a police officer from Muang Khon Kaen police station. The victim was instructed to communicate via Line and video calls, during which the fraudster wore a police uniform to appear credible.

The scammers allegedly told her she had been linked to a serious criminal case and ordered her to transfer all of her savings for verification. They also warned her not to tell family members or anyone else. Fearing prosecution, she transferred a total of 1,249,985 baht before later filing a complaint with Bangkok’s Min Buri police station.

In the second case, a 22-year-old recent university graduate was told by scammers posing as telecom staff that his phone number had been linked to a mule account. A fake police officer then threatened him with criminal charges that could affect his future.

The victim was subsequently contacted by another fraudster posing as a university lecturer, who claimed the student had been awarded a scholarship to study overseas but needed sufficient funds in his bank account to provide a financial statement and must have no criminal record.

The scammers forced him to remain alone and stay on a continuous video call while persuading him to ask his parents for money. He transferred 995,000 baht before being told to obtain another 500,000 baht. The scam was exposed when a bank employee contacted his father to warn that the transfer appeared suspicious, preventing further losses.

The third victim, a 19-year-old male student, was told by a fake police officer that his national ID number had been used to register an illegal SIM card in Ranong province. The fraudsters claimed money had to be transferred to the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) for verification and would be returned within an hour.

They also instructed him to tell his parents he had received a scholarship to study in Britain and needed money for a financial statement and visa application. He transferred 498,999 baht before anti-cyber scam officials intervened and helped him file a complaint with Thung Maha Mek police station.

Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop advised students and the public to be wary of callers claiming to be police, anti-money laundering or DSI officers. Any request to transfer money, submit assets for inspection, accept arrest warrants via Line, or undergo questioning by video call should be treated as a scam.

He stressed that genuine authorities never ask people to transfer money or assets to prove their innocence.

British-Nigerian influencer died after penile filler procedure in Thailand

A Nigerian associate of Afrobeats star Davido has died after suffering a fatal medical complication following a cosmetic penile enlargement procedure in Bangkok.

According to The SunNigeria website, Igho ‘Tiny’ Ubiribo, known as Ego, died in Thailand in March after undergoing a procedure involving the injection of 40 millilitres of hyaluronic acid and lidocaine, an inquest at Inner West London Coroners’ Court was told last month.

Ubiribo reportedly developed chest pain and collapsed twice while receiving a massage from his wife, Danielle Simba Allen, shortly after the procedure. He was subsequently taken by ambulance to Sukhumvit Hospital, where doctors diagnosed a pulmonary embolism – a potentially fatal condition in which a blood clot blocks blood flow to the lungs.

A CT scan was recommended, but Ubiribo lost consciousness before it could be performed. Medical staff then attempted resuscitation for about 100 minutes, before he was pronounced dead in the early hours of March 6.

A postmortem examination in the UK found cellular material in his lungs consistent with the hyaluronic acid administered during the procedure. The findings supported the conclusion that the injection had resulted in a pulmonary embolism.

Coroner Jean Harkin recorded the death as being caused by a pulmonary embolism following the injection of hyaluronic acid into the penis, concluding that Ubiribo had died ‘as the result of a cosmetic procedure abroad’.

Ubiribo, who had around 185,000 followers on Instagram, was buried in London in May, according to the Daily Mail. Davido was among those who attended his funeral, alongside other prominent figures.

The case has renewed concerns over the potential risks associated with penile filler procedures. Professor Vaibhav Modgil, an NHS andrology specialist and consultant urological surgeon, has previously warned that such procedures can result in serious and potentially devastating complications.

How Ologbo youths allegedly became entangled in Ossiomo Power, CCETC dispute

In January 2022, Ossiomo Power inaugurated a 40-megawatt independent power plant at Ologbo, in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, to provide electricity to the Benin Industrial and Enterprise Park and surrounding communities.

The project, which followed an earlier 55MW facility, was expected to provide an alternative to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and help address the persistent electricity challenges in the state. Three years down the line, the operations of the power company were disrupted as a result of an ownership dispute with its Chinese partner, CCETC, and the activities of the community’s youths.

For Esosa Monday (not real name), a computer operator in the Edo State civil service, irregular electricity supply is more than an inconvenience. It has become a workplace challenge with consequences for his productivity and professional reputation. Before the emergence of Ossiomo Power, Monday often had to contend with incomplete assignments whenever power supply failed. His inability to deliver some jobs within deadlines earned him queries from his director and, on occasions, affected his chances of being recognised among the best-performing workers in his ministry.

The problem also extended beyond his workplace

His colleagues, friends and family members sometimes struggled to reach him when his services were needed because his phone battery would run down. His power bank provided little relief because there was often no electricity to recharge it.

Monday was not alone

Thousands of workers and residents across Edo State faced similar difficulties in the years when electricity supply remained unreliable. Government offices and private businesses increasingly depended on generators, whose frequent use came with high maintenance and fuel costs.

In January 2022, Ossiomo Power inaugurated a 40-megawatt independent power plant at Ologbo, in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, to provide electricity to the Benin Industrial and Enterprise Park and surrounding communities.

The project, which followed an earlier 55MW facility, was expected to provide an alternative to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and help address the persistent electricity challenges in the state.

The then Edo State Government under Governor Godwin Obaseki also backed the project, with several government institutions subsequently connected to the power network.

For Monday and many other beneficiaries, the difference was immediate

His office became more productive, his phone was regularly charged and the constant anxiety over electricity supply eased. Other institutions, including the Edo State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, were also among the over 1000 beneficiaries of the power company.

But the gains have since been interrupted

The Ossiomo Power project has become embroiled in a protracted dispute involving its Nigerian promoters, its former Chinese business partner, Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Company Limited (CCETC), and, increasingly, members of the host Ologbo community.

The dispute has not only affected the ownership and management of the power infrastructure but has also raised questions over who controls customers, revenue and the facilities used to generate and distribute electricity.

A dispute over ownership and revenue

CCETC, through a senior director who simply identified himself only as Mr W, maintains that it entered into a joint venture agreement with Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company in 2018.

According to him, the arrangement allegedly gave Ossiomo 25 percent equity, representing its contribution of land and licences, while CCETC held 75 percent.

He alleged that CCETC provided about $20 million for the project, including the construction of distribution lines and other infrastructure.

The Chinese company also alleged that some customers connected to its 33KV network paid their electricity bills into an account belonging to Ossiomo E-Technology rather than the account of the joint venture company, CCETC Ossiomo Power Company Limited (COPC).

Mr W claimed that the arrangement left the company generating electricity without adequate visibility over its customers or receiving full payment for the electricity supplied.

‘We generate over four million kilowatts per month but collect payment for less than two million kilowatts,’ he said.

He further alleged that the Ologbo community was receiving electricity from the company’s network without payment and that outstanding obligations involving the community exceeded N1.4 billion.

He alleged that the decision to shut down the plant was driven by mounting losses, which have to do with ‘an internal issue,’ insisting that the Edo State Government and other customers were not responsible for the dispute.

But Ossiomo Power disputes virtually all of the major claims

Francis Ekwe, deputy general manager of Ossiomo Power, said CCETC was not a co-owner of the power company but a contractor engaged to supply and install engines for the independent power project.

He said the 2018 contract did not transfer ownership of the power plant, transmission network or gas infrastructure to the Chinese company.

Ekwe posited that Ossiomo Power had held rights to the gas and power infrastructure since 2008 and had obtained the relevant statutory licences and approvals for power generation and transmission within Edo State.

He argued that CCETC’s recent attempt to assert ownership amounted to an effort to influence state authorities and create uncertainty around the operation of the facility.

He also warned that sidelining an indigenous operator in favour of a foreign contractor could have implications for Nigeria’s local content policy and energy security.

Festus Evbuomwan, a representative of Ossiomo Power, also rejected the claim that CCETC had invested $20 million in the project in the manner alleged.

He said the Chinese partners had received more than N2 billion for power generated by their machines since operations began. ‘When they generate power, we sell and pay them,’ he said.

Evbuomwan added that the company operated a joint account through which payments were made, and investments were accounted for. He said the initial 55MW plant commenced operations in 2020, while another 40MW facility was commissioned in December 2021, bringing the plant’s installed capacity to 95MW.

He said the plant supplied government offices, the Edo State Government House, the NUJ secretariat, private organisations and streetlights before the shutdown on September 1, 2025.

Court intervention

As the disagreement escalated, Ossiomo Power approached the Edo State High Court in Benin.

In an ex parte order in suit number B/242/2025, Justice Mary Itsueli restrained CCETC from entering the land of Ossiomo Power and interfering with its infrastructure pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The September 11, 2025 order specifically restrained the defendant and its privies from accessing or using the claimants’ infrastructure, including the 33KV lines, gas engines and gas infrastructure used in generating and supplying electricity.

Ossiomo Power later accused its estranged partner of violating the order by taking possession of parts of its facilities and preventing its management from accessing the infrastructure.

The company subsequently threatened contempt proceedings. But the dispute did not end at the boardroom or courtroom.

It spilled into the community where the power plant is located.

Besides the legal tussle in Edo State High Court, the warring parties have also headed to the Singapore International Centre for Arbitration on the dispute.

Ologbo enters the dispute

Ossiomo Power has accused some youths in Ologbo of repeatedly disrupting its operations and vandalising its facilities.

The company also alleged that some of the youths were working with CCETC and had helped the Chinese company gain access to its gas plant at the Ossiomo Industrial Park.

Josephine Oike, representing Ossiomo Investment Limited, alleged that the Okaon’re Eguae of Ologbo Dukedom, Emma Iyase, trespassed on the company’s property.

She said the company acquired the land in 2008 from the late Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba Erediauwa.

Oike alleged that Iyase used bulldozers and pay loaders to gain access to the company’s premises on October 29, 2025.

The company also said it had spent more than N182 million on corporate social responsibility projects in the Ologbo community in 2025 alone. He said that since commenced operations the company had been spending on CSR annually for the community, but, yet they continued to experience vandalism and other disruptions.

Ekwe Francis Chukwuma, site engineer at Ossiomo Power, alleged that local youths led by Felix Okotie had repeatedly disrupted activities at the company’s gas plant since November 2025.

He said repeated appeals to the youths to vacate the facility had failed.

‘We appealed to relevant authorities to assist in dislodging the youths who are illegally disrupting the gas station to enable the power company to resume supplying electricity to Nigerians.

‘Millions of Nigerians are in dire need of electricity, yet the people of Ologbo have prevented us for about 10 months from giving people light,’ he said.

According to him, the disruption had also affected electricity supply to customers connected to the company’s network.

Ossiomo Power further alleged that its 33KV transmission lines linking Ologbo to Benin City and surrounding areas had been vandalised.

He opined that the activities of the youths are brazenly sabotaging President Tinubu’s avowed commitment to give a round the clock power supply to the people by deliberately preventing Ossiomo Power Company from delivering stable 24/7 electricity supply to the people.

A source close to the company, who spoke on condition of anonymity, identified Okotie as an alleged ringleader of the activities.

The source also alleged that another individual, Osaretin Omorodion, was responsible for the vandalism of sections of the 33KV lines.

The allegations extend to an incident involving security personnel.

The source claimed that Okotie and members of his group attacked two Department of State Services (DSS) personnel deployed to the Ossiomo Gas Plant to maintain law and order on December 2, 2025.

The source expressed concern that the alleged failure to prosecute those responsible had emboldened them to continue their activities.

Another source claimed that security personnel, including mobile policemen and members of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), had faced difficulties dealing with some youths in the community.

The source alleged that CCETC officials would attempt to gain access to the facility and, when stopped, contact Okotie and his associates, who would then mobilise youths to the site.

These allegations, however, remain contested.

The youths’ defence

When contacted, Okotie and some of his associates, including Lucky Igbineweka, Tony Obaseki and Biggy, denied that they were acting outside the interests of the community.

They said their activities involving Ossiomo Power and CCETC had the backing of elders and residents of Ologbo. The youths also said they were protecting the interests of CCETC and would not allow another company to rival the Chinese firm.

They maintained that, because the companies operate within Ologbo, members of the community had a legitimate interest in what happened to the businesses.

They referred journalists to Friday Osazuwa, the community secretary, for further clarification.

Repeated attempts to obtain comments from Osazuwa and Eric Osawaru, chairman of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Council, were unsuccessful as they did not respond to calls and messages sent to their phones.

What the dispute means for electricity consumers

While the legal and commercial battle continues, the consequences are being felt beyond the companies involved.

For residents, government institutions and businesses that depended on the independent power plant, the shutdown has meant a return to an electricity environment they had hoped was becoming a thing of the past.

The Ologbo community itself, according to a source close to the project, had previously endured more than six years without electricity following its disconnection by BEDC over allegations including vandalism, illegal meter bypass and violent attacks.

The source said Ossiomo Power subsequently connected the community to its network around early 2022.

That history makes the current conflict particularly significant.

What began as a commercial disagreement between business partners has evolved into a broader contest involving ownership, electricity revenue, community interests, alleged vandalism and access to critical infrastructure.

And as the parties continue to trade accusations, consumers remain caught in the middle. For a worker whose productivity once depended on whether there was electricity to power his computer and charge his phone, the return of darkness is not simply an energy-sector statistic.

It is a reminder of how quickly the benefits of infrastructure can disappear when commercial disputes, community grievances and questions over control become intertwined.

Vandalism: FG to secure transport infrastructure, strengthen intermodal system

The Federal Government has disclosed plans to tackle vandalism of transport infrastructure across the country.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Funso Adebiyi, said Nigerians would enjoy a seamless, safe and efficient intermodal transportation system if the activities of vandals are curbed.

Adebiyi stated this at the 19th National Council on Transportation (NCT), themed, ‘Developing an Effective Transportation System for Nigeria: The Role of Intermodal Transportation’.

He said the council would recommend stiffer penalties for vandalisation of transportation infrastructure, stressing that the criminal act had led to loss of lives, destruction of public assets and life-altering injuries to many Nigerians.

Adebiyi in a statement by the Assistant Director of Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Gift Seddon, also stated the importance of transparent public-private partnerships, robust transportation funding mechanisms and innovative asset-recycling models, noting that the measures would accelerate the development, rehabilitation and effective management of transport infrastructure across the country.

The chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transportation, Sen. Adamu Aliero, said federal infrastructure projects must be handled by their designated sector ministries to ensure proper oversight, accountability and protection of the public interest.

He commended the leadership of the Ministry for taking proactive steps to address administrative anomaly involving the award of a railway construction contract to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) without the requisite technical input from the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

He explained that while MOFI has an important role as a financing and investment vehicle, the technical aspects of railway infrastructure development fall within the statutory mandate of the ministry of transportation.

Aliero also commended President Bola Tinubu, for his intervention through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to address the matter and restore the appropriate institutional responsibility for the project.